Message from the Mayor
Summer in Hood River is a busy time when the streets and parks fill with people enjoying what our city has to offer. It is also a busy time for us to make progress on improvements throughout the city. I can only assume everyone was as relieved and excited as I was when the Second and Oak intersection reopened. Kudos to the crew for completing the work before Memorial Day, just in time for summer.
I also want to give kudos to the volunteers who showed up for the Clean Up Cascade litter pick up in May. It’s a pleasure working side-by-side with neighbors to spruce things up.
Many of us are also experiencing construction right in front of our homes. Montello Avenue in front of our house is all torn up as an infrastructure project is underway. This time it is new sewer pipes, water lines, and accessible curb ramps. This is a basic city function that our crews accomplish to the extent we can afford it. Former mayor Bill Pattison once told me how proud he was about the many miles of sewer pipe laid during his administration in the ‘70s. Now it’s our turn to maintain and enhance our beautiful city.
Serving on City Council means spending many hours in meetings, reviewing materials, and staying informed to make the best decisions we can. As volunteers, we receive a small stipend for this service. However, it has become clear that, without compensation for time spent, so many people cannot afford to serve. To make serving on Council more accessible, we have voted to increase the stipend for future terms of office in the hopes that more people of diverse backgrounds will now have the opportunity to shape policy in this city.
Onward! Adelante!
Mayor Paul Blackburn
PS: I gave the state of the city address last month. It’s available online; check our Facebook page or YouTube channel if you’re interested.
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