Fwd: IMPORTANT: Advocate for Funding at Budget Listening Session Tuesday

[Jay Harris]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nanci Champlin <Na...@seuplift.org>

Subject: IMPORTANT: Advocate for Funding at Budget Listening Session Tuesday

Date: March 14, 2025 at 8:30:34 PM PDT

To: Nanci Champlin <Na...@seuplift.org>

Hello District 3 NA Presidents- this is a long but critical email. Please read! Our collective work depends on it, and the time to act is NOW.

 

On Tuesday evening, March 18, the Mayor and City Council will be coming to District 3 to hear the public’s input on the City’s budget. Please attend to tell them how to restore the proposed cuts to the Neighborhood Program. (District 3 event details are below, but you can attend any listening session in person or online and there are multiple ways to submit comment).

 

This is the call to action we talked about at our January gathering to rally your neighbors and board members to tell stories of impact that will win the hearts and minds of our city leaders, and defend the Neighborhood Program from devastating cuts.

 

City officials want to know what you want them to CUT, not just what you want them to save. Below I outline the three proposed cuts to the Neighborhood Program, and talking points from which you can build out your testimony to suggest alternatives, if you like. 

 

 

PLEASE TURN OUT, AND TESTIFY IF YOU CAN.

It’s time to tell stories of the impact we make in our communities. Move hearts and minds in two minutes or less.

 

BACKGROUND

In February, the City Administrator’s office proposed $488k in cuts to the Office of Civic Life budget that, if not restored in the Mayor’s budget that will be released on May 5th, or by Council later this spring, will severely impact the ability of NAs and District Coalition Offices to function. Based on recommendations from Civic Life, that $488k would come from cutting grants to the Diversity in Civic Leadership program, with the bulk coming from the Neighborhood Program which funds the four District Coalition Offices that support all 94 neighborhood associations in the City.

 

TALKING POINTS

Proposed Cut: Eliminate funds for the insurance that allows us to do all our activities.

• Cost to restore: $80,000 for all four District Coalition Offices (DCOs) and every Neighborhood Association in the city.
• The Ask: Please don’t eliminate funds in the Civic Life budget that provide insurance to District Coalition Offices and neighborhoods citywide. Succinctly list the most vital and beloved activities your NA does to make an impact in your neighborhood. Let them know that none of those activities would be possible without the insurance provided through the District Coalition Offices.
• How to Pay for It: Urge Council and the Mayor to direct the Office of Community and Civic Life to reallocate funds from a recent staff vacancy to the four District Coalition Offices, and ensure that this ongoing need is no longer considered “one time funds”. 

 

Proposed Cut: Eliminate the Community Small Grants Program

• Cost to restore: About $160k for all four District Coalition Offices
• The Ask: If you have received a Community Small Grant from SE Uplift, tell Council and the Mayor about the work you did and why it was important to your community. Mention that this program is an extremely cost effective and accessible way for a very small amount of funds to make a big impact in our communities.
• How to Pay for It: Eliminate two vacancies in the Office of Community and Civic Life and reallocate the funds to the Community Small Grants Program.

 

Proposed Cut: Reduce District Coalition Office base funding. “Base funding” provides the dollars we need to provide Neighborhood Association communication funds, reimburse you for your for state filing fees, offer free skill building workshops, and provide a living wage to the staff that run our fiscal sponsorship program, provide neighborhood support services, manage community committees, run the community small grants program, keep the district informed about civic matters, and so much more. This cut will force us to scale back staffing, programs and services that support our communities. We took a disproportionate 20% cut last year. This cannot be sustained.

• Cost to restore: About $120k for all four districts.
• The Ask: If you’re on the Southeast Uplift Board of Directors and/or willing to go to bat for this, please reach out to me for assistance in honing your talking points.

 

Below are the details about Tuesday’s listening session. I hope to see you there!

Nanci

 

 

 

From: Nanci Champlin <Na...@seuplift.org>
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
To: Nanci Champlin <Na...@seuplift.org>
Subject: IMPORTANT: Change to Budget Listening Session!

Hey, neighbor! Thank you for signing up to attend the District 3 Budget Listening Session on Tuesday, March 18th. This email contains important changes from the City of Portland about providing public testimony and joining the event virtually. Please disregard the email confirmation that you received previously from Zoom. We apologize on their behalf for any inconvenience this may cause, and we all look forward to your participation on Tuesday!  - The Southeast Uplift Team

 

TO ATTEND and/or TESTIFY in PERSON
University of Western States
8100 NE Tillamook St., Portland, OR 97213
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Event starts at 6 p.m. | Light refreshments provided
In-person participants may sign up to provide a two-minute testimony upon arrival. Space may be limited. 
 
TO ATTEND + PARTICIPATE via ZOOM

• Use this updated Zoom link if you wish to participate via Zoom, but do not wish to testify. Please disregard the Zoom link you received after registering.  
• Plan to Testify? Details for signing up to provide a two-minute virtual testimony during this event will be posted here on the City’s website on Sunday, March 16. Space may be limited. Please disregard the Zoom link you received when you first registered and visit the City’s website on Sunday for updated information about testifying via Zoom.

 

WATCH ONLINE (no virtual participation option)

• Stream the budget listening session during the event or watch it later on YouTube.