City Commissioner Mingus Mapps has released a much-anticipated charter reform proposal to serve as an alternative to the charter reform measure headed to the November ballot. The proposal, first reported on by the Oregonian, was shared with the Mercury Sunday. Mapps chose to propose alternative adjustments to the city charter—via his political committee, Ulysses PAC—after […]
Alex Zielinski
Alex Zielinski is a former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She's here to tell stories about economic inequities, cops, civil rights, and weird city politics that you should probably be paying attention to.
Posted inNews
First Case Against Portland Police Officer Violence from 2020 Protests Goes to Trial
The first lawsuit against Portland police officers for their treatment of protesters in 2020 has reached its day in court. The case comes from Erin Wenzel, a care coordinator at Oregon Health and Science University who attended a racial justice protest with her husband on August 14, 2020. Wenzel, who lives in Beaverton, attended the […]
Posted inElection 2022
City Elections Office Upholds Campaign Penalty Against Council Candidate Rene Gonzalez
The city elections office remains convinced that city council candidate Rene Gonzalez did violate small donor election laws when he accepted—and failed to report—a heavily discounted rental rate for a campaign office in downtown Portland offered up by a monied campaign donor. While Gonzalez urged the city to reconsider its $77,140 fine levied against his […]
Posted inNews
Council Candidate Rene Gonzalez Asks City to Reconsider Historic Campaign Finance Penalty
City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez has asked the city reconsider the $77,000 fine levied against his campaign for allegedly violating the city’s small donor election laws. The Gonzalez campaign called the penalty “unjustified” in a letter sent to the city Tuesday, accusing the city of attempting to undermine Gonzalez’s campaign for council a month before […]
Posted inNews
Workers at Southeast Portland Burgerville Location Move to Unionize
Workers at a Southeast Portland Burgerville store are joining the wave of labor organizing that’s sweeping Portland. On Monday, workers employed at the Burgerville restaurant at SE Powell Ave and SE 25th Ave announced their intent to join the Burgerville Workers Union (BVWU), the nation’s first fast food union. The announcement follows workers’ allegations that […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Wheeler Flirts With Surveillance Tech, a Peek Into Providence Health’s Greedy Bottom Line, and Italy Elects a Fascist #GirlBoss
The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! 87 degrees at the end of September? I’ll take […]
Posted inNews
A Tenant Enrolled in a City Affordable Housing Program Just Received a 50 Percent Rent Increase. How is That Possible?
In a city that touts its numerous renter protections, vulnerable renters are still able to fall through the cracks.
When a new company purchased the Prescott apartment complex in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood in 2021, tenant Kelsey Schreiner expected to get a rent increase. “The previous owner didn’t increase it often, so I figured we’d maybe get a five percent rent hike—something like that,” said Schreiner, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her four-year-old […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Timber Counties Lose Logging Appeal, Puerto Rico Pummelled by Hurricane Fiona, and Queen Laid to Rest
The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! I hope you had a lovely weekend wearing […]
Posted inNews
Workers at Woodstock New Seasons File to Unionize
The Southeast store is the fifth where workers have filed to unionize in recent months.
The Woodstock New Seasons market is the latest New Seasons location to join a local unionizing push among the grocery chain. On Friday, workers at the Woodstock store filed a union certification petition with the National Labor Relations Board—the first step toward union recognition. The workers aim to join the New Seasons Labor Union (NLSU), […]
Posted inNews
Portland Street Response is Still Banned From Responding to Suicide Calls or Entering Buildings
Drawn out negotiations with the police union and staffing woes have kept PSR staff from responding to some of the most basic crises.
Six months after expanding citywide, Portland Street Response (PSR) staff are still limited from responding to some of the most basic crises. In April, a report on PSR—the city’s unarmed response team focused on non-violent mental health crises and other behavioral issues—explained that the city must negotiate with law enforcement unions before allowing PSR staff […]
Posted inNews
City to Pay $85,000 to Settle Retaliation Lawsuit Filed by Police Captain
Portland City Council will vote Wednesday to pay $85,000 to settle a 2020 lawsuit filed by a member of Portland Police Bureau (PPB) accusing the city of employment discrimination and retaliation. James Crooker, who now serves as a Police Captain, made a slate of allegations against city and PPB leadership in his 2020 lawsuit. First, […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Oregon Air Quality on the Mend, Seattle Teachers Strike Continues, and Ukrainians Return to Seized Homes
The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! – Southeast Portland’s Arleta Triangle has expanded into a public plaza meant […]