By Brian Hoop
Portland City Councilor Olivia Clark. Credit: Office of Councilor Olivia Clark
Olivia Clark is one of three inaugural members of Portland’s expanded city council elected in 2024 to represent District 4, which includes the Linnton neighborhood. Clark invites Linnton residents to chat with her during office hours she’ll be holding at the Linnton Community Center on Saturday, May 31 from 10 am to 12 noon.
Clark has a long history of public service including seven years in Governor John Kitzhaber’s office working on intergovernmental relations and legislative affairs. This was followed by 20 years at Tri-Met helping to secure funding to expand the region’s light rail system and construction of the Tilikum Crossing Bridge.
Her volunteer community service has included serving 12 years on the board and as chair of Providence Health System from 2010 to 2022. She had previously founded and served on the board of CASA of Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to building farmworker housing.
Clark campaigned with priorities of homelessness and housing, public safety, improving sidewalks, and making sure that the city is climate resilient. Particularly, she wants to strengthen Portland Street Response with additional training and clinical supervision as well as the authority to transport people.
Regarding public safety, she would like to focus on Multnomah County’s Local Public Safety Coordinating Council to ensure that all of our public safety ecosystems are pulling in the same direction. In addition, she would support rebuilding the Police Department’s traffic enforcement, retail theft, and investigations services.
Last, addressing the Portland Clean Energy Fund, she would broaden its use as far as possible to support essential services before referring the program back to the ballot.
Specific to Linnton, Clark has been attentive to Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub dangers and is submitting a note to the mayor’s proposed budget for funding efforts to lessen risks. She voted to investigate how the city awarded Zenith Energy The Land Use Compatibility Statement and to revoke PGE’s plan to cut hundreds of trees for the Harborton Project.
“I want to make our city work for everyone, and our city council work together to get things done,” Clark says. “I want to bring back the city we love and can be proud of – a city where we can walk downtown without fear. A city where our emergency services are strong and our businesses thrive. A city where all citizens have a place to call home. A city where a 911 call brings immediate help. I am an optimist. I believe that if we work together, we can get things done.”
City Councilor Olivia Clark Holds Office Hours in Linnton
Saturday, May 31 | 10 am – 12 noon Linnton Community Center10614 NW St. Helens Rd.
Olivia Clark is a Linnton ally – let’s show her we appreciate her commitments to our neighborhood. Hope to see lots of you there!
For more info: https://tinyurl.com/2ps2ke46