🌱 Community Crime Pilot Program + Healthcare Debt

It's Saturday, people! Time to relax and enjoy all that Portland has to offer. And that's a lot. Before we get into that though, let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

A cloudy day with a high of 48. There will be rain coming in tonight.

Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. Portland police arrested a man this week accused of threatening people by pointing what appeared to be a gun out his apartment window on West Burnside Street more than once. The bureau said officers were able to tackle the case because of a new pilot program aimed at solving community crimes more efficiently. The pilot program pairs a detective with officers from the neighborhood response team. (KGW)
2. A federal grand jury has indicted the former president and event director of the Portland Marathon for defrauding the nonprofit organization that plans and operates the race out of more than $1 million. Lester "Les" Smith, 80, has been charged with wire fraud and tax evasion. The indictment comes four years after a settlement with the Oregon Department of Justice over alleged conflicts of interest and improper loans. (KGW)
3. The high cost of health care continues to be a heavy burden for many local families. Research from 2019 shows that at least 60% of chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy filings in Oregon involved medical debt. And that’s why a national movement called RIP Medical Debt is putting the spotlight on the Beaver State. (KOIN)
4. On Thursday afternoon, Portland City Council heard testimony on a proposed labor contract between the city and the Portland Police Association (PPA), the union representing rank-and-file Portland officers. The draft contract itself contains several victories for the city, including a clear discipline guide for officers who err, an agreement to work in collaboration with the city's Portland Street Response program, and limitations to which type of retired officers can be hired back to help fill staffing gaps within the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). But, as with any labor contract negotiation, a win for one side means the other side gained something in return. (Portland Mercury)
5. During Black History Month, Portlanders can experience a new exhibition that looks at the issue of white supremacy in the United States. Don't Shoot Portland and the University of Oregon Center of Art Research opened "Feeling Documents: A Liberated Archives Experience" on Thursday. The installation is part of the "Habits of Denial" series and includes images of leaders who Don't Shoot Portland said have helped promote white supremacy in the US. They also have documents and articles about the KKK. (KPTV)

Today in Portland:

• Adlai Alexander and Dan Faehnle will be playing at Corkscrew Wine Bar in SE Portland. Dan Faehnle plays guitar for Pink Martini and Diana Krall. JazzTimes says: "Faehnle is simply one of the best guitarists working today.’’ Tonight he teams up with singer/guitarist Adlai Alexander for a spontaneous, interactive evening of bossa nova, jazz and pop favorites! DO NOT MISS OUT! 8:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Join Isaiah Esquire and Kimber Shade as they celebrate Black Culture through dance, drag, and connection at CC'S Slaughters Nightclub in downtown Portland. This all Black cast will take you on a ride celebrating everything amazing about Black culture, followed by a night of dancing and performances by local artists. Tickets available online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.
• Come to the RLLRBLL cassette release with Lord Master at Turn Turn Turn in NE Portland. Shows start and end early at this favorite joint! So get there at 8 and come soak in all this magic! The fun starts at 8:00 PM.
• Re-Ignition, a variety show, will be presented at The Back Door Theater in SE Portland. This is a fundraiser to support Fuse Theater Ensemble, The OUTwright Theater Festival and BlaQ Out. Prepare for a romantic evening of live piano, drag, drama, standup and more! Tickets available online. 7:30 - 10:00 PM.
• Wind down with a glass of wine and a performance by accomplished jazz drummer Brent Follis and his trio at Vino Veritas in SE Portland. Raised on a farm in Southern Illinois, the first thing Brent Follis can remember is picking up a pair of wooden spoons and tapping out rhythms on some old popcorn tins. Since then, his journey in music has led him cross country and around the globe, in search of inspiration and culture. 7:00 - 9:30 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "4 straight goin’ into the break 🎥" (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "TICKET GIVEAWAY! 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️ To kick off @portlandartmuseum's upcoming exhibition “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism." We're partnering with @oregonsymphony to offer a special giveaway. One lucky winner will receiv..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Love your backyard bird feeders for easy bird viewing? Our Nature Store staff shares which types of food each species group prefers to help you attract everyone from woodpeckers to finches to warblers. ➡️ Click on the link in our bio for..." (Instagram)
• Portland Farmers Market: "Celebrate Cabbage Day by whipping up a batch of sauerkraut! If you've never made it before, it's quite easy to do! So delicious and offers health benefits & nutrition far beyond fresh cabbage. Check out this sauerkraut recipe by Fermente..." (Facebook)
• Last year, Paddy’s took a small step toward normalcy by tapping its traditional green beer for limited crowds on St. Patrick’s Day. Now, the bar and grill says it’s officially reopening downtown Portland with a return to its traditional March 17 festivities. Today, the city’s oldest Irish pub announced that the street party you may recall from pre-pandemic times will be back in full force. (Willamette Week)
• This hip hop song was a joint effort between TriMet, Sabin, and Dynamix to promote safety around TriMet light rail, produced in 2004 for the opening of the Yellow Line. (YouTube)

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Is that a Saturday or what? Oh, I just looked at the calendar. It is a Saturday. Sorry for asking. Have a great weekend my friends and meet me back here next week for another Portland Patch.

— 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.