News Roundup February 25 - March 3, 2024
Portland ranks highly for gun violence prevention, bottle return controversy returns, Oregon poised to criminalize drug use
Dear readers, I apologize for the late release of the news roundup this week, delayed due to a difficult family circumstance. This week's edition will be shorter than usual given limited time to catch up.
At a glance:
A new mayoral candidate has entered the race. See Rose City Reform for full election coverage
Portland ranked highly in a national survey for broad gun violence prevention efforts. Funding for those efforts is at risk as COVID relief funding expires. KATU
A new bottle drop center proposed in St. Johns is talk of the town. Some are concerned about criminal activity being concentrated in the area. Governor Kotek recently suspended bottle drop requirements at two locations downtown in response to crime concerns
Oregon's legislative session is approaching a close, with major steps taken on recriminalizing drug use and other pressing issues.
Reports released this week:
(March 4) IPR Q3 & Q4 2023 report
Upcoming events
March 6, 2024 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP) Settlement and Policy Subcommittee Meeting (website)
March 5, 2024 (Tuesday) 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: CRC: Police Accountability Commission (PAC) Transition Plan Workgroup (website)
Opportunities and calls for volunteer service
The Portland Police Bureau's Training Advisory Council (TAC) is seeking to fill 9 volunteer positions. The application deadline is March 25. Information and application link
Police say car thefts have declined by about half year-over-year. KGW
PCCEP and CRC are recruiting for new members. See the city's volunteer job board for details - applications closing soon
Several revised PPB directives are up for review in each of the stages. See PPB's website for details - Deadlines as soon as mid-March
Policing and crime
Highly covered incidents:
Gun violence:
2024-03-01: Oregonian - Suspect in Portland’s first homicide of 2024 arrested in California
2024-03-01: KATU - National report ranks Portland's gun violence response in the top 10 nationally
2024-02-28: KGW - Growing number of Oregon students caught bringing guns to schools
Crime and the impact of crime:
2024-02-29: Bike Portland - Here’s what we know about the violent, heartbreaking incident on SE Belmont
2024-02-28: KGW - Break-in at The Grotto in Portland causes damage
2024-02-27: KPTV - Man smashes windows of Portland taqueria with skateboard
2024-02-26: Oregonian - Fatal shooting at Portland 7-Eleven leads to lawsuit over alleged arming of off-books guard
Police and policing:
2024-02-28: Willamette Week - To Catch Graffiti Taggers, Two Portland Police Officers Become Experts in Their Styles
2024-02-27: KGW - Police: Portland car theft reports down by half since last year
2024-02-26: KATU - Portland police union seeks changes to voter-approved oversight board
Police news releases:
2024-03-04: PPB - UPDATE: Suspicious Death Determined to be Homicide, Victim Identified (Photo)
2024-03-01: PPB - One Man Dies After Kenton Neighborhood Shooting
2024-03-01: PPB - UPDATE #2: Suspect in St. Johns Neighborhood Murder Sought, Public Assistance Requested (Photo)
2024-02-28: PPB - UPDATE: PPB Needs Public's Help Locating Homicide Suspect (Photo)
2024-02-28: PPB - UPDATE #5: Suspect in Lents Neighborhood Homicide Booked into Jail on Murder Charge (Photo)
2024-02-27: PPB - Stolen Vehicle Operation Results in Recovery of Stolen Vehicles, Guns (Photo)
Other stories:
Politics and policy
Portland government transition:
2024-02-29: Willamette Week - City of Portland Still Doesn’t Know Voter Registration Data for Its New Voting Districts
Criminal justice system:
City:
2024-03-01: KGW - Portland bottle redemption centers deal with safety concerns
2024-02-28: Willamette Week - Proposed City Purchase of Moda Center Would Trigger State’s Most Exclusive Tax Break
2024-02-27: KOIN - Portland Police Association proposes ballot measure with sweeping changes to oversight board
2024-02-27: Willamette Week - Liv Osthus, Stage Name Viva Las Vegas, Is Running for Portland Mayor
2024-02-27: Willamette Week - Commissioners Gonzalez and Ryan Question Neutrality of City’s Voter Outreach
2024-02-27: Mercury - Here's Who's Running for Portland City Council in 2024
County:
2024-03-01: Mercury - Multnomah County Commissioners Poised to Vote on Gaza Cease
2024-03-01: KPTV - Multnomah Co. commissioners vote to spend $167K studying ambulance service plan
2024-02-27: OPB - Former Portland Mayor Sam Adams seeks seat on Multnomah County’s board
2024-02-27: Willamette Week - Vega Pederson Says She Will Seek to Delay Preschool for All Tax Increase by One Year
Metro:
State:
2024-03-01: Oregonian - Bill making drug possession a crime again in Oregon clears Legislature
2024-02-29: Bike Portland - Advocates push for e-bike task force bill as clock ticks on session
2024-02-29: KPTV - Oregon unemployment systems unavailable, improved system underway
2024-02-27: Bike Portland - E-bike bill likely to pass with big changes following compromise
Education:
2024-02-26: Willamette Week - Multnomah County Says It Needs to Create 3,995 New Preschool Slots to Reach Universal Goal
Economy and business:
2024-03-05: PDX Monthly - Downtown Portland’s Coffee Shop Shuffle
2024-03-01: NW Labor Press -
2024-02-29: OPB - Portland General Electric proposes 2025 rate hike as many still reel from January bump
2024-02-29: KPTV - Portland restaurant closes due to ‘odor’ complaints
Addiction:
2024-03-04: OPB - Oregon’s new drug penalties would mean surge in convictions, jail stints, state estimates suggest
2024-03-04: Willamette Week - DEA Busts Fentanyl Dealer Near Lincoln High School
2024-02-29: KPTV - Portland, state leaders define goals 30 days into fentanyl state of emergency
2024-02-27: Willamette Week - House of Pipes Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Clackamas County Kratom Overdose
2024-02-26: OPB - Oregon’s drug recriminalization bill nears vote as debate rages
2024-02-26: Willamette Week - Mike Schmidt Endorses Proposal to Recriminalize Hard Drugs
Housing:
2024-03-01: OPB - ‘OPB Politics Now’: Will cities take advantage of Kotek’s housing bill?
2024-02-29: KPTV - City of Portland plans to expand number of tiny homes in 2 Safe Rest Village locations
2024-02-27: KGW - Shane McKeever ran over homeless camp on purpose, witnesses say
2024-02-27: KPTV - Oregon lawmakers consider changing anti-urban sprawl law to fight housing crisis
2024-02-27: KPTV - Neighbors fed up with homeless camp on church property in SE Portland