City Cast Portland
🏴☠️ Portland Parks & Rec pirates
August 24, 2023
Good morning, Portland! It turns out Portlanders love Cotopaxi, the outdoor gear brand. So much so that the company is opening its second area store in Tigard.
What's CITY Talking About?
💊 Prescription Drug Prices Inflated by Intermediaries
The Oregon Audits Division released a report this week criticizing prescription drug intermediaries, known as pharmacy benefit managers. The report highlights their strong ties to pharmacy and insurance companies, resulting in higher prices for prescription drug consumers. The audit recommends the creation of a state purchasing program to reduce costs. [Oregonian]
🏴☠️ Illegal Boat Seizures
A report reveals that Portland Parks & Recreation exhibited a systematic disregard for proper procedures in removing boats from public docks throughout 2022. The investigation highlights the agency's consistent flouting of regulations, misinformation dissemination to boat owners, and the unlawful destruction of six private boats seized from city-managed docks last year. The violations disproportionately affected vulnerable community members. [KGW]
🗃️ Logistical Shortcomings Hurting Homelessness Efforts
A new audit shows systemic problems at Portland and Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services. The report identifies issues like clunky contract management, poor communication, and inadequate data collection, which have hindered the office's ability to effectively address homelessness. [OPB]
- 🎧 Related: Multnomah County’s Inability to Tackle Homelessness. [City Cast Portland]
🌆 A Vision of Downtown’s Future
Gov. Tina Kotek's downtown revitalization task force unveiled its plans and priorities for Portland this week. They include a focus on the central city’s value proposition, livable neighborhoods, community safety, housing and homelessness, and service-related taxes. The task force will establish issue-specific committees and collaborate with experts to generate recommendations. It plans to present those recommendations at the Oregon Business Summit on December 11. [🔒 Portland Business Journal]
What To Do
🖼️ ‘A Question of Hu’ Opening Reception | Thursday | 1 p.m.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU hosts a celebration of its new exhibit, which focuses on the work of Chinese-American artist Hung Liu. [Downtown; Free]
🧑🎤 Live Dream Pop Show at The Coffin Club | Thursday | 8:30 p.m.
LA band Magic Wands headlines, with alt-pop artist Lorelei K and atmospheric rock group Treasvre. [Buckman; 21+; $15;]
🍿 ‘Oldboy’ at the Hollywood Theatre | Through August 31 | Various Times
Whether you’ve seen Park Chan-wook's 2003 classic or not, this is your chance to watch it on the big screen for its 20th anniversary. [Hollywood; $12]
Today on City Cast
What the OHSU/Legacy Health Merger Means For You (And Your Doctor)
Two of our area’s largest medical institutions are planning on merging: OHSU is seeking to absorb Legacy Health before the end of 2024. But what does this mean for patients and the overall quality of care? We’re talking with Oregonian reporter Jeff Manning about the impending merger and how it may impact the Portland health care market in the coming years.
They’re nervous about their jobs — with any merger, consolidation is part of the attraction.
And there you have it. Talk to ya tomorrow!
— Adrian González
Edited by John Notarianni and copy edited by Giulia Fiaoni
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