City Cast Portland
Portland’s ongoing bike lane scandals, explained
November 15, 2023
Good morning, Portland! Class size is now the biggest issue separating Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers, the Oregonian reports. The strike continues.
What's CITY Talking About?
Breeding Sunflower Sea Stars
The first ever effort to breed sunflower sea stars in captivity is showing promise. The University of Washington lab on the San Juan Islands is breeding sea stars that have shown resistance to wasting disease, with the idea that their offspring will be better able to survive. Millions of sunflower sea stars have died of the disease in the past decade, wiping out 90% of the population. [OPB]
Oregon Income Inequality Grew
Income inequality in Oregon has grown. The typical Oregonian earned a record $43,000 in 2021; that’s a 15 percent increase since 1980, adjusted for inflation. But the top 1% of Oregonians earned an average of $1.7 million, a more than 20% increase from just the previous year. [OPB]
A Different Urban Growth Boundary Fight
City leaders in the western suburb North Plains have approved a plan to officially double the size of the town, hoping to attract semiconductor factories and more housing. But for what may be the first time in state history, a city’s expansion of the urban growth boundary is going to the ballot after critics challenged the decision. Data centers won’t create jobs, and expensive subdivisions won’t fix a housing crisis, critics argue. [Oregonian 🔒]
Portland’s Bike Lane Controversies
The city was planning to remove a protected bike lane on Southwest and Northwest Broadway before BikePortland learned about it. It’s just one of several recent scandals related to bike lanes. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
Sponsored Content
Cinnamon Bear Cruises Return for the Holidays
Embark on a magical holiday adventure aboard the Portland Spirit the whole family will cherish! Enjoy a plated breakfast while a cast of fanciful characters entertains the kids with storytelling, music and magic. Tickets include a souvenir picture with Cinnamon Bear and more! Weekends from November 25th to December 27th.
Portland Chatter
It’s been a while since I shared a gripe about our city, but here’s one of mine: I despise little free libraries. They’re cute to look at but rarely is there a decent find to be had in them. I’ve concluded they’re a waste of time. I’m never going to say burn those useless books, but plenty of them need to find a home in the recycling bin instead.
I’m also willing to accept I’m wrong on this, particularly if you provide the exact locations for any little free libraries that actually have good reads.
Sponsored Content
A Banksy Got Everyday Investors 32% Returns?
Everyday investors profit from a $45 million Banksy collection thanks to Masterworks, who last sold one of the artist’s works at a 32% net gain. Masterworks has completed 14 exits, with three recent sales delivering net annualized returns of 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35%. Hey Portland readers can skip the waitlist to join.
See important Regulation A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd
What To Do
🪴 Native Plants | Wednesday | 6 p.m.
The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District offers a chance to learn about the benefits of using native plants in your lawn and garden. [Free, Online]
🎥 ‘To Sleep So as to Dream’ | Wednesday | 7 p.m.
A 1986 film debut from Japanese director Kaizo Hayashi is partly a joke on film buffs as two detectives search for a silent film star. [$8, Southeast Clinton Street]
🎙️ Haley Reinhart | Wednesday | 7:30 p.m.
The singer-songwriter and “American Idol” star has a certified platinum hit with her 2015 cover of “Can't Help Falling in Love.” Last year she released “Off the Ground,” an LP of original songs. [$45+, Beaverton]
Today on City Cast
Portland’s Ongoing Bike Lane Scandals, Explained
The Portland Bureau of Transportation has recently attempted to remove some major city bike lanes. When pressed for comment by local media, Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who oversees the bureau, offered multiple explanations, none of them adding up. BikePortland editor Jonathan Maus broke the news, revealing information from whistleblowers who work inside PBOT.
There was all this spin from Commissioner Mapps’ office to try to play it off as if people were just misunderstanding it or didn’t quite have the story when it was like 'No, commissioner, we actually have the story.'
The most interesting factoid from my reading today: 15 years ago, North Plains police officers wrote so many speeding tickets on Highway 26 that it accounted for 20% of the city’s revenue! That proved unpopular and they stopped, but the city still hasn’t figured out a way to replace that revenue.
— Rachel Monahan
Edited by John Notarianni
Free · Daily