After a tense week at Portland State University, I tried to make sense of where the school goes from here+why it matters so much for the city at large for Sunday’s The Oregonian. oregonlive.com/education/2024…

Portland's program that provides public financing for City Hall candidates (currently 70+) has said it needs $7 million this year to fully fund (see chart below).

Mayor Wheeler says during budget briefing he's proposed $1.4 million, the bare minimum.

During press briefing this morning on his upcoming budget, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says that he's proposed fully funding Portland Street Response and that there will be not cuts to the Fire Bureau, which was facing an $11 million operating gap.

'In two weeks, city officials will unveil a proposal that would require landlords of existing duplexes and larger apartment buildings to disclose an apartment’s monthly energy costs and health and climate risks to prospective tenants.'
oregonlive.com/environment/20…

First, Eugene voters had massive amounts of cash spent by a union trying to recall Paul Holvey. As Dirk VanderHart reports, a Democrat who got crushed by Peter DeFazio 4 years ago is running for Holvey's seat + outside cash is rollin' in with DeFazio's blessing. opb.org/article/2024/0…

Fentanyl dealer sought by police in overdose death caught on televised Portland Trail Blazers game oregonlive.com/crime/2024/05/…

'Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler continues to pump the brakes on a time-honored tradition that he and a long line of his City Hall predecessors have previously embraced.'

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, defying tradition, skips State of the City address — again

oregonlive.com/politics/2024/…

'The late-night press conference at [PPB HQ] capped a day of protest on the PSU campus as students elsewhere in Oregon, incl. Reed College, Lewis & Clark College and the UofO, joined students from across the country in calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.'

Artist wins national journalism award for extraordinary photo of his own shooting in Portland oregonlive.com/crime/2024/04/…

Update:

HYPED

'Watkins’ decision to enlist elementary school students in the misdemeanor trial appeared to take everyone involved by surprise.'

A real humdinger, courtesy of Noelle Crombie

oregonlive.com/clackamascount…

Terrific rundown of the Clackamas County county chair race by Austin De Dios: #orpol

oregonlive.com/politics/2024/…

Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet, *Nonpartisan Candidates* (p.77)

Mike Schmidt
“Party Affiliation: Democrat”
“As the only Democrat in the race…” 🤔

fwiw Nathan Vasquez was a registered Republican until 2017, when he switched to non-affiliated.

Multnomah County's chair has the unparalled power to block proposals by fellow electeds from being placed on the board agenda or voted on.

Two lawyers say the executive rule is illegal + 'undemocratic and unjust' in a long, blistering legal analysis.
oregonlive.com/watchdog/2024/…

Similarly, campaign finance records show that MultCo Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has loaned a total of $87,000 to her campaign since last year, when she first ran for the seat & won in a special election. She's seeking re-election for a full 4-year term now.

'A top aide to Gov. Tina Kotek voiced worries about Aimee Kotek Wilson’s role in the administration earlier this year, after Kotek asked a staffer to do a favor for one of the first lady’s friends, newly released public records show.'

opb.org/article/2024/0…

Vadim Mozyrsky Loans His Campaign for County Commissioner $30,000

'The loan is surprising partly because Mozyrsky has outraised his top opponent, Disability Rights Oregon policy director Meghan Moyer, by a 5-to-1 ratio.'

Apropos of nothing:

At this week's council hearing on public camping, commissioners asked how it would impact a protest encampment (like 2011's Occupy Portland). City atty said it wouldn't apply.

But he added that the city is currently 'not equipped for an Occupy event.'

If you enjoyed today's Willamette Week story about Portland's crumbling roads ...

wweek.com/news/2024/04/2…

… be sure to read the 2015 The Oregonian article that outlined in full detail how City Council decisions from decades ago got us here:

oregonlive.com/portland/2015/…