Employees at the Sellwood New Seasons store voted against unionizing Thursday afternoon, just 24 hours after their peers at a SE Division New Seasons shop voted to unionize. A total of 33 workers voted against unionizing, while 29 voted to join the New Seasons Labor Union. The results come as a blow to workers eager […]
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
New Seasons Workers at Southeast Portland’s Seven Corners Market Vote to Unionize
Workers at New Seasons’ SE Division store have voted to unionize, forcing the grocery chain’s management to formally recognize the New Seasons Labor Union. A total of 62 workers voted to unionize, with 15 voting against it. A majority vote in favor of the union was required to win the election. The union, which first […]
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Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Portland of Violating Americans with Disabilities Act By Allowing Tents on Sidewalks
A group of Portlanders with disabilities filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday, accusing the city of Portland of failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for allowing tents and other structures to occupy city sidewalks. “The City has failed and continues to fail to maintain its sidewalks clear of debris and […]
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Why Are Portland’s Leaders Opposing Proposed Charter Reforms?
Hint: It might be because the reforms dilute their power.
Portland hasn’t felt like “The City That Works” for all of its residents for quite some time. Whether it’s coming from business owners forced to call five different bureaus to report trash dumped on their property, or people waiting hours to speak with a police officer after someone’s broken into their house, the level of […]
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Police Transparency Once More in Question Following “Doxing” Accusations
When Portland police officers fire their gun at a member of the public, it’s city policy to publish that officers’ name within 24 hours. Lately, that hasn’t been the case. In July, after officers shot and killed a man who was firing a gun in a Southeast Portland yard, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) chose to […]
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Fire Bureau Critically Lagging in Emergency Response Times, Report Finds
Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PFR) response times to fires and medical emergencies are lagging behind national standards, placing Portlanders’ lives at risk daily, according to an analysis of the department presented to City Council Tuesday morning. Without a permanent increase in staff, the construction of new fire stations, and organizational restructuring, analysts say the city […]
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Metro’s Supportive Housing Bond Falls Short on First Year Goals
The supportive housing tax built to address chronic homelessness in the Portland metro region has failed to meet its initial goals for its first fully-funded year. The measure, overseen by Metro Regional Government and passed by voters in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties in 2020, uses a tax on high-income households to fund a litany […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: A Fire Grows in Southern Oregon, A Shooting in Bend, and Why Are We Going Back to the Moon?
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 just spent the past four days basking […]
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City Raises Concerns about ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection Technology
The city office focused on surveillance technology and public data ethics, Smart City PDX, isn’t certain that a technology used to monitor gunshots is the right tool to address Portland’s gun violence problem. In a report prepared for City Council, staff with Smart City PDX explain that the technology—called ShotSpotter—could open the city up to […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Wheeler’s Homeless Ban, Liz Cheney’s Revolt, and China’s DIY Rain
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! While the dog days of summer may technically behind […]
Posted inGood Afternoon, News!
Good Afternoon, News: Wheeler’s Latest Homeless Ban, Betsy Swipes Left on Mike Nearman, and US Sends Warfare Gifts to Ukraine
Good afternoon, Portland! Good news: We’re cruising into a weekend of cool 80-something temps! Better news: That’s the perfect temperature to enjoy a Burger Week burg on a patio! Bad news: You still have an hour of work left. Let these headlines help tide you over, somehow: – Mayor Ted Wheeler is at it again: […]
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Mayor Wheeler Again Relies on Executive Powers to Restrict Homeless Camping
In his office’s latest move to restrict homeless camping, Mayor Ted Wheeler has signed an emergency declaration to prohibit camping along an extensive network of roads that are designated walking routes to Portland schools. “With limited resources, and heightened demand for services, we must prioritize to help ensure the safety of vulnerable populations in Portland, […]