News and Events

Re-Election Announcement

Gresham City Council President Eddy Morales will run for 2nd term

Gresham, Ore. – Business owner and community leader Eddy Morales will run for re-election to the Gresham City Council on November 8, 2022. First elected in 2018, Mr. Morales was elected Council President by his peers for two years in a row. A re-election kickoff will be held at 5:00 PM Saturday, April 16th at Sweet Betty’s Bistro and Bar in downtown Gresham, co-chaired by Congressman Earl Blumenauer and the Gresham Firefighters Union.

“I credit Councilor Eddy Morales with a strong city response to support small businesses when COVID hit, leading the way with emergency grants and a moratorium on utility interruptions and evictions. Councilor Morales understands the needs of our diverse and growing community, and is the hardworking leader we need to return to city hall.” – Hilda Williams, Owner and Operator Nicholas Restaurant

“Gresham is a better place thanks to Eddy Morales. As a colleague, his leadership earned my support to be voted Council President and he has delivered. Councilor Morales is bringing new voices into decision-making, and he is leading innovative and smart public policy to expand our parks, housing, and ensure our long-term economic growth benefits everyone.” – Dina DiNucci, Gresham Councilor

Learn more at http://www.eddymorales.com

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Re-Election Campaign Kickoff

Saturday, April 16, 2022
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sweet Betty’s 543 NW 12th St, Gresham

Kickoff Co-Chairs:
U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Local 1062 Gresham Professional Firefighters

Kickoff Sponsors:
Dina DiNucci, Gresham City Councilor
Mario Palmero, Gresham City Councilor
Vince Jones-Dixon, Gresham City Councilor
Shirley Craddick, Metro Councilor
Kayse Jama, Oregon State Senator
Chris Gorsek, Oregon State Senator
Janelle Bynum, Oregon State Representative
Zack Hudson, Oregon State Representative
Ricki Ruiz, Oregon State Representative
Andrea Valderrama, Oregon State Representative
Carmen Rubio, Portland City Commissioner
Jo Ann Hardesty, Portland City Commissioner

About Eddy:

Eddy Morales was raised by his single mother across Oregon’s small communities including Gresham. After his older brother was murdered in a senseless act of gun violence, Eddy dropped out of school and took on three jobs to support his family, including with the Police Activities League in Gresham. He eventually became the first in his family to attend college. Eddy went on to advocate for students and youth on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, before returning to Oregon and managing his own business, Morales Public Relations. He is dedicated to public service, is the founder of East County Rising, and serves on multiple boards and commissions. He lives in Gresham with his partner Hugh, mother-in-law Rochelle, and rescue dog Besitos.

Action Alert: Help Redirect Funds to Community Members in Need

On December 15th, Gresham City Council voted to make key changes to community development and COVID-19 relief budgets because the community raised its voice and advocated for more funding to the people that urgently need it. Thank you to everyone who shared their powerful testimonies with the council, and congratulations on two important wins.

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Forward. Together. More to Come in the Weeks Ahead!

News worthy of celebration:

As a result of our organizing and coordination, the Gresham City Council, for the first time in history, includes a progressive, community-centered majority.

Together — Vince Jones Dixon, Dina DiNucci, Mario Palmero and I — will usher in a new era of fiscal responsibility, accountability, transparency, and positive change in Gresham.

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Housing and Homelessness in Gresham

Everyone in our community deserves safety and dignity. Making sure everyone in Gresham has a stable and affordable place to call home is one of my top priorities.

Gresham has a housing problem – and it touches all of us. We all see people sleeping out on the street or in tent camps every day. We all know people who are struggling to afford rent (or you may be struggling yourself). 

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How Gresham Can Make An Impact on Climate Change

Like me, you probably watched in dismay this year as wildfires burned more than a million acres in Oregon and filled Gresham with hazardous smoke.

Climate change is here, but with your help our city can be at the forefront of mitigation efforts. There is a lot we can do right here in Gresham to have an impact on climate change. When we keep climate justice in mind as we make plans and design programs, we lead the way for our communities and our planet. 

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Gresham Must Balance the Budget and Protect the Vulnerable

After 14 years of borrowing from our state-mandated reserve, the City of Gresham finds itself in a shortfall. We’ll find our way back together, but we can’t continue to do so at the expense of our community’s most vulnerable.

I’ll cut right to the chase: I voted no on the city’s proposed budget because it unfairly puts the burden of filling a $13.3MM hole right on YOU. How? By charging higher fees. 

I believe we need to readjust our priorities to fill that hole, not impose fees on people who are already struggling to pay their bills. 

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Alert: Emergency Funds for Gresham Small Businesses

The City of Gresham has received Phase 3 Emergency Business Grant funding. Please share this opportunity with your Gresham networks!

The city has received $250,000 in funds from the State of Oregon to provide additional grants to Gresham businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

Funding applications open on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, October 19 at 8 am PT.

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