Gresham Renaissance

Join Eddy Morales and Dina DiNucci as we host a special episode to discuss something exciting and dear to Eddy as he was one of the original founders of East County Rising.  

Today we have 2 special guests, Amanda Orozco Beach and Joseph Santos Lyons, as long time organizers with ECR to discuss the organization and the summit!  

For more information on East County Rising Community Projects click on this link. 

The registration for this summit is now closed but waiting list registrations are still being accepted.  However, if you are interested in the event details, click this link.

As noted in the program, if you find that you are interested in learning more about ECR, or are considering how you would like to be involved in your community, please reach out.

Every 8 years the City of Gresham appoints a committee to review the City's charter and recommend changes. After 1 full year of researching impacts, the Charter committee has recommended 6 changes to be sent forward to the voters to vote for or against.  The Gresham City Council is charged with reviewing the recommendations and determining whether to send those recommendations forward.  More details showing the current charter, members, and meeting discussion can be found here on the City's website. An in-depth review of the Charter recommendations were given at a Council Work Session linked here. Follow up actions taken 7/11 and 7/18. 

There is so much more historical context related to the elections of 1986 where citizen initiatives by a well know anti-government advocate filled the ballot with initiatives and pushed for voters to turn out specifically for that election, which reversed things such as majority voting, districts and Urban Renewal, setting our city apart from standard operations of other cities in Oregon but not enough time to review our longer history.

If you have follow up questions for our guests from the committee, please email them at [email protected], and their opinions will be shared with you as individuals, not representing the committee. 

Thank you Chair Joseph Andaya, Sub-Committee Chair Jack Hollis; members/sub-committee members - Dana Stroud and Tim Fier.  

Join Councilors Eddy Morales and Dina DiNucci as we speak with Shannon Martin, Solid Waste and Sustainability Manager, and learn about the big efforts the City is planning to address climate action in Gresham.  And the key is community input.   Click here to go to the City's Climate Action website -  to take the survey, sign up to be involved, and to learn what's next. 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Have you changed any habits that address climate change? And, are there specific things you would like to see included in the City's Climate Action Plan? You can respond to the question or leave us other messages thru any of these methods!

Website: [email protected]

Also, go to Gresham Renaissance Facebook Page to learn about getting Thank You Gresham cards, and learn about the different podcast apps where you can find us. 

The Rockwood Market Hall is a great place to visit.  It has even more going on thanks to Frankie who organized a flea market on the plaza site.  Join Dina and Eddy in a discussion about Rockwood and the flea market.  And we'd love to hear your answer to the question of the week: What would you like to see at the Rockwood Market Hall? 

More information on topics discussed today: 

The Rockwood Market Hall

Facebook site for the flea market: Rockwood Flea Market/[email protected] 

You can share your thoughts with us, answer the question of the week, or get in touch:

email: [email protected]

PART 2: VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! May 16th. 

Part 2 of our podcast is about this special election. Along with the Gresham Safety Levy, we have a lot of amazing candidates in local school board and MHCC races.   We will discuss our favorite people and things to vote for.  (Eddy has offered up the East County Rising (ECR) endorsement list that can be found at EastCountyRising.com) 

? of the week: DURING THIS ELECTION WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?  A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE OR ISSUE?  LET US KNOW!

DOUBLE HEADER INTRODUCTORY PODCAST

This week Eddy, Vince and Dina had the opportunity to check out the amazing programs and facilities at Parents First and Wooden Fish as we recorded our introductory podcast. 

It’s a double header podcast today.  We’d like you all to know why we’re here, what to expect, and how to engage,Along with how we engage with the Gresham Strategic Plan.  This week ELECTIONS is WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR. Since our elections are 5 DAYS AWAY, please listen to part 2!

In our discussion we refer to some interviews with Dave Dyk from Gresham Budget Committee, and Kevn Larson, our Gresham Firefighter Union Pres.  Please go to our podcast links to hear those interviews also.

Kevin Larsen, Union President for the Gresham Fire Department shares details of how this Safety Levy will make the community and our fire fighters safer.

Dave Dyk, a long term budget committee member for the City of Gresham and a self professed numbers nerd explains Gresham's complicated funding issues and why we can't fund basic services without this levy due to Measure 50 and Gresham's very low tax rate.

To understand how your property taxes are affected, use these links:

Video: Measure 50 and Property Taxes

Look up your property