How Portland's 82nd Ave. Should Change
The city is working on upgrades, thanks to the funding, because 82nd Avenue has long been considered unsafe. There have been 150 serious injuries or deaths nearby, the Oregonian reports (More than a year ago, the city took responsibility for 82nd Ave. from the state.)

A Visit from Mayor Pete 🚌
You might have heard: Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Department of Transportation secretary (possibly still better known as “Mayor Pete,” the Democratic presidential hopeful), hopped on an electric bus and toured Portland’s 82nd Avenue earlier this month. He visited the city street in part because the federal government is investing $80 million to upgrade it. (There’s also $105 million in local and state funding.)
The 82nd Avenue Upgrade 🚦
The city is working on upgrades, thanks to the funding, because 82nd Avenue has long been considered unsafe. There have been 150 serious injuries or deaths nearby, the Oregonian reports (More than a year ago, the city took responsibility for 82nd Ave. from the state.)
Short-term plans include wider sidewalks and better lighting. Long-term plans include a better bus route.
Learn More or Voice Your Opinion 📣
The city is in the process of soliciting input from the community too. “Initial surveys show a high demand for more trees, wider sidewalks, and bike infrastructure,” the Portland Mercury reports. Here’s how you can get engaged.
Learn more:
- Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. (East Portland Chamber of Commerce)
Offer your view:
- Thursday at 5 p.m. at a workshop (APANO)
- June 25 at 5:30 p.m. at a community conversation (Asian Health Service Center)
More about Local Civics
$106M in Unspent Funds at the Portland Housing Bureau
The Portland Housing Bureau has $106 million in unspent funds, the city administrator disclosed late last week. Some of it may be spoken for, but it leaves open the question of how City Council will spend the funds. When the pot of unspent funds was believed to be only $21 million, City Council was divided over whether to spend it on rent assistance or a Prosper Portland housing project. Maybe all of the above are possible now. [Portland Mercury]
The Gas Tax and Oregon's Legislative Session
State lawmakers convene in Salem next week after a chaotic few weeks for Democratic state leaders as they scramble to address the issue of transportation funding. They have a key problem: Voters appear to oppose the gas tax passed last fall.
US Sen. Wyden Explains His Votes To Arm Israel
Oregon’s U.S. senators usually vote the same way (like for continuing the government shutdown until healthcare costs are addressed). But a key exception in recent months was Sen. Ron Wyden’s support for continued arms sales to Israel while Sen. Jeff Merkley voted to oppose them. Wyden’s support came up again last weekend — at a Portland Book Festival event featuring Omar Al Ekkad, author of “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This” (a title you may recognize as “the one book every Portlander should read right now”).

