Portland Street Team Expanding+Congestion Pricing+Nurses Strike

It's Wednesday once again and we're powering through our week here in Portland. There's a lot going on in this city of ours and I'm going to tell you all about it.

First, today's weather:

An odd mix of rain and sun, with a high of 58, makes for a pretty typical Portland day. The weather does like to keep us guessing.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. It seems that the Portland Street Response team has gotten the seal of approval from the city and the city commissioners are going to give the go ahead for them to expand. Hardesty plans to introduce the roughly $1 million expansion package later this month, during the regular city budget adjustment process known as the “fall bump”. As part of the proposal, she’ll ask council to approve hiring 13 full-time employees: four crisis medics, two mental health clinician Is, two mental health clinician IIs, three community health workers and two peer support specialists. (KGW)
2. If you drive in the Portland area, you may want to know more about "congestion pricing", which is the idea of charging for road use during peak hours, or in congested locations. In 2019, the Portland City Council directed the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) to explore pricing strategies, which led to the creation of the Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility (POEM) task force. After meeting for 18 months and being presented with expert technical information, the community task force published its final report which will be presented to City Council on October 13. (Bike Portland)
3. One of the local social justice news stories that was circulating last year was about the "Red House" on North Mississippi Ave and the protests about the eviction of its occupants. In something of an update, it's been reported that an undeveloped lot of land next to it has been donated to the non-profit organization Self Enhancement Inc. They plan on turning it into affordable housing and mixed-use development. (KATU)
4. Healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics throughout Oregon may be going on strike. The roughly 3,000 Kaiser nurses, physicians’ assistants, laboratory technicians and other skilled health care workers represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals have been working without a contract since the previous one expired on Sept. 30. The union began voting on whether to strike or not Monday night, but union leaders say they’re not certain how long voting will last; there are a lot of members, and they’re casting ballots in a first-of-its-kind virtual vote. And a strike would not follow immediately: the union would have to give a 10-day notice before anyone can walk out. (OPB)
5. Most Portlanders will agree that homelessness is one of the top problems facing the city, and the city is trying multiple approaches to address it. One of the proposed plans involves turning the Portland Expo Center into a homeless village dedicated for cars and RVs. However, during an interview with KGW's Laural Porter last week, Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan said the opening of that space has been delayed. The price tag for developing such a space may prove too high. (KGW)

Today's Portland Daily is brought to you by RVshare. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to Yosemite National Park, satisfy your wanderlust in safe and affordable rentals from RVshare. Check out the best RV trip destinations for the fall!

Today in Portland:

• Violinist and composer Kenji Bunch will be performing at The Old Church in downtown Portland. In this intimate marriage of music and conversation, we’ll hear music that inspires Kenji—from generations past, present, and future—in addition to some of his own work, all performed by musicians of the Oregon Symphony, with cameos by Gabriel Kahane and Bunch. Get your tickets online. Show is at 7:30 PM.
• If you're a comedy fan, check out Stand-Up Confidential at Helium Comedy Club in SE Portland. Top comics, top secret. This one's for the real comedy superfans. They've hand-picked some of their favorite stand-up comics from around the country to perform secret, one-off shows. Who do they have lined up? They're not saying, and you won't find out until they hit the stage. Tickets available online. Show is at 8:00 PM.
• If you want your evening to be more serious and political, you may be interested in the public meeting for the "Form of Government subcommittee", as part of the two-year Portland charter review process. It's a virtual meeting through Zoom and the committee is asking for the public's input. The meeting is from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
• Punk rock band Destroy Boys will be at Lola's Room tonight in downtown Portland. Come see this hard-rocking trio blast their music at a riotous audience. Tickets available online. Doors open at 5:30 PM.
• The Star Theater in downtown Portland presents Wyrd War Wednesday, with tonight's feature being Cut and Run (1984). Legendary character actor Michael Berryman is coming to Portland, and they are pre-gaming with Ruggero Deodato’s ultra-violent jungle epic CUT AND RUN (1984)! Originally written for the screen by Wes Craven, INFERNO in DIETTA, as it was titled in Italy, is an absolutely unhinged mondo/action/thriller hybrid filmed primarily in Venezuela that leaves no taboo or offensive cinematic trope unmolested. Tickets available online and proof of vaccination required to enter. Doors at 7:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Not bad for your first @nba bucket" (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "These cold, sunny fall mornings are a favorite of many in the Pacific Northwest but if you’re a waterbird, it can be especially chilly. Luckily, Eared Grebes have a great strategy for dealing with a cold, sunny morning. They turn their b..." (Instagram)
• We're heading into cooler weather, so home owners may be interested in knowing about the Multnomah County Weatherization Program. A household must be at or below the federal poverty line to qualify. For a family of four, that's an annual income of about $52,000. The county will send in a specialist to audit and see what needs to be replaced or added if you qualify. That could include insulating attics, repairing heating systems, and replacing windows. (Multnomah County)
• It looks like Powell's Books is getting into the beer business. On Monday, Powell’s Books and Ex Novo Brewing announced that they’re teaming up on a limited-edition beer. Ten percent of all proceeds from the City of Books IPA will go to the Book Industry Charitable Fund, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to independent bookstores, booksellers, and bookstore employees. (Portland Monthly)
• It's with a heavy heart that I report the impending closure of Paley's Place. It's been a highly regarded restaurant in NW Portland for approximately 26 years and it will close after Thanksgiving. I've had the pleasure of dining there a few times and it was always an amazing experience. (KPTV)

Did you know you can feature your local business here for just $79/month? Click here to learn more.

What more can I say? That's a full Wednesday by anyone's estimation. I'm exhausted just writing about it. All I need, though, is a little time to rest and I'll be right back here tomorrow, going on and on about Portland. If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. 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? Contact me at portland@patch.com.