Town Hall with Tina Kotek and others

This is the same day as the neighborhood cleanup - but you can go to this and help out before or after!

Dear Friends and Neighbors, As quickly as things are moving in Salem, our work is always about what's happening in the district. We're bringing the Legislature to you next week... First, I hope that you will join me at an upcoming Town Hall! Representative Lew Frederick, Senator Chip Shields and I are hosting a mid-session conversation at the Cascade campus of Portland Community College on Saturday, April 23. You are invited to come hear about the work we're doing in Salem and share your ideas and opinions. Legislative Town Hall Who: Representatives Lew Frederick and Tina Kotek, Senator Chip Shields, and you! What: Mid-Session Town Hall When: Saturday, April 23, 10 AM- noon Where: Moriarty Hall Auditorium, PCC Cascade

Ways and Means Public Hearing In addition to the Town Hall, there is another local opportunity for you to have your say in the legislative process on Tuesday, April 19. The Ways and Means Committee is hitting the road, traveling around the state to hold meetings about the budget and hear directly from members of the community. I hope that you will join us in Portland to share your thoughts on how to best address the $3.5 billion budgetary shortfall that Oregon faces this biennium. Many of the cuts proposed might affect you--and we need to hear from you. Please note, the usual protocol is to allow 2 or 3 minute-long testimony, so come prepared to be brief. Ways and Means: Portland Hearing Who: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means What: Community meeting with legislators about the state budget When: Tuesday, April 19, 5PM-7PM Where: Portland Community College- Sylvania, 12000 SW 49th Avenue Portland, OR 97219

I hope to see you at one or both of these events! Best wishes,

Upcoming Foreclosure Town Hall and other info from Rep. Kotek

From Rep. Tina Kotek HD44

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope many of you had the chance to enjoy the great summer weather this week at the many National Night Out parties around the district. Knowing our neighbors - and watching out for each other - is an important part of keeping our community safe.

On August 31st, I will be hosting a town hall on the foreclosure crisis in St. Johns. I hope you'll be able to join us.

I've also been busy working on budget issues since I last wrote, so there's a quick update below. Lastly, my ever-helpful legislative assistant, Alex Berke, has scheduled some office hours at New Columbia for greater access to my office out in the community. We are always open to offers of public space for these community office hours.


Foreclosure Town Hall

The foreclosure crisis still has a strong grip on our nation and our neighborhoods. Many of us know people struggling to hold on to their homes. It might even be you. The foreclosure storm is ongoing, and Portland in particular is experiencing a late wave as home prices continue to stagnate or decline. Today, there are 164 properties in foreclosure just in my zip code alone.

I hope you will join me on August 31st at the St. Johns Community Center to share your stories and learn about resources to help people keep their homes. We will also have local experts on hand to discuss available resources. We will have plenty of time to hear your stories and hear your thoughts on what people need right now.

Foreclosure Town Hall
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
St. Johns Community Center
8427 N. Central

State Budget Update

Many of you have contacted me with your concerns about the budget. Thank you for writing or calling. You have expressed the hope that any budget cuts that have to be taken are mindful of the future and protect vulnerable people as much as possible. I completely agree and will do my best to honor those wishes. We have some tough months ahead, and your feedback will be important.

I sit on the Emergency Board, a group of 10 House members and 10 Senate members who handle budget issues when we are not in session. The Emergency Board (or E-Board, as it's commonly called) convened on July 22nd to address some of the most urgent and serious cuts in the Department of Human Services (DHS). We were able to restore $17 million in reductions to programs that help seniors and people with disabilities and individuals facing mental health crises. This was about 10% of the overall cut that DHS needs to take under the Governor's across-the-board cut to balance the budget. To read more about what we did, please see this memo from the Legislative Fiscal Office.

It is very likely the E-Board will meet again in September, especially in light of possible new federal dollars coming to the state for K-12 education and health care services. We must be careful in how we prioritize these emergency funds because we still face major challenges next year when we write the 2011-13 budget. I am also urging state agencies to think differently about how they do their work. How can we do our job more efficiently so we can continue to serve people in these tough economic times? If dollars are limited, how does our business model need to change to keep up with the need? For me, these are the most important questions to ask ourselves right now.


Office Hours at New Columbia

My legislative assistant, Alex Berke, will be holding office hours at New Columbia on Monday, August 16th and Monday, August 30th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days.

She will be available in the Housing Authority of Portland office at New Columbia (4605 N. Trenton) during those times. Our office often helps constituents with a variety of issues related to state agencies. We can help you navigate the system or help track down answers to your questions.

So, please drop by and say hello to Alex. We are here to serve you.

It's an honor to serve you in the Legislature. Please contact my legislative assistant Alex Berke at our district office, by phone, 503-286-0558, or email, if we can be of any assistance to you.

Best wishes,

Rep. Tina Kotek | 900 Court St. NE H-281 | Salem | OR | 97301

Willamette River Town Hall

Join Attorney General John Kroger for a Town Hall on the Banks of the Willamette River

You know that Attorney General John Kroger and DEQ Director Dick Pedersen are committed to improving environmental enforcement in Oregon.Come be part of the solution! Join us for a discussion about the current challenges facing the Willamette River and what it will take to reverse the trend.

Read more about our Tualatin River Town Hall in July.

Tougher enforcement is one important step but to make real progress... our rivers need you.

Thursday, October 1

6:30pm - 8:00pm

John Ross Plaza Studio

3623 SW River Parkway

Portland OR, 97239

If you plan to attend please let us know by respond by calling Julie Rutherford at 503-378-6002.

Together we can keep Oregon beautiful.
Hope to see you there!

Town Hall with Rep. Tina Kotek

March 14, 2009 10:00am - 12:00pm

Reps. Tina Kotek and Chip Shields will be hosting a Town Hall.

Please join them for this important conversation.

They look forward to seeing old friends and connecting with new community members.

Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, Terrill Hall
Room 112, 705 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR