🌱 Ghost Guns In Portland + Sex Workers Rights On State Ballot?

It's not just any Wednesday, my friends, it's National Banana Bread Day! So grab those overripe bananas and bake yourself up some goodness. But let me tell you about your day before you do.

First, today's weather:

It's sunny, clear and cold today. We've got a high temp of 37, but the wind chill is going to make it feel colder.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. On average, Black, Latino and low-income families live in less energy-efficient homes and pay more for their energy, with low-income households spending the most, up to 38% of their income, according to the Oregon Energy Fund. The Build/Shift Collective, which stands for "building relationships, shifting power," is a grassroots group in Portland that is working to address the health, climate and equity issues associated with homes. (High Country News)
2. Despite below freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chill conditions, the warming shelters were not activated by Multnomah County on Monday night. Multnomah County spokesperson Denis Theriault said they work with the National Weather Service to get an idea of temperatures. The threshold, he said, is 4 hours at 25 degrees or below, and it’s a leadership discussion about when to open the warming shelters. (KOIN)
3. As the City of Portland continues to grapple with out-of-control gun violence, those working to curb the violence are facing a new problem - guns that are homemade and untraceable or "ghost guns." "A ghost gun is a do-it-yourself firearm. A homemade gun made from easy-to-get building blocks that you can assemble in terms of making a functioning firearm," said Kieran Ramsey, Special Agent in charge of the FBI's Portland Field Office. (KPTV)
4. Get ready to pay more to park in Portland. Today, the Portland City Council will hear a proposal to increase the costs of metered parking and parking permits, both to backfill an enormous budget deficit at the Portland Bureau of Transportation and to encourage people to use alternative forms of transportation. Under the proposal, a 20 cent surcharge would be tacked on to every parking meter charge starting this summer. But that’s not all: Starting in 2023, base meter rates could rise 40 cents an hour across the board, to adjust for inflation. (Portland Monthly)
5. The campaign that seeks to decriminalize sex work in Oregon has refiled its petition to begin gathering signatures for the November 2022 ballot. As WW previously reported, the Sex Worker Rights campaign withdrew its initial petition in late January. It refiled after making “minor technical, legal changes” to the petition’s text, says Anne Marie Bäckström, political director of Sex Worker Rights. (Willamette Week)

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Today in Portland:

• If you're interested in some laughs, look no further than Stand Pup Comedy Night! Bring your furry family members and join the Oregon Humane Society for a fun online event starring adoptable pets and funny humans as seen on America’s Got Talent, Comedy Central and more. Get your tickets online. 50% of proceeds will be donated to help support shelter pets at the Oregon Humane Society! 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
• Multnomah County Library's Black Cultural Library Advocates presents: Black History Month - Barbershop Talk: Health and Wellness. This will be a facilitated discussion with a panel of library staff and presenters Nick Herrick, a social worker and co-chair for the Behavioral Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee at Providence Portland Medical Center; and Cary Pratt Jr., barber at Clasik Kuttz and licensed medical assistant. Register online.7:00 - 8:00 PM.
• If you're thirsty for some beer, join Von Ebert Brewing in NW Portland as they celebrate Clubhaus Lager Day. They're honoring this crispy, award-winning light lager by adding a FREE t-shirt to any purchase of any Clubhaus Lager item - draft, mug, sweatshirt, t-shirt, 4-pack or either of our food specials. Prost! Starts at 11:30 AM.
• The Senator John Heinz History Center, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, will be having an online screening of “Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali” as part of the 2022 From Slavery to Freedom Film Series. For three pivotal years, Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X forged a brotherhood that would not only change both men, but also change the world. Register online for this free documentary. 5:30 - 8:00 PM.
• I guess it's documentary night. The University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication will be screening the film Public Plea in the White Stag Building in NW Portland. What if your life hinged on decisions you made as a teenager? This documentary explores juvenile justice reform and victims' rights. Register online for this free screening. 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Audubon: "Turkey Vultures are one of the earliest arrivals during spring migration and are easy to spot circling the sky with their six-foot wingspan, riding the thermals. As nature’s cleaning crew, they have a highly developed sense of smell and ..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "It may still be winter, but spring migration has already begun. One of our earliest arrivals, the Tree Swallow, comes back to the Portland Metro Regio around February 10 each year. Has anyone spotted one yet? Photo by Mick Thompson [Imag..." (Facebook)
• Nonprofit Association Oregon: "Join Kate and Nicole from the Disability Equity Center (DEC) today as they explain the basic principles of Disability Justice work and explore ways to increase your understanding of accessibility. This interactive trainin..." (Instagram)
• With retirements at historic levels, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of over a dozen key socioeconomic measures to identify the best and worst states to grow old in. Oregon ranks as a better place than most other states for older Americans, largely because of high levels of social engagement, which can be important for overall well-being, especially throughout retirement. Oregon is also a relatively safe state. There were 292 violent crimes reported in Oregon for every 100,000 people in 2020, well below the national violent crime rate of 399 per 100,000. (Portland Patch)
• Does Portland have a cat burglar? A family’s cat was stolen right off their front porch in north Portland. It was all caught on camera, and now the owners are desperate to get KiKi back. The video taken Sunday morning shows a woman at the porch of the home trying to entice the cat there, when after many failed attempts, she ultimately just picks him up and takes him. (KPTV)
• If you didn’t love movies before the pandemic, you likely love them now. A good movie, a good dog, and a good bottle of wine are all that have gotten some of us through these past two years. Movie Madness, the iconic video store and memorabilia museum that has been part of this city’s zeitgeist for more than 30 years, is an essential source of those good movies. A Portland institution, it is stuffed with movie magic. (Oregon Arts Watch)

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That's your day, Portland. Make it yours and have some fun, but don't forget to meet me back here tomorrow and let me tell you about your day. Now I have to get some walnuts for my banana bread.

— 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.