The worst thing happening in Portland politics is People for Portland. A dark money group taking advantage of our housing and fentanyl crises to use the politics of fear and division to win political gains in order to further the interest of the wealthy. Don’t let them.
So this struggling co-op in one of OR’s most dense and wealthiest neighborhoods is going to go bankrupt rather than sell the building for fear that it will become housing? Why don’t they sell it to a developer with an agreement to lease them retail space?
Ran into downtown just now to fulfill a craving and wow downtown is popping in a way I haven’t seen on a weekend evening since before the pandemic. Amazing to see. Sorry to the haters and losers that cheer for this great city’s demise. Portland, we are so back!
The question for me is why do stores like Target and REI publicly blame portland crime when their decisions are so clearly driven by business factors. What’s going on there?
Don’t believe everything self-interested, out-of-town, dark-money-super-PAC-having people want you to. Portland remains incredibly awesome and we can fix what needs fixing without sacrificing our values.
@clmarohn
The faster a car is going, the more likely a crash is to result in severe injury to a pedestrian, even at relatively low speeds. really misses the point to suggest that it’s the *cause* of crashes we are worried about here or that speed is irrelevant to safety.
Looper, co-founder of *Salem-based* dark money group “People for Portland”, lives in Tigard. So fascinating how the people who carry so much disdain for Portland and its people don’t ever live here. It should be called “People Against Portlanders”.
Kevin Looper, co-founder of the Salem-based, dark money political group "People for Portland", is being sued by the city for allegedly not paying $46,000 in business taxes. The Mercury's
@C__Vaughn
reports.
I take my four year old downtown regularly. Whether we are walking through our N Portlans neighborhood, downtown, riding the bus or MAX (his favorite activities) if he sees someone struggling and asks questions we respond with compassion. Our leaders should do the same.
No one should have to inhale fentanyl & meth smoke while riding the bus or while walking with their kids down the street.
The legislature needs to take a close look at the public consumption issue and take action.
#publicsafety
#orleg
#orpol
@trimet
2022 polling gave us a double digit win among people of color (POC). If mayor's race were today, polling shows us winning among POC by over 20%.
Hardesty speaks for anarchists, DSA, & advocacy class.
A majority of Portlanders want effective police that stops criminals from
Local news, especially
@KGWNews
and
@Oregonian
, jumped on REI’s claim about crime and basically ignored their comment about space and issues with the building. They completely ignored the union organizing context, which
@OregonBusiness
has finally provided, thankfully.
This in no way justifies what Fagan did, but this is one reason public officials need to be paid adequately. It’s a vulnerability in our democracy. This extends to our “part time” legislature as well.
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, yesterday:
“To put it bluntly, my secretary of state salary on its own is not enough for me to make ends meet.”
Today: Resignation effective May 8.
There aren't any facts to back this up, but the talk along Vancouver's waterfront is that people are picking it over downtown Portland when it comes to dining out.
Can we talk about referring to it as “MAX” vs “the MAX”? I have lived in Portland since 2007 and have used the MAX ever since. I’ve always called it “the MAX” and never noticed this “MAX” thing until last year I think. Am I wrong? Am I crazy??
Taking MAX from the airport is easy! ✈️🚈
Just tap your credit/debit card, phone or Hop card to ride to Downtown Portland and beyond.
Trains depart outside of baggage claim from about 5 a.m. until after midnight.
Plan your trip at
This didn’t happen on a train during a commute, it was on a platform at 2am. Realize that more ridership makes it safer. Instead, discouraging use of public transit only leaves those with no other option more vulnerable.
I am VERY concerned with the reports of violence on the MAX. I will no longer recommend that people commute by light rail until
@trimet
assumes me that safety is a priority. Transit must be safe, fast & reliable to be considered an alternative to cars.
?
So basically, workers exercising collective action as is their right in pursuit of better working conditions hurts “the working class”…? No. “The working class” understands solidarity. No one wants schools closed. District is able to come to the table with an improved offer.
Closed schools disproportionally affects working class families who do not have other options. Fortunate I could bring my son with me to City Hall today, but sadly, many others are scrambling to make decisions between working and care/education for their child today.
Oregon has
Congratulations to all of the local leaders in Oregon, including elected officials in the city of Portland, who backed Grants Pass. Trump’s rogue Supreme Court is on your side. Despicable. Shameful.
From Sotomayor's Grants Pass dissent:
"Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use
People won’t simply return to downtown and it’s naive to think so. Our downtown core is full of empty office buildings. People don’t go downtown (or anywhere) for no reason. We need a mixed-use, people-first reinvention of downtown.
No need to “reinvent” downtown. Just restore safety, order, cleanliness and affordability and people and businesses will follow. Each requires political leadership, action and policy changes. As goes Portland, so goes Oregon.
Your rhetoric is harmful. Portland is a beautiful city full of kind, creative people. We do need a city that works, so I strongly support charter reform. But we don’t need people resorting to politics of fear and division in order to grasp power, hurting our city in the process.
City Code has banned unsanctioned camping since 81.
Our city is overrun & under siege - it is time to enforce our laws, to the extent we can, with the resources we have.
Help those who want help.
Send home - or to criminal justice system - those who prey on our compassion.
Incredibly paternalistic and disappointing from Commissioner Ryan. This thing was studied and debated for years and I can’t recall an initiative with more effective voter engagement in the design of the proposal. Always be wary when those in power act to preserve it.
Cm Ryan said he's not sure Portlanders truly knew what they were voting for in last year's charter reform package.
“There were a lot of [components to it]. I think the devil was in the details. It’s now becoming more apparent what we actually voted for.”
Ahhh it’s that time of year in Portland where I realize that all my raincoats are either too light or too heavy. Someone please tell me how to fix this
@BrandonHarami
@CuteBrute203
Tbh Starbucks doesn’t make it easy. Other cafes, when I pay with cards, they flip the thing around and I get to choose a tip, and I always do. Starbucks doesn’t do that. They run the card and you’re done.
Changes in violent crime comparing Q1-Q3 2023 to Q1 - Q3 2022. From the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Washington DC increased the most (+39%). San Antonio decreased the most (-21%). Portland declined by -14%.
@RobbySpankme
One time, a vegan friend said something about my tuna sandwich. So I said, “it’s dolphin safe.” And she replied, “it’s not tuna-safe.” I was thoroughly tunashamed.
Let’s face it: it may have been a contact high. She came into contact with the joy exuded by Portland commuters when they get off of work and it’s 70 degrees and they get to see their beautiful city from the train.
Embarrassingly uninformed but extremely on brand. Portland needs compassionate leaders, and leaders who are capable of following evidenced based policy solutions to our most pressing issues.
Multnomah County handing out tin foil sends a horrific message in a community that is working hard to restore livability, public safety, and its reputation. Heavy drug use is killing too many, driving crime, deeply damaging livability and devastating our 911 system.
Thoughtful
@DrewSav
He’s 8 points behind in a primary *in his own state.* “Couldn’t even beat Biden in a primary of his own constituents” is not a strong argument for winning the nomination, actually.
If you are a Portland sports fan just dredging your way through Timbers and Blazers performances and you are *not* watching the Thorns, what are you even doing to yourself? Don’t deprive yourself of this joy. Behold the excellence. All hail Sophia Smith
#baonpdx
There it is:
@PBOTinfo
saying they plan to cut Safe Routes to School, Sunday Parkways, Biketown for All, and more .. if they don't find new revenue. 😲👀😢
Associating
@PDXStResponse
with enforcement actions runs the risk of eroding their most valuable asset - the trust they’ve built up with people on the streets. You can’t just undone that.
News:
Portland Fire Chief Sara Boone issued a directive this morning that requires Portland Street Response to begin assisting homeless campers in crisis during city-ordered sweeps, a role the program has not previously held. w/
@Nicole_A_Hayden
Be wary of politicians who say that courts “interfere” when they pause government action on constitutional grounds. Unacceptable rhetoric from a democratically elected official who swore an oath to uphold the constitution.
Oregon today:
Oregon law/courts interfere with City of Portland’s efforts to confront unsanctioned camping & outdoor drug use.
Vast majority of Portland’s children with no access to state-funded schools.
We will find a way forward as a city, but we need help.
This is kind of funny because his supporters have all been duped into believing that downtown is basically Gotham from the Dark Knight, so he’s in the comments defending this proposal while also trying to not upset the apple cart. Which is impossible. Disinformation is bad!
People on the West Coast often don’t seem to understand how green the east coast is - these pictures are from a state park in NJ in the spring, absolutely no photo editing
Not sure I’ve ever seen anyone refer to legal aid attorneys as “radical law firms.” It is reminiscent of Trump referring to immigration lawyers as “dirty immigration lawyers”. That’s not the only parallel to Trump in this tweet, either.
Oregonians, Portlanders want safe and clean streets. It is local government’s job to work towards that ends.
In Portland, we face resistance at every step from radical law firms and Multnomah County judges when it comes to encampments.
The State Legislature codified the Martin v
Turns out that the folks who are not from Portland and only want to take advantage of the moment to enrich themselves and their friends via tax cuts are hurting our city. Don’t be fooled by P4P. They are People For Profits, not Portland.
Mayor Wheeler on That One ad campaign:
“We’re competing against other cities for jobs, for investments, for travel, for tourism. We’re making it really easy for our competition when we have billboards that say, ‘We suck really badly here.’”
In a poll conducted in March 1942, 93% of Americans supported the relocation of Japanese non-citizens during internment and 59% supported relocation of American citizens of Japanese descent.
79% of Portlanders support the city’s proposal to enforce camping bans in public areas, according to business alliance poll. In total, 82% support authorized camping areas that have bathrooms, water, hygiene services, social service workers and security.
Been cracking up to realize that a lot of people have no idea what Tim Walz meant when he said “white guy tacos”. Many layers here. People who have never seen or had them, people who only have them and don’t know they are white guy tacos, and people who know.
Rene Gonzalez: we cannot stand four years of hateful and divisive politics that harms people, vote for Harris
(Also don’t for Gonzalez for the same reason!!)
Multnomah County officials announced that shelter demand Tuesday night was the highest one-night total in local history, but then said they would not open shelters tonight because conditions no longer met the threshold.
I live in
@Tina4Oregon
’s neighborhood. My kid goes to daycare here, walking the neighborhood with his loving teachers. We walk to the park and eat on bustling sidewalks. We have compassion for our houseless neighbors, welcoming shelters, villages, and new affordable housing. 1/2
@kar_nels
My thought exactly. This isn’t exactly a neighborhood lacking grocery options, but at least the folks who live above the place would surely be inclined to shop there!
@BikePortland
@PBOTinfo
@CommMapps
@PortlandPolice
Cars with no plates, out of date registration, should be booted. They shouldn’t be on the road at all. Likely this person doesn’t have a valid license, either, and I would bet they have prior DUII convictions. Instead PPB doesn’t enforce any traffic laws whatsoever.
Portland should be a city with an ambitious climate plan. Paris isn’t Amsterdam. Their emphasis on active transportation is basically new, and they are set to become a world bike riding capital in the span of essentially a single decade.
READ:
#Paris
is set to roll out its ambitious 2024-2030 Climate Plan, with urban biking at the heart of the plan. They will officially prioritize cycling infrastructure, introducing 180km of additional cycling paths, & 130k bike parking spaces, by 2026.
3 cars parked on a pedestrian plaza to get their sandwiches from Better Half. The precedent setters turned around to leave, found there’s no outlet and are now blocked in. They’re are eating their in the car, engine running, while we all gawk at them. Car culture is beautiful.
@babbymd
@anandcpatelmdms
“Chiropractors shouldn’t exist” and “chiropractors shouldn’t be primary care providers” are very much not the same argument. You’d have to be a complete quack to be a PCP chiropractor and a complete quack to go to a chiropractor for PCP. This is not what they are for.
This plan map of the
@IbrProgram
really makes it clear why backers of the project never mention anything other than the "Bridge". this is a massive freeway expansion project - majority of which has nothing to do w a bridge.
Once in a generation opportunity to remake a vital waterfront area for people and the city of Seattle has doubled down on automobile traffic. This is the type of development you’d expect to see in the 50s. What a shame.
To be clear, the Oregon legislature passed a law that effectively got ahead of this issue and codifies the two pertinent court decisions. While Rene Gonzalez has his head in the sand, the city should know that there is a cause of action with attorneys fees for violating the law.
@NutmegSoccerCo
Providence Park. There’s the army, of course, but also the stadium itself. Built in 1926, soccer specific, sits below the street. It’s just an amazing place to catch a game.
So on the one hand, you have Governor Kotek insisting that to save downtown, we have to acknowledge that it must change - we need to make downtown a place where people enjoy to be, enjoy to live. On the other hand, we have city council desperately giving out corporate handouts.
Portland city commissioners approved a plan that would create a tax-free enterprise zone in the Central City and Northwest Industrial areas, hoping to bring businesses back to the area.
@benmaritz
As a portlander who spent the weekend in Seattle with my 3.5 year old, I spent all weekend feeling pretty jealous about the urban parks, especially Seattle Center. Not saying it couldn’t be better, but Seattle has some excellent parks in the city.
@mcmorrise
@the_transit_guy
What if I told you that having a smart watch makes it a lot easier to leave your phone behind or in another room and only be bothered my small things you need but not by more distracting things you don’t need?
Fascinating. Gonzalez is scared that other jurisdictions are enacting his draconian policies. Rather than recognize this as evidence that you can’t sweep and bus your way out of homelessness, he thinks it’s a sign that we need to double down and simply sweep them right back.
As national/regional environments change, it’s crucial that Oregon acts now.
Time to reform/repeal HB3115/its progeny. We are already overwhelmed by migratory homelessness, it will worsen if state does not act.
Newsom orders CA agencies clear encampments
“Take back the commons” for whom? His big money donors: Wealthy individuals outside of Portland and industry groups representing major corporations who want to extract value from Portland without paying taxes. Not your friends, neighbors, or your favorite small businesses.
Oregon is overwhelmed by unsanctioned camping. The city of Portland has increasingly worked to confront it in a complex legal environment. We cannot take back the commons without judicial clarity as to the rights of cities. Sadly, this decision stands in the way of Portland's
Shouldn’t have to explain this to someone running for city council, but the more people who are not in personal cars (eg on bikes), the fewer cars there are causing traffic for businesses who must use cars and the less ware on the roads we all rely on.
As a Portland City Commissioner Candidate, I refuse to turn a blind eye to the mismanagement of taxpayer dollars by PBOT. It's outrageous that while our roads crumble beneath us, PBOT has squandered precious resources on ill-conceived road diets.
Their fixation on promoting
@tallgaynick
Ok but what OP said is true. There are 1000 ways to be a lawyer. I’ve never worked in a private firm or in-house, for example, but I’ve been a lawyer for 10 years.
Imagine messing up so bad at your job that you traded this man away from Portland for essentially nothing. Tops of the golden boot race and an urbanist?!? We miss you
@kingjebo
#rctid
Another thing on my mind? Urban planning & endlessly skyrocketing home prices, along w/ the myriad of problems that follow. Building dense, walkable, transit-rich metropolitan areas that promote mobility for citizens should be part of any political agenda. We need more housing.
@MLS
@ATT
Messi will win no matter what but it’s pretty embarrassing to leave off Evander’s 30+ yard free kick that went around the wall and outside the frame of the goal. What is going on over there?
@needhamchicago
@larabazelon
My first appearance as a law clerk, opposing counsel, a very experienced defense attorney, asked me if I was nervous. “A little”, I say. He says, “me too. You feel nervous because it matters, and because you care. If you stop feeling nervous it’s time to quit.”
These are not all the same. Parking isn’t something levied on everyone, and most of the city is not metered. capital gains tax applies to very few people. On the transit utility fee, why express it in terms of revenue rather than cost to homeowners? $5.60-$8 per month.
Planned or proposed rate hikes & taxes underway in Portland right now:
PGE 14%
TriMet 12%
Portland parking meter 20%
Portland water & sewage 6.6%
Transportation “utility fee” on homes & biz $35M/yr
Capital gains tax for eviction defense .75%
(Plus rent hikes up to 9.9%)
I have proudly supported
@JulianCastro
for president since the beginning and continue to be proud of the movement he lead. Cheers to
@MayaRupert
for running a campaign that never stopped hearing the most marginalized. I am sad to see this end but proud to have been a small part.
That
@SoccerMadeinPDX
interview was excruciating. She was so incoherent on enabling, workplace culture for women, and on the investigations, as she continued to deny they had any culpability while also saying they didn’t dispute any findings. Great work
@RyanTClarke
#RCTID
MLS should have a cap exemption for legacy players like Asprilla. It shouldn’t be the case that a player like that wants to retire here but that the cap scenario makes it imprudent to keep him. Honored/devastated to go to his last match.
#rctid
@SoccerwiseHQ
please discuss.
@RyanTClarke
@AlaskaAir
came out relatively strong last year after the NWSL report was released. Is this decision related? At the time they said they were “assessing options.”
@StrongTowns
Just how much people spend on their cars and what they could do with that money if they didn’t have to commit so much of their personal budget to paying for and servicing a car, or multiple cars.
@sleepisocialist
This mortgage interest deduction should be eliminated - we shouldn’t add one for rent. And I know this is a meme, but to be clear, it’s not a deduction for your mortgage payment, but the accrued interest you pay. Deducting rent per se would be much larger.
I support Portland teachers as they strike.
And Salem-Keizer teachers as they negotiate.
And Yamhill County employees as they approach their strike deadline.
I hope you will, too.
That’s a wrap! The debate ended with all three candidates agreeing that Merritt Paulson should sell the Timbers and Thorns. They did not agree on much else.
@Adam_Karpiak
It used to make me feel bad when I was a newer profesional - like made me feel inadequate and feel really negatively about my value. Now that I am more experienced, it just makes me view the people involved and the org really negatively. And we talk out here! It’s a red flag.
Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone from the Portland Housing Bureau. They were explaining how under a particular plan, we would have sufficient buildable housing supply across the city. I asked a follow up question that touched on our history of segregation. 1/
If we want more than a bandaid on the housing crisis, the next increment of development should be legalized by right, in every neighborhood across North America.
Back to the war on drugs, worsening the public defender crisis, giving a “pass” to treatment and diversion to any county that wants it. We used to have vision. Now we are already trying to spin this massive misstep and win for Republicans. Just a really sad episode.
Today, the House passed the Oregon Drug Intervention Plan that prioritizes treatment, not jail. It will give providers and law enforcement the tools they need to keep people safe and save lives.
#orpol
#orleg
I pity Portland sports fans who think it’s all doom and gloom right now and have no idea that one of the best professional athletes in the world does it right here in town. This will be a legendary ad if she goes on and does what we all believe she can at the World Cup. Go Soph!