🌱 Rent Hikes Hit North Portland + Portland Rivers Running Low

Happy Equinox, my friends! We're in a whole new season. Wait, am I in a New Seasons? No, I guess not, but that reminds me that I need to buy more coffee. But enough about my shopping list. We've got:

• Freedom of Information requests flooding our election offices
• A Rock-quinox party tonight
• A Portland chef does a Ted Talk

Let's kick fall off in style!

But first, today's weather:

It's going to be a cloudy day with a high of 75. There's a slight chance of rain, if we're lucky.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. We've been hearing about potential rent hikes here in Portland, but some tenants in affordable housing in North Portland are now seeing them. In some cases, these hikes are far above the predicted 14.6%. Residents are reporting that their landlords are raising their rents by well over the maximum, adding up to hundreds of dollars. (KOIN.com)
2. Multnomah County Elections Division, the elections director, Tim Scott, is busy enough preparing for the 2022 General Election in November, but he's had to deal with even more work lately. He's being inundated with scores of public records requests. Scott says the number of records requests have sky-rocketed since 2020 and are much more prevalent than they used to be. Many of these requests he says are motivated by people who’ve believed misinformation about election integrity. (Fox 12 Oregon)
3. At last! The Oregon Health Authority announced on Tuesday that all funds for Measure 110 are being released to all Oregon counties to have services in place to help people battling addiction. When the measure passed nearly two years ago it decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs like heroin, cocaine and opioid pills. More than 300 million dollars will be spread through the 36 counties across Oregon. (KGW)
4. If your idea of fun is playing on the Willamette or Columbia Rivers, officials want you to use care. The water level of these rivers is dangerously low. Sean Whalen, Harbor Master, said "boaters should be aware and on the lookout for the same things as always this time of year and that is sandbars and 'dead-heads' that used to be a few feet under the surface will be at the surface or just under the surface and not visible." (KATU)
5. The persistent homeless camps at Laurelhurst Park have city officials looking for creative solutions. Transferring ownership or control of the two-block stretch of Southeast Oak Street between 37th Avenue and César E. Chávez Boulevard to Portland Parks & Recreation and turning it into a skatepark, pickleball court or off-leash dog park, are among the ideas being considered. (Willamette Week)

Help us make Patch better:

Our user research team is interested in hearing about your experience with Patch. This is an opportunity for you to provide direct feedback and help us better serve you and your community. Your part in our research would consist of a single 30- to 60-minute interview, and you would receive a $25 Amazon gift card by email for your time. Interested? Sign up here to participate. If you're selected, we'll be in touch directly to set your appointment time. Thanks — hope to see you soon!

Today in Portland:

• I've talked about Last Thursdays on Alberta Street, but did you know that there's also a Last Thursday in Sellwood-Moreland? Yep, that's right, it's sponsored by Plural Collective and Sellwood-Moreland Business Alliance to promote the community. Participating businesses will have family-friendly activities, artists and makers, live music, food, drinks and more. 5:00 - 8:00 PM.
• There's comedy at the Lay Low Tavern with their Comedy Corral. Yee Ha! Hosted by Julia Corral. And it's free! Doors open at 9:00 PM.
• Celebrate the equinox at the LaurelThirst Pub with Rock-quinox! "Rock-quinox" is a celebration of the power of the celestial AND music. As the nights start getting longer than the days it’s a time for harvest and dance. Featuring The Dan Kaufman Band. 9:00 - 11:00 PM.
• Listen to Strange Tales: Stories and Song from Portland Musicians at Mississippi Pizza. You are invited to an intimate evening at Atlantis Lounge, to be regaled by stories and songs from some of Portland's best songwriters. 7:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Have you ever wanted to hang with the cool kids. Well, you can tonight at the Doug Fir and their Cool Kids Patio Show! Hosted by Nariko Ott, tonight will feature Andrew Sleighter, Shanna Christmas️, Adam Pasi, Tory Ward and Sean Jordan. Showtime is 6:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Audubon needs your voice to ensure Ross Island Sand and Gravel Company restores habitat in the Ross Island Lagoon that has been destroyed by decades of mining. The company is already ten years behind schedule on obligations to restore the lagoon. (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• Portland Parks & Recreation: "Looking for a great way to help restore our parks and natural areas? Show your support for our native ecosystem by volunteering at our 19th annual No Ivy Day event on October 29, 2022." (Portland Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• If you love the movies, you probably know about the Roseway Theater. A Portland icon for nearly a century, it was laid to rest by fire on Aug. 6th. The loss was mourned by regular patrons and long-lost émigrés. This piece covers a little of the history of the beloved neighborhood landmark. (Willamette Week)
• Chef Carlo Lamanga is the chef and owner behind Portland’s acclaimed Filipino restaurant Magna. An issue that he's dealt with for years has been customers approaching him, or commenting online, and arguing that his food isn’t authentic. It’s something Lamagna has discussed in interviews, on Instagram, and, most recently, in a TEDx Wrigleyville talk, held at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, where he challenges the common definition of authenticity when it comes to food. (Eater PDX)
• Musio Chavez has a mullet and a dream – a dream to be recognized as having the best mullet in the entire county. If that intro doesn't hook you, I don't know what will. (The Oregonian)
• Hey, Hollywood neighborhood, you're getting a brand new brewery! Pono Brewing was a homebrewing and collaboration project prior to becoming an officially licensed brand that launched in October of 2016 with a beer that would come to define them. Now, this South Pacific inspired brewery has acquired its first brick-and-mortar location. (New School Beer)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• JAK CBD — (Visit website)
• Sunset Heating & Cooling — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

We're bursting into Autumn, Portland! I hope you'll keep me as your guide as we travel into a new season. And I hope you'll be joining me tomorrow as I talk more about our fine city.

— 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