Plan goes beyond Pearl

The following letter was published today in the Portland Tribune.

"We wish to correct a misstatement in the geographic focus of letters that families throughout Portland have sent to city leaders advocating for funding a school, community center and child care in the River District — not just the Pearl District.

If funded by River District urban renewal area funds, they would support families who live, learn, work and play throughout the central city.

The overriding “Pearly” angle did not fully convey the scope (neither geographically nor philosophically) of our work in the central city. Your coverage elicited strong responses from numerous people objecting to a Pearl-based focus, something we are making every effort to push beyond (Parents call for a Pearl with room for kids to grow, March 4).

In fairness, writer Peter Korn did mention the scope of our work extending beyond the Pearl to “downtown,” but that still does not fully encompass where we hope to eventually reach.

Central Portland Families is making every effort to align with what the city itself defines as the “Central City,” not just the Pearl. This is an important distinction to make in order to build the broadest and strongest coalition of parents, families and concerned citizens.

Furthering a separation between the Pearl District “and everyplace else” helps no one, especially not families seeking to build more complete communities across what essentially are artificial boundaries.

We do hope you will keep Central Portland Families in mind for future stories but that you will regard our work in a less tightly Pearl-prescribed light.

Kirsten Lee

Nancy Davis

Central Portland Families co-founders

Northwest Portland"