Medford, OR – According to the statement, here are 60 highlights from Governor Kotek’s team:
1. Spoke to a joint session of the Oregon Legislature after being sworn in, outlining her priorities .
2. Met with Tribal Leaders following her swearing-in ceremony, in her first official act as Governor.
3. Moved to Salem with First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and their dogs Teddy and Rudy.
4. Declared a homelessness state of emergency .
5. Directed all state agencies to prioritize reducing unsheltered homelessness.
6. Established a statewide housing production target of 36,000 new homes per year.
7. Sent new agency performance expectations to all agency leaders.
8. Sent a letter to all state employees thanking them for their public service and pledging to partner with them in solving problems.
9. Announced Ebony Clarke as the Oregon Health Authority’s incoming Behavioral Health Director.
10. Met with the state’s Racial Justice Council in her first week to discuss budget priorities.
11. Joined Congregation Beth Israel for their annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Shabbat Service.
12. Led a community clean up event , picking up 563 pounds of trash and helping clean up a neighborhood park in East Multnomah County.
13. Spoke at The Skanner Foundation’s 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast.
14. Addressed mayors and other local leaders from across the state during the League of Oregon Cities’ “City Day” event at the Salem Convention Center, focusing her remarks on working collaboratively to solve the housing and homelessness crisis.
15. Continued holding regular meetings with the Mayor of Portland and the Chair of Multnomah County to support greater collaboration on reducing unsheltered homelessness and other issues of shared concern.
16. Toured the “Mass Casitas” prototype modular homes under construction at a Port of Portland facility.
17. Released her recommended budget for the 2023-25 biennium, with a mission-focused approach to building more housing and reducing homelessness, improving access to mental health and addiction services, and improving outcomes in early literacy and K-12 schools.
18. Met in person with the legislative caucuses, Democrats and Republicans and House and Senate, to review her budget goals and answer questions of mutual concern.
19. Signed a proclamation recognizing Black History Month and the significant contributions and accomplishments by members of Black communities across Oregon and the United States over the last 400 years.
20. Joined U.S. Housing and Urban Development Northwest Regional Administrator Margaret Salazar, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to announce $9.5 million in federal funding to address housing and homelessness.
More information here.
