🌱 Building Permit Process Still Slow + Scammers Target Theft Victims

The weekend is here, folks, and not just any weekend, but a long, Fourth of July weekend. As you can guess, there's a lot going on, so let me just tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

We'll start out overcast, but that will clear up a little for some sun and a high of 75.

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. Despite auditors for the city of Portland claiming "significant progress" on improving its painfully slow building permit process, wait times have actually gotten longer. Last month, it took the city about twice as long to evaluate permit applications than its goal — nearly 200 days, for example, to grant a permit for a new commercial building compared to its goal of 71 days. A typical permit for a home alteration should take just 27 days to approve but in each of the past 12 months has taken more than 50. (OregonLive)
2. About 160 people, including elected officials and leaders in the medical community, have signed an unusual letter asking Pro-Choice Oregon to reconsider its decision to only endorse Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson in the race for county chair. Their request: that Pro-Choice Oregon’s political action committee expand its endorsement to include both Vega Pederson and her opponent in the November general election, Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran. (Willamette Week)
3. Portland leaders are poised to limit the expansion of fossil fuel terminals after years of legal challenges from industry groups. They’re considering a zoning code change that would prohibit the construction of new fossil fuel terminals in the city and prevent the 11 existing terminals that dot the Portland harbor from adding fossil fuel storage tank capacity. Supporters at a Thursday hearing on the zoning change said the move was a necessary step to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions and prevent a disastrous oil spill into the Willamette River during the next major earthquake. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
4. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office is investigating People for Portland for possible election law violations. A complaint filed March 15 on behalf of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 argues People for Portland violated Oregon statutes by failing to file a statement of organization or as an independent expenditure filer. According to the complaint, first reported on by The Oregonian in March, People for Portland raised funds for political candidates and aired advertisements to influence voters during the 2022 primaries without registering as a political action committee, or PAC. (Street Roots News)
5. More than 10,000 people had their cars stolen in Portland last year. On average, a vehicle is ripped off every 48 minutes. Scammers have taken notice, and they’re targeting victims of car theft using social media, stating that they can help recover their vehicles. A company, using the Instagram profile name @9th_tech, claimed to be ethical hackers, who could tap into dozens of surveillance cameras to help look for stolen vehicles. Additionally, 9th_tech claimed it could hack into the speedometer and odometer of a stolen vehicle using “beep location technology.” After interacting with a car theft victim, they will say that they have located their car, but will ask for $1,500 in return for the address. (KGW)

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Today in Portland:

• Lavender Country will be performing at The Fixin' To in North Portland. Released initially as a private press LP in 1973, Lavender Country’s eponymous album was the first gay country album ever, beating out Peter Grudzien’s "The Unicorn" by a year. The band will hit the stage just after the release of its new single, a re-recorded version of “I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You," alongside pop-punk quartet New Here. Get your tickets online. Showtime is 8 p.m..
• Come see the wacky, two-act play Nothing Sacred: It’s Sacrelicious! at Performance Works NorthWest in the Fo-Po neighborhood. When estranged brothers and probable enemies God and Satan are stranded on the way to an annual gala for deities, their credulous brother, Les, offers them a ride in his Winnebago. Hilarity ensues. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
• Festival de Fronterizas: For All Betwixt and Between! is a community based festival taking place at Alder Commons in NE Portland. Building on the success of its inaugural event in July 2021, this year's festival will focus on themes of visibility, connectivity, light! Inspired by PETE's production Fronteriza, which explored the nature of borders and borderlands as a space for connection, reckoning and reciprocity, the festival offers a platform for artists, makers, performers, activists and community to be seen, heard and celebrated. Noon to 6 p.m.
• Local comic purveyors Books with Pictures present this funky "minicon," an outdoor tabling event with over 30 artists sharing their handmade wares alongside live musicians and special guests. Steve Lieber, the comic book illustrator behind Hawkman, Detective Comics, and Whiteout, will stop by for a signing alongside Shaft: A Complicated Man writer David F. Walker and Ultimate Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis. Don't miss the food cart pod parked conveniently close by—even comic book nerds get the munchies.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Come see Twisted: A Variety Show Dedicated To Villains at The Big Legrowlski in downtown Portland. They stir up trouble and antagonize the main characters. They’ve got evil laughs and often misunderstood pasts. All they really want is to be the center of attention-they’re villains! Tickets available online. 8 - 11 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, we’re highlighting @thesportsbrapdx who is committed to supporting, empowering & promoting girls & women in sports. Owner Jenny Nguyen has created a safe space for both women & the LGBTQ2SI..." (Portland Trail Blazers via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "We’ve been up to something! ✨ Last month we invited families, teachers, Indigenous leaders, artists, activists, canoe families, and many more to participate in a photoshoot in anticipation of the upcoming exhibition, “Jeffrey Gibson: Th..." (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• Portland Opera’s season of Opera a la Cart performances has begun. The company’s series of free, outdoor opera performances will take place all over the city this summer, running until Aug. 18. Opera a la Cart was inspired by Portland’s food carts. Using a mobile venue that looks like a food cart with a stage jutting out of its side, the company brings opera into community spaces, including farmers markets, parks, neighborhood festivals, street fairs, wineries and more. (Willamette Week)
• Looking for an offbeat beach read? Portland Monthly asked Portland-based writer and Oregon Book Award–nominated author Callum Angusto to tell us a story set in Portland in the summer of 2022. This is the result. (PDX Monthly)
• Portland Oregon is known as the City of Roses. YouTuber Lidia Style visited Washington Park to see the International Rose Test Garden and made sure to capture some of it on video for you. Enjoy! (YouTube)
• YouTuber Jacon the Carpetbagger travels the highways and byways of the U.S., stopping at places special and unique. This is his feature on Portland spot The Peculiarium. It's a bit long, clocking in at a hair over 36 min, but if you miss the Peculiarium like I do, it'll be a trip down memory lane. (YouTube)

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Happy Fourth of July everyone! It's another long weekend, so I won't be back until Wednesday, but I wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable time. I'll be back next week to bring you more news of Portland.

— 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? Contact me at portland@patch.com