As summer begins to wind down, I wanted to let you know about a few upcoming events in East Portland.

Global Warming Town Hall
Next Thursday, August 21, I hope you will join me for a conversation about global warming with US Representative Earl Blumenauer and State Representative Jackie Dingfelder. We will be meeting in the Great Hall at PCC Southeast from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

Consensus is clear - global warming is happening and happening fast. Inaction is expensive: if greenhouse gas emissions aren't curbed, we will see irreparable harm to our economy, environment, and health.

Next Thursday, we will welcome input from our constituents on federal and state solutions to global warming. Topics will include transportation options, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy costs, land use planning, green jobs, public health, and more.

According to a recent poll, 76% of Oregonians agree that "global warming is so urgent a problem that even in these difficult economic times, we should take action now." Do you agree? What actions should we take? What concerns should your elected representatives keep in mind as we craft climate change policy? I hope that you will join us for this important discussion.

Adopt-A-Market
Portland's farmers markets are tremendous assets, bringing fresh produce to neighborhoods and bringing neighbors together. The eastern section of my legislative district includes the areas surrounding two Sunday markets: the Montavilla Farmers Market (SE 79th and Stark) and the Lents International Farmers Market (SE 92nd and Foster). Over the course of the summer, I have shopped and volunteered at both.

In September, however, I will be trying something new. I have agreed to recruit enough volunteers to fully staff the Lents Market throughout the morning of Sunday, September 28. If you haven't been to the Lents Market before, you're in for a treat. One of its unique features allows local residents to sell excess garden produce at the community table; at a nearby booth, you are likely to meet an immigrant family that rents and farms a few acres in order to grow delicious Asian vegetables for the market. I would welcome your help staffing the market on September 28th. If you're interested, please email Christy in my office or call her at (503) 236-3351. You can also find out more by clicking here.

Neighborhood Association Visit
Finally, State Representative Mike Schaufler and I will be attending the next meeting of the Lents Neighborhood Association. We each represent parts of that large neighborhood and want to make ourselves available to the folks working hard on various improvement projects in Lents. I attend neighborhood association meetings from time to time and keep posted on their activities through various listservs and websites. The recent efforts of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association to curb prostitution along 82nd Avenue are just one example of how community collaboration can make a difference.

If you are not already involved with your own neighborhood association and the excellent work that they do, I hope that you will consider attending a meeting soon. Please click here to see a list of upcoming neighborhood association meetings in District 46. For those of you in Lents, join Rep. Schaufler and me on August 26th at 7:00 at Lents Seventh Adventist Church Auditorium at SE 88th and Woodstock.

One Event Outside District - Statewide Autism Tour
A legislative work group, headed by State Representative Chris Edwards and including representatives from the Oregon Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Oregon Autism Alliance, is embarking on a statewide tour to discuss issues related to autism. The work group will be holding an event in North Portland on Tuesday, August 19th from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Please click here for more information.

Be well and enjoy these hot summer days,

State Representative Ben Cannon
1125 SE Madison, Suite 100B
Portland, OR 97214
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
http://www.repbencannon.com
(503) 236-3351

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