Neighborhood Associations and Organizations Say: “Protect Our City from CEI Hub Risks”

Join us for a public press conference at 11 a.m. on March 31 to stand with neighborhood associations and organizations to say: “Protect Our City from CEI Hub Risks.”

Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub is a serious threat to the health and safety of our communities and our environment. More than 45 neighborhood associations and 35 other organizations signed a letter calling on the City Council to prioritize the health and safety of Portland communities and our environment in upcoming Council decisions on the CEI Hub.

What: Public announcement of the delivery of this letter.

When: Tuesday March 31 at 11:00 a.m.

Where: Augustana Lutheran Church – 2710 NE 14th Ave., Portland, OR 97212  

Cost: Free!

Parking: Street parking available, bikes welcome!

Public Transportation: TriMet busses 8 and 24 have stops nearby

Remarks by:

• Khanh Pham; Oregon State Senate District 23
• Susheela Jayapal; Former Multnomah County Commissioner
• Patricia Kullberg; MD, MPH–Multnomah County Medical Director 1988-2008, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
• David Labby; Retired Physician, Tank the Tanks
• Nikki Mandell; CEI Hub Task Force
• Taylor Villucci; Vernon Neighbor

The letter was initiated by the CEI Hub Task Force, who are committed to informing community members about the hazards of having 90 percent of Oregon’s fuel and a mix of toxics stored within Portland’s city limits. The letter will be delivered to Mayor Wilson, Portland City Council, and City Manager. Raymond C. Lee III.

Among other things, the letter urges the City Council to vote for proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code that would halt the expansion of flammable, combustible and toxic materials on the seismically unstable land of the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub.

In part, the letter states:

“Public input on decisions regarding our safety and health is vital in mitigating and preventing further damage to the well being of our communities and natural environment. 

We, the undersigned Portland Neighborhood Associations and community and faith based organizations therefore support the following:

1. The City adopt a policy that any economic development must not increase the dangers at the CEI Hub. 
2. The City of Portland’s CEI Hub Policy Project (to amend the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code) should include all types of fuels or materials that are combustible, flammable or toxic to reduce risks at the Hub.
3. The Comprehensive Plan must prohibit new or expanded storage or transport of any type* of fuels or materials at the CEI Hub that are combustible, flammable, or toxic on soils deemed vulnerable to lateral spread due to liquefaction from earthquake shaking.
4. The Comprehensive Plan must prohibit development at the CEI Hub that would lead Portland to become a national or international export hub for combustible, flammable, or toxic materials.
5. The City work with local and state officials and agencies to develop and fully resource and fund the capacity to respond to emergencies at the CEI Hub. 

We are looking to our city government to lead the transition to a safer environment for all of us.” 

Signatories:

Neighborhood Associations
Alameda Neighborhood Association
Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association
Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association
Arnold Creek Neighborhood Association
Ashcreek-Crestwood Neighborhood Association
Boise Neighborhood Association
Bridgeton Neighborhood Association
Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Clean and Green Team
Brooklyn Action Corps
Buckman Neighborhood Association
Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association
Downtown Neighborhood Association
East Columbia Neighborhood Association
Foster Powell Neighborhood Association
Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Goose Hollow Neighborhood Association
Hayhurst Neighborhood Association
Hazelwood Neighborhood Association
Hillsdale Neighborhood Association
Hillside Neighborhood Association
Irvington Neighborhood Association
Kenton Neighborhood Association
Kerns Neighborhood Association
Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association
Linnton Neighborhood Association
Lloyd EcoDistrict
Madison Neighborhood Association
Maplewood Neighborhood Association
Multnomah Neighborhood Association
Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
Pearl District Neighborhood Association
Piedmont Neighborhood Association
Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association
Portsmouth Neighborhood Association
Reed Neighborhood Association
Rose City Park Neighborhood Association
Roseway Neighborhood Association
Sauvie Island Community Association
St. John’s Neighborhood Association
Skyline Ridge Neighbors
Southeast Uplift, District 3 Coalition
Sullivan’s Gulch Neighborhood Association
Sumner Association of Neighbors
Vernon Neighborhood Association
Woodstock Neighborhood Association

Organizations
350Eugene
350PDX
Alliance for Democracy
Braided River Campaign
Breach Collective
CEI Hub Task Force
Columbia Riverkeeper
Community for Earth, First Unitarian Portland
Consolidated Indivisible Network
Ecofaith Recovery
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Extinction Rebellion PDX
Firewise Neighborhoods:
– Linnton
– Forest Park-South
Frog Ferry
Havurah Shalom Climate Action Team
Human Access Project
Leaven Community
MCAT (Mobilizing Climate Action Together)
Neighbors for Clean Air
North West Citizen Science Initiative
Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club
Oregon Interfaith Power and Light
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Oregon Progressive Party
Portland Clean Air
Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group
Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Portland Jobs with Justice
Portland Metro People’s Coalition
Social Justice Action Group First Unitarian Portland
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
Sunrise Movement PDX
Tank the Tanks
Willamette Riverkeeper