🌱 Portland's Graffiti Problem + Obama Endorses Kotek

Happy Tuesday, Portland! We're in the countdown to Halloween, so I hope you've got your costume ready. Or at least have a bowlful of candy. Today we've got:

• Free catalytic converter etching kits
• Horror movie trivia
• A new witchcraft store

Here's the deal:

But first, today's weather:

Gray skies and more rain with a high of 54.

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Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. What are your views on graffiti? "For many in Portland, graffiti is more than just an eyesore. Two-thirds of Portland-area voters said tagging was a 'very big' or 'moderately big' problem, according to a poll of 600 likely voters in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive this month ... ODOT spokesperson Don Hamilton said the issue has become increasingly difficult to deal with over the past two years. Crews from ODOT and private contractors are out cleaning graffiti every day, but taggers return to the same spots frequently." (OregonLive)
2. Last week, Mayor Ted Wheeler made the bold proclamation that he would ban unsanctioned camping in Portland, and now many nonprofits are sounding off on what the consequences might be. [Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency Executive Director] Jimmy Jones "said he's worried Wheeler's proposal will move campers to other regions that don't have adequate resources. ... 'There’s not close to the adequate amount of housing in this state to solve the homeless crisis. There’s nothing close the amount of substance abuse treatment in Oregon that we need to solve this crisis on the homeless side,' Jones said." (KATU)
3. If you're worried about getting your catalytic converter stolen, the Portland Police Bureau is giving out free catalytic converter etching kits. "Law enforcement believes people can fight back by using an etching kit to tag catalytic converters with a unique serial number. .... 'Catalytic converters have materials in them, some minerals, people can sell so they're valuable,' Portland Police Commander Tina Jones said. 'We're trying to find different ways we can combat this theft and protect the property.' " (KGW)
4. I don't mean to name-drop, but Obama just gave Kotek the thumbs up. She shared a video of his endorsement on social media last week. “Oregon, I want to tell you about my friend Tina Kotek,” the former president says in the video. “She’s the real deal. Tina led the effort to raise Oregon’s minimum wage. She stands up for workers and our environment, and Tina’s fighting to lower the cost of housing and healthcare.”" If that doesn't give her a boost, I don't know what will. (KOIN)
5. What do you know, they caught a murder suspect! "The Portland Police Bureau on Monday announced that Zachary Tyler Hackman, 22, was arrested on Sunday and booked on an unrelated warrant. He was also charged with Second Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Abuse of a Corpse." This was in connection with the death of James Harris, 54, "whose body was found in Northeast Portland earlier this month. ... Police originally classified Harris’ death as a suspicious death investigation on October 9 when his body was found by officers in the 0-100 block of Northeast Marine Drive," but was later upgraded to a homicide. (KPTV)

Today in Portland:

• Get in the Halloween spirit by watching The Blob at the Hollywood Theater! "The Grindhouse Film Festival presents a 35mm print of this sci-fi horror classic!" "A deadly entity from outer space crashes near a small town and begins consuming everyone in its path!" Showtime is 7:30 PM.
• The 13th Annual Sara Glasgow Cogan Lecture will be "Autocracy and Anti-Feminism, with Michelle Goldberg" at the Smith Memorial Student Union SMSU Ballroom RM 355. "Gender equality is one of the great achievements of liberalism, while restoring traditional gender hierarchies is the promise of almost all autocratic movements. Anti-feminism was a key component of Trumpism, which is one reason why his election led to an unprecedented mobilization of women all over America." 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
• So you think you know horror movies? Then put your knowledge to the test at the 4th Wall and their Horror Movie Trivia Night. "As always, trivia is FREE TO PLAY and winning team will get a $15 4th Wall PDX Gift Certificate." 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Come to Floating World Comics for their Bring Home Music in-store event. "What started as a project to photograph a handful of live venues shuttered due to the pandemic, turned into a tour of 30 cities and more than 200 music halls, clubs, and dive-bars. This book tells the stories behind those places with photographs and interviews of the people that bring them to life." 5:00 - 7:00 PM.
• It's Music and the Machine: An Evening with YACHT at Whitsell Auditorium. "PAM CUT and YACHT are teaming up for a night you won’t forget – YACHT will perform their GRAMMY-nominated album Chain Tripping LIVE after a screening of the documentary that breaks down how the Portland-born band teamed up with artificial intelligence to create it." 7:00 - 10:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Shae’s got the skills on full display" (Portland Trail Blazers via Instagram)
• Travel Portland: "The greatest vending machine ever? You can find @MagicBoxVending Machines at select spots around Portland. Their curators say they are "full of art, fun, & danger!" Zoom in to try to see some of the goodies, but we encourage you to find..." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Sure, Halloween is nice and all, but it's not the only holiday celebrating the dead. The Portland Mercado will hold its Dia De Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2. There will be a community altar, music, local vendors and a screening of Disney's Coco. (Facebook)
• A new brewery is coming to Portland. Yes, in a town such as this, I'm sure that elicits a yawn, but there is one thing different about this brew pub: roleplaying games. "TPK will feature a full-time staff of professional Game Masters running tabletop roleplaying games with their own published storylines, brewing recipes, and house-brewed beer with a full kitchen." (New School Beer)
• If there's one thing this area needs, it's another witchcraft store. "The historic Orenco grocery building in one of Hillsboro’s oldest neighborhoods has reopened as a retail store selling Wiccan items, witchcraft supplies and oddities." (The Oregonian)
• And just so I can give you your daily dose of adorable art, here's Nucleus's "A Frog Fable" (Instagram)

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I know you'll rock this Tuesday, Portland. Meet me back here tomorrow so we can get a start on rocking our Wednesday.

— 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