THE "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" ARE BELOW THE EDITORIAL From The Editor New city government coming, but ‘neighborhoods’ are still here One of the most obvious problems with our century of the parochial “Commissioner” form of city government in Portland is that, lacking any mandate for proportional representation of the whole city, the small City Council has generally tended focus on Downtown, and on the matters that mattered there. What gave and still gives Portland its unique character, however, is that the large Rose City feels to its residents and visitors alike more like a bunch of contiguous small towns, each with its own identity and issues. And one of the most important developments in the past century of our old city government was the establishment of the “neighborhood system” to reflect and represent these neighborhoods. So today there are some 95 neighborhood associations active around the city, each with its own elected Board of Directors (unpaid volunteers rooted there) acting as a small City Council for its own neighborhood.  (Or, we should say its own neighborhoods, since many of these consolidate two distinct districts into their name and their mandate.) Interestingly, the city’s neighborhood association innovation can be said to have originated in Inner Southeast, since the very first one was already in existence before the neighborhood system was actually set up by the City Council:  SMILE, the “Sellwood Moreland Improvement League”, which had already been vital in its communities – but as a sort of business association.  And the reason for “Moreland” in its name, since there really isn’t any “Moreland”, was that when it started there were two districts with “moreland” in their name at the time – so, this was an abbreviated way of embracing both of them:  Eastmoreland and Westmoreland. When SMILE converted to become the first Portland neighborhood association, Eastmoreland left to form their own, and only Sellwood and Westmoreland were left in it. But the name of the association has never changed, mainly because the acronym SMILE is much more positive and cheerful than is SWIL! Be that as it may, the citywide neighborhood association system has kept Portland’s small-town character alive for decades, and it has been a vital means by which other parts of the city other than downtown have had some form of representation. These neighborhood associations cannot legislate, but they certainly can advocate to City Hall, and they do. They will still remain a vital cog in the forthcoming new form of Portland city government we’re moving into, in the years to come. But, all of them depend on volunteers – and that’s where people like you come in. If you value the part of town you live in, become part of the means of keeping it vital – run for an open Board seat on your own neighborhood association! May is the month each year when those elections take place. There are executive officers, as well as at-large Board Members. Some associations elect only Board Members in May, and the Board then elects its own officers; but in others, the officers are separate on the ballot from the Board Members and are directly elected. Either way, every May there are open Board seats. This year, in the early evening of Wednesday, May 1, both SMILE and the Woodstock Neighborhood Association are among those kicking off the annual process on the first day of the month. If you live in those neighborhoods, attend their meetings – to pick those who will represent the neighborhood on their Board this year…and perhaps to BE one of those on the Board! If you are not sure what neighborhood you live in, Portland has a tool for you to find out. Go online to – http://www.portlandmaps.com – and enter your own residential address in the box at upper right. You will bring up information on the property at that address, including what neighborhood it is in; and if you click on that neighborhood name, you will see a map of the area the neighborhood association serves, as well as information on where and when your neighborhood association meets. You can also learn about the city-funded nonprofit agency that serves as liaison between your neighborhood association and City Hall.  In Inner Southeast, that agency for most neighborhoods is “Southeast Uplift”. Southeast Uplift serves a similar liaison role for Inner Southeast’s many neighborhood business associations, too – most of which have been fighting to regain traction since the official end of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Don’t overlook this: Each year, these business associations also have an “Annual Meeting” with a Board election! (Which month this takes place varies considerably between business associations; but this year the Woodstock Community Business Association also happens to be having theirs in May, on the 8th – details in our “Business Briefs”.) These local volunteer business associations all also need local volunteer Board Members to help keep their local business districts vital for the residents they serve. And, you don’t have to choose only one or the other – you can be part of your neighborhood association AND of your neighborhood business association too! Attend these meetings in your neighborhood. If you choose to participate, you’ll meet new people, make new friends, have a stake in the neighborhood you live in – and we all will live in a better city as a result! It’s May, and time’s a-wasting. Think about it! Letters to the Editor Sellwood Sewer Project finally getting underway Editor, The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services has just started the sewer extension work in the Sellwood-Westmoreland area. The project will extend the public sewer system to properties that don’t currently have a direct connection. It will build dozens of new sewer mainline pipes, and about 120 new public side lateral pipes for property owners to connect to. Most of the work is between S.E. Lambert and Linn Streets, but a few streets further north are also included. BEE readers can see the complete project map online – http://www.portland.gov/bes/sellwood It will take four to six weeks to complete work on most blocks. From time to time, periods of inactivity will occur – usually due to weather, unanticipated issues with supplies or machinery, or to coordinate specialized tasks such as paving or concrete pours with subcontractors. Completing all work in the neighborhood will take about a year and a half. Construction hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews may work on some Saturdays as well. The City will allow night work to finish construction in a few complicated or busy areas on Tacoma Street and on 13th Avenue. There will be no construction work on S.E. 13th during peak summer business months from June through August, or during the winter holiday moratorium beginning one week before Thanksgiving and ending the second business day in January. Crews will maintain sidewalks and local street access, although people might experience traffic delays and reduced parking near construction zones. Environmental Services wants to encourage neighbors to support local businesses during construction.  For more information, contact Tracie Heidt, in Community Outreach – tracie@jla.us.com or 503/865-6492. Camille Pearce Community Outreach for BES Via email Celebrated Portland pianist Mark Westcott. Portland pianist to be missed Editor, I'm Dr. Daniel Swayze, a student of legendary pianist and Portland native, Mark Westcott, who recently passed away peacefully in Edmonds, WA on March 30th, 2024, at the age of 75. He is survived by his sister as well as his dear friends and piano students. I believe if you examine the record you will find him to be the most accomplished pianist the city has ever produced. You may find some additional details on his website – http://markwestcottpianist.com. I write in the hopes that his incredible musical legacy will be recognized. Westcott sought comfort through his teaching, explorations of Oregon’s wilderness areas, and in gardening, eventually winning prizes instead for his chrysanthemums. In his later years, Westcott gave many master classes in his hometown of Portland, passing down his musical knowledge to many disciples. Those who studied with Westcott regularly during this time were treated as more than students and he took on a role more like that of a guru than a teacher, often spending hours away from the piano sharing life, stories, and artistic thought. Westcott’s legacy lives on through numerous recordings, many of which are freely available on YouTube, as well as his memoir “Playing With Love”, and the traditions of piano playing he passed on to his followers. Dr. Daniel Swayze via email   Best we keep this tax Editor, Next month we will be asked to vote on whether to keep Portland’s ten cent per gallon gasoline tax. I am urging you to vote yes. Every college teaches courses in public finance. Oregon, generally – and Portland, specifically – are not cited as examples of best practices. We see the outcomes of bad tax policy all around us – fewer police and firefighters, potholes in the roads, and poorly maintained parks. In the late 1990s we instituted a tax measure that limited property taxes to a 3% annual increase. This seemed like a good idea at the time; but now, twenty-odd years later, we are faced with a general fund for Oregon governments that has trouble meeting the needs of basic services. Governments and citizen initiatives have evaded the purpose of the tax limitation measures, with special taxes – quite a bewildering array of them – designed to meet the goals of special interests. Some are good, some are foolish, and some are largely ignored. Unfortunately, road repair has fallen between the potholes! Our streets are in terrible shape. Because we lack the funding for proper maintenance, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBoT) is forced into short-term repairs. That does not work for very long. When PBoT’s current Commissioner, Mingus Mapps, called me recently to enlist my help, I was happy to agree. I had worked with then-PBoT Commissioner Steve Novick a decade ago to implement the tax. Things were bad then. They are worse today. Hopefully, the shift to a new city structure at the end of this year will lead to more rational city priorities.  The day before Mingus’ call, a pothole in Taylor’s Ferry Road exploded my right front tire! This is the relatively steep road that goes down the hill to Macadam. Luckily, my car did not swerve to the right – despite the tire being shredded – which would have sent me to the bottom of a fifty-foot gulch. If it had, Mingus’ call might well have been too late! Obviously, the right solution is more professional management and centralized budgeting. We are hoping that the new city charter will deliver this result. In the meantime, we really do need to maintain the existing funding to keep the streets as safe as possible. So, please, neighbors – please check the box to continue our local gasoline tax to fund street repair. It is not too dramatic to say that sometimes our lives depend upon it. Robert McCullough Eastmoreland   A word on behalf of the Zoo  Editor, I hope voters realize that by approving the renewal of the Oregon Zoo Bond, voters can make a critical investment in education without raising tax rates. I’m referring to Measure 26-244. Hundreds of thousands of children visit the zoo or participate in the zoo’s educational programming each year. . .  Our Zoo is a living classroom where community members of all ages and backgrounds can learn through field trips, hands-on experiences, and immersive programming. The unique learning opportunities at the Zoo are accessible to all kinds of learners. Children can establish connections with nature and grow a sense of responsibility for wildlife. Older visitors can benefit from interactive exhibits that communicate animal behaviors and educate about crucial conservation efforts. And for those exploring careers in the sciences, the Zoo is a place where classroom knowledge comes to life. Voting to empower learning for everyone helps us build a more vibrant community. Please join me and vote yes on Measure 26-244. Scott Robinson Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Metro (retired) Eastmoreland resident Benefit concert postponed Editor, Thanks for publishing [the “Events” calendar listing in the April BEE] about our benefit concert [for nonprofit “Know Thy Food”] planned for April 28.  Unfortunately, just after THE BEE arrived, I was diagnosed with a serious heart problem, with surgery scheduled for late April or early May, so we need to postpone the concert. Can you just put a note in the next BEE that the concert will take place at a later date? I assume that people will get the May issue in time to change their calendars for late April. Thanks for an excellent local newspaper. I enjoy reading it and feel more in touch with this part of Portland because of what you do. Sincerely, Barbara Ulman EDITOR’S NOTE: We wish Barbara the best in her upcoming surgery. Unfortunately, quite a few events lately have had last-minute changes due to the weather, or other unforeseen situations. We do later update the “Events” for each month on our two monthly websites – www.TheBeeNews.com and www.ReadTheBee.com – when we learn of changes. Meantime, events listings in print contain the latest information we’ve received from the various nonprofit organizations that submit events listings as of the date we go to press.   Cold Case conviction in Gresham not reported Editor, Surprised you didn’t report on the trial of Barb’s murderer (Robert Plympton). Her murder was in Gresham, where she had just moved to attend college. But from birth until a few months prior to her death she had lived at her parents’ home at S.E. Milwaukie and Flavel. She was a Sellwood-Moreland girl, and the trial a couple of weeks ago for this cold case made national news. Dan and Catherine Brown via e-mail EDITOR’S NOTE: I was not named the editor of THE BEE until twenty years later, and I was unaware the victim was a Sellwood-Westmoreland resident. For those wondering what case the Browns are referring to, on the night of January 15, 1980, passersby in Gresham swerved their cars around a woman waving her arms out of desperation in the middle of the street, according to the Gresham Outlook newspaper, a sister publication to THE BEE. Witnesses reported seeing Barbara Mae Tucker escaping a wooded area; some even reported her face was dirty and bleeding. No one stopped, but some watched as a man emerged from the trees and pulled Tucker back into the woods from where he came. The following morning, a student found her body in the bushes. The medical examiner determined that Tucker had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death. It is a sad commentary on those who witnessed this that apparently nobody bothered to report this disturbing scene to the police. But the police never gave up, and solved this cold case recently using DNA evidence from a piece of discarded chewing gum by a suspect in the case who was under observation in connection to the case. The suspect, Robert Arthur Plympton, now age 60, was positively identified by the DNA evidence and arrested, and has now been convicted of first degree murder in the case and has been sent to prison. We regret not being aware of the Inner Southeast connection of this story at the time, and we appreciate the Browns’ note to advise us of the fact, so that we can now here update the story for our readers. -- Eric Norberg Letters to the Editor may be submitted via e-mail by clicking HERE. All letters to the editor are subject to editing for clarity and available space, and all letters become property of THE BEE.   Comments? News tips? Click here to e-mail us! Note to readers: At some point, this, our original Internet website, will be replaced at this web address by our new website, as part of the Community Newspapers group. At that time, you will still be able to access this, our original -- and smartphone-friendly -- website, if you save this address:  www.sePDXnews.com. Right now, it takes you to our newest website; if you ever find that newest website appearing at www.ReadTheBee.com, you will then be able to find this old familiar website at that "sePDXnews" address.  And, you'll still have your choice of which one to visit! READY TO MOVE ON TO THE COMMUNITY STORIES AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS ON PAGE 4?   CLICK HERE! X X X X X For our Thanksgiving 2023 editorial in appreciation of dogs, CLICK HERE