PPB’s directives up for feedback, closing Friday, July 15

The Portland Police Bureau has SIX directives with public comment periods ending tomorrow, Friday, July 15. Another closes on Saturday, July 16. These policy changes may not represent real change in the department, but they are an opportunity to look at how PPB thinks about force and speak out about the consequences of PPB’s actions. Before we… Continue reading PPB’s directives up for feedback, closing Friday, July 15

Primary Ballot Review: Why do auditors matter?

There are a ton of candidates for various auditor positions on the primary ballot: Metro Brian Evans — Brian Evans has served as Metro Auditor since his election in 2014. He joined the Metro Auditor’s office as an employee in 2008. Evans is running unopposed and does not appear to have a campaign website. Multnomah County Jennifer McGuirk — Jennifer… Continue reading Primary Ballot Review: Why do auditors matter?

Calendar: April 20 to April 27

In last week’s calendar, I noted that the mask mandate for TriMet (along with all other public transportation) was expected to end on April 18, but had been extended until May. However, a federal district judge ruled that the mandate was not necessary on Tuesday, effectively ending it immediately. TriMet has dropped its requirement that riders wear… Continue reading Calendar: April 20 to April 27

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

Digest: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Portland Street Response expands Portland’s unarmed street response team has expanded their coverage across the city as of yesterday. Portland Street Response can now take 911 calls without needing to check a map. The program responds to calls about crises that don’t involve criminal activity, usually related to an individual’s mental health. Team members also build… Continue reading Digest: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Calendar: March 15 to March 22

Tuesday, March 15 6:00 p.m. — Portland Police Bureau Equity Advisory Council meeting The Police Equity Advisory Council is responsible for holding PPB accountable for implementing the bureau’s racial equity plan. As of Tuesday morning, no agenda for the meeting is available. The meeting will take place on Zoom. Wednesday, March 16 9:30 a.m. — City of Portland council… Continue reading Calendar: March 15 to March 22

Digest: Friday, March 11, 2022

Seven Portland-area Starbucks are unionizing Starbucks locations all over the U.S. are unionizing, including multiple locations here in Portland and even more throughout Oregon. At the time of writing, the following Starbucks locations have filed paper work with the National Labor Relations Board: SE 28th and Powell U.S. Bank Tower / SW 5th and Oak West… Continue reading Digest: Friday, March 11, 2022

Digest: Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Oregon’s expiring COVID emergency declarations The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance in February suggesting that most healthy adults can reduce wearing masks in many situations. They also released new metrics for assessing risks in specific communities. The new metrics shift the CDC from looking at how COVID is actually spreading to how many… Continue reading Digest: Wednesday, March 9, 2022

2022 Legislative Session Wrap Up

Lots of last minute action Starting last Thursday, state legislators voted on more than 60 bills still under consideration. They finished before noon on Friday and Senate President Peter Courtney gaveled out his last regular session before his planned retirement at the end of his term. The deadline to finish all legislative work is today, March 7 — the… Continue reading 2022 Legislative Session Wrap Up