Calendar: February 15 to February 22

Tuesday, February 15 4:30 p.m. — Oregon Nurses Association Virtual Summit on Providence Health System ONA will host a summit covering the Providence Health System, which ranks near the bottom of Portland-area hospitals for staffing, as well as for pay and benefits for nurses. Multiple contracts between ONA, Oregon’s largest nursing union, and Providence facilities… Continue reading Calendar: February 15 to February 22

Digest: Monday, February 14, 2022

The Oregon State Legislature is moving quickly through its short session. This digest has some of the highlights from last week, as well as bills to keep an eye on this week. Upcoming bills are listed in order of their next scheduled hearing or work session. Last week’s highlights Multiple bills have passed through committee… Continue reading Digest: Monday, February 14, 2022

Digest: Friday, February 11, 2022

Campaign finance reform proposals disqualified from ballot Shemia Fagan, the Secretary of State of Oregon, may have ended this year’s push to put campaign finance reform on the ballot. She disqualified all three proposals (Initiatives 43, 44, and 45) sponsored by Honest Elections Oregon due to a technicality — they don’t include the full text… Continue reading Digest: Friday, February 11, 2022

Digest: Wednesday, February 9, 2022

A new contract with the Portland police union The City of Portland and the Portland Police Association announced yesterday that they’ve negotiated a new contract. Both parties seem pleased with their agreement, which means that the average Portland resident has cause for concern. City commissioners will hear public comment during three upcoming events: an information… Continue reading Digest: Wednesday, February 9, 2022

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