Calendar: February 8 to February 15

Tuesday, February 8 6:00 p.m. — Portland Public Schools Board Meeting Portland Public Schools’ school board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting. An agenda for the meeting is online and contains public comment opportunities for PPS’s new climate crisis response policy. The meeting will be in person but it will also be streamed on YouTube.… Continue reading Calendar: February 8 to February 15

Digest: Monday, February 7, 2022

The Oregon State Legislature’s schedule is packed this week with committee hearing about a variety of bills. You may also want to put some time on your own schedule to contact the state representative and state senator for your home district. Share your opinions on these bills before they go to votes. After all, eliminating… Continue reading Digest: Monday, February 7, 2022

Digest: Friday, February 4, 2022

Report on traffic deaths provides opportunity to criminalize homelessness The Portland Bureau of Transportation released a report earlier this week on traffic deaths in Portland in the last year. Key numbers include: In 2021, 63 people died in traffic crashes — the highest number in Portland since 1990 (though actual numbers are likely closer to… Continue reading Digest: Friday, February 4, 2022

February State of the Ballot

There’s just over a month left until the March 8th deadline for candidates to declare for or withdraw from the May primary. This feels like a good time to take a preliminary look at what’s likely to be on the May ballot. Remember, though, that there will be plenty of changes in the next four… Continue reading February State of the Ballot

Calendar: February 1 to February 8

Tuesday, February 1 Today is the Lunar New Year, which starts the Year of the Tiger. Chúc mừng năm mới! Gōng xǐ fā cái! Saehae bok mani badeuseyo! Wednesday, February 2 ON SALE — “Changing the Narrative” Comics Anthology Available from Street Roots Vendors The Portland State University’s Collaborative Comics project has partnered with Street… Continue reading Calendar: February 1 to February 8

Get ready for the 2022 legislative session

The Oregon State Legislature will start this year’s legislative session tomorrow (Tuesday, February 1). The session will last 35 days: In even years (which happen to coincide with elections at most levels of federal, state, and local government in Oregon), the state legislature has a ‘short session.’ In odd years, Oregon’s legislative sessions last 160… Continue reading Get ready for the 2022 legislative session

Public election finance, political contributions, and other money mechanics in the state of Oregon

Money matters in elections. Even if a candidate has significant community support, they need a serious amount of money to run a successful campaign. But the amount of money necessary to participate in Oregon’s political processes is unusually high — and rising. The 2018 gubernatorial race between Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Knute Buehler set… Continue reading Public election finance, political contributions, and other money mechanics in the state of Oregon

Digest: Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program applications reopen today at 10:00 a.m. The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program portal will resume accepting applications for rent relief. The program will likely only be available for a limited time, due to availability of funds. Oregon Housing and Community Services, the agency responsible for the program, expects to keep… Continue reading Digest: Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Calendar: January 25 to January 31

Tuesday, January 25 DEADLINE — “Let’s Talk” Listening Sessions Sign Up A partnership of multiple news organizations and non-profits are organizing virtual listening sessions with Oregon voters to learn about voters’ impressions of the gubernatorial election, as well as what topics voters would like to hear about from candidates. To join a listening session, voters… Continue reading Calendar: January 25 to January 31

Digest: Monday, January 24, 2022

Small Donor Elections deadline approaching Portland’s Small Donor Elections (formerly Open and Accountable Elections) program provides candidates with public funds — provided they qualify. The deadline for qualification is at the end of the week, on Friday, January 28th. In order to receive funds, candidates must collect at least 250 small donations from Portland residents.… Continue reading Digest: Monday, January 24, 2022