🌱Wheeler Addresses Gun Violence + Resistance To City Charter Changes

What's up, Portland? Do you have any plans for International Asteroid Day? We've got a busy Thursday on our hands, people, so I'll just start telling you about it.

First, today's weather:

There'll be some clouds in the morning, but those will burn off, giving us a sunny afternoon with a high of 81.

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced on Tuesday the city's latest move to address gun violence this summer by appointing a team to lead a new effort called 'Safer Summer PDX.' The mayor's team, alongside the Portland Police Bureau, will work with city council, community groups and service providers to make sure they're approaching the issue of gun violence in a unified way, with a new emergency declaration forthcoming. The mayor welcomed Shareef Khatib, Julian Massenbur and Kandel Ashley as team leaders to provide diverse, hands-on experience in addressing violence. (KGW.com)
2. Despite relaxed restrictions, COVID is still very much a thing and positivity rates in Multnomah County are on the rise. Just last week, we saw the highest positivity rate in Oregon’s most populous county since the week ending Feb. 5. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data officially shows that community transmission is “high” in nine counties. That means the state recommends indoor masking there. (Willamette Week)
3. An independent candidate for Oregon governor has a new moniker for the state’s most populous city: “the city of roaches.” Gubernatorial candidate and former senator Betsy Johnson made the comment to a New York Times editor, referring to Portland’s battle with homelessness and crime. Her statements appeared in a June 28 newsletter that explored Oregon’s political landscape as a barometer of potential Democratic losses nationwide. The newsletter included an interview with Johnson. (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
4. Two political action committees plan to push back against the Portland charter reform ballot measure. Ulysses PAC, founded by City Commissioner Mingus Mapps, and an as-yet-unnamed PAC which includes Vadim Mozyrsky, both oppose how the reform measure would appear on November's ballot. The Charter Review Commission has proposed three major changes to Portland's charter, but has chosen to bundle all the proposals into a single ballot measure. At issue for the PACs is the bundling of all reforms into a single ballot question instead of parsing them out into individual questions. (Willamette Week)
5. Gas prices in Oregon and the Portland area dipped slightly before the Fourth of July weekend, perhaps reflecting fears of harder economic times ahead. Oregon’s average price for a gallon of gas fell three cents this week to $5.50. The national average dropped nine cents to $4.88. And in Portland, the average fell three cents to $5.55. AAA said an economic slowdown would lead to less demand for oil and push oil prices lower. Oregon’s prices are the fifth-highest nationwide, behind California, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii. California’s prices remain the highest, and the only state in the nation currently averaging more than $6 a gallon. (The Oregonian)

Today in Portland:

• Last Thursdays are back, Portland! Last Thursdays Arts and Culture are on Alberta Street! Starting tonight, NE Alberta Street will be closed for art gallery opening parties, street performances, live music and other events, local arts and crafts vendors, food and fun. 4 - 9 p.m.
• Bangers Comedy will be at Neighbors Taproom on East Burnside. Join your hosts Bjorn RG and Eliza Butler for a fun show with hilarious standup comedians. This week features Benny Andersson, Barbara Holm, Todd Basil and Alex Falcone! Register online for this free show. 8 - 10 p.m.
• Oh, so you want more comedy, Portland? How about Giggles Gone Wild at The Get Down in SE Portland? Giggles Gone Wild is hosted by Hewitt Pagenstecher, Imani, and Rachelle Cochran and includes some of the region's best comedians. Tonight's show will be headlined by Seth Allen (SF Sketchfest, Portland’s Funniest Five) and will include hilarious local comics Amelia Evans, Tanner Torkelson, Kayla Evans, Cameron Peloso (Amazon Prime & Portland Community College), & Riley McCarthy (2X Portland’s Funniest Person finalist, WW’s Funniest Five, Helium Comedy Club). Tickets available online. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
• The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant will be screening at the Clinton Street Theater. In the early 1970s, Rainer Werner Fassbinder discovered the American melodramas of Douglas Sirk and was inspired by them to begin working in a new, more intensely emotional register. One of the first and best-loved films of this period in his career is The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, which balances a realistic depiction of tormented romance with staging that remains true to the director’s roots in experimental theater. Get your tickets online. 7 - 9 p.m.
• Marcus Angeloni and James Rossi present a night of original music at Mississippi Pizza in North Portland. Marcus is a genuine troubadour with an open heart and a keen ear. James Rossi is a singer, songwriter who plays guitar, mandolin, keyboards, violin and more. He’s a versatile musician who has played a wide range of music. Tickets available online. 8 - 10:30 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "The Cambodian and Laotian eateries in Portland are absolutely incredible. @goldentrianglepdx, pictured here, is an awesome food cart in the Lents neighborhood that serves Laos and Cambodian fusion." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Why is it always such a joy to catch a bird bathing whether it’s a natural water source or a bird bath? Maybe because they always seem pretty enthusiastic about the experience! 💦" (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• Soon, you may be getting your Amazon deliveries by drone. Amazon made news this month by announcing it will start package deliveries by aerial drone to real customers in a northern California town. In the run-up to the U.S. debut, the company conducted extensive flight tests in Eastern Oregon, where it experienced occasional crashes. Amazon said Monday the upcoming rollout of commercial drone delivery signifies the refined technology is safe and no longer experimental. (OPB)
• Get your inner tubes and floats ready! The Big Flot is happening on Sunday, July 10 at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Every summer since 2011, thousands of wet and wild revelers have formed a massive flotilla on the Willamette River next to downtown. Why? From Portland’s mayor to a bare-chested Batman, they do it because they can. This is the last one ever, so if you were ever interested in participating, now is the time. (The Big Float)
• With tree canopy shrinking in Portland, some residents may be curious about the best way to increase leafy foliage around their own home. If one of them is you, you've got a few options. Portland Parks & Recreation has recently embarked on a street tree planting program. The city has identified more than a dozen priority neighborhoods in need of increased canopy with plans to plant roughly 1,200 street trees in parking strips during the upcoming planting season. (The Oregonian)
• The Portland Adult Soapbox Derby has been a tradition since 1997. It's back this year and scheduled to be held on Saturday, Aug. 20, but if you want an early, sneak-peek at some of the competitors, Gigantic Brewing is giving you a chance. From 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1, Gigantic Brewing is welcoming back the summer tradition with a beer release party and gravity car show at its Tap Room and Champagne Lounge on Southeast 26th Avenue. (Willamette Week)

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See, I told you there was a lot going on today. Last Thursday is back, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant and multiple Comedy shows! Those are some tough choices for one's evening. Or, maybe you want to conserve your strength with a 4th of July weekend coming up. Whatever you choose, meet me back here tomorrow for more news of 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