Defund the narrative

The “Portland Police have been defunded!” talking point is really absurd and needs to stop The title of this piece gives away the game, I guess. But it’s a really silly game. The “defund” narrative has been used to attack or support various political candidates, characterize the residents of Portland in the national press, and… Continue reading Defund the narrative

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

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 23 to March 30

Please note that calendars will be published on Wednesdays moving forward, rather than Tuesdays. Thursday, March 24 12:00 p.m. — Strike at Artifact: Creative Recycle Workers at Artifact: Creative Recycle will hold strike actions Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. They’re asking that the store’s owners put anti-discrimination policies into place, provide equal pay for… Continue reading Calendar: March 23 to March 30

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

Calendar: February 22 to March 1

Tuesday, February 22 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 includes comments from the Portland Association of Teachers on the reduced staffing plans for the 2022-2023 school year. PAT is requesting PPS families attend the meeting, as well as contact… Continue reading Calendar: February 22 to March 1

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

Friday Digest: December 31, 2021

Warming shelters closed yesterday despite continuing cold weather Multnomah County announced yesterday that severe weather shelters were closing within hours even as snow remained on the ground in many parts of Portland. The decision was made in coordination with the City of Portland through the Joint Office on Homeless Services. While the decision follows the… Continue reading Friday Digest: December 31, 2021

Monday Digest: December 20, 2012

Meli Lewis, a journalist with Reveal, published a look at homelessness in Portland that highlighted some key issues with Dan Ryan’s push for Safe Rest Villages. The reporting, which includes a 55-minute audio episode, focuses on the Lents Park area. Please note that there are discussions of suicide, police violence, and drug use. Lewis spent… Continue reading Monday Digest: December 20, 2012