ELIOT NEWS A Publication of Eliot Neighborhood Association Volume 27 · Number 2 Spring 2018 Dirty Air Threatens the Eliot 10th Annual Eliot Clean Up is Neighborhood Saturday, May 19… By Anna Daggett and Monique Gaskins Start Collecting Your Junk ortlanders cherish easy access dential areas, and heavily trafficked By Sue Stringer to outdoor activities, clean streets and highways, such as MLK Jr air, and locally roasted cof- Blvd and Interstate 5. According to P fee. While our city’s air qual- the Department of Environmental ity has generally improved over the Quality (DEQ), the I-5 running last 30 years, Portland, and especially through Eliot has the highest daily the Eliot neighborhood, currently has truck counts in Oregon. some of the worst air pollution in the nation. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has proposed a $450 million Toxic chemicals in the air contribute expansion to I-5 through the Rose to health issues including cancer, or- Quarter. This proposed highway ex- gan damage, and respiratory irritation. pansion would require a lot of con- In the most recent Environmental Pro- struction equipment over a proposed 4 tection Agency (EPA) National Air -year construction period. No More Toxics Assessment, Portland ranked Freeways at nomorefreewayspdx.com as the worst city in America for res- has more information, including ways piratory distress from air pollution. to address the proposed highway ex- Portlanders live closely to relatively pansion. For Eliot residents, the pro- unregulated industrial areas, and thus posed expansion would exacerbate are exposed to a large quantity of tox- diesel particulate exposure. Diesel ic chemicals. The Eliot neighborhood particulate is an air toxin produced by encompasses industrial zones, resi- (See AIR, page 10) Eliot resident bikes in the donations she brought to the Eliot Clean Up last year. This was the most unique vehicle of the day! t’s that time of year again when STRICTLY enforce. We absolutely Eliot Volunteer Litter Pick-up we get the urge to do a bit of can NOT ACCEPT any wood, paint Come out to meet your neighbors and show some spring cleaning and get rid of all cans, remodeling debris like ceiling neighborhood pride by helping to clean up Eliot! I that clutter that has been gather- tiles, dry wall, flooring, siding, insula- ing in our closets, basements and gar- tion, electrical wiring or panels, or All supplies will be provided by SOLVE ages. How convenient that the Eliot fire proofing materials and refrigera- Neighborhood Association is organiz- tors or anything that might contain ing its 10th annual spring clean-up asbestos or lead. They are not allowed Date: Saturday, May 19 event where you can bring items that in the landfill in the city of Portland Time: 10AM-12PM you no longer want that someone else so we cannot collect them. We also may have been pining for and throw can NOT take any yard debris, dirt, Meet at 120 N Knott, Legacy Emanuel Parking Lot away that broken chair that’s taking stumps, hazardous materials, house- up valuable real estate in your shed. hold garbage or curbside recyclables. Details & registration: http://www.solveoregon.org (oregonmetro.gov/asbestosrules) Community collection events are meant to invest in community waste Outside of those prohibited items we reduction and reuse with prioritizing can take other items that would fit in recycling and reuse over disposal. a dumpster. Eliot’s collection event is on Satur- day, May 19 from 10 am -2 pm at the We CAN, however, take your scrap Legacy Emanuel parking lot at 120 N metal and anything with a cord thanks Knott which is at N Graham and Wil- to Green Century Electronics Recy- liams and is sponsored by Metro, cling. Household items and furniture BPS, and NECN (the Northeast Coa- will be picked up by Community lition of Neighborhoods). The event Warehouse. Books will be taken to allows us to collect reusable items, the Children’s Book Bank and Title broken or unwanted electronics, Wave Books. books, clothes, household junk and old furniture just to name a few. It is There will be an onsite swap meet so the same stuff you would take to come by and see if anything suits Good Will or the Metro transfer sta- your fancy and bring a bag of things tion with the convenience of one stop you’re willing to part with… or fill up dumping. your car’s trunk or pickup truck. This is the only fundraiser for our We do offer a pick-up service for sen- neighborhood annually and the dona- iors and disabled with a prior appoint- tions that are collected are used to ment. Please see the flyer on page 12 sponsor events and neighborhood ac- above the calendar for more details on tivities such as mural painting and contact info for pick-up or to offer to social events. Also, the neighborhood volunteer. We need people to help association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit so with unloading, sorting, traffic control all donations are tax deductible - and photography as well as for our which is another bonus besides hav- walk around trash pick-up. (see notice ing cleaner closets, organized base- to the left for event info ) ments and clutter free garages. We hope to see you there! There are a few rules that Metro will Eliot Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Eliot Portland, OR 97212 OR Portland, Eliot Neighborhood Association Letter from the Editor The Eliot Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose members are the residents and business owners of the Eliot Neighborhood. Its purpose is to inform By Sue Stringer Eliot residents about issues affecting the neighborhood through meetings, newsletters and other activities. Members of the neighborhood association must be over 14 years old pring is upon us again and Harriet Tubman, reaching out to new and live, own property, have a business, or represent a nonprofit within the there’s a lot happening in the residents and also documenting the neighborhood. The Eliot Neighborhood Association was founded in 1969. It is recognized by the City of Portland, is a member of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., S Eliot Neighborhood. There’s stories of native Eliot residents. We and its members represent Eliot on other committees. gardening, grass roots organizing for want to know what concerns you and air quality, and PICA’s gala to at- want to show you how you can get Eliot Board tend. There’s something for everyone involved. We hope to see you at our Chair - Jere Fitterman – [email protected] 503-504-9308 here! mid-year General Assembly Meeting Vice Chair - Maggie Gardner - [email protected] 503-913-4404 on April 16 so we can all work to- We’ve added a number of events to gether and get to know each other. Recorder- Monica Choy Salazar - [email protected] 323-217-4697 our calendar on page 12. Our artist Treasurer - Jim Hlava – [email protected] 503-998-3406 community is sharing what exciting Letters to the editor, comments, or article suggestions: News Editor - Sue Stringer – [email protected] 971-255-0697 local artists we have in Portland. [email protected] • Wes Ayers – [email protected] 503-784-1678 Also, don’t forget about the 10th an- • Brad Baker - [email protected] 415-385-0875 nual Eliot Spring Clean Up which is on May 19. Come show your support TABLE OF CONTENTS • Anna Daggett - [email protected] for the neighborhood by making a Eliot Air Quality 1 • Shireen Hasan - [email protected] donation and clear some clutter at the Eliot Clean Up and Litter Pick Up 1 same time. I am looking forward to • Patricia Montgomery - [email protected] 503-758-1263 some good spring cleaning and purg- Letter from the Editor 2 • Jimmy Wilson - [email protected] 503-740-5923 ing of my closets and garage. Letter from the Vice Chair 3 Albina Cooperative Garden 3 Land Use and Transportation Committee I am hearing a lot about issues around LUTC Chair - Allan Rudwick – [email protected] 503-703-3910 air quality, the new middle school at Adopt-A-Block Update 3 LUTC Vice Chair - Jonathan Konkol – [email protected] 503-315-7795 Within & Beyond Eliot-Churches 4 Letter from the Land Use Chair 5 • Brad Baker – [email protected] 415-385-0875 Join us: Randall Children Hospital 5 • Laurie Simpson – [email protected] 503-280-1005 Eliot’s mid-year Unity Center Update 5 • Phil Conti – [email protected] 503-281-1378 General Assembly Neigh- borhood Sewer Project Update 6 • Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 Association meeting Legacy Cardiac Rehab 6 • Montse Shepherd– [email protected] Share your ideas, input and New Legacy Emanuel President 7 Committees: concerns. Volunteer to help Boise Eliot Native Garden 8 Webmaster - Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 with events. Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare 9 NECN Rep - Jere Fitterman— [email protected] 503-504-9308 All residents can vote during PICA Meta Gala 9 Livability Team Chair—Karla Gostnell - [email protected] this meeting. What’s for Dinner? 9 Eliot Monthly Meetings Parking Permits 9 Monday, April 16 City Complaint Lines 10 Meetings of the Eliot Neighborhood Association are held on the third Monday of 6:30-8:30pm each month at 6:30 pm St. Philip the Deacon Church, 120 NE Knott Street PDX Reporter App 10 (unless noted otherwise). It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, stay 120 NE Knott St informed, help build a stronger community, and have input into city decisions Open Signal Public Access 11 that may effect you. All meetings are open to the Public.