Infrastructure Unease+Friends Of Trees+KOIN Tower Honey Bees

It's hump day in Stumptown and I'm as excited as a vexillologist at a flag waving contest! Let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather: A high of 85 and nothing but sun is what today is all about. Awesome!

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. A significant portion of the funds used to maintain Portland's roads come from the gas tax, but with cars becoming more efficient and the switch towards electric vehicles that revenue has been decreasing. Officials are mulling a different way of raising funds; charging drivers by the mile. (KATU)
2. Portland non-profit Friends of Trees says its future is uncertain, as it waits to hear about funding from the city's Bureau of Environmental Services. They say they are in limbo right now, unable to plan their next planting season without knowing how much funding they'll receive. (Willamette Week)
3. A few weeks ago, I had talked about former Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith running for Oregon's new Congressional seat. Now, player 2 has entered the game. Former Portland school board member Derry Jackson has announced their candidacy for Oregon's 6th Congressional District. (KATU)
4. As Portland ponders how to address its crumbling infrastructure, the city is getting some help from the federal government. Last week, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his colleagues in the House of Representatives passed the INVEST in America Act which will provide $715 billion for infrastructure projects nationwide. Portland is getting $5 million of that, earmarked for improvements to 82nd Ave. (BikePortland.org)
5. Honey bees have found a new home at KOIN tower. The company Alvéole is on a mission to reconnect people to nature in the urban environment. To do so, they have been partnering up with other corporations, in this case SBK companies that own KOIN tower, to install bee hives. (KOIN.com)

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Today in Portland

• Happy Bastille Day! To celebrate, Stem Wine Bar is offering a French wine tasting experience. Join owner & wine director Wei-En and wine & tasting manager Lauren, as they guide you through a mix of white, rose, red and sparkling wines across the regions of France. Reservations available (5:00 to 6:00 PM)
• The Tree Emergency Response Team is holding a free Drink & Draw event to raise awareness and build community for the trees in the South Park Blocks. It'll be meeting at Heroes Café and will provide art supplies. Please register online. (6:00 - 8:00 PM.)
• Wow, I guess it's an art-filled Wednesday! Witchy Watercolor, a tarot themed painting class, will take place at Threshold Brewing in SE Portland. All skill levels welcome. Tickets are $30 and include the class, the materials and a beer of your choice. (6:00 PM.)
• The Ledding Library of Milwaukie will be livestreaming Portland poet Emmett Wheatfall as he reads his poetry. His collection As Clean as a Bone was a 2019 Eric Hoffer Award finalist as well as a da Vinci Eye Award finalist. The reading can be viewed on the Ledding Library's YouTube channel. (3:30 PM)
• Is there a right way to make a map? Should that be a political question? It often is and the Ecology Club would like to discuss some of the complexities of mapping contested landscapes. Join Sachi Arakawa, Rebecca McLain, and David Banis for this online event, as they discuss this topic and present a case study in mapping the Olympic Peninsula. (6:00 PM)

Portland Patch Notebook

• On Thursday, July 15th, Portland will hold its first Human Rights Commission Event for Oregon Sex Workers. The Oregon legislature is considering decriminalizing sex work in the state and supporters are hoping this event will sway voters in favor of decriminalization. Elle Stanger and Alex Andrews take a deep dive into the subject in this Op-Ed piece. (Portland Mercury)
• While I have the opportunity, I'd like to give a shout out to the stellar non-profit Street Roots. It has been helping the homeless population of Portland for over 20 years. With its vendor program, newspaper and Rose City Resources publication, it helps thousands of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Check the organization out, support it if you can. (Street Roots)
• Portland Flea: "Can’t wait to be back on JULY 25! Vendors like @shop_babyface will be bringing it, per usual, tunes will be spu..." (Instagram)
• Portland Trail Blazers: "Big 1st half for DOLLA 16 points (6-10 from the field, 4-6 from 3), 3 rebounds, 1 block in 14 minutes" (Instagram)

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Events:

• Free 30 Min Photoshoots in Camas! (July 18)

There's your Wednesday everyone. Do it right Portland, but don't wear yourself out. I'll have a whole new bucket of fun to share with you tomorrow. And if you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? You can reach me at portland@patch.com.