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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 inCulture

Knot Springs and the Hot Tub Financial Disparity Machine

Visiting Portland’s fanciest spa, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the cold plunge.
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For a mid-size US city, Portland has a respectable range of hot bubbly pool options. Crunchy wellness remnants like Everett House and Common Ground are still around, and the McMenamins Kennedy School offers soaking and socializing to guests, neighbors, and those willing to pay a nominal fee. At the higher price range of Portland’s soaking […]

Posted inNews

Amid Stifling Heat Wave, Multnomah County Lacks Dedicated Shelter Spaces

Despite 69 heat deaths in 2021 and more suspected deaths this week, cooling centers and resources aren’t guaranteed.
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Updated: Friday, Aug. 18 Two years after a deadly heat wave that killed 69 people, Multnomah County says it doesn’t have dedicated emergency shelter space or cooling centers.  The Pacific Northwest is at the tail end of a scorching heat wave, with temperatures in the Portland area reaching triple digits four days in a row—a […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Traffic Crashes in Portland, Downtown Portland Task Force, And Geriatric Senators

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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! The trend of nice temperatures continues today with a […]

Posted inTransportation

Cops, Cameras, and “Safe Systems”: The Debate About Curbing Traffic Violence on Portland’s Streets

Portland continues to experience record-breaking numbers of traffic crash fatalities. With funding and political barriers, what’s the best way to keep people safe on the streets?
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As more and more deadly traffic crashes have taken place on Portland’s streets over the last few years, the resulting promises from local politicians have become commonplace, and are increasingly scrutinized by advocates.  Portland transportation leaders gathered August 7 at a press conference to address the recent uptick in deadly traffic crashes. They were joined […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

GOOD MORNING, NEWS: Kmart Fire Lawsuit, Powell’s Workers Nearing Strike, and Rudy Giuliani’s Sliminess Has Reached New Heights

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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 shaping up to be a hot one today. […]

Posted inNews

Powell’s Workers, Fed Up With “Poverty Wages,” Move Closer to a Strike

Employees at the world’s largest independent bookstore voted to authorize a future strike, citing stagnant wages that diminish the value they bring to the beloved stores.
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Powell’s City of Books is among Portland’s most universally-loved attractions, but the workers who curate Powell’s recommendation shelves and assist hordes of bookworms everyday say they’re underpaid, making “poverty wages” at what is otherwise a dream job for many book lovers. After months of attempting to negotiate a new, fair contract with management, members of […]

Posted inNews

Before Fire, City Inspectors Warned Former Kmart Site Owners of Code Violations

The real estate company co-owned by an NFL team owner was told to board up the outer Northeast Portland property. Now, the company faces a class action lawsuit.
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The site of a derelict Kmart building that went up in flames in the Parkrose neighborhood two weeks ago had an open code enforcement violation with the city. Records show the Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) sent RFC Joint Venture, the property’s owner, a violation notice on July 6, directing owners to “board-up or […]

Posted inNews

With Revenue Windfall, Portland Clean Energy Fund Committee Approves Climate Investment Plan

Despite past hiccups, PCEF is now on track to dole out $750 million on carbon cutting projects through 2028.
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Portland needs to act fast if it wants to achieve its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Though the city has several plans on the books to slash citywide greenhouse gas emissions, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) is among the most promising—and well-funded—avenues for local climate action. And after a […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland Police Accountability, Rest in Peace Sinéad O’Connor, and Weird (Scary) Whale Activities

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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! Today is set to be another sunny and pleasant one […]

Posted inNews

Asbestos Found in Northeast Portland Fire Debris, Stoking Neighborhood Health Fears

A fire at a former Kmart building earlier this week spread toxic ash around the neighborhood. Nearby residents say it’s another example of “repeated trauma” at the site.
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When a former Kmart building in a vacant lot at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard went up in flames Wednesday, residents of the surrounding Parkrose and Argay Terrace neighborhoods were concerned. In addition to the thick, black smoke billowing above the area, neighbors reported finding large chunks of ash in their gardens and nearby […]

Posted inNews

Portland Has a New Plan for the Future of Urban Freight

City planners look to cargo bikes, improved rail crossings, and dedicated bike and truck lanes for improved safety and sustainability to move goods around Portland.
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is not only tasked with managing how people get around the city, it also oversees how commercial goods and services flow through Portland. With a new plan, PBOT envisions a greener, safer future for urban freight movement in Portland. Last week, the Portland City Council adopted the 2040 Freight […]

Posted inNews

Rogue Commissioners’ Plan to Subvert Voters With New Charter Reform Measure Falls Flat—For Now

Commissioner Dan Ryan backpedals on most of the new policies he and Commissioner Rene Gonzalez promoted in a proposal to overhaul the original charter reform measure—but is more interference with progressive policies on the way?
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A little over a week after the public found out about the plan, most elements of Commissioners Dan Ryan and Rene Gonzalez’s proposal to overhaul Portland’s government transition have lost steam. Advocates for the original measure that voters approved last November came out strong against the new changes, and a Tuesday work session on the […]

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