🌱 High Risk Homeless Camp + Climate Change Emergency

Ah, Saturday, glorious Saturday! Welcome to the weekend, Portland. Time to relax and play. Let me tell you what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

It's a mostly sunny day with a high of 80. Perfect!

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. Homeless AND paying rent? That's what it's like at the makeshift village Grace's Oasis. About three years ago, Angel Grace Brown moved her tent onto the city-owned land here. She describes it as a safe place, and over the years she invited others to camp there as well. Now she charges people $200 per month to camp there. Some of that money goes toward camp maintenance. Many of the campers like the spot enough to pay, but the city has deemed the camp to be a high-risk site and has added it to the removal list. (KGW.com)
2. It was a big day for the Portland Police Bureau. Amid repeated complaints from police of low staffing numbers and a subsequent push from city leaders to expand the force, the Portland Police Bureau hired two dozen more staff members in what was described as its “single largest hiring group in memory” on Thursday. The group consists of 16 new sworn officers, a public safety support specialist (PS3), a chaplain and six more staffers. (KOIN)
3. A local non-profit is calling out the Oregon Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad about the garbage and graffiti on lands they own. Frank Mosco, founder of Adopt One Block, says they’re not doing their part to keep the city clean. In defense, ODOT claims it is spending millions to clean up ODOT property and highways. Union Pacific says it works continuously to keep 32,000 miles of track clean and clear of homeless encampments, but it is challenging given the homelessness issue in Portland. (KATU)
4. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler spoke more about his plan to combat gun violence. “The Safer Summer PDX plan is the start of a two-year plan to reduce gun murders by at least 10% over the next two years by increasing effective community-based violence interventions,” Wheeler said at a press conference announcing the new initiative. Wheeler conceded that there was little new in his announcement. He said the emergency declaration will streamline the work various offices are already doing by bringing them under his office. (OPB)
5. Portland city commissioners unanimously approved an ambitious work plan Wednesday identifying 43 actions the city can take to meet its goals of curbing greenhouse gas emissions to stem the impacts of climate change. The resolution, dubbed the Climate Emergency Workplan, does not come with any mandates or exact costs, but is a roadmap for commissioners to reference as each of the projects identified in the plan comes to the City Council with funding requests, city officials said. (OregonLive)

Today in Portland:

• Am I in the mood for comedy or for wrestling? Why choose? Come to POWER BOMB Comedy & Wrestling in North Portland and have it all! You will see comedy Roasts from Portland's funniest comics along with WILD wrestling matches by Blue Collar Wrestling! Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
• Portland Taiko's People of the Drum will be at Gateway Discovery Park. Free performances and drumming/dance workshops by Hula Hālau ‘Ohana Holo’oko’a, Mexica Tiahui, Alex Addy Drummers, and Portland Taiko! Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of drumming and dance from different cultural traditions! 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Are you in the mood for a picnic? Check out the Portland Art Picnic at Wilshire City Park in NE Portland. The Portland Art Picnic is an outdoor gallery and sale for local artists. It is free to the public and artists get to keep all proceeds. There will be paintings, clothing, jewelry, stickers, and more available for purchase from over 5 dozen Portland artists. Noon to 3 p.m.
• What, the Art Picnic isn't enough for you? Then head to North Portland for the 2022 St Johns Art Walk! The artists will be set up inside or just outside St Johns businesses along Lombard. If you want to make a day of it, hit the St. John's Farmers Market first, then check out the art. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Who's hungry for some sea food? Black & Beyond the Binary Collective is throwing open its doors for a good old-fashioned fish-fry cookout! Come join them for some great food, good music, and casual fun. All Are Welcome! Noon to 4 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "The Tilikum Crossing is the only bridge in the country dedicated to light rail, buses, bicycles and pedestrians — without automobile traffic. It's a beautiful stroll as well, especially at sunrise and sunset. Check it out! #ThisIsPortlan..." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "In the summer, our Wildlife Care Center cares for hundreds of injured or orphaned baby birds, getting them ready for life out in the wild. And when a number of them are ready for release at the same time, it's a magical experience. In th..." (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "🎹 Piano. Push. Play. (@pianopushplay) is celebrating a decade of merging music and visual art in community spaces! We are proud to support them as a community partner and their fiscal sponsor. Artist Maja Dlugolecki (@maijkah) has pai..." (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• Portland Flea: "⚡️ Fun things coming to the FLEA this Sunday, like new vendor @tamiko.sidore ⬆️ and all the colorful pieces, you are surely needing but don’t know it yet." (Portland Flea via Instagram)
• After a two-year hiatus, the Montavilla Street Fair is returning. The event established in 2011 features local arts, crafts, and food vendors, as well as live music and family activities. The single-day event will take place July 31 on Southeast Stark Street between 76th and 82nd Avenue. Previous years have drawn an estimated 15,000 people in attendance according to organizers making it one of the largest street fairs in the Portland area. (KPTV)
• If you've been paying any attention to the weather, you know it's going to get HOT. How hot, you may ask? Hot enough that fan favorite Frankie MacDonald is shouting out a warning for us. Be smart, listen to Frankie. (YouTube)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• JAK CBD — (Visit website)
• Sunset Heating & Cooling — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

I hope I've given you enough information for you to have a great weekend. Lots to do, lots to see and all in our great city of Portland. Have fun and know that I'll be back here next week to do it all over again.

— 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