Irony?

Oregon is one of a handful of states that allow unlimited campaign contributions. Founders of the troubled weed company La Mota took that freedom to new limits, giving tens of thousands of greenbacks (real currency!) to campaigns. wweek.com/news/state/202…

The 19-year old nanny for La Mota's owners was recently indicted by a grand jury on felony charges stemming from a high-speed car chase. Aaron Mitchell, the owner of La Mota, was in the passenger's seat - heavily intoxicated. His charges were dropped. wweek.com/news/2023/06/2…

At least 9 other states considered drug decrim in 2022, so Oregon's experiment is a closely-watched national model. RTI International, a big-time policy research group released its second report today on Oregon's experiment. Summary: cops don't like it. wweek.com/news/2023/06/2…

Gov. Tina Kotek and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer are exasperated with the scale of untreated substance abuse on the streets of Portland. wweek.com/news/2023/07/1…

Gonzalez claws back his proposals just now: “After conferring with my colleagues, it has become clear there is a lack of support within City Hall for the referral measures addressing adjustments to the size of council and the ranked choice voting method.”

The suspected serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun was accused twice of violating the terms of his relase from prison; once reportedly by Ashley Real, one of the women he is suspected of killing. wweek.com/news/courts/20…

Ted Wheeler says he will not run for a third term as Portland's mayor next year.

Ted Wheeler: “I will not be seeking another term as your mayor.” wweek.com/news/city/2023…

The billboard even People for Portland thought was too much. wweek.com/news/2023/09/1…

Multnomah County’s embattled prosecutor Mike Schmidt readily acknowledges that the criminal justice system in Multnomah County is as busted as a Subaru Outback stripped of its catalytic converter. But he says it’s not his fault. wweek.com/news/courts/20…

Earl Blumenauer told WW he won't seek re-election next year, ending a political career that began with his election to the Oregon House in 1972. He will not endorse in the D primary and plans to spend his time trying help fix Portland's problems. wweek.com/news/2023/10/3…

The feds are now asking for records related to a $500,000 BOLI grant shepherded to La Mota-run nonprofit in 2022. U.S. Congresswoman Val Hoyle, then the head of BOLI, was instrumental in helping La Mota get the grant. wweek.com/news/state/202…

My colleague Ezra Klein has written a terrific book, "Abundance," about how we liberals sometimes tie ourselves in knots. Here's an example from NigelJaquiss of Oregon Journalism Project, of a well-meant effort to raise wages exacerbating homelessness: oregonjournalismproject.org/astoria-wages

Vanishing Act. The departure of Oregon companies speaks to a bigger problem for the state. Read our latest from Steve Duin: oregonjournalismproject.org/vanishing-act