Central Portland: Help Make It Family Friendly

Sometimes it seems that the whole country L-O-V-E-S Portland these days.  Especially our downtown core & the Pearl.  It's planning & urban renewal done right, right?  It's what we're famous for.  It's vibrant, it's alive day & night, there's retail, culture, food, ambiance, a few childcare centers, and people live there, too.  Shoot, there's even a grocery store or two downtown  - no easy task. 

And of course there's Jamison Square, which draws families from the whole Metro area to splash in its fountain and lallygag on its grassy picnic areas (when you can find a 2 x 2 square to spread your blanket, that is!). Seems we should just sit back, relax, and soak up the praise, huh mamas?  Not so fast!  One Activista recently asked us to help her highlight the needs for families who live, work, and play in central Portland - which is most of us, in one way or another.  She writes:

There are tens of millions of dollars that can only be spent in downtown Portland. Those dollars have been spent on many interest groups, but not on families.  There are published plans and policy papers that cite that downtown needs more childcare, community centers and schools.  Now is the opportunity to fulfill those needs.

Our question: how many of the candidates for city office believe in  providing resources for families in central Portland?  We'd like to find out, so we're pulling together a candidates' forum - hopefully with your help!

Wanna Help 'Em?  They're looking for a group of volunteers to help create a candidate's forum for folks running for city office. The topic would be the needs of families, working parents and children  - and how they intersect - in Central Portland.  Things like: childcare, safety, family housing, schools, community centers, parks for active play  - issues our city should be concerned about. 

They need folks who can help invite the candidates, book a space, find a moderator, develop questions and - most importantly - get out the voters.   And soon.  The election isn't until May 20th, but  it's critical to get on candidate's calendars before they're all booked up!  They're hoping to host the event in about six weeks.  Join the fun or learn more by e-mailing them at  centralportlandfamilies [at] gmail [dot ]com. 

Any thoughts on this, mamas?   How does your family work, live, and play in central Portland?  Got ideas to make it more friendly for your family?  Reasons why it's not family-friendly enough now?  Or is it?

Comments

[LTF]

I attended the Emerson School kindergarten roundup tonight and their after care is 100% full with a wait list, and reportedly no child care options at all in the area. Hmmm... as the program director said, it's a business opportunity just waiting. Does show that there's a need in the downtown core for more child care options. I work near Pioneer Square and our kids are over by SW 1st & Oak. Anyone else who works downtown sense there is a shortage of childcare options in the vicinity?

[abby]

Sara Gelser spoke at NWDSA's event at OHSU earlier this month. She is a great voice for all of us parents. She fought hard for the People First Language bill, and continues to do great work in Salem. Nice to see the loop expanding into an intricate web of strong voices for kids.

[abby]

Oops, I clicked the wrong line....that comment belongs on the previous post. bad clicking finger....