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Isabella Garcia

Isabella Garcia is the former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She covered City Hall, transportation, the environment, breaking news, and more.
Posted inTransportation

From Face Chewing to Chronic Code Violations: How Does TriMet Determine the Length of Rider Bans?

TriMet issued its second-ever lifetime ban after the Gresham MAX station attack.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

In January, TriMet issued its second-ever lifetime ban to Koryn Kraemer, the person accused of chewing off a man’s ear during an attack at a closed TriMet MAX station in Gresham. At the same time, TriMet announced it had also issued two five-year rider bans; one against a rider accused of pushing a child onto […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Eugene Bans New Natural Gas, Portland Restauranteurs Struggle with Eggs, and Ted Cruz Being a Hypocrite

Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

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! Why wait? Let’s get right into it. In local […]

Posted inlabor

City of Portland Worker Strike Ends with Contract Compromise

While workers won higher cost of living increases, fear of rising costs in Portland remains.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Over 600 City of Portland maintenance and operations workers ended their three-day strike Sunday after reaching a tentative contract agreement with the city. Despite the city giving a final offer early last week, members of the worker’s bargaining team said they were able to secure higher cost of living increases and other contract benefits after […]

Posted inHousing

Multnomah County Announces Plan to House at Least 300 Homeless Residents in Vacant Apartments

The county has not identified any landlord partners or available rentals at this time.
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Multnomah County and the City of Portland will aim to eliminate unsheltered homelessness in Portland’s central city over the next four months by incentivizing landlords to rent to unhoused residents, county chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced Friday. While no rentals or landlords are currently signed onto the effort, the county aims to house 300 people […]

Posted inCops

Portland Police Bureau Reinstates Officer Who Leaked False Information About Former Commissioner Hardesty

State labor officials find that city officials didn’t prove Brian Hunzeker retaliated against Hardesty.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Brian Hunzeker, the Portland police officer responsible for leaking false information linking former city commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty to a 2021 hit-and-run, has been reinstated to his position with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). While Hunzeker was originally fired in March 2022 for his involvement in the leak, a labor arbitrator from the Oregon Employee […]

Posted inlabor

Hundreds of Critical Portland Operations Workers on Strike After Mediation Fails

Wastewater and street maintenance workers are asking the city to keep wages competitive with the private sector.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

More than 600 city maintenance and operations workers are on strike Thursday after Portland officials declined to accept the workers’ proposed contract. While Portland leaders have alluded to a “contingency plan” to continue operations in the city, striking workers say that wastewater treatment, parks maintenance, and street clearing will be significantly affected as long as […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Mayor Wheeler Gets Jury Duty, TriMet Bendy Buses are Back, and Santos Steps Down From Committee Assignments

Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

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! Today is another beautiful, cloudy, cold-as-shit day in the […]

Posted inNews

UPDATE: Emergency Shelters Close Monday in Portland Area Despite Freezing Weather

Cold weather outreach will continue.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Emergency warming shelters will not reopen Monday, despite freezing overnight temperatures. According to Multnomah County officials, the wind chill has decreased and temperatures have risen enough that severe weather shelters are no longer necessary. Nearly 350 people stayed at emergency shelters Sunday night. While the severity of Portland’s winter weather has lessened, it is still […]

Posted inNews

City Unveils Plan to “Reset” Central Eastside By Picking Up Trash, Increasing Police Presence, and Removing Homeless Portlanders

Wheeler acknowledged that the sweeps aren’t a solution to homelessness in Portland.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Following outcry from businesses in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District, city leaders have partnered with neighborhood representatives to develop a 90-day plan to improve perceptions of public safety in the district. The plan, unveiled during a press conference Thursday, aims to increase police presence in the district, improve lighting, remove graffiti, clean up trash, and […]

Posted inNews

More Than 600 City Workers are Poised to Strike Over Cost of Living Concerns

Organizers say the strike could have immediate impacts on wastewater treatment and freezing weather road maintenance.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

More than 600 City of Portland employees are planning to go on strike February 2 as contract negotiations between the city and their union, Portland City Laborers (PCL), have dragged on for nearly 10 months. Union members say the city has not kept their wages in step with inflation, effectively giving pay cuts to hundreds […]

Posted inNews

Following Public Scrutiny, Mayor Wheeler Pivots to Competitive Process for Gunshot Detection Pilot Program

Pilot program will begin in March, pending City Council approval and public input.
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Four months after unilaterally advancing a plan to bring controversial gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter to Portland, Mayor Ted Wheeler is reversing course and soliciting proposals from other technology providers. A formal request for proposals published Wednesday shows that Wheeler’s office is looking for a technology provider who can recommend optimal locations in the city for […]

Posted inCity Hall

Portland Moves a Step Closer to Overhauling Government with a New Voting District Commission

City officials say they are concerned, but on schedule to transition to a new form of government by 2025.
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Portland is one step closer to transitioning to a new form of government after City Council appointed the city’s geographic district-drawing commission Wednesday, the first of three groups that will play a key role in overseeing the transition. Despite some concerns with the timeline, the city’s transition team says they are on track to implement […]

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