🌱 New Ballot Postmark Deadline Law + Tri-Met Staffing Shortage

Happy Tuesday, Portland! This is your last day to get your vote in, so go do your civic duty and cast your ballot. Here's what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

We've got a truly Portland mix of clouds and sun with a high of 64.

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. With street takeovers becoming an increasing problem in Portland, police officers have been given a new tool to use. The police bureau revised its policy on towing cars to give officers more latitude about when to have a car towed. The bureau said that the most significant change allows officers to have a car towed "for certain offenses such as driving uninsured, suspended, without licenses, or in a street takeover." Police officials said that the changes bring Portland in line with neighboring law enforcement agencies and state law. (Portland Patch)
2. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan says voters should keep Oregon’s new postmark-deadline law in mind when they return their mail ballots for Tuesday’s primary election. The election is Oregon’s first statewide in which ballots postmarked by election day will count, if county elections offices receive them no later than seven days after the election (on May 24). The change was made by the 2021 Legislature, which sought to eliminate confusion about when voters should mail ballots. Under previous law, ballots had to be in the hands of county elections officials — including official drop boxes — by 8 p.m. on election day. (KOIN)
3. One in four classrooms in Portland’s elementary and middle schools do not meet minimum recommendations for ventilation, increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other airborne diseases, an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive has found. Testing identified nearly 500 out of 2,000 classrooms — or 25% — in elementary and middle schools with exceptionally low ventilation and filtration rates, even with the purifiers running full blast, according to the newsroom’s analysis of district records. In all, about 1,250 classrooms in those buildings – or more than 60% – do not meet higher levels frequently recommended by air quality experts. (The Oregonian)
4. The 2022 point in time count shows more than 3,000 people are living on the streets in Multnomah County. That's about a thousand more than 2019. Given the data, staff with the Joint Office of Homeless Services tell KATU they want to add 2,700 new shelter beds in the year ahead. The Multnomah County deputy communications director said his team is also working to create connections to improve shelter access. “We’ve got 80-plus funded outreach workers, so these teams are a key point of connection. They’re letting folks know. Folks can call 2-1-1 to get access to shelter also," Denis Theriault said. (KATU)
5. Changes have been made to some TriMet bus lines while the transit agency works to improve service amid the biggest operator shortage in its history. In a press release sent Wednesday titled “We’re sorry,” TriMet apologized for continued bus cancellations despite having already reduced service earlier in the year. Now, the agency says its “severe” staffing shortfall is affecting MAX lines and trains are getting canceled, too. Beginning Sunday, bus lines 4, 21, 33, 57, 62, 75 and 82 are all seeing changes to their schedules as part of TriMet’s summer service improvements. (KOIN.com)

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Today in Portland:

• Tacos and trivia? Where do I sign up? Why the Advice Booth in North Portland, of course! Join the fun and plumb the dizzying heights (or murky depths?) of your factoid knowledge with Untapped Trivia every Tuesday at Advice Booth. Untapped Trivia is always more than just your 4 rounds of typical pub/bar trivia, and always free to play. Outside of trivia it's also TACO Tuesday! 7 - 9 p.m.
• Come one, come all – Join us for an evening of poetry, music, and storytelling with Mighty Mike McGee and Friends. Special guests include Brian S. Ellis, Minda Lacy, and Igor Brezhnev. Mighty Mike McGee is a well-traveled “stand-up poet” and storyteller from San José, California. McGee has been featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, CBC Radio and Television, and NPR’s Snap Judgment. He was appointed Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley) for 2018 and 2019. Tickets available online. 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• Know your Frodo from your Bilbo? Your Gandalf from your Gollum? Test your knowledge of Middle Earth and The Lord of the Rings trivia as the 4th Wall brings you on a truly ‘unexpected journey!' It's FREE to play! Winning team will receive a $15 gift card. Trivia starts at 7 p.m.
• Please join the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology for an online artist talk by Ian van Coller as he discusses his award-winning project Naturalists of the Long Now that includes his collaborations with paleoclimatologists. He will also share some of his artist books related to climate change and deep time. Register online for this free event. The talk starts at 4 p.m.
• The PSU Vocal Collective will be at the 1905 in North Portland. The PSU Vocal Collective is a vocal quintet and rhythm section made up of students from the Jazz program at Portland State University. Under the direction of Sherry Alves, the group performs incredible vocal arrangements of jazz and popular music that are reminiscent of groups like Groove for Thought, the New York Voices, and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. This set includes music by Esperanza Spalding, Vince Mendoza, Kurt Elling, Count Basie, Elton John, and more. This is a free event.5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Portland Audubon: "Oregon's Marine reserves are key pit-stops for migratory birds. Come visit Cape Falcon Marine Reserve to view some of the largest bird colonies on the Oregon coast! https://bit.ly/39SNLmt Photo of a Common Loon by Shawn McCready [Image D..." (Facebook)
• Portland Farmers Market: "Grab your kids, grandma, partner, bff and neighbor and wander on over to the King Farmers Market! Your favs are back- stop by and say Hi to @wanderingseedsbakery and @amylkshop King Farmers Market Sundays 10am-2pm May-Nov NE 7th and NE W..." (Facebook)
• When the inflatable rafts cast off from Tom McCall Waterfront Park on July 10, it will be the final voyage of Portland’s annual Big Float event. This will be the 10th annual Big Float and ringleader of the Human Access Project, Willie Levenson told KOIN 6 News it will be the final year. Human Access Project has organized the event every year as a way to celebrate improvements made to the quality and health of the Willamette River water, but took 2020 and 2021 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (KOIN)
• Stand-up comedy is in the midst of a cultural resurgence – with new specials available seemingly on every streaming service on a weekly basis. A new book from a Portland author goes deep on the trail blazing women who burst onto the scene, grabbed the mic and changed the medium for the better. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, Amy Wang chats with Shawn Levy. (The Oregonian)
• Hikers who were hoping to hit the Eagle Creek Trail before the new Columbia River Gorge timed-permit program went into effect will have to pick a different destination for the time being. A significant rock slide has blocked the popular route. The U.S. Forest Service announced the trail closure May 14 on its social media platforms. The slide happened about one mile from the trailhead, and measures approximately 25 feet wide. The agency did not say how long they expected the path to remain off-limits or when cleanup crews would arrive and begin their work. (Willamette Week)
• Known for its lush nature parks, numerous art museums, and its craft breweries and distilleries, Portland is indeed a good getaway place. This city is a modern foodie paradise, offering a variety of cuisines and options from classic favorites like steaks, fries, barbeque, and wings to Asian seafood plates, Italian pizza, pasta, and Mexican delights. Ready to go on a food trip? Here is a list of the best restaurants in Portland, click the play button for more. (YouTube)

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That's your day, my friends. Have fun with it and, most importantly, don't forget to vote. Oh, and don't forget to meet me back here tomorrow, so I can tell you about another day in 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