$18M unspent on fixing Portland homelessness

Unspent Funds for Homelessness

Multnomah County spent just half of the $36 million available from the Metro homeless services measure in the first quarter of this year — which Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson called “simply unacceptable.” This comes after the Joint Office on Homeless Services significantly underspent its available funding last fiscal year. [Willamette Week]

• Related: Street Roots’ Piper McDaniel discusses Portland mayor Ted Wheeler’s plan for sanctioned camps. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Ongoing Oregon Republican Walkout

Four state senators — three Republicans, and a Republican-turned-independent — have now wracked up 10 absences as part of the ongoing legislative walkout. Measure 113, passed last year with the overwhelming support of voters, bars state legislators from seeking reelection after 10 unexcused absences, but Republicans are preparing for a court battle over the constitutionality of that new law. [OPB]

Portland-Area Company’s Nuclear Push

NuScale Power, based in Tigard, is leading the way in the next generation of nuclear power plants. Reuters energy and environment correspondent Timothy Gardner discusses how NuScale’s design for a small modular nuclear reactor could change the world’s energy future. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Portland has now hit the big time as a poster child for the American problem of homelessness. Rock star John Mellencamp released a new song “Eyes of Portland” with an accompanying video, which is curious on a couple of levels, including that it’s filmed in Los Angeles, not here, despite the lyrics being all about our hometown.

Apparently, Mellencamp met an unhoused woman when he was in town and wanted to give her money. The interaction served as the inspiration.

A shoutout to the Oregonian’s Shane Dixon Kavanaugh for getting a conversation going on social media.

Here are some of the reactions from Twitter:

Tim McCormick: “'Portland' has become a figure for urban failure & disillusionment, as it was in #Portlandia a figure for insularity, narcissism, self-seriousness. Can one say there isn't some truth or use to these representations? Anyway, #globalcities like LA write most of the stories.”

OPB’s Alex Zielinski: “I’m not big on using images/faces of vulnerable people living outside to stoke emotion. But it feels a little weird to not to use actual imagery of Portland for this…?”

Willamette Week’s Sophie Peel: “I feel like he stole a third grader's research report on homelessness in Portland and set it to a melody.”

Mellencamp, in case you need a refresher (or palette cleanser), is famous for hits like “Jack & Diane” and “Small Town.”

Write Around Portland Book Launch | Thursday | 6:30 p.m.

Come hear readings from the latest anthology, “Through a Kaleidoscope,” produced after community workshops of people who have the full range of life experience. [Free, Downtown]

Thomas Lauderdale Meets The Pilgrims | Thursday | 8 p.m.

The Pink Martini founder plays from his new album, which he first started recording with the surf rock band three decades ago. [$25 in advance, West End]

Orcas: Our Shared Future | Ongoing | Various

This newly opened OMSI exhibit includes life-size replicas, fossils, and artwork from Indigenous peoples. [$18, Central Eastside]

How a Portland Company Is Bringing Back Nuclear Power

A Portland-area company is leading the way for the new generation of nuclear power plants. Earlier this year, the U.S. government approved NuScale Power’s design for a small modular nuclear reactor. But what does that mean, exactly? How could it change the world’s energy future? And are they safe? Today on City Cast Portland, Reuters energy and environment correspondent Timothy Gardner discusses NuScale’s push for a nuclear future.