Wander through Ramona Quimby’s world 🛼

First Major Oregon Secretary of State Candidate

Tobias Read, who is currently serving his second term as state treasurer, will run for Oregon secretary of state in 2024. He lost to Gov. Tina Kotek in last year’s Democratic primary for governor. [Willamette Week]

Kmart Fire Had Less Asbestos

Initial tests of debris from the fire at Parkrose’s former Kmart showed asbestos, but there’s good news: Subsequent testing has found less contamination than initially feared. State officials say the company that’s currently leasing the Kmart building, called Prologis, is covering the cost of the emergency response. [KGW]

Landlord Incentives for Heat Pumps

Oregon landlords can receive up to $5,000 in rebates to install a heat pump and with it comes air-conditioning for tenants. The Legislature passed a bill this year seeking to create energy-efficient homes. [OPB]

The Case for Decriminalizing Sex Work

Sex workers (and some lawmakers) want Oregon to decriminalize sex work. Elle Stanger, a Portland-based sex educator, sex worker, and host of the “They Talk Sex” podcast, discusses how it would work and why consulting adults should be able to pay or be paid for sex. (Note: This podcast touches on sexually explicit content.) [City Cast Portland 🎧]

🚌 Seventeen-year-old Adah Crandall is an organizer with Sunrise Movement, a national youth climate justice organization. She’s been a leading voice opposing some of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s megaprojects to expand highways. She spoke with the City Cast Portland podcast last week about the billion-dollar I-5 Rose Quarter project, but she also shared a gripe she has about our city’s bus system:

“I'm annoyed that TriMet has been putting the screens on the bus stops that say when the bus is coming, updated with the times, which is great and super helpful and fantastic. But some of them are just fully the wrong line. Some of them, it tells you when this other bus line is coming to a stop that is not actually where you are, which is annoying.

“Google Maps is usually slightly better. But it's always funny when people are learning to take the bus here, and they're like, ‘Yeah, I've got the TriMet app.’ Because somehow Google and Apple Maps are more accurate. And sometimes none of them are right.”

“The bus just shows up whenever it wants to. Which, you know, wouldn't be a problem if the bus came more frequently!”

🚍 How’s TriMet these days in your experience? Email me.

City Cast Portland lead producer John Notarianni contributed this segment.

🎵 She’s Speaking | Wednesday | 5 p.m.

The Wednesday summer music series, Music on Main, this week features a group that combines blues, jazz, rock, and folk. [Free, Downtown]

🔬 ‘Oppenheimer’ | Wednesday | 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.

The 35mm version of the film is playing for those of you who were too busy seeing “Barbie.” [$10.25, Northwest]

🎤 Parliament Funkadelic with George Clinton | Saturday | 8 p.m.

It’s the legendary funk singer and bandleader. [$66.57, Downtown]

• Related: McMenamins: the best (and worst) of the ever-present brewpub. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Should Oregon Decriminalize Sex Work?

Sex workers (and some lawmakers) want Oregon to decriminalize sex work. They say current laws punish consenting adults who buy and sell sex. But how would that work? And how will this differ from drug decriminalization? Elle Stanger, a Portland-based sex educator, sex worker, and host of the “They Talk Sex” podcast, has answers. (Note: This podcast touches on sexually explicit content.)