🌱 Even More Opposition To Charter Reform + Tenent Protections Removed

It's another Friday and that always makes me delirious with joy! Oh, the possibilities that come with Friday. But, technically, this is still a weekday, so let me tell you what's going on.

First, today's weather:

Some clouds in the morning, but a sunny afternoon with a high of 80. I couldn't ask for a better Friday.

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Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. Portland has been having trouble hiring police officers and the personnel shortage has been reflected in rising crime rates. To help out, Portland city commissioners approved half a million dollars for hiring bonuses for lateral officers and public safety support specialists from the Portland Police Bureau. Portland Police Capt. Anthony Passadore told the Council the bonuses are necessary to attract good candidates and stay competitive. "It is a competitive job-hiring process today, and to have the ability to offer a hiring bonus for public safety support specialists would attract the most qualified applicants for us to be able to recruit from," said Passadore. (KATU)
2. The City Charter Reform ballot measure was announced just two weeks ago and it's already seeing opposition. Thursday, I mentioned the opposition from City Commissioner Mingus Mapps and his Ulysses PAC, as well as an unnamed PAC led by Vadim Mozyrsky. Now it's been found that the Portland Business Alliance is in preliminary discussions with other labor and business organizations about filing a legal challenge to the charter reform ballot measure that is set to appear on Portlanders’ November ballots. (Willamette Week)
3. An unhoused Portlander who was repeatedly stabbed in Old Town Monday evening after he lost his tent in a city encampment clearing is now in a coma in critical condition at a local hospital. The man had been living in a tent near Blanchet House, which provides free meals and other services to homeless people, until his possessions were taken following Mayor Ted Wheeler’s order to conduct a mass sweep in Old Town in early May. The nonprofit’s staffers say more needs to be done to protect vulnerable individuals from violence. They wonder: Had Scotty still had a tent, would the assailant have passed him by without notice? (The Oregonian)
4. The Mark Cuban Foundation announced Wednesday that it will be hosting a no-cost Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Boot Camp in Portland this fall for underserved high school students. The A.I. boot camp is one of the 30 camps across the U.S. and will teach students basic A.I. concepts and skills. At the camp, students will learn what A.I. is and is not. They will also learn how they already interact with A.I. in their own lives and the ethical implications of A.I. systems, which include, but are not limited to, TikTok recommendations, smart-home assistants, facial recognition and self-driving cars. (KOIN.com)
5. Portland commissioners voted on Wednesday to remove elements of a renter protection ordinance to settle a two-year legal fight with a group of landlords. Four commissioners voted to roll back parts of the Fair Access in Renting ordinances, allowing landlords to withhold money from renters’ security deposits with fewer restrictions. Lauren Everett, an organizer with Portland Tenants United, said the decision was disappointing and would hurt people who already struggle to afford rent. (OregonLive)

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Today in Portland:

• The Original Practice Shakespeare Festival will be performing The Taming of the Shrew at Cathedral Park. Baptista’s daughter Bianca is beset with suitors… but can’t marry until after her shrewish sister Katherina. Bianca’s suitors pay the roguish Petruchio to marry Katherina, who works to tame his new wife’s wild tongue. Bianca’s suitors squabble (often in disguise), and Katherina returns to her sister’s wedding a perfect wife. Showtime is 7 p.m.
• Come to My Father's Place in SE Portland for Father's Favorites Comedy Showcase. Held in the diner of classic Portland institution My Father's Place Tavern. Hosted by Michael Phelps. Get your tickets online. 8:30 - 11 p.m.
• Tonight is the Piano. Push. Play. Kickoff 2022 at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Piano. Push. Play. is turning 10! And organizers want to celebrate. Come see this year’s 10! brand new art pianos, plus performances from incredible musicians across Portland. Audience members can put their name in a hat for a chance to play live on stage at the event! 7 - 8:30 p.m.
• There's no shortage of comedy in Portland tonight. Please welcome the return of Comedy in the Park, the outdoor comedy show from Kickstand Comedy at Laurelhurst Park. This is a free show, so you may want to show up early. Hosted by Tory Ward, Seth Allen and Jaren George. Blankets drop at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m.
• If you missed Last Thursday and need to see some art, go to Sidestreet Arts in SE Portland for the First Friday Artwalk. Join the organizers in the gallery to meet the artists and see the ART!! Denise Krueger, Gail Owen, Christopher DeLange and Helvi Smith will be there! 5 - 7 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a favorite amongst locals. Home to nearly 100 types of birds and other wildlife, it's a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy the outdoors right in the city limits. Check it out! #ThisIsPortland 📷..." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "JULY 16: Join us for Miller Family Free Day and the exhibition opening of “Perspectives” featuring the work of BIPOC photographers Emery Barnes (@emebarnes), Joseph Blake (@pdxwulf_), Linneas Boland-Godbey (@linneasbg), Mariah Harris (@m..." (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• The 6th Annual Portland Craft Beer Festival will be happening this weekend at The Fields Neighborhood Park in NW Portland. Presale online: Individual entry is $30 and includes a keepsake tin cup with 10 beer tickets. Price will be $40 per entry when purchased at the door once the fest begins. PLEASE NOTE: online ticket sales end at 11:59 AM today. PCBF is dog friendly! Please keep your pet on a leash and bring extra doggie bags. (Mercury Ticketing)
• Artists and crafters may want to know that local non-profit SCRAP has an open studio day the first Friday of every month from noon to 5 p.m. Bring whatever project you're creating and work on it with some like-minded crafters! This is unsupervised creation time for our incredible SCRAP community! Staff will be on hand to chat with you about your project or assist you if needed, but this is mostly unstructured time for you to free-craft/create! (Eventbrite)
• PeriscopeFilm has a treasure trove of stock video footage. This late-50s travelogue presented by Dudley Pictures Corporation and titled “This Land of Ours: Oregon,” highlights the many wonders and splendors of Oregon state and the city of Portland. The film is composed of voice over narration and a montage of scenic footage that underscores the scenic and touristic sites of Oregon. Enjoy! (YouTube)
• The Unipiper: Announcing the release of @PDXSoapboxDerby Summer Ale, the 2nd in the @GiganticBrewing x @WeirdPortlandUnited Weirdtastic Beer series! 🍻Join me for a pint this Friday and be among the first to taste the 3D aroma! We'll have some fan favorite gravity racers on display too. (Instagram)

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Sunny skies and comedy in the parks! This is what summer in Portland is all about. And a weekend of beer? This city is my dream come true. May all your dreams come true, my friends, and meet me back here tomorrow so we can talk more about dreams. And, oh, yeah, about 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