Blood Shortage+Rose Quarter Freeway Cap+People For Portland

A fine Thursday to all you fine folks out there! Today, way back in 1850, California was admitted as the thirty-first state of the Union. Then, a hundred and fifty years later, Californians started moving up here. They knew Portland is where it's at. Let me tell you about today.

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First, today's weather:

Today will be a pleasant and mostly cloudy day with a high of 81.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. Doctors have begun raising the alarm over a national blood shortage. Dr. David Glidden with Legacy Health in Portland described the situation as dire in many hospitals. Hospital demand for blood is up 12% compared to last year and due to the pandemic the number of blood drives being held is down. (KGW)
2. Despite Portland officials' attempts to mandate vaccinations for city employees, the city's police force may be exempt from such a requirement. Under Oregon law, local municipalities can only issue vaccine mandates for firefighters and police officers if there is already a federal or state rule in place that requires it. While Gov. Kate Brown imposed a vaccine mandate for Oregon's healthcare workers, this would not apply to police officers since healthcare isn't a primary part of their job. (OPB)
3. The Oregon Transportation Commission is expected to adopt a plan today to build freeway caps over Interstate 5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter. There were disagreements as to how extensive those caps would be, with many community groups, such as Albina Vision Trust, calling for more extensive freeway caps, which would support the weight of houses and commercial buildings on top. There was gridlock until Gov. Kate Brown suggested a compromise, the "Hybrid 3" plan (Oregonian)
4. A new advocacy group, "People for Portland" is making itself known and going after elected officials. The front men for the group, political consultants Kevin Looper, who has a long history working for Democrats and progressive ballot measure campaigns, and Dan Lavey, a recovering Republican who has advised GOP candidates and many corporations, say they aren’t trying to get anybody elected, nor are they hoping to pass a ballot measure. The Willamette Week did an interview to find out more about the group's goals. (Willamette Week)
5. Officer Brian Hunzeker resigned as president of the Portland Police Association on March 16th for reasons which have yet to be explained. He was placed on paid administrative leave, but he hasn't been idle. Overtime records from the city’s Bureau of Human Resources, obtained by WW through a public records request, show that Hunzeker has made at least 11 court appearances between July 7 and Aug. 24. For each of those 11 days, Hunzeker reported working half an hour of overtime, for a total of 5.5 hours, for which he was paid $432.09 in overtime, in addition to his hourly wage of $48.55. (Willamette Week)

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Today in Portland:

• If you're a comic book fan like I am, you'll be interested in Comic Enthusiast Happy Hour going on at Rose City Book Pub in NE Portland. Join other comic book enthusiasts for a pre-party welcoming Rose City Comic Con. This event will be based on the patio for COVID safety. 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
• It may not be First Thursday tonight, but that doesn't mean there's not art to be seen. Blossom: Community Visionary Arts Experience is happening at ADX in SE Portland. A curation of local creators spanning a variety of mediums and styles will be accompanied by vendors with craft goods, body workers and healers, live musicians and DJs, live painting and immersive gallery, body painting, massage, sound healing, flow artists and aerialists, live performance / theater, poetry and spoken word, and many more art forms being practiced live for your better understanding and exploration. Tickets available online. 6:00 PM - 3:00 AM.
• Psychedelic/indie rock band Feed the Wildlife will be playing tonight at North Portland spot Sisters Gourmet Deli. Swing on by, grab yourself a bento box and enjoy the live music. 7:30 - 9:00 PM.
• The Doug Fir Lounge on East Burnside will feature The Shivas tonight. Shivas shows are bombastic, explosive and thoroughly communal live rock and roll experiences where barriers between the performers and their audience seem to dissolve into the sweat and sound. Doug Fir is currently requiring COVID-19 vaccination proof, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, taken within 48 hours prior to entry. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.
• Jazz and blues great Quinn DeVeaux will be playing at downtown Portland club the Jack London Revue. Rock critic Ian S. Port praised DeVeaux for “distill[ing] decades of American blues, country, soul, and gospel into a funky sound that feels as authentic as it does refreshing.” Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry and masks are required inside. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Audubon: "Waves of southbound migrating Swainson's Thrush will be passing over our area at night this month. There’s something pretty special about hearing their one or two note calls to one another in the darkness. Hans Norelius [Image ..." (Instagram)

• NAO's Grantwriting for Results Nonprofit Learning Cohort will teach you where to find grants, how to write grant reports, ethics, and how to build relationships with grantmakers so that you have all the information you need to write and ..." (Instagram)
• If you're a Portland area pet owner, you've probably noticed how difficult it is to get a vet appointment lately. The pandemic has hit just about every profession hard and veterinary clinics and hospitals have been overwhelmed. Both an increase in demand for veterinary services and reduced staffing have created a "perfect storm" putting many pets at risk. (OPB)
• Nothing says summer like fresh, local tomatoes. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest where the brief window at which tomatoes are at their perfect ripeness is so small. Jim, from NE Portland shop Wellspent Market, wants to share with us the recipe for his deconstructed tomato sandwich. Yum! (PDX Food Express)
• Friends of Trees is a local non-profit dedicated to advancing the planting of trees in the state. They have planted more than 870,000 trees and native shrubs in 120+ neighborhoods in six counties across two states. Oregon Grapevine host Barbara Dellenback talks with Eugene/Springfield Friends of Trees Director Erik Burke on the importance of trees to the health of people and the planet, why it is not always the right decision to plant native trees, and the equity issues around shade. (KLCC)
• If you lack health insurance or face a financial barrier to healthcare, you should know that the ZOOM clinic on NE MLK and Davis has a free clinic night on the second Wednesday of every month. They offer cost-free clinic appointments from 6-9 p.m. (ZOOM)

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I hope that's enough to get you started on your day. Or your evening, I don't judge. But no matter when your reading this, or what state you're from, if you're interested in Portland, you know where to find me. Until tomorrow, friends. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Portland Daily? I'm all ears. You can email me at portland@patch.com.