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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Say so long to the rain for a few days, as partly sunny skies slide into the area through Wednesday with highs in the mid-50s. And speaking of sliding, don’t forget to slide your ballot into one of many official drop boxes around the city by election day TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 3. If for some reason you forgot and need some quick help, check out the Mercury’s endorsements and handy-dandy voter cheat sheet to fill out that ballot lickety-split. And now, let’s slide into some NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
In case you missed it, last Thursday the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office declined to indict the police officer who shot and killed Eric Hurtado in downtown Portland on October 15. According to video footage of the incident provided by the Portland Police Bureau, a mere four seconds had elapsed between when officers arrived on the scene and when shots were fired at Hurtado. Let’s hit pause on that for a second. Four seconds between arriving and firing at the suspect. In the cops’ defense, Hurtado—who was suffering a mental break—had previously threatened a security guard with a box cutter, repeatedly stabbed another man (though not fatally), and had begun yet another attack on a person in a downtown hotel alcove as the police arrived. So while it stands to reason that police needed to act quickly to neutralize the threat, they do have means other than just lethal force (such as using bean bag rounds) to disarm a suspect. They also presumably have training (as ordered by the Department of Justice) on how to deal with mentally ill suspects, so they don’t have to instantaneously act as judge, jury, and executioner. So, assuming they knew what they were getting into when receiving the call for help, it’s curious why all their subsequent decisions were made in the span of just four short seconds. Our Courtney Vaugn has more details on the incident, the suspect, as well as heartbreaking quotes from Hurtado’s family. It’s a complicated story, and one with no easy answers. However, getting a full 360 degree view grants better understanding of everyone—including the stabbing victims, the suspect, his family, as well as the sad, far-reaching ramifications of making a decision to use lethal force. Four seconds.
According to a civil rights complaint lodged by two Hillsboro legal observers, an ICE agent slashed a tire on their car in early October, because they were filming him in a Safeway parking lot. ICE activity has been heating up in Oregon over the past few months, as has retaliation against those who have been observing and recording the agency’s cruel, inhumane actions against both documented and undocumented immigrants. The tire-slashing incident is supposedly under investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security… you know, for what that’s worth.
In Halloween news, police in Lincoln City, Oregon, are looking for information about a masked band of candy thieves who were reportedly “forcibly stealing” candy baskets from kids on Halloween night. According to the cops, the assailants were a group of men (#NotAllMen, but it’s always a man) dressed in all black clothing and ski masks, and they’re asking the community for help finding the candy-stealing shitbirds.
Today in “voting against one’s own self-interest”:
Good news in local sports: The Portland Timbers defeated the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night, 3-1, putting them in playoff contention. The team, which had been previously ranked 11th, hopped into the number eight spot, and if they win against Austin FC next weekend, their playoff spot will be confirmed. Meanwhile, our Portland Blazers secured another handy victory on Saturday, beating the Utah Jazz, 112-90. Deni Avdija led the team with 24 points, followed by Damian Lillard with 22. Despite missing both Ja Morant (on the bench with a hamstring injury until Thanksgiving) and Shaedon Sharp (out until spring following knee surgery), our boys are making a strong showing both offensively and defensively, buoying the hopes of the city for a potentially very exciting season. (That is if new skinflint owner, Tom Dundon, doesn’t blow it all up.)
Speaking of sporty-sports, if you read a 3,000-word diary about competing in a 24-hour bike scavenger hunt today, make it “Diary of a Carry Shit Olympian.” This story has everything: Sleep-deprived highs, calorie-deficient lows, wistful musing about what can be considered cargo, and even a contestant competing on rollerblades. For the Mercury, Cameron Crowell completed the fifth annual Carry Shit Olympics!
In this week’s edition of Mercury food news, we have two vegan pop-ups, Verdure and La Casa De Mama, that have turned semi-brick-and-mortar. Plus, Cafe Rowan will drop the “cafe” and expand to dinner service along with brunch, and Foster-Powell Filipino restaurant Tambayan will close. Check out all the deets from our Alex Frane.
IN NATIONAL AND WORLD NEWS:
As previously mentioned, election day is TOMORROW, y’all! And the pundits and poll-watchers are all a-twitter over the possibility of a very good night for people who aren’t Trump and his gang of Republican minions. However, despite what the latest polls are currently indicating for the race to control the Senate—that Dems are ahead in Michigan, Texas, Main, Ohio, and Alaska—we’ve been shocked and disappointed at the final counts before, haven’t we? In order to regain the Senate, Democrats must hold on to all their current seats, while flipping at least four Republican-controlled seats. Meanwhile in the House, Democrats only need to gain a few seats to win the majority. (Republicans currently hold 219 seats, compared to the Dems’ 214 with two vacancies.) Of course, all these good vibes will be for naught if you don’t follow through with actual voting… so fill out and drop off that ballot, true American! 🫡
Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens—who was defeated by Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed in the state’s Democratic primary—is getting roasted for throwing her support behind El-Sayad’s Republican Trump-endorsed challenger, Mike Rogers. Stevens was apparently butt-hurt over not being invited to campaign alongside El-Sayad at a church event, leading her to publicly announce her endorsement of Rogers, which in turn led to a tsunami of criticism on the internet, and a deeply embarrassing interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper. RIP and pour one out for Stevens’ political career, though she will probably not be missed.
A business jet crashed and burst into a ball of flames yesterday in a residential neighborhood just a few miles outside of West Palm Beach, Florida. While authorities have not released the names of the nine people aboard, the pilot was communicating that ice was building up on the aircraft, before losing control and slamming into the neighborhood. There were no immediate reports of anyone being injured or killed on the ground, and the investigation is continuing.
And the award for this year’s most tone deaf Halloween costume goes to home entertaining maven Martha Stewart, who is currently being dragged across the internet for dressing as a houseless person, wearing distressed clothing, black streaks across her face, and holding a sign reading “I am hungry, help me.” And to make matters infinitely worse, Stewart posted the Halloween pic on Instagram in an effort to… *checks notes*… promote her candle collection? After an outpouring of outrage on behalf of the estimated 70,000 American people who are houseless, Stewart told Page Six, “I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention.” That non-apology fell like a lead balloon, forcing Stewart to try once again on Instagram, where she wrote, “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry.” Kids, just a reminder to keep an eye on your grandparents.
And finally… look. I’m not saying it’s permissible or ethical to eat your cat. But can’t we just agree that in some cases they might like it?
