Setting the Record Straight on District 1’s Community Office

Let's talk about the District 1 office space.

In yesterday's City Council meeting, we voted 12-0 on the ordinance to approve a lease for the new District 1 community office that Councilor Dunphy and I worked hard to secure. This is a huge step forward that comes after months of searching for a space we could share and welcome our community in East Portland to connect with their government. But there has been some confusion, misinformation in the media, and questions about why all three councilors aren't sharing a joint space. Therefore I wanted to set the record straightabout what actually happened, why we made these decisions, and why this office is such an important win for East Portland - something we cannot afford to lose sight of.

How We Got Here

When Portland voters approved our new form of government, they sent a clear message: East Portland deserves full representation. After our transformational election to usher in a new era of city government, we have three District 1 councilors that represent all corners and perspectives of our district. Thanks to this change we now have a strong voice at the table for the communities furthest from City Hall who are used to being under resourced and underserved by our city government.

Early this year, the three of us agreed that we needed a community office in District 1. This would be a shared space where constituents could reach their councilors without needing to travel all the way downtown. In other words, this was about meeting East Portlanders where they are, literally and figuratively. And I am grateful that the councilors from all the other districts agreed that it's time East Portland got the attention and resources we so deserve - and some councilors (Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney, and Koyama Lane) even contributed discretionary dollars from their budgets to support this effort.

In January, the three of us District 1 councilors pooled our remaining discretionary funds from the fiscal year that ended in June 2025 to make this possible and used that as a starting place to begin shopping around for a space that could serve as a satellite office for the councilors, a community meeting space, and an open door to city government in District 1. But what we quickly realized was that finding space wasn't going to be easy. East Portland has limited commercial real estate, and most sites needed major tenant improvements. We toured several options, including the Nick Fish Building, which had one built-out office (then occupied by Civic Life) and two raw spaces. I remember thinking in that moment that this was a blank canvass that could serve a broader purpose in the heart of Gateway beyond simply another administrative city office. I began to envision what it could look like to develop all three spaces with enough room for all councilors, their staff, and the community to enjoy.

But that vision came to an end when, during the office tour, Councilor Smith announced she would be taking the built-out space for her own office rather than collaborating on a shared District 1 office. Whatever her reasons, the result was clear: we no longer had a path toward a single, shared space for all three councilors. The Civic Life office was small (a few cubicles, a bathroom, and a kitchenette) and it was immediately clear it could not accommodate three councilors, their staff, and the community activities we envisioned. Unfortunately, some media coverage has overlooked this reality, framing the decision as if Councilor Dunphy and I simply declined to join Smith's office, rather than recognizing that the space was never large enough to serve the needs of the district as a whole. Lastly, another unfortunate outcome of this unilateral decision is that Councilor Smith retracted the dollars she allocated to the shared pot for the District1 Office, andconvinced our colleague Councilor Ryan to do the same.

Until recently, it was unclear to me why Councilor Smith chose to go her own way. It seems that her decision was based on a misunderstanding she has about a benign comment I made on values alignment. In a joint meeting months ago, I made the comment that it was ok that she and I represented different constituencies and led with a different set of values based on our lived experiences. This is a benefit and an asset to the communities of District 1. It is one of the primary reasons why there are three representatives in each district instead of one. When it works, everyone in each district has at least one person on council who aligns with them and will represent their needs on the dais. I believe this is something to celebrate and I would never expect councilors from the same district to agree on everything. It is unfortunate that Councilor Smith chose not to have this nuanced conversation and instead decided to isolate herself. I hope this doesn't continue to negatively impact our ability to work together on the collective issues our East Portland constituents care about.

Despite this setback,Councilor Dunphy and I kept working. We eventually found an opportunity at Multnomah Plaza, submitted a letter of intent, and negotiated favorable terms, including a landlord-funded build-out. With the dollars we had left (thank you to Council President Pirtle-Guiney and Council Vice President Koyama Lane for your one-time donation to our vision!),we were able to pre-pay the entire lease through June 2029, guaranteeing fouryears of stability for District 1 constituents and leaving about $55,000 in contingency funds for future upgrades and repairs. And the space we secured has enough room for Councilor Smith or any third councilor in the future to join us in our new office.

Where We Go From Here

So, why does this matter for East Portland? District 1 is home to the city's largest communities of color, most of Portland's children, and neighborhoods that have historically been left behind. Our residents need access to their government - and now they will have it!

This new office will be more than a place for council business. It will be a hub for neighbors to gather, share ideas, and work with their councilors to solve problems together. It's a long-term investment in making City Hall more accessible and in building trust with a community that has too often been asked to wait its turn.

One thing I've learned about City Hall is that narratives can be twisted to fit someone's agenda. That's not how I lead. My focus is on bringing East Portland the resources and representation we've been promised. This office is one more way we are delivering on that promise. East Portland deserves transparency that puts our community first - and I will keep fighting to make sure we get it.

Securing this lease is a victory for East Portland, but it's also just the beginning. The real work starts when we open the doors and fill the space with energy, collaboration, and solutions. I hope you'll join us when we cut the ribbon! But more importantly, I hope you'll keep showing up, bringing your ideas, and helping us make this office a place where East Portland's future is built.