East Garden’s sumptuous food, business connections for free and information you can and should use from police and area activists combined to make DMA’s second mixer of the year perfection.

Mark Wells, crime prevention coordinator with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and Portland Police Lt. Morgan of the East Precinct both tackled topics from vagrancy to vandalism that affect all small businesses in our area. Morgan updated the nearly 20 people at the mixer on the city’s “Homeless Toolkit.” If you see camping-related activity, such as garbage and impassable sidewalks, that hurts the livability of our community, here’s your “One Point of Contact: email reportpdx@portlandoregon.gov. A number to call is 503-823-4000.

Wells reinforced the message, the city is here to help us. Wells also introduced businesses to the possibility of organizing Business Watches. The program is still in its developmental form but follows the model of well-established Neighborhood Watches. A successful Watch boosts both commercial vitality and livability for residents. To download a manual, connect to www.portlandonline.com/oni/cp.

Creating cohesion through planning and art rounded out the evening. Anthony Moreschi, DMA’s Capital Improvement Chair spoke about the Store Front Improvement Grant program offered to district businesses and we will be sharing more about that in next month’s newsletter.  Horatio Law and Linda Wysong, artists/art planners for the Jade-Midway Art Plan, presented a number of ideas from planning to execution that will help boost the identity and pride of the DMA corridor and our partner, the Jade District.

We want to thank East Garden for such a great array of tasty treats from pot stickers to (yum) barbecue pork, and so, so, so much more. Treat yourself and check out the East Garden, 12424 SE Division St.  If you can’t go to them, East Garden delivers! Call 503-761-2200 and enjoy Chinese delivery tonight!

And see you at the next mixer for breakfast at the Daily Planet, 11312 SE Powell Blvd., 8:30-10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13.