Episode 8: downtown portland: what’s the tea?! + commissioner carmen rubio
When we started Portland Tea Party we promised to bring in Portland City Officials to talk about real issues, and today on Portland Tea Party we are thrilled to welcome our first city official, Commissioner Carmen Rubio.
Portland
We dig into City of Portland 101 by asking:
What do Commissioners do?
Which bureaus does Commissioner Rubio oversee?
What's it like to balance an executive role with a legislative role?
What is she excited about with City transition? (Don’t worry people - this is not a campaign interview - that's a later episode!)
What is most important for revitalizing downtown?
Tea
We get to know Carmen, the person and find out more about:
Her career story & how she became interested in public service
Why she’s excited to continue
Who she admires in leadership
How does she get through challenges
The tea on her work / life balance (Spoiler - she’s a gamer. Shout out to the new Final Fantasy!)
Party
This week's top events:
Lunar New Year at Lan Su Chinese Garden - ends March 2 rn-viewing-evenings
Pro Tip: get a membership!
Portland Seafood and Wine Festival at the Expo Center - March 1-3
Community Challenge
Volunteer! Check out Hands on Portland for opportunities, and get involved.
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Tell us your ideas for guests, venues, and events here!
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Guest Info
Commissioner Carmen Rubio: Throughout her career, Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio has dedicated herself to making local government accessible and responsive. Since taking office in 2021, she has worked to ensure that leaders and staff go outside City Hall to authentically listen and engage with everyone in our city. She oversees the Community and Economic Development service area, which includes Portland Housing Bureau, Bureau of Development Services, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and Prosper Portland.
You can get in touch and stay up-to-date with her here:
