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Taylor Griggs

Taylor Griggs is a news reporter for the Portland Mercury. She is interested in all of your ideas, comments and concerns, particularly those related to transportation, climate, labor, and Portland city government. Send Taylor an email at tgriggs@portlandmercury.com, and find her on Bluesky @taylorgriggs. 
Posted inNews

Dan Ryan Will Run for City Council in District 2

While his colleagues run for mayor, Ryan is aiming to continue serving as a city council member.
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Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan wants to continue serving on City Council. After months of silence about his political future— in contrast with his three fellow commissioners, each of whom have begun 2024 mayoral campaigns— Ryan announced today he plans to run for Portland City Council again this year. He will be vying for one of […]

Posted inNews

“Portland Cannot Wait”: City Council Will Refer Gas Tax Renewal to the May Ballot

Portland transportation leaders see the 10-cent per gallon gas tax as flawed, but necessary. Whether it’s renewed for another four years is now in voters’ hands.
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Portland voters will have the opportunity to renew the Fixing Our Streets gas tax this spring. Portland City Council voted unanimously yesterday to refer the 10-cent per gallon gas tax, which funds much of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) basic maintenance and safety services, to the May ballot.  Portland transportation leaders and advocates spoke […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Democrats Want Measure 110 Rollback, Organized Labor Membership is Low Despite “Hot Union Summer,” and Gas Tax: Axe or Pass? (It’ll Help Fix the Cracks)

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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! Happy Wednesday. It’s set to be another temperate day today, […]

Posted inNews

Portland City Council to Mull High-Stakes Gas Tax Renewal

The 10-cent per gallon Fixing Our Streets gas tax has been an integral part of PBOT’s budget since 2016. It’s even more important now.
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This morning, Portland City Council will consider the 2024-2028 gas tax renewal, determining whether or not the 10-cent gas tax for light vehicles will be on the city ballot this May. The gas tax program, dubbed “Fixing Our Streets,” is critical for funding Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) street maintenance projects. In 2024, the stakes […]

Posted inNews

Portland’s Plan To Spur Housing Development by Relaxing Regulations Has Political Implications

The code change discussions underscored key differences amongst Portland City Council members— some of whom are competing for the mayoral seat this year.
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There’s no one magic bullet that will solve Portland’s housing crisis. But city leaders and developers think strict regulations are part of the reason local housing construction has slumped.  Housing construction across Oregon, and in the Portland metro area in particular, has fallen behind. Addressing Oregon’s housing shortage has been Governor Tina Kotek’s primary goal […]

Posted inTransportation

Public Backlash Killed the Last I-5 Bridge Replacement Plan. In the New Version, Critics Say Little Has Changed.

Estimated costs for the Interstate Bridge Replacement nearly doubled in 3 years. Meanwhile, climate advocates fear the new bridge plans don’t prioritize public transit, and lack transparency.
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Transportation leaders in Oregon and Washington have been planning to replace the I-5 bridge connecting Portland and Vancouver across the Columbia River for nearly 20 years. Planners say a new bridge is overdue, but the hurdles of two decades ago still exist.  The current I-5 bridge is old. The first section, which now serves northbound […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland Prepares to Thaw, Cancelled Primary Debates, and Damn Exciting Dam Removals

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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! Do you feel that? The air is preparing to heat up (slightly) above […]

Posted inNews

UPDATE: Warming Shelters Will Remain Open Tuesday Night

Medical examiner now investigating four suspected hypothermia deaths as county braces for freezing rain.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Taylor Griggs and Courtney Vaughn

Updated: 3:30 pm January 16 A weather-related state of emergency has been extended through Wednesday, January 17, as freezing rain is expected Tuesday afternoon, following days of sub-freezing temperatures. The county medical examiner said Tuesday afternoon that two additional people have likely died of hypothermia, bringing the total to four suspected hypothermia death investigations since […]

Posted inNews

UPDATED: Power Restored For Most Households Amid Severe Winter Weather

At least 31,000 PGE customers still without power early Tuesday afternoon. TriMet has resumed MAX Blue Line operations, but all other light rail lines remain suspended.
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Update: Tues, Jan 16, 12:30 pm: According to PGE’s latest social media update, made early Tuesday afternoon, the utility company has “made significant progress, having restored power to over 130,000 customers since Saturday. According to PGE’s outage map, however, more than 31,000 customers are still without power— and there’s an ice storm on the forecast […]

Posted inNews

A $1.7 Million Federal Grant Will Jumpstart Portland’s Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The grant will help fund a plan to make pay-as-you-go electric car chargers more accessible around the city.
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A federal grant from the US Department of Energy will kickstart a plan to install more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the right-of-way, a project that leaders hope will enable more equitable access to e-car power for all Portlanders. Portland City Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Department of Energy on January […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Comedian Controversy, a Week of Wild Weather, and the Red Cross NEEDS YOUR BLOOD!

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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! It’s set to be another wet and chilly day today, with highs […]

Posted inTransportation

Portland, Prepare For a Six-Week MAX Disruption

Green, Blue, and Red Line MAX train service will be impacted through the end of February as TriMet finishes construction for “A Better Red” project.
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The good news? TriMet is in the final stretches of completing its “A Better Red” project, which will bring some major changes to the MAX Red Line by the end of the year. The bad news: Finishing up construction for “A Better Red” entails a major, six-week disruption to MAX light rail service across most […]

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