Since Portland pledged to eliminate traffic fatalities in 2015, deadly crashes have hit 30-year highs. Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane wants the city to reaffirm its commitment to addressing the crisis.
With public transit and safety programs on the line, Democrats are under pressure to find more funding. Increasing the gas and payroll taxes could be part of the solution.
After Councilor Mitch Green made controversial threats to withhold city funding for Portland State University over its handling of pro-Palestine voices, students received letters of dropped charges.
All 12 members of the council indicated they would reject the plan at an appellate hearing last week. Their decision underscores the broader implications of the utility project to people on both sides of the issue.
Following crisis negotiations that ended without arrest earlier in the week, police returned to NW Portland for a tense arrest of an unhoused man with warrants.
Protesters turn up the pressure for drivers to dump their Teslas and boycott the company as its billionaire CEO wields unchecked power over the US government.