🌱 Record Number Of Mosquitos + Property Crimes On The Rise

Viva la France, Portland! Happy Bastille Day! Before I get to the festivities, let me fill you in on what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

Sun the whole day long and a high of 84. Glorious!

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. Get out the DEET! We've got a record number of mosquitos this year. “We had a lot of flooding and a lot of rain very late which caused a giant mosquito hatch,” said Bek Sudia, Vector Control supervisor for Multnomah County. “We're seeing the highest numbers in my career that I have ever seen. When I say high numbers, I mean catching 11,000 mosquitoes in a single trap — after 14 hours." (KGW)
2. It's hard to believe, but demand for cannabis in Portland has fallen to a three-year low. Why is this happening? It's all about supply and demand. Oregon growers have flooded the market and no one seems to be buying. Last month, retail cannabis shops across Multnomah County made the lowest monthly profit they have since early 2019, averaging just $27,000. Industry analysts point to two possible factors as to why Portlanders may be smoking less weed. An obvious one is inflation, making consumers get more cautious about their extracurricular spending. The other factor is Portlanders returning to office cubicles or jobs they lost during the pandemic. (Willamette Week)
3. Portland just lost two of its Starbucks — one at SE 4th and Morrison, the other in the Gateway shopping area. A Starbucks spokesperson said that the company is closing these locations due to safety concerns and that the closures have nothing to do with the recent Starbucks unions forming. The company said it informed the unionized stores and gave employees the opportunity to transfer. While that may be true, a Starbucks location in Seattle had this sign taped to the front door. (Portland Tribune)
4. Portland Police say property crime rates jumped nine percent in 2021. Now, business owners tell KATU they feel like things are only getting worse. KATU asked Portland Police how they process property crime reports. “There are times when there is follow-up that we’d like to do what we can’t do but I can assure the community that every report gets reviewed," Sgt. Kevin Allen said. Allen said with current staffing, his team is prioritizing emergency calls. PPB said reported property crimes are up 11 percent above the five-year average, and the increase is primarily driven by spiking car thefts and vandalism. (KATU)
5. On Friday, the Portland Business Alliance sent a letter to the city auditor and elections officer, asking that they strike down the ballot measure language that will appear on voters’ November ballots and offer them the chance to transform the city’s governance structure and elections. However, City Auditor Mary Hull Caballero has declined to do so. She says her office doesn’t have the authority to review ballot measures referred to voters by the Charter Commission. The next step? The PBA is poised to file a lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court later this week in an attempt to get the three reforms parsed out into individual questions. (Willamette Week)

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Today in Portland:

• It's another night of Shakespeare with the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival at Laurelhurst Park! Tonight's performance is "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Falstaff woos two wives simultaneously hoping they will shower their husbands’ money on him. Discovering this, they teach him a lesson using their wits and a jealous husband. Meanwhile, three suitors compete for Anne who, defying her parents, chooses for herself. Showtime is 7 p.m.
• Babytooth will be performing at Kelly's Olympian in downtown Portland. Babytooth is the full band project of Portland-based singer/songwriter Isabel Zacharias. Fitting into and elaborating on the lineage of Pacific Northwest indie, the songs skate back and forth between noisy melodic rock and twinkly folk experiments, recalling the scrappy '90s/early-aughts rock of Built To Spill as much as the incisive lyrical focus of Damien Jurado or Mirah. Also performing will be How Strange It Is and Yellow Room. Tickets available online. Showtime is 9 p.m.
• At the Hollywood Theater tonight Mississippi Records Music & Film Series presents LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS - a movie that captures the punk moment of 1982 in all its fallow glory. Get your tickets online. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
• Calling all Gen-Xers! Liz Prato discusses her new book: "Kids in America: a Gen. X Reckoning" with Moth Radio storyteller Sarah Bunger live at the Sellwood Community House. Corkscrew Wine Bar will be there with beer, wine and charcuterie! 6 - 8 p.m.
• Come to the World Famous Kenton Club in North Portland for a Bastille Day party with Fifi and the Faux Fauxs playing with Trabants. DJ Cécilia will be spinning all French vinyl. Allons-y! The celebration starts at 5 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "Amazing to believe a place like this is just a 90-minute drive from downtown Portland! #ThisIsPortland 📷: @dartagnanfearon #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPortland #TravelOregon #PortlandOregon #HereForPortland" (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "When a pair of purple Martins begin adding green leaves to their nest, it’s a good sign that egg laying will soon begin! A female will lay one egg per day for up to 4-6 eggs total and then spend about 70% of her day on her eggs." (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "🌕 Still captivated by the James Webb Telescope images of space? Catch sight of Friday night’s #supermoon and you may spy the Jade Rabbit, who is believed to reside on the moon in East Asian folklore. The Jade Rabbit is usually busy." (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• Celtic Light Orchestra is a group of Portland musicians who bill themselves as the world’s only light up orchestra. Katie Jane Lubiens and Adam Easley are local music teachers with a love of Celtic music. “We play Celtic festivals, Scottish Games, wedding, and parties,” said Easley. But their latest musical venture is like nothing you’ve ever seen. The duo performs with what’s called “Glow Bowz.” It’s a one of kind - patent pending - violin accessory. (KPTV)
• Given the negative press that Portland has received in the past three years, it's hard to believe that we have many fans, but evidently Time magazine loves us. We've just made the list of Time Magazine's World's Greatest Places 2022. I do find it odd that with all the great stuff one could write about in Portland, they choose the Hotel Grand Stark and its "brand-name amenities: Nespresso machines, Diptyque products and SMEG refrigerators." Still, I'll take whatever good press we can get. (Time)
• I mentioned the festival Paseo in a previous newsletter. It will be happening downtown this coming weekend. I don't think I've mentioned the 42nd Annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival yet, also happening this weekend. This is a free event, but you will have many opportunities to support the festival through cash donations and purchasing drinks from the beer and wine garden! There will be food carts and booths so you won't need to bring any nourishment with you. Bring your own low chair or a blanket. We've got plenty of options this weekend! (Jazz Oregon)

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That's your Thursday, my friends. Now round up your fellow Francophiles and break out the Champagne! I'll be back tomorrow to give you the low down on all the news 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