Public safety

162nd Max Station (view east), 162nd & E Burnside, Portland OR

By Jenny Glass
Executive Director, Rosewood Initiative

(Update: On November 29, 2017 TriMet decided they won't be going forward with changing the name of the 162nd Ave MAX station. Residents of the Rockwood, Wilkes East and Wilkes Community group had expressed strong feelings against the name change during recent neighborhood meetings.)

(Update: At the November 13, 2017 Wilkes East Neighborhood Association General Meeting neighbors approved a motion to support the Rosewood/162nd Max station name change.)

The Rosewood Initiative, a community organization serving the neighborhood since 2009, has requested that TriMet change the 162nd Ave MAX station name to Rosewood/162nd. This is a request to honor, identify and lift up the community that the station resides in. It is part of a larger effort for and by the community to create a sense of place and belonging. Where is Rosewood?

No one has claimed "ownership" in the form of investment, financial or otherwise, in this MAX stop since it was created. In fact, although the 162nd MAX station has one of the highest rates of ridership compared to other stops, the station area has received almost no public or private investment since it was built. Here's a snapshot of the lack of investment:

The public sector has invested in mixed-use buildings, pedestrian improvements and crime prevention programs to improve MAX ridership. At the 162nd Avenue station, that amount totaled $900,000.

By comparison, the public sector has spent $28 million improving the area around the Killingsworth MAX station, the audit said. The Tuality MAX station in Hillsboro has drawn $12 million in transit-oriented public investment.

When the public sector does not invest in a community for decades, we collectively pay the price by having to react to symptoms like concentrated poverty and high crime and consequently an extraordinary amount of police and emergency response services, as well as social safety net services. Maintaining brokenness is very expensive. We can't afford it.

Renaming the MAX station is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and create a strategy for investment around the 162nd MAX station. The Rosewood Initiative has stepped up to lead the advocacy for investment in this station.

The Rosewood Initiative was started to reduce crime in the area. Rebuilding relationships between community and police in both Gresham and Portland was one of the first strategies. But even the Portland and Gresham Police that started The Rosewood Initiative understood that the high crime in this area was not going to be solved by policing, but by public and private sectors coming together and collectively investing in a community.

We would love to work together with Rockwood Neighborhood Association, Wilkes East Neighborhood Association, City of Gresham, TriMet, Metro, and the people that live near the 162nd Ave MAX station to create a comprehensive strategy for investment that is led by the people that live in the community.

We believe that one of the first steps toward collectively taking ownership of the 162nd Ave MAX station area is to give it its own unique identity. Since this area is now known to many as "Rosewood" we think this is a symbolic gesture to highlight the cross-jurisdictional investment that is imperative to support the Rosewood community.

More Info
For more information contact The Rosewood Initiative.

When: Sat, Oct 07, 2017 9AM-12PM Where: Gresham Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Gresham citizens are welcome to join the Gresham Police Department as they conduct a free presentation on active shooter education and response.

Attendees will learn how to prepare, prevent and react to an active shooter scenario.

All members of Gresham businesses, schools, organizations and the community are encouraged to attend. Come and have your questions answered.

For more information about this event, contact Sgt. Theodore Van Beek at Theodore.VanBeek@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-3193.

Peaceful Solutions When: Tue, Sep 19, 2017 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Through understanding communication, this free 2-hour training will introduce professional debrief and how to utilize active listening and open-ended questions to capitalize on teachable moments and turn opportunities for improvement into commitments for action. Participants will be actively engaged throughout the training with the help of experts that will provide coaching through hands on practice.

Contact East Metro Mediation to register at 503-618-3247 or Mediate@GreshamOregon.gov.

Grab Your Bike, Join the Fun! When: Sat, May 13, 2017 10AM-2PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Bring your bike and have fun at our Bike Rodeo course, while also learning and practicing the rules of the road. Travel through five stations to learn basic bike safety and ride an obstacle course to test your bike-handling skills.

In addition, have your bike checked out for safety, your helmet adjusted with Legacy Healths Trauma Nurses Talk Tough program, and learn ways to extend your bicycle trips by using the bus or MAX.

Read more about Bike Month events in Gresham.

For more information, contact Jay Higgins at 503-618-2215 or Jay.Higgins@GreshamOregon.gov.

Peaceful Solutions When: Tue, Apr 18, 2017 6PM-8PM Where: Wood Village City Hall 2055 NE 238th Drive Get Map!

From time to time we all experience tough situations with our neighbors, tenants, landlords, roommates or those we work with. If these situations arent resolved they can grow into really troublesome problems. This free training will teach conflict resolution skills through communication. Participants will be actively engaged throughout the training with the help of experts that will provide coaching through hands on practice.

Contact East Metro Mediation to Register 503-618-3247 Mediate@greshamoregon.gov.

When: Mon Mar 13, 2017 7PM-9PM (New date! 2nd Monday) Where: Albertina Kerr, Gresham Campus Building "CI" (small bldg, center north on property) 722 NE 162nd Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Neighborhood Meeting, Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday, Mar 13th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2017 Spring Meeting. The meeting will be held at Albertina Kerr, 722 NE 162nd Av, Building "CI" (small bldg, center north on property), Gresham OR. Get map!

Guests & Topics
Speakers for the March 13th meeting include: Steve Fancher, City of Gresham, Transportation Department to explain the new Utility Tax and pothole repairs; Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County Chair to update us on the homeless shelters in and around our neighborhood; & hopefully our new Chief of Police Robin Sellers to speak about crime & her goals for our community.

Who should attend?
This meeting is open to all residents and businesses in the Wilkes East Neighborhood!

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Thu, Dec 01, 2016 6:30PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Barlow Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Transportation Subcommittee advises the Gresham City Council in the ongoing development of a comprehensive transportation network that will improve the safety and livability of Gresham.

For more information about this event contact Katherine Kelly at 503-618-2110 or Katherine.Kelly@GreshamOregon.gov.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Thu, Nov 03, 2016 6:30PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Barlow Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Transportation Subcommittee advises the Gresham City Council in the ongoing development of a comprehensive transportation network that will improve the safety and livability of Gresham.

For more information about this event contact Katherine Kelly at 503-618-2110 or Katherine.Kelly@GreshamOregon.gov.

When: Mon Nov 14, 2016 7PM-9PM Where: Albertina Kerr, Gresham Campus Building "CI" (small bldg, center north on property) 722 NE 162nd Av Gresham, OR Get Map!

Neighborhood Meeting, Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday, Nov 14th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2016 Fall Meeting & Annual Election of Officers. The meeting will be held at Albertina Kerr, 722 NE 162nd Av, Building "CI" (small bldg, center north on property), Gresham OR. Get map!

Guests & Topics
Annual Election of Officers; Charles Hodges, Dir. Emergency Services, Human Solutions will present an update on the Gresham Women's Shelter; Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury's office will update neighbors on homeless shelters in our area; Craig Smith, Director of Development will give updates on the Waterside Apartments and ProjectOne at 162nd & NE Halsey; plus neighborhood news and updates.

2016 August Meeting minutes (pending public approval)

Who should attend?
This meeting is open to all residents and businesses in the Wilkes East Neighborhood!

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

When: Tue, Nov 22, 2016 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky. Get Map!

The Public Safety Committee advises Council on matters related to public safety, including police, fire and life safety, with a goal for Gresham to become one of the safest cities in the state.

For more information about this event contact Rebecca Danner at 503-618-2313 or Rebecca.Danner@GreshamOregon.gov.