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🌱 Patch AM: How will Portland tackle a $19 billion infrastructure repair backlog?

Be sure to catch Trae Crowder on the Portland Patch calendar

Saturday May 23rd Patch AM

Hello Portland! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

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In today's newsletter:

  • How will Portland tackle a $19 billion infrastructure repair backlog?
  • Ready for three straight weeks of Rose Festival fun on the waterfront?
  • Northeast Portland storage units hit—could your belongings be at risk?

Also on today's calendar: Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation on Campus and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What's the difference between a hippo and a Zippo? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 74 and low of 48 degrees.
  • Sunday: Beautiful with periods of sun, temps: high: 79, low: 53.
  • Monday: A couple of afternoon showers, with a high of 58 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. National study ranks Portland second to worst in deferred infrastructure maintenance (katu.com) — Portland faces an estimated $19 billion backlog in deferred infrastructure maintenance, or about $31,000 per resident, ranking near the bottom nationally in keeping up with repairs. A national study and city leaders highlight years of underfunding and siloed bureaus as key causes. City Council expects its first comprehensive infrastructure maintenance plan this September to prioritize which failing roads, pipes, and bridges get fixed first.    

2. Portland Rose City Festival CityFair kicks off ‘three solid weeks of fun' (koin.com) — Downtown Portland’s Rose Festival CityFair is officially open, launching three weeks of rides, food, fireworks, and riverfront fun that organizers say show the city is “alive and thriving.” With kids six and under free and plenty of low-cost games, leaders urge residents to come downtown, enjoy the festivities, and support the broader Rose Festival programming.    

3. Police investigating after multiple storage units burglarized in Northeast Portland (kgw.com) — Portland police are investigating after at least six storage units in Northeast Portland were burglarized this week, and they believe more units may be affected. One victim described losing a decade of personal memories, while officers are asking anyone with information to email East Precinct and reference case No. 26-145738.    

4. The Archive Project - Portland Monuments Project: Future (opb.org) — Portland is rethinking the future of seven toppled or removed monuments, and this Literary Arts/OPB podcast episode invites residents into that conversation. Local writers and community voices discuss which people and stories deserve new monuments in Portland, and how public art should reflect where the city has been and where it’s headed.    

5. Southeast Portland homeowners report woman stealing flowers from yards (kgw.com) — Neighbors in Southeast Portland’s Woodstock neighborhood are comparing stories after a woman driving a dark-colored BMW was reportedly seen cutting flowers from multiple front yards and insisting they were public property. One couple says years of gardening were disrupted, while another homeowner described a similar encounter on Mother’s Day. Residents hope speaking out will discourage future incidents and alert others in the area.    


📸 Around Portland

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Portland

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Featured events

    Sunday May 24
  • Trae Crowder
    Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th Ave, Portland
    6:00 pm

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Other local events

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Correctable Flaws Hindered Studies of Chronic Symptoms from Lyme, COVID and Other Infections —Patti Zielinski Read on Patch
  • WinCo Foods posted a job opening for Overnight Stocker in Portland. Apply here.
  • Market of Choice posted a job opening for Front End Manager in Portland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portland here.

Ok Portland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: One weighs a ton, and the other is a little lighter (Thank you Laurie B. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.


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