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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

Oregon Legislators to Portland Public Schools: “Take the Reins” and Handle the Strike

State lawmakers aren’t jumping at the opportunity to reallocate state funds to end the teacher strike.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

As Portland Public Schools (PPS) teachers continue their strike for higher wages, more planning time, and better building conditions, tension is brewing between the district and Oregon legislators.  Throughout the lengthy bargaining process between PPS and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) union, the district has maintained it can’t afford to accept the union’s contract […]

Posted inNews

City Council Won’t Let Go of Bureau Control as Charter Reform Transition Continues

In the race to implement government changes, commissioners break with the mayor over a timeline for bringing in deputy city administrators.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Courtney Vaughn and Taylor Griggs

Portland’s elected leaders are pushing back on a key element of the city’s charter transition. After a lengthy City Council meeting Wednesday, November 1, commissioners voted to approve a new reporting structure for city bureaus and offices, but not before rewriting language to ensure current commissioners will continue overseeing city bureaus through the end of […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Another Portland Public Schools Labor Grievance, Fish Vacuums, and The Darkness is Upon Us (UGH)

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

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! Ay, ay, ay, it’s been a long week. But it’s Friday now, yippee, […]

Posted inNews

Amid Teachers’ Strike, Other Portland Public Schools Staff File Grievance With District

Members of the Portland Federation of School Professionals say the district has asked them to perform work outside their contract.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

As members of the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) union continue their historic strike, another Portland Public Schools (PPS) union claims the district is asking its members to cross the picket line and perform work they’re unqualified to do.  Due to the Portland teachers’ strike, roughly 45,000 Portland students are out of class for the […]

Posted inNews

Portland Teachers’ Strike: District Asks State For Money; Teachers Say “Hold The Line”

With each group pointing to a different solution for the district’s funding woes, the stalemate between teachers and Portland Public Schools won’t let up.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

The first day of the unprecedented Portland Public Schools (PPS) teachers’ strike is over, but it’s unclear when students might return to school.  With day two on the horizon, educators from the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) union held a big rally outside Roosevelt High School Wednesday, November 1, after a morning of picketing at […]

Posted inNews

No School November? Portland Teachers Begin First-Ever Strike

All PPS schools are closed indefinitely, after teachers union and school district failed to come to an agreement in time to avoid a strike.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

It’s day one of the first-ever Portland Public Schools (PPS) teacher strike.  After spending the better part of a year in stalled contract negotiations with PPS management, the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) union gave the district a 10-day notice to strike on October 20. The union and district continued bargaining until October 31, but […]

Posted inNews

“Free, Free Palestine”: Portlanders Rally for Gazans, Ask Local Politicians to Support Cease-Fire

A rally on October 28 was the latest in a string of local protests supporting Palestine.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

In just the last three weeks, more than 8,000 Palestinians— about 3,200 of them children— have been killed by Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. As the death toll continues to rise—with no sign of a cease-fire on the horizon—protests have erupted all over the world, calling for an end to the violence and […]

Posted inNews

With the HollywoodHUB project, TriMet Embraces a New Vision for Public Transportation

The project— a collaboration with BRIDGE Housing and Hacienda CDC— will add hundreds of affordable housing units to Portland’s Hollywood neighborhood.
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One of Portland’s most notable transit hubs is getting a big makeover. The Hollywood Transit Center, located just south of Northeast Halsey Street between NE 41st and 42nd Avenues in Portland’s Hollywood neighborhood, is a major Northeast Portland transportation hub. The transit center serves several of TriMet’s bus and light rail lines, and thanks to […]

Posted inHousing

Churches as Housing Developers: A North Portland Church Is Using Its Property For Affordable Housing

Portsmouth Commons offers 20 low-income units for veterans—on the same property as Portsmouth Union Church.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Are churches the new housing developers? Leaders at a North Portland church property, now home to an affordable housing complex for formerly homeless veterans, say they can be part of the solution to Portland’s housing crisis. Last Wednesday morning, North Portland’s Portsmouth Union Church (PUC) was abuzz with people celebrating the opening of a new […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Churches Are The Newest Housing Developers, McCarthyism Is Back, Baby, and Javelinas: New Climate Heroes?

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

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! Are you cold? Because I am. It’s currently 48 degrees […]

Posted inTheater & Performance

Theater Review: Portland Center Stage’s Hair “Lets the Sunshine In”

A gifted cast sings new life into the anti-war Vietnam-era musical.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Audiences will likely remember “Hair” as the musical with naked people in it before they recall its iconic songs, like “Aquarius” and “Let the Sunshine In,” trailblazing racial inclusiveness, and unquestionably relevant anti-war message.

Portland Center Stage’s rendition of “Hair” soars, thanks to an übertalented and charming cast, who are matched by a stellar band and excellent set design. Taylor Griggs reviewed the popular musical and writes about why it’s still relevant more than 55 years later.

Posted inNews

UPDATE: As Portland Public Schools and Teachers Union Stall on Negotiations, District Prepares for Unprecedented Strike

Despite offers of higher salaries, the school district and teachers union remain hundreds of millions of dollars apart in contract negotiations.
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Update October 20, 10:50 am: Members of the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) voted to authorize a strike. According to PAT, out of the 93 percent of members who participated in the strike vote, 98.9 percent voted “yes.”  In a statement from Portland Public Schools (PPS) about the news of the strike vote, district leaders […]

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