Here’s an outer East Portland neighborhood association meeting that was both informative, and toothsome …
At a Vietnamese restaurant in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, folks come to “meet, greet, and eat” at a special gathering.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For a real change of pace, the official Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association (PGNA) meeting held on Tuesday evening, April 29, wasn’t held in a church basement or a nonprofit association’s meeting room.
Instead, 38 guests made their way into the banquet room of Yoonique Pho & Grill in the Division Center Shopping Center.
Greeting the arriving neighbors it’s PGNA Chair Richard Dickinson.
“Now that we have three relatively-new Portland City Counselors representing us here in our neighborhood, in District 1, we wanted to create this opportunity to connect their constituents, our residents, with their City Counselors,” PGNA Chair Richard Dickinson explained.
“This meeting is part of our effort to create an ‘open conduit’ of information, and to promote a free flow of ideas,” Dickinson continued. “And, PGNA is grateful for the sponsorship of the District 1 East Coalition, and the City of Portland Office of Community & Civic Life, for helping us put this on!”
Guests help themselves to an abundance of food during the PGNA meeting.
Attendees ate well; the menu included tofu salad rolls, veggie salad rolls, crispy salad rolls, veggie kebabs, lobster tail wontons, shrimp salad rolls, pork and chicken grilled skewers, and Yakisoba garden vegetable noodles.
Neighbors greet their friends, and meet new ones, as they chat over supper.
District 1Portland City Counselors’ ‘First 100 Days’
With national, state and local elected officials being quizzed about their “first 100 days in office” – although, in this case, it has actually been 132 days since they were sworn in, and 118 days since their first official meeting of the new Portland City Council on January 2nd – we quizzed Councilors Avlos, Dunphy, and Smith about their experience in office so far.
Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Jamie Dunphy
Portland City Council District 1 Jamie Dunphy listens to a Powellhurt-Gilbert neighbor.
“My biggest take-away, so far is – representation matters!” Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Jamie Dunphy emphatically remarked to East Portland News.
Asked what representation means to him, Dunphy replied, “I have seen the difference it makes in the way the people in my neighborhood feel, here in my district, about their government. The idea that a City Counselor will show up to any neighborhood association meeting is novel, here in outer East Portland; it’s happened rarely, or with very little consistency.
“It seems that having a City Council member show up seems like ‘checking a box’, by just being at the meeting,” Dunphy added. “So, I’ve been trying to attend every neighborhood Association meeting I can, and every town hall event, because people really want to be heard.”
As for the single most important thing he’s done for his district, Dunphy reflected: “In responding to Mayor Wilson’s City Budget Proposal, I think people should be proud that District 1 has advocated hard, to make sure that our neighborhoods are ‘held harmless’.”
To see District 1 Councilor Jamie Dunphy’s City of Portland website, CLICK HERE.
Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Candace Avalos
Serving herself at the supper buffet, here’s Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Candace Avalos.
The next to arrive and speak with us was Councilor Candace Avalos. Asked about her most important takeaway from her brief time in office, she replied, “It’s why good governance matters!
“Because, as we are setting up a new form of government, this is an opportunity to talk about real governance processes and practices – and how we can make City Hall ‘for the people’ again,” elaborated Avalos. “It’s been really interesting to navigate this as we’re talking through [governance processes] systems – and, I’m really excited to implement some of these new strategies.”
When we asked what she feels is the most important thing she’s done for her district so far, Avalos thought for a moment, and responded, “I have shown up. I have my ‘Constituent Days’. And, I’ve been making my way around each neighborhood, and trying to show everyone that they do have a presence of City Hall.”
To see Councilor Candace Avalos’ City of Portland website, CLICK HERE.
Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith
Enthusiastically responding to a neighbor’s question, this is Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith.
“What’s your most important take-away from your first 100 days in office?” we asked Portland City Council District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith.
She answered without hesitation, “I think that people are really taking to this new form of government. And also, they are realizing that they have ‘voices’ on the Portland City Council to speak for them – and that’s been a big deal.”
Smith continued, “We just passed, drafted, a Student Apprenticeship Summer Job Program resolution last week.
“And I have another resolution this going to be on board, so that we can get new sidewalks for District 1 and District 4, specifically – and, I’m really, really excited about that,” announced Smith.
To see Councilor Loretta Smith’s City of Portland website, CLICK HERE.
With food plentiful, guests come back to sample new dishes.
Joys and Concerns voiced
Most of the communication took place as the Councilors moved from table to table, conversing with guests.
Some of the problematic issues that came up included:
– Litter and trash
– Affordable housing
– Increased community event spaces
– Need for more Community Gardens
The “joys” of living in the neighborhood expressed included:
+ Powell Butte (several “votes”)
+ Diversity
+ Involved, available and visible elected officials
+ Tall Douglas Fir trees, green spaces and parks
+ Active community Associations
Into the evening it went, talking and noshing – and building a greater sense of community. To learn more about the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association, see their official website: CLICK HERE.
© 2025 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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