 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
RICH RIEGEL
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
The Memo asked Richard Bixby, director of the East Portland Neighborhood Office, a series of specific questions regarding his organization.
The Memo asked: What did each of the directors accomplish?
“Charlsie Sprague was the first director,” Bixby stated, “and mainly worked to develop the neighborhood coalition and to expand the neighborhood system into this newly annexed part of the city.”
Bixby said Tom Waltz continued to work on the development of the organization and expansion of neighborhood partnerships in developing projects with the city of Portland Office of Transportation and Powell Valley Road Water District.
“Unfortunately,” Bixby said, “the coalition organization collapsed.”
As for Bixby himself, he’s worked to develop the current coalition organization with neighborhood associations, EPNO and the nonprofit organization East Portland Neighbors. He listed projects done in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation, Department of Justice and the Russian/English Language Center as some of his accomplishments.
The Memo asked: How did each of the locations and the constant moves affect what was accomplished?
According to Bixby, each location had its good points and bad points.
“The Parkrose location was a good place to get started,” Bixby said, “with some shared space and support services.”
As for the site within the former Russellville Elementary School on Southeast 102nd Avenue, between Stark and Burnside streets, Bixby called it “a great space with a large meeting room, a couple smaller conference rooms and plenty of space for storage.”
But Bixby lamented that the Russellville location was “not really handicapped accessible,” and because it was essentially a vacant building waiting to be redeveloped, not a long-term solution.
Bixby portrayed the office at 1917 S.E. 122nd Ave. as possessing “good office space, only a small meeting room, and the most affordable option at the time.”
The office located within the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct building provided close proximity to the police to allow easy coordination with crime prevention specialists and easy access to the large precinct meeting room. But, he added, “It also brought our largest rent payments.”
Bixby said the new office at 1017 N.E. 117th Ave. provides office staff and neighbors “a good meeting room for neighborhood meetings,” he said, “and dramatically reduces our rent costs.” He added that with the office adjacent to a neighborhood park, there are opportunities for outside activities.
The Memo put it to Bixby succinctly: What accomplishments have been achieved recently that will make readers glad their tax dollars are going toward supporting such an organization?
“EPNO does not actively pursue projects on it’s own,” he responded. He said EPNO’s major function is to support neighborhood associations, community leaders and other organizations as they engage with government to further the public good.
“I believe the most important achievement,” Bixby told the Memo, “is simply providing a public forum for community issues to be raised and discussed.” He said that each year over 100 neighborhood meetings or community events are held that provide that opportunity.
“Thousands of people attend these meetings and events,” Bixby explained, “and have a chance to learn what is happening in their neighborhood, express an opinion, or just have a chance to get acquainted with their neighbors.”
Bixby continued, in a more philosophical tone.
“In the public realm,” he said, “there are many actors that participate in any accomplishment, so it is difficult for one organization to claim it. However, the actions of neighborhood associations have certainly influenced development across the district.” He cited as examples the purchase of land for parks in Parkrose, Argay, Wilkes, Centennial and Pleasant Valley; the development of parks in Parkrose, Wilkes and Powellhurst-Gilbert; development of streets and sidewalks in Lents and sidewalks along 122nd; and preservation or maintenance of natural areas in Wilkes and Pleasant Valley.
As a final question, the Memo asked Bixby about some of the goals of EPNO.
“The goal of EPNO is to engage community members in participating with their government in improving the neighborhoods,” Bixby said. “An engaged citizenry is the bedrock of a democracy. Our function is to encourage people to get involved and support them when they do. How to do this is difficult, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution.”
Bixby said that a recent funding increase has allowed EPNO to offer Neighborhood Small Grants and to engage in new communication and outreach projects.
“These will connect residents to community projects,” he added.
In addition, the city of Portland is reviewing the function of neighborhood coalitions though the Community Connect project.
“This will probably bring new methods and activities,” he concluded, “but the goal is unlikely to change.”
>>continued
 |
 |
 |
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home