🌱 Clark County Sheriff Shortage + Portland Ramping Up Homeless Sweeps

Hello, loyal readers! I'm back with the Thursday edition of the Portland Patch! So sit back and let me tell what will be happening this fine day.

First, today's weather:

It's going to be a cloudy day with a high of 70. There's a possibility of a shower, but it's small.

Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. The Clark County Sheriff's Office has a severe staffing shortage, leading to the lowest law enforcement-to-citizen ratio in the country. As a result, they've been forced to cut down on services and stop responding to some low-level crimes such as certain thefts and trespassing. “People speed because they can, they break laws because they can,” said Jack Thompson. His neighbor recently shot and killed someone who was trying to break into their house because police were unable to respond right away. (Fox 12 Oregon)
2. The lunch hour when Noah Carr was shot in the face with a gel gun began in the ordinary way. Scores of Grant High School students power-walked to Blind Onion for pizza and breadsticks or to New Seasons for salad rolls during their 35-minute window for lunch. But on March 10, six students broke from their usual routine. Armed with SplatRBall guns—which look like semi-automatic rifles but shoot small gel balls filled with fluid—they split into two cars and prowled the streets around Grant, shooting students at random as they drove by. (Willamette Week)
3. The culture wars have finally arrived at Portland-area schools, complete with audience outbursts and commentary from parents and other community members who oppose LGBTQ-related teaching materials, gender-inclusive sex education curriculums, and conversations about race. While the state’s guidance is clear, parents, teachers and students across three school districts in the Portland region are fighting to make sure the inclusivity of schools is not jeopardized by a growing backlash from conservative parents and school administrators. (Portland Mercury)
4. Coming to a ballot near you! The Portland Charter Commission approved Tuesday night by a 17-3 vote big changes to the way Portland’s government operates. The City Council would get bigger, consisting of three candidates chosen from four new geographic districts in the city, for a total of 12 members. These candidates would be chosen through ranked choice voting. The mayor would be in charge of day-to-day operations and would hire a professional city manager to help. (KATU)
5. In a new effort to clean up the city and get the unhoused into shelters, the City of Portland will start removing more camps across the city after seeing success in Old Town. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler touted the success of the newly formed Street Services Coordination Center at a press conference on Monday. This partnership between the city and Multnomah County worked in Old Town to get unhoused individuals into shelters, connect them with services and clear out camps. After seeing 64% fewer tents in the Old Town neighborhood, a similar strategy could be deployed throughout the city. (Fox 12 Oregon)

Today in Portland:

• Listen up, Portland-area fans of True Blood and Midnight, Texas! Powell's Books Presents Kim Harrison in an online conversation with Charlaine Harris! Charlaine Harris may be more familiar to fans out there, given that two of her series have had television adaptations, but Harris is no slouch in the writing department herself. She's published over two dozen urban fantasy novels, including the New York Times #1 best selling Hollows series. Register online for what is sure to be a fascinating online conversation between two celebrated authors. The talk starts at 5 p.m.
• Feel the love, Portland! At the Colors of Love Party - A Pride event at Migration Brewing's Glisan Pub. Come celebrate Pride month with a live DJ, food specials, and drink specials! 3 - 9 p.m.
• Want to support the Ukraine and have some great beer at the same time? Head to Rogue Ales & Spirits (Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery) for their F*#k Putin Tie Dye Party. As you know by now, F*#K Putin is not only a delicious beer that gives back to Global Giving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund which helps local, trusted nonprofits provide vital access to education, food, medical services, and more... but they also have some rad merch that supports the cause! 5 - 7 p.m.
• Get down with some free music and fine food and drink at the Alberta Street Pub! Tonight they'll be hosting a Rock & Roll Soul Party with Mitch and Melody Makers. With fantastic local live music, delicious, locally sourced food options, 21 rotating taps, craft cocktails, and one of the finest patios in Portland, the Alberta Street Pub continues the legacy of excellent music and community right here in your neighborhood. 7 - 10 p.m.
• Oregon Pride in Business (ORPIB) is happy to announce their June Pride Mixer at Shine Distillery and Grill in North Portland! Come mingle and network with like-minded movers and shakers. Special drag show this month! Oregon Pride in Business (ORPIB) is a 30-year-old LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce that champions opportunity, development, and advocacy for Oregon’s LGBTQ+ & Allied business community. Register online. 6 - 8 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Portland: "This weekend head to the Convention Center for the inaugural @worldsofsport event! Over 90,000 sq ft of all things sports located under one roof. Kick a soccer goal with the Timbers, shoot hoops with the Blazers, trade cards with collect..." (Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "This common yellowthroat was bringing this tasty snack back to his nest. While it’s normal for males to have one mate each breeding season, the female may mate with more than one male. She will defend the territory and raise her young." (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• A major disaster has hit Portland. Roads and bridges are out and the gas and power supply is spotty. Bikes to the rescue! The 10th annual Disaster Relief Trials helps train people to use bikes as first responder and resupply vehicles. This year's event was held at Cully Park and had over two dozen competitors. Filmmaker Amit Zinman captured much of the action in this video and sat down with one of the organizers to learn more about it. (YouTube)
• Portland International Airport has become well-known for a cultural phenomenon: As part of a tradition, travelers take photos of their feet against the famous green carpet. The airport is also well-known as 'PDX,' but where the 'X' comes from may not be common knowledge. Check out this informative piece about the history of our favorite airport. (KGW)
• Zoo Nights are back at the Oregon Zoo. A summertime tradition, come take a stroll through the Oregon Zoo at night. From mid-June through mid-August the zoo offers extended hours, music on the lawn and special keeper talks and educational fun for kids and adults every other Friday. The first Zoo Nights event is this Friday and features the Garcia Birthday Band, a Portland group that celebrates the music of the Grateful Dead. (Oregon Zoo)
• If you enjoy browsing used, rare and antique books as much as I do, I've got a weekend suggestion for you. Organizers of the Cascade Booksellers Association’s annual Rose City Book & Paper Fair expect thousands of items, including first editions of literary classics; historical figures’ letters, journals and other papers; books with decorative bindings; vintage and antique children’s books; rare regional histories, maps, photographs and prints. (Cascade Booksellers)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• JAK CBD — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Portland Water Lantern Festival (June 18)
• Hire A Pro To Clean Up The Yard For Dad (June 19)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 22)
• Add your event

Thanks for reading, Portland. I love this town and all the people in it, and it's my privilege to be able to share it with you. I'll be back with another Portland Patch newsletter tomorrow and let you know what's happening in our fair city.

— 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