Rents Go Up+I-5 Bridge Toll Discussed+Emergency Services Slow

Happy Saturday, Portland! And happy National Cheeseburger Day! Celebrating one of the finest and most American of foods. Yum! The hardest part is choosing what type of cheese to put on that burger. I like Havarti. While we contemplate our multiple delicious options, let me talk about today.

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Portland? Our premium local sponsorships will keep you at the top of inboxes around town every morning. Contact us here for the lowdown.

First, today's weather:

Glorious rain all day long! And a high temp of only 65. Oh, how I dreamed of this when we were suffering through 100+ degree heat.

Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. Bad news for renters! A report from CoStar Market Analytics, a commercial real estate advisory service, found that vacancies are rapidly declining, rent continues to rise, and development of new multifamily units is slowing. Who's to blame? The report points the finger at higher material prices, a skilled labor shortage and Portland's inclusionary zoning policy. (Willamette Week)
2. Anyone who has crossed the I-5 bridge knows that the traffic congestion there is the stuff of legend. The northbound span of the bridge is 104 years old and the entire bridge has been deemed "structurally obsolete". Washington and Oregon undertook a joint freeway mega-project called the Columbia River Crossing from 2005 to 2013. But after spending an estimated $300 million studying the project, it was ultimately scrapped when Washington lawmakers refused to approve it. Talks have begun again with a new project called the "I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement Project." Some planners are discussing a $5 toll to cross. (KGW)
3. Biden's vaccine mandate says that employers with 100 employees or more will be required to ensure their workers are vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. This will impact 2,045 private sector employers in Oregon. Response from these employers has been mixed. Patrick Bassett, chief executive officer for Powell’s Books, said the company had already been in conversations with the union that represents its employees about a potential vaccine mandate. But companies like Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and Intel, Oregon's largest private sector employer, have had little to say about the mandate or their plans once it is implemented. (Oregonian)
4. Parents with school-age children have been having a tough time safely navigating the current school year, but Portland Public Schools have released an interactive dashboard to track COVID-19 cases that may help. The dashboard shows how many students and adults are in quarantine or isolation and breaks it up by school so parents can monitor closely what’s happening at their child’s school. (KPTV)
5. In a meeting that was mostly focused on the dire situation inside Portland's dispatch center, where wait times are as long as four or five minutes for people calling 911 in Multnomah County, frustration about the growing violence spilled over into a broader discussion. The director of the Bureau of Emergency Communications, Mike Myers, said the increase in calls is leading to burnout among his employees and placing a burden on their ability to do the job properly. Commissioner Mingus Mapps also pressed colleagues to set a goal on decreasing the gun violence in Portland that's been surging since last year. He wants to reduce shootings by 20% by the end of 2022. Wheeler, while optimistic about the steps that have already been taken, hinted at a more contentious discussion to come among council members: what to do with the Portland Police Bureau. (KATU)

Today in Portland:

• Sean Brown used to run the popular food cart No Fish! Go Fish! before it closed in 2013. But he's also an off-Broadway playwright and filmmaker who has been hard at work for the last decade. One of his latest movies, Christmas Freak, will be playing at the Kennedy School in NE Portland. It's the gently whimsical fable about a 43-year-old boy who loves too well the most wonderful time of the year. The feature doesn’t shy away from the paternal abandonment and emotional trauma fueling the Yuletide fixation that has kept our titular elf-on-the-spectrum Rudy’s chestnuts un-roasted despite the best attempts of adoring co-worker Clarice. Tickets available online. Showtime is 7:00 PM.
• It's time for another Singer-Songwriter Soiree at Alberta Park in NE Portland. This will be socially distanced and silent disco style. All performers play live into mics in front of the audience. The sound is broadcast into special headphones which are included in your ticket. This is an open mike event, so the line up will be determined by who signs up. Bring a blanket (and jackets for the night!) for you and your pod so you can keep a safe distance from others while enjoying the music. Get your tickets online. 5:30 - 11:00 PM.
• Do you know a thing or two about wine? Or do you just like to drink it? Heck, why not both? Come to a tasting and have some fun taking a crack at a plethora of pop-quiz style questions with local oenophiles and podcast hosts, the Bottle Blondes. It's happening at The Tower in SE Portland. This is an outdoor event, so BYOC (bring your own chair). They will have lawn-style seating for most people but not guaranteed for all, so feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on! Tickets available online. 5:30 - 8:00 PM.

• Seattle band Polyrhythmics will be playing tonight at Stage 722 in SE Portland. Rich with bold brass and hypnotic percussion, Polyrhythmics' latest studio work continues to showcase the instrumental eight-piece's impossibly tight grooves and virtuosic musicianship as they tear through a singular blend of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat. Get those tickets online. Show is at 9:00 PM.
• How much do you love coffee? If the answer is "a lot", then swing by the Mercado in SE Portland for their Interactive Food Tour: Coffee Around the World. They will host local coffee vendors who represent different parts of the world and the coffee they drink/make. Whether it's the ingredients, roasting, prepping, or serving styles, each vendor is unique and they want coffee lovers to come to experience the diversity of coffee that can be found in our city. 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Travel Portland: "Throwback to last weekend's Rose City Comic Con at the Oregon Convention Center! Click the geotag above to see more; this year's cosplay was really impressive. Nice work, everyone! #ThisIsPortland 📷: @thepdxstitch #PDX #PDXNOW #Travel..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Although cartoon depictions of American White Pelicans would have folks believe they carry their food in their bill pouches, the truth is they use them to scoop up food but they swallow before they fly off again. They can use these bill ..." (Instagram)
• As I said, it's National Cheeseburger Day and if want to celebrate, Portland has some great places to go. The Hungry Sasquatch in Vancouver is celebrating with a smash-burger pop-up shop called Goon Burger. Don't feel like crossing the river? Eater PDX has compiled a list of some of the best cheese burgers in Portland. Enjoy! (KOIN)
• Leikam Brewing on East Burnside will be celebrating El Salvador Independence Day all weekend long and they'd like you to join them. You won’t want to miss new menu items, giveaways, music and more! The action goes on both Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 10:00 PM.
• Are you in the mood to see art this weekend? Then you're in luck, because The artists at NW Marine Art Works (NWMAW) are opening their studios and giving you the opportunity to visit where some of Portland's best art is created. With more than 75 artists participating, art lovers will find paintings, prints, fine art, ceramics, photography, sculpture, mixed media, glass, jewelry, apparel and more. There will also be live music and food and drink. The open house will go on both Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Feature your local business here for just $79 a month. Click here to get started.

That is such a treasure trove of news and activities that I sure have worked up an appetite. Hmm, what should I eat? Never mind, I'll figure it out. Maybe with a little help from Jimmy Buffet. Regardless, I'll be back next week to talk about all things Portland. See you then. If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors on board. 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? Reach out anytime to portland@patch.com.