Long before he stepped up to fill one of six vacant at-large board positions at last April’s general meeting, Sam Balto was a known quantity in BWNA circles. An avid neighborhood cyclist (not to mention devoted baby stroller pusher), and living just down the street from Wilshire Park, Sam had been understandably concerned about the stream of speeding vehicles along the 20-mph stretch of Skidmore Street adjacent to the park, and last summer he decided to do something about it, proactively promoting traffic calming schemes and advocating for family-friendly usage of the street (e.g., a walking/strolling/jogging/cycling lane along the north side of Skidmore and a proposal for restricted access of motorized vehicles on weekends in order to “extend the park” for neighborhood activities). Residents took notice, and so did a responsive board, which invited him to make his case publicly at monthly BWNA Zoom meetings—which he did, twice, via persuasive graphics-assisted presentations. Inspired by Sam’s activism, the board proceeded to revamp its Transportation Committee, with John Sandie as chair and Balto as a member, seeking pilot program authorization from the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
More recently, Sam provided the impetus for a grant-funded “green” community assistance initiative by BWNA. The grantor, Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN), the umbrella organization for BWNA and eight other area neighborhood associations, made $1,000 grants available to coalition members to help local populations impacted by the pandemic, and it was Sam who suggested consideration of “Community Cycling Center—Pedals to the People,” located at the corner of NE 17th Avenue and Alberta Street, the nonprofit with an array of bicycle-related outreach programs, one of which solicits donations of food and miscellaneous hygiene items (i.e., Care Kits) for delivery by bicycle courier to those in need. With CNN’s grant application date fast approaching, President Tim Gillespie convened a special meeting of the board to evaluate prospective recipients, and Community Cycling Center emerged as the unanimous choice. Upon awarding the grant to BWNA, Sam rode his bike to the Community Cycling Center to participate in the presentation of the check, dedicated to funding Care Kits. (To make a donation, go to www.communitycyclingcenter.org.)
Sam’s personal story is compelling as well. Raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland, he attended the University of Maryland for undergrad and Boston University for his Master’s in Physical Education and coaching. After moving to Portland, Sam met his wife Kayci, both teachers then at King Elementary. Subsequently, the couple returned to the East Coast, living in Massachusetts for four years before the move to Beaumont-Wilshire two and a half years ago and resumption of their teaching careers in the Portland Public Schools system. Sam and Kayci have two children (three-year-old Lev and seven-month-old Gil), have fun traveling around Oregon and beyond, and love living in the neighborhood. Quoting satisfied Sam: “We enjoy how close we are to Wilshire Park and how walkable the area is to so many great restaurants and shops.”
Sam, thanks for your dedication to the neighborhood and for serving on the board!