If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! Well, here comes the rain again. We can expect five days of overcast, wet weather, which might be a good break from […]
Jeremiah Hayden
Jeremiah Hayden reports on housing, homelessness, and other issues affecting Portlanders. He's lived in Oregon nearly all his life, and in Portland since 2001. jhayden@portlandmercury.com
Posted inNews
Highlights of the Big Ticket Metro Chamber Event? Maybe the Catering.
Energy inside Moda was sparse as Tom Dundon addressed the local business community. Outside, Portlanders were riled up.
It’s unclear if anyone who purchased a $350 ticket to this year’s chamber of commerce meeting is feeling buyer’s remorse, but if they expected anything more than a pep rally, sans pep, they certainly could be. The Portland Metro Chamber held its annual meeting at the Moda Center on Wednesday, a fundraiser for the local […]
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City Council Held Their Noses and Passed a Budget—Now They Want Changes
Progressives want to use climate dollars for jobs. Moderates may raid police accountability dollars for cops. Jamie Dunphy wanted a work session to figure it out.
The city of Portland approved its budget last week, but that doesn’t mean efforts to avoid impending cuts are over. Hours after Portland City Council approved an $8.5 billion 2026-27 budget last Wednesday evening, five city councilors brought forward an ordinance to restore some of the frontline services Mayor Keith Wilson eliminated in the budget. […]
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“The Show Must Go On”: Portland Cuts the Ribbon on Darcelle XV Plaza
Three years in the making, downtown now has a plaza named after a queer icon.
As the nation celebrates Pride Month, the city is reviving a downtown park and recognizing the queer community in the most Portland way. Portland Parks and Recreation hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, June 18 to celebrate the unveiling of Darcelle XV Plaza, a vibrant redesign of a previously vacant city block. The lot at Southwest […]
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Metro Chamber Wants Council to Reschedule Upcoming Meeting in Favor of $350 Ticketed Event
Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon will be a featured speaker at a Portland Metro Chamber annual meeting. City Council now faces pressure to reschedule a work session and go meet Dundon instead.
While city leaders hold a work session later this month to talk about how to renovate the sports arena where the Trail Blazers play, the team’s owner is scheduled to speak at an annual meeting held by Portland’s chamber of commerce. But the chamber wants the Council to move its public meeting to avoid the […]
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State Ethics Commission Opens Investigation Into Former PCC President
Former Portland Community College President Adrien Bennings should be investigated for potential conflicts of interest, OGEC says.
Oregon’s largest community college recently cut ties with its president, but that doesn’t mean her troubles are over. After a three-month preliminary review, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) on Friday, June 12, voted to open a full investigation into former Portland Community College (PCC) President Adrien Bennings over potential conflicts of interest when she […]
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A Dangerous Heat Wave is Coming. What Resources Are Available for Vulnerable Portlanders?
Whether Multnomah County will open cooling centers has yet to be determined, but there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself.
Temperatures in Portland are expected to rise this weekend, with an extreme heat warning in effect from 11 am Sunday to 11 pm Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday could bring highs of 92 degrees and 96 degrees on Sunday. On Monday, temperatures are forecasted to soar to 99 degrees. Local governments are […]
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Good Morning, News! Oregon Bails on White House Party, Elon Musk’s Embarrassing Riches, and David Hockney Dead at 88.
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! It’s getting hot this weekend and into next week, with highs of 91 degrees on Sunday. Don’t forget to hydrate, water those […]
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Parks and Recreation Interim Director Will Exit at End of June
The bureau has seen two director exits in a year as the city weathers high turnover among its leadership ranks.
Another bureau director is resigning from the city of Portland. Sonia Schmanski, the interim director of Portland Parks and Recreation, submitted her resignation Wednesday, effective at the end of June, according to an email to staff from Public Works Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal. Art Pearce, deputy director of planning at the Portland Bureau of […]
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This Budget Proposal Could Save Over 100 City Jobs. Here’s What To Know.
Councilors are tweaking Mayor Wilson’s budget, and one change could save union jobs with interest from big business taxes.
Within the city of Portland, a sole certified arborist trains neighbors to care for trees. A ride share employee brings in nearly $17 million each year. A specialized team helps the transportation bureau plan for sidewalk and road repairs. These are among more than 100 positions that could disappear on July 1. Three Portland city […]
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Good Morning, News! PPS Embraces AI Chaos, Portland Bans Foie Gras, Senate Funds ICE, and Space Station Astronauts’ Evacuation Scare
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! Grab your rain gear, it’s about to get wet for a while. Forecasts show rain today through next Wednesday. Let’s get to […]
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After Months of “Political Football,” Council Funds Housing for Black Portlanders
The individual projects enjoy broad support, but conflicts over funding sources, process, and transparency could be a recurring issue.
Two Portland housing development projects that have become a “political football” in recent months crossed into the end zone after city councilors finally approved their funding. In a 10-2 vote Wednesday, June 3, Portland City Council allocated $2.5 million in city funds to two homeownership development projects: one at the corner of Northeast Williams and […]