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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Yup, it's the morning again. Hope you slept well. If you didn't, I'm sorry, and I empathize with you. But hey, I'm happy to inform you that the weather forecast is looking mighty delightful, with temperatures hovering around the mid-to-high 70s for the foreseeable future.
Time to read some news.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• After four years of construction, the brand-new main terminal at the Portland International Airport is making its grand debut today. The new PDX comes with a reconfigured layout, a fresh lineup of food and retail options (both pre-and-post security), and the return of the old, much-beloved carpet—at least, kind of. (The iconic teal carpet can be found in the main terminal mezzanine.) But you won't be looking down at the carpet much anyway, because the pièce de résistance of the new terminal is the ROOF, constructed from 2.6 million feet of mass timber Douglas Fir that was supposedly logged in a sustainable way. Regardless of the actual sustainability, there's no question the roof is majestic and quite masterfully crafted.
If you don't have a flight out of PDX in the foreseeable future, you might be tempted to head over to check out the main terminal anyway. You can see most of the big changes without a boarding pass, so hop on the MAX and check it out. Portlanders have a special relationship with our airport (has this been studied?), so the hype here is definitely real.
• Despite the trials and tribulations some people go through to become the top dog in Salem, I find it hard to believe many people are green with envy over Governor Tina Kotek's job. Being the governor of Oregon (or any state, for that matter) doesn't sound like an easy job! But after hearing about who Kotek will share the stage with at next week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago, I'm beginning to change my tune.
That was a lot of lead-up to say that Kotek will be part of a panel of female governors hosted by none other than Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Louis-Dreyfuss starred in "Veep," the satirical TV show about American politics that has looked somewhat prescient when compared to the ridiculousness of our current, real-life political situation. All seven women currently serving as Democratic governors will be part of the panel (wow, that's not very many, huh?). I look forward to seeing Kotek yuk it up with Louis-Dreyfuss. What will they talk about, do you think?
• Nike, Oregon's largest and most iconic company, has made many "corporate responsibility" promises to reduce its carbon footprint. But guess what? The company's top executives are seemingly addicted to flying in private jets, spewing planet-warming greenhouse gases left and right. Company disclosures show Nike's company's two private planes emitted 20 percent more carbon than they did in 2015. This is one reason Nike and its supply chain has failed to reduce carbon emissions, despite its vows to do so. Another reason? Nike laid off about 20 percent of the staffers tasked with undertaking sustainability initiatives, so there are fewer people left to make sure the company maintains its stated climate goals.
Now, Nike and corporate responsibility have historically...not always gone hand-in-hand. So is this a big surprise? No. But still. BOO!
• Portland's coalition of freeway fighters have filed another lawsuit to stop the Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) $1.9 billion plan to widen I-5 through the Rose Quarter. This lawsuit, which comes just three months after many of the same plaintiffs filed another legal complaint directed at the RQ project, alleges ODOT's plan violates federal environmental standards through the National Environmental Protection Act. The plaintiffs come from six local community advocacy groups: No More Freeways, Neighbors for Clean Air, Oregon Families for Safe Streets, the Eliot Neighborhood Association, BikeLoud PDX, the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates. While plaintiffs want ODOT to abort mission when it comes to widening I-5 through central Portland, they're in favor of capping I-5 in the Rose Quarter and reconnecting the historically Black Albina neighborhood, which was bisected by I-5 construction in the 1960s. And as ODOT seeks federal and state funding for the Rose Quarter plan, freeway expansion opponents want the feds to focus money on the Albina restoration project—not the freeway expansion. Highway covers, not more lanes!
This lawsuit is just the latest piece of evidence that, despite ODOT's years-long mission to build positive momentum around the RQ project, it has persistent critics who are dedicated to making sure the agency doesn't expand I-5 in the middle of Portland. But considering ODOT's institutional backing and support, the opponents are up against quite the Goliath. The next big news about this project is set to drop pretty soon, when ODOT finds out if it will receive a $750 million federal grant to help pay for it. Stay tuned.
• Did you know the Portland Art Museum has a new, state of the art conservation studio? Well, it does, and the museum's chief conservator, Charlotte Ameringer, is currently working to restore the very famous and beloved "Waterlilies" by Claude Monet. The restoration process involves using a Q-tip dipped in a special solvent to remove a varnish that was painted over the original work, and it's painstaking, taking months to complete. But "Waterlilies" should be displayed again when the PAM's big renovation is complete next year, and the museum's four old buildings come together. For now, you can see other Monets (as well as works of modern art by Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, and more) at the PAM through September 15, as part of the Monet to Matisse: French Moderns exhibit.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• AIPAC threw millions into primary races to unseat Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, two progressive members of the U.S. House who have been critical of Israel's war in Gaza. But during last night's Minnesota primary, Rep. Ilhan Omar—another member of the "Squad" of progressive representatives who represents the Minneapolis area in the House—prevailed. Omar has also been critical of Israel, and was one of the first House Democrats to call for a cease-fire in the war on Gaza. But AIPAC mostly stayed out of the race in Minnesota, and Omar had a fundraising advantage over her opponent. It's a big relief that Omar won, especially as other progressive elected officials have been defeated.
• Even as Israel faces worldwide criticism for its ceaseless attacks on Gaza, which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, the U.S. has approved another $20 billion in weapons transfers to aid the Israeli military. Israel is currently preparing for retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah, which could lead to wider regional war. The U.S. has said it wants to help avoid escalating tensions, and is working to broker a cease-fire agreement to end the war in Gaza. So why send $20 billion in weapons transfers to Israel now? The Biden-Harris administration continues to face (warranted) criticism for their complicity in Israel's war in Gaza, and it is an issue that will follow Harris as she attempts to win the presidential race in November. She'll need to do more to prove her dedication to helping people in Gaza if she wants support from those who are horrified by what has taken place over the last 10 months.
• Tim Walz spoke at the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) convention in Los Angeles last night, making his case as a union man. Walz, a former public school teacher, has been a member of a public-sector union—and, somewhat shockingly, will be the first union member on a presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan (Reagan was the president of the Screen Actors Guild, but diverged quite substantially from labor issues as POTUS). Not to hype up Walz too much, but I just have to say that going forward, I'd like to propose every Democratic presidential ticket has a public school teacher on the ticket. It seems quite obvious to me that they would make ideal leaders. At the AFSCME convention, Walz also called Trump a scab for supporting right-to-work laws, and defended himself against JD Vance's accusations that he lied about his military history. I am eager to hear more from Walz as he continues to show off his chops on the campaign trail.
• Speaking of Tim Walz (whose name is pronounced "walls," not "waltz") and the presidential candidate on his ticket, Kamala Harris...America's top grammar people have some tips for journalists and grammar nerds during this national election cycle. I realize this is very self-serving, but I mentioned it in last week's Good Morning, News post, so I wanted to update you all. APPARENTLY, we're supposed to add the 's after Harris and Walz, even though their last names end in "S" sounds. But also, it kinda doesn't matter. One interesting thing I learned from the AP article linked above? There have, so far, been only three U.S. president with last names ending in "S." If Harris wins in November, she'll become the first since Rutherford B. Hayes, who was elected in 1876. WTF??! Do Americans have some kind of problem with last names that end in S??? Say it to my face, people! (I never thought I'd be so protective of my fellow "last name ends in S" community members. Seeking a better name for this group, if anyone has ideas.)
• Finally...do you need some duck therapy? I sure did. Enjoy, and happy Wednesday!
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