March
SJNA Newsletter
St. Johns Neighborhood Association
Housing Action Forum in April
The St. Johns Neighborhood Association will host a special Housing Action Forum in place of our April general meeting.

We will welcome the PSU Masters in Urban Regional Planning (MURP) students currently in St. Johns to study our local housing situation, what our neighborhood needs for housing, and how does Portland's rising housing cost impact our neighbors.
St. Johns Air Quality Update
St. Johns has some of the worst air quality in the nation, according to a recent survey of public school air quality. We share our peninsula with big industry, and we are plagued by bad deisel. When California enforced stricter deisel regulations, Oregon purchased their old polluting trucks. A major truck route goes through the heart of our neighborhood, passing by our neighbors' front doors.

New deisel engines emit 90% less pollution than older models. We demand better diesel in St. Johns!

Jennifer Levy, St. Johns neighbor and environmental activist, recently met with Oregon Legislatives in Salem to give voice to our community. She learned of several bills being discussed in the Oregon House this session. Download her full presentation.

What can you do? Jen is drafting a form letter that lists targeted demands to improve our air. She needs you and your neighbors to sign it. Once complete, letters will be available for pick up from the St. Johns Center for Opportunity as well as for download from the St. Johns Neighborhood Association website.
To address our industrial neighbors, Greg Bourget, with Portland Clean Air , has recently completed a rigorous 3 year survey of every industrial air pollutant permit on the peninsula. The DEQ permitting system has severe issues and plagued by permit violators.

He has been working on acquiring an air monitoring station for St. Johns and has several promising leads. Currently, we lack any regular monitoring of our air. Because of which, we have no real data about what we are breathing.

Greg is looking for volunteers to help with data crunching and canvassing efforts.
Emergency Preparedness Tip of the Month

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

  • Canned vegetables – 4/person
  • Toilet paper – 3 rolls/ person
  • Feminine Hygiene Supplies - 2 months
  • Instant drinks (coffee, tea, powdered soft drinks)
  • Family sized first aid kit 

TASKS:

  • Change the batteries and test your smoke detectors. Purchase and install smoke detectors if you don’t have them.
  • Make an inventory of home contents for insurance purposes. Take photographs (digital are easiest) of your house and contents. Store a copy away from your home.
Construction on
N Mohawk

Two new buildings are planned for construction on N Mohawk, west of Lombard. The new 2 story building will have eight 3 bedroom apartments, and will be located just behind Leisure Public House. For more details, download the developer's presentation.

For updates on the development and for more construction updates, go to the SJNA Land Use Facebook Page.
Report Potholes & More with PDX Reporter App
Did you run over a pothole today? Did you report it to the city?

Michael Zeuthen reminds neighbors to tell the city about known issues using the convenient PDX Reporter app. Download his presentation here, and  track PBOT's efforts  to fill every pothole online.

Download PDX Reporter today to tell the city about issues you want addressed. 
Community Corner
Baltimore Woods Annual
Native Plant Sale
March 25th | 10-3pm
St. Johns Public Plaza
N Lombard & N Philadelphia
The Friends of Baltimore Woods will host its annual native plant sale and benefit fundraiser. The sale will offer a wide variety of native plants from Bosky Dell Native Plants and Scappoose Bay Watershed Council.

A selection of plants suitable for native oak woodland and oak meadows will also be featured, since those are the ecosystems in the Baltimore Woods corridor. The sale is free and open to the public.

    Traffic Safety Action Workshop
    March 30th | 6:00-8:30
    Kenton Firehouse
    8105 N Brandon
    Focusing on policy, design, outreach, and education. Doors at 6, with discussion starting at 6:30.
    Neighborhood Clean Up & Recycle Event
    April 29th | 10am - 4pm
    St. John's Christian Church Parking Lot
    8298 N Central St, Portland
    Mark your calendar! The annual St. Johns Neighborhood Association Clean Up & Recycle event is coming up.

    Trash and recyclables that don't otherwise fit in curb-side bins will be collected at the event. Excessively large items may be refused, especially home construction materials likely to contain asbestos.

    SJNA will also be offering Emergency Preparedness Kit items for your home kits, as well as a raffle for 2 fully stocked Emergency Kits! 

    St. Johns residents only please 

    $5/car load  |  $5/tire  |  $10/truck load
    Mercy Corps Earthquake Preparedness Night at Roosevelt
    May 2nd | 6-7:30 PM
    Roosevelt High School New Auditorium
    N Smith & N Ida

    Learn about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and our real risk for an upcoming earthquake in Portland. Also, learn what you can do to best prepare yourself.
    The St. Johns Bizarre
    Needs Volunteers
    A May 13th | 10am - 7:00pm | FREE 
    St. Johns Plaza

    2017 is The St. Johns Bizarre's 11th year of creating a forum for neighbors and friends to celebrate the unique and eclectic character of North Portland. We hope you'll come enjoy all that our community has to offer.
    The St. Johns Parade Needs Your Support

    May 13th | St. Johns.  Portland, OR 97203
    This is the 55th year of the parade and first time in recent memory it is having financial difficulties. The parade organizers are reaching out to the community for donations and volunteers. The parade committee fully funds the event and is seeking $10-12k to cover the costs for permits, insurance, security, pins, shirts, portable restrooms, and more.
    Sign up to volunteer & donate here
      I mportant Resources 

    :: Be neighborly with Nextdoor Android | iOS
    ::  Report issues to the city with PDX Reporter Android | iOS
    :: Join the St. Johns volunteer dream team
    :: St. Johns event calendar
    :: SJNA's website
    :: City of Portland's website
    :: St. Johns' shared Google calendar
    :: Important Portland phone numbers
    :: PCC emergency response classes
    :: NET Neighborhood Emergency Team meetings
    :: Multnomah county crisis line 503-988-4888
    :: Portland Women's Crisis Line 503-235-5333
    :: Report specific traffic concerns, call PBOT 503-823-7233

    Please join us at our next neighborhood meeting.
    April 10th, 7pm at St. Johns Community Center
    Spread the word, share on Facebook

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