Robin Ye for Portland

On May 16th, I announced with this statement that I was ending my campaign for Portland City Council. Being a candidate is different from all other work, you’re really putting yourself and your family out there, and I realized now was not the right time. I’m ending my race with deep gratitude and appreciation for everyone who supported me on this incredible journey.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! I look forward to being just a regular cat guy in Portland.

✨Friday Funday in District 3 Series ✨
May’s theme is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander cuisines, in honor of Heritage Month

My main hobby is eating, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing all throughout Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

This week I’m showcasing Pure Spice Chinese Restaurant 🫚🌶️🧄 (2446 SE 87th Ave) located in the Jade District, off of SE Division. It was my first time in and the food was really good – authentic and accurate to my Chinese sensibilities. Like a great Chinese restaurant, the space is unassuming, the specials board is vast, and roast duck and bbq stands adorn the entrance. Pure spice restaurant is a great, quiet space for family and friends, and it has a banquet hall that can hold up to 140 people.

Jill and I had dinner with our friend and my own HS history 👩🏻‍🏫 teacher Amy! You can see pictured our order of Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp 🦐(鮮蝦腸粉), Beef Chow Fun🐄 (乾炒牛河), Clay Pot Rice w/ Cured Duck 🦆(臘鴨煲仔飯), Water Spinach 🥬 (蒜蓉空心菜), and Asian Cauliflower with Fish Ball 🐟(花菜炒魚丸 recommended by the server, without hesitation, and it absolutely hit). We’ll also definitely be back to try our their dim sum offerings…

District 3️⃣has an incredible array of Asian cuisine. My only regret is that there are not enough days in a year to showcase all the outstanding Asian eats in the city. But we shall try!

May 1st marks many things (International Workers Day, AAPI Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month) but this year it marks the beginning of our Oregon May 2024 Primary elections – you should receive your ballot any day now and you must vote by May 2️⃣1️⃣

is the finest in the state, and Portlanders should feel incredibly confident about the integrity and efficiency of our elections. The County Elections office (led by Elections Director Tim Scott) hosted a behind-the-scenes tour of the elections operation, and my campaign intern Michelle⭐️ and I got to see the shop, and it wowed my democracy/elections loving heart (I’m an elections nerd 🤓 surprise surprise 🎉🎊).

This May elections marks the last of its kind, as the county offices will be decided by ranked choice in November only starting in 2026, joining the City of Portland. I hate the May primaries because only a fraction of the people, 30% on average, end up voting in the Spring (40% turnout being the record best). Consistently, November elections see 75-85% turnout in the city, so basically twice as many people vote in November but half as many people get to decide things in May before voters even have a chance in the fall.

It’s a stark reminder of our dilemma stuck between operating in the democracy that we live in and moving toward the ✨democracy as it could be✨ as we were promised, and that we can have in Oregon if we elect leaders bold enough to fight for it. 🌿

There’s no better feeling than seeing your hard fought advocacy turned into government action! In the 2023 legislative session, we in the Office of Rep. worked tirelessly to secure $7 million for our TREEs Act - to expand our Urban Forestry division to support neglected communities in the fight for shade equity. The Portland Clean Energy Fund that we at , back in 2018, worked to pass will invest $100 million in tree planting and maintenance over the next five years.

In climate extremes, trees can mean the difference between life and death. As journalist (Taylor Griggs) reported, “During the record-shattering heat dome in June 2021, researchers found major temperature disparities between different parts of the city. In some Portland neighborhoods—notably lower-income areas east of I-205—the air temperature spiked to 124 degrees, while wealthier parts of the city closer to the river didn’t break 100. One of the main differences between the neighborhoods? Tree canopy coverage.”

Portland’s lush tree canopy isn’t distributed equally across all neighborhoods, and poorer, formerly redlined neighborhoods tend to see less street trees, more concrete pavement and less parks – leading to some of the hottest average temperatures in those areas. Increasing tree canopy is a key strategy for cooling these “urban heat islands,” improving livability and making communities more climate resilient.

But Portland’s tree canopy is more dense in some neighborhoods than others, leaving areas with little shade more vulnerable during extreme heat.

There’s still much work to be done, but only if we elect climate champions who will protect public health and the environment – no matter the wealth of our neighborhood.

✨Friday Funday in District 3 Series ✨
April theme is “Breakfast” 🍳

This week, I’m excited to highlight – a staple of the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood down on the southern edge of District 3. This bright red two-story family business cafe is owned and run by self-taught baker, Mehri Gaspeed. Since 2003, they’ve been making scratch-made food and desserts, and my new favorite breakfast staple: creamy potatoes (scalloped, cheesy, and the perfect side). The cafe is bustling, with a drink bar, espresso coffee stand, and baked goods case greeting you upon entry. The patio space is cozy and seating is abundant.

Jill ordered the 3-egg Spanish omelette and I grabbed the goat cheese and spinach quiche, both with those creamy potatoes I mentioned earlier. I would recommend the brand Smokey Habanero hot sauce (est. Portland and produced in Hood River) they had on hand - so good, much kick.

District 3 is geographically the most compact, with the most residents, but it’s still pretty vast. But it’s incredible to get to know better all the neighborhoods that make up our new political district. Next chance you get, head down to Brentwood-Darlington (south of Woodstock) and order at ! You won’t be disappointed :)

✨Friday Funday in District 3 Series ✨
April theme is “Breakfast” 🍳

Breakfast in the neighborhood this week at , a very popular brunch spot on the Montavilla Strip (7915 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215), just steps away from the

After buying some plant starts & Baba Ganoush hummus from the market, Jill and I went for brunch. We ordered the Classic Benedict and the Smoked Trout Hash (highly recommend!). Every table was filled but they have some great street seating and heaters for each table. Redwood makes delicious food and I appreciated their goldilocks right sized portioning that helps you resist the temptation of overeating more than you want (definitely my eternal battle as a human…)

Check out Redwood Cafe the next time you’re craving breakfast and near 82nd avenue!

Thank you to .world for saying “hi” out in the wild in District 3 at coffee on Glisan. Making me feel like the “D list” local celebrity that I aspire to be!

Please come say hi to me if you see me out and about! Don’t be shy, I’d love to meet you. I didn’t know it at the time but I was talking to Twig, the super cool potter and ceramics maker. Check out his stuff! .world

It was a good week for my Montavilla neighborhood! The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the site design and $2.3 million capital funding for the Montavilla Community Village, to support shelter and service needs in this part of the city.

The Montavilla Community Village will be located on the lot of a former RV dealership at 333 S.E. 82nd Ave. and will provide 29 tiny homes with a capacity to serve up to 40 people experiencing homelessness. The project provides temporary housing and shelter to transition our homeless neighbors as more permanent affordable housing options come online. In August 2022, Multnomah County acquired the property that will become the shelter for $2.25 million.

The Montavilla Community Village will be staffed 24/7 by the provider Straightway Services, prioritizing individuals transitioning from passenger vehicles into permanent housing, providing them with wraparound services on-site. The site will offer hygiene facilities, laundry services, storage and a kitchenette, ensuring that residents have access to essential amenities and resources.

Our Montavilla community is already impacted by homelessness and camping, and homeless neighbors don’t have adequate supports along 82nd avenue. I’m hopeful this shelter responds to existing needs, and will give structure and lifelines to this challenge our city faces. Thankful to Montavilla for stepping up!

✨Friday Funday in District 3 Series✨
April theme is “Breakfast” 🍳

April’s breakfast theme gave me an elegant excuse to grab Dim Sum brunch at HK Cafe in the Eastport Shopping Plaza near SE 82nd & Holgate (4410 SE 82nd Ave).

On a bustling Sunday morning I went with my friend Jay right at opening and immediately the large restaurant was three-fourths full. You can see our initial selection of Siu Mai, beef tripe, chicken feet, and shrimp dumpling (more shrimp and taro cake not shown). There aren’t too many Dim Sum places left in Portland, but is still standing and a guaranteed good time. HK Cafe’s atmosphere is immaculate – a large banquet hall setting with curtain hall windows and the steady clinking of small dishes, metal lids being removed from steam pots, and rolling carts pushing delicacies onto customers – a buffet platter that rolls to you!

Grab as many friends as you can convince and be sure to check HK Cafe out this spring!

Update on Campaign Managers Benny & Martin🐈‍⬛:
This tag team of tuxedos has brought Team Robin pretty far on their volunteer efforts – to the point where we’re now able to hire a paid campaign manager! Grateful to Benny and Martin’s eternal support as they look to pass the baton (managing me is a handful!)

They say one of the hardest parts of campaigns is mental discipline and consistent energy through the ups and downs. Team Tuxedo has helped turn this first time candidate into a burgeoning campaigner – with consistent naps, early wake up times, an emphasis on regular feeding, and taking frequent breaks to pet the s**t out of your cats.

Seven more months (😱🤹🏻‍♂️) of this unbelievable journey – onwards to election day Nov 5th!

Friday Funday in District 3 Series
✨April theme is “Breakfast” ✨

Starting off the April survey of breakfast spots with one of my all-time favorites: on NE 82nd & Sandy! At Sue Gee Lehn’s Cameo Café, you can find a mix of American diner classics and Korean-inspired infusions of kimchi, bulgogi, rice cake and more. Lehn re-opened Cameo in 1992 and the rest is history, becoming a beloved Portland institution.

Cameo’s hearty portion sizes, unique space, proximity to PDX Airport, and genuine goodness makes this a go-to spot for me to welcome guests to the city, send off friends on their journeys, and celebrate returns to Portland after extended time away. I came here with my closest friends after returning from Taiwan to visit family. You can never go wrong with a Kimchi Omelette (pictured). For sauce lovers, drizzle your dish with Sue Gee’s own line of hot sauce.

Read some fantastic local reviews of Cameo from years past in the comments section (below)

Friday Funday in District 3 Series
March theme is “Pie 𝝅”

For Pie #5, we’re talking desserts and Pie Bakery on SE 34th & Division. A decent and frequent amount of my paycheck happily goes to Lauretta Jeans - it’s one of mine and Jill’s favorite spots in town. It’s a must-go for special occasions and is locked in as a pitstop on our hosting itinerary when friends/family come to visit Portland. Owner and Baker Kate McMillen opened this brick and mortar in 2012 and you can grab a slice of heaven for $6.50 (you can also order whole pies, cakes, cookies, cream puffs, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, scones, biscuits… even a savory Chicken Pot Pie!).

Some of my consistent favorites are the Blueberry Victoria and Banana Cream, but I try to follow the seasons and the specials, like when Pumpkin Pie season hits or when summer fruit pies are premium. Walk by their display window and get lost in the crust texture.