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Councilor Mitch Green Suggests Borrowing Money from PCEF to Fund Parks

Green’s proposal comes as Mayor Keith Wilson floats deep cuts to Portland Parks & Recreation to fill a budget shortfall. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

As Portland leaders grapple with a major citywide budget shortfall, some have sought potential relief from one of the city’s most prosperous initiatives—the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). The fund, which collects a 1 percent tax on local sales at large retailers to pay for carbon reduction projects, has found major financial success […]

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City Council to Overturn Hearings Officer’s Approval of PGE Forest Park Plan

All 12 members of the council indicated they would reject the plan at an appellate hearing last week. Their decision underscores the broader implications of the utility project to people on both sides of the issue. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Portland General Electric’s proposed utility project in Forest Park, which would require removing nearly 400 trees in order to make way for transmission upgrades, has been a source of controversy in the city since it was announced last year. A recent City Council move to reject the plan marks the latest snag for PGE’s project—and […]

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City Council Halts Vote on AI Rental Pricing Software Ban

Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo says city attorneys are monitoring a lawsuit in California related to the algorithm-driven software 
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

An ordinance that would prohibit AI-driven rental pricing software in Portland was referred back to the Housing and Homelessness Committee as the city waits to see how a lawsuit over a similar ordinance in California plays out.

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Will Portland Police Cooperate with Trump’s FBI?

The Police Bureau’s relationship with a federal anti-terrorism task force triggered a broader conversation about illegal surveillance, racial profiling, and Islamophobia.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

For years Portland Police Bureau has cooperated with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), but with a new federal administration intent on broadening the JTTF’s scope and power, city leaders are uneasy about PPB’s arrangement. What seemed like a routine annual report to City Council sparked a broad discussion Wednesday about racism, immigration, surveillance, […]

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New Housing Committee Takes on Portland’s Affordability Crisis

City Councilor Angelita Morillo says she’ll introduce a policy to ban anti-competitive rental price-fixing software.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Portland city councilors provided inklings of their first legislative work this week, signaling their intent to address construction permitting, rental pricing, and residential vacancy rates as key tools to address the city’s housing affordability crisis. The first round of Portland City Council policy committee meetings kicked off Monday, laying the groundwork for how the city’s […]

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City Council Reluctantly Approves Mike Jordan’s Tenure as City Administrator Until 2026

Despite Council frustration and public outcry over recent Zenith decision, Jordan will continue to lead the city through a transitional year and turbulent budget cycle.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Michael Jordan, Portland’s interim city administrator, will continue in the role through the end of the year—though not without some drama.   Jordan has been in the top administrative management role since July 2024, when former Mayor Ted Wheeler appointed him to serve as the city’s first (albeit temporary) city administrator. It’s a new position […]

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Facing Public and Council Opposition, Portland Grants Zenith Key Approval

City staff issued Zenith the land use credential shortly after two city councilors called for an investigation into the company. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

The city of Portland issued Zenith Energy a new Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) on Monday morning, enabling the company to continue its local oil storage and transport operations in compliance with the state. The decision was met with immediate backlash from advocates who are critical of Zenith and the city’s oversight of it, which […]

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Michael Jordan Tapped to Stay on as City Administrator

Portland City Council will vote on Mayor Wilson’s appointment of Jordan to the city’s top management role through end of 2025.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Portland’s first city administrator is… the same person who’s been quietly keeping the city running for the last few years. Michael Jordan, who’s served as the interim city administrator since July, is expected to stay on until next year. The position is responsible for overseeing all of the city’s bureau operations, with deputy city administrators […]

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Strike Averted: City Reaches Tentative Deal with Largest Employee Union

AFSCME 189 expects to finalize a new contract with the city of Portland, but another labor union’s strike plan is still on.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

One of Portland’s largest labor unions says it’s reached a tentative agreement with the city of Portland, after previously gearing up for a strike. The Oregon American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 189 announced Thursday that the union and city are now close to ratifying a revised labor contract after nearly […]

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Zenith Permit Decision Raises Questions, Conflicts About City Council Authority

New city councilors realize they don’t have much power over the controversial company’s future—and they want to change that.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Few other industrial activities in Portland have drawn the level of public scrutiny that Zenith Energy’s crude oil storage and transport facility has. The company’s operations have catalyzed climate protests and public backlash. The city of Portland has also been denounced for its oversight of the company, which critics say has been overly permissive.  Environmental […]

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City Council Solidifies New Policy Committees

The eight committees will be the primary conduit for public engagement and policy proposals from councilors. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Among the many changes to Portland’s city government, one of the most consequential—for both councilors and members of the public—is the introduction of council committees. These committees, which City Council members hashed out at a Wednesday evening meeting, will serve as the primary venue for councilors to “consider, develop, and recommend legislation.” They’ll also be […]

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Portland City Council Increases Its Staffing Budget by $4.6 Million

Citing poor policy moves and “defunding” from previous leaders, the new Council will pull from contingency funds to hire additional staff.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the Government Transition Advisory Committee’s Council staffing recommendations. The Mercury regrets the error. “Kneecapped.” “Defunded.” “Not set up for success.” Portland’s city councilors had blunt words to describe the budget bestowed on them by the prior Council. The city’s new 12-person City Council voted Wednesday evening to increase […]

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