Portland’s failure to learn from the 2021 heat dome

Portland set a new record for the city’s longest heat wave last week: we experienced seven consecutive days with recorded temperatures at or above 95° Fahrenheit from Monday, July 25 to Sunday, July 31. The State of Oregon is currently reporting at least 15 related deaths, with at least seven deaths in Multnomah County alone. That number is… Continue reading Portland’s failure to learn from the 2021 heat dome

Digest: Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Surprise snow: the details On Monday night, snow fell on Portland — more snow than has ever fallen on the city in April, according to the National Weather Service. Exactly how much fell depended on location, but many folks shared social media updates noting two to three inches of snow, with up to five inches in some… Continue reading Digest: Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Calendar: April 6 to April 13

Wednesday, April 6 9:30 a.m. — City of Portland council meeting Portland’s city council meetings are broadcast live on YouTube. The agenda for this meeting is online and includes a proclamation by Mayor Ted Wheeler and City Commissioner Dan Ryan that April is Fair Housing Month. Wheeler will also proclaim April as Food Cart Month. The agenda also includes… Continue reading Calendar: April 6 to April 13

Calendar: March 30 to April 6

Wednesday, March 30 9:30 a.m. — City of Portland council meeting Portland’s city council meetings are broadcast live on YouTube. The agenda for this meeting is online and includes authorizing a new agreement with Clean and Safe Inc and a proposal to extend the housing emergency declaration by City Commissioner Dan Ryan. 6:00 p.m. — City of Portland Noise Review Board Special Session The… Continue reading Calendar: March 30 to April 6

Calendar: March 1 to March 8

Tuesday, March 1 1:30 p.m. — Mandatory supplier meeting for Portland Police Bureau’s RFP for body-worn cameras The City of Portland is holding a mandatory meeting for vendors planning to submit bids to provide the Portland Police Bureau with body-worn cameras. Those who wish to attend must contact James Moering in the City’s Procurement Services office… Continue reading Calendar: March 1 to March 8

Digest: Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Wrongful death lawsuit filed against the City of Portland Portland Police Officer Curtis Brown shot and killed Michael Ray Townsend on June 24, 2021 after Townsend called 911 for mental health help. In September, a grand jury chose to not indict Brown. Townsend’s death is yet another example of the violence the Portland Police Bureau… Continue reading Digest: Wednesday, February 16, 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

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