Can a ‘centrist’ win in Portland?

Just Fire It

Nike has been quietly laying off employees in various divisions over the last several weeks, but so far, the company hasn’t released a statement about the scope of the staff reduction. “I feel like they want to keep it confidential,” one laid off employee told the Oregonian. “There’s been no communication at all.” So far, the company has not notified staff of a mass layoff, which is required if 500 workers are laid off during a 90-day period. [Oregonian]

Joint Office of Homeless Services Isn’t Over Yet

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced plans to extend the city and county’s often-rocky co-management of our region’s homelessness response until 2027. The joint office has been marred by dysfunction and finger-pointing since it was formed in 2016. City commissioners considered ending the beleaguered agency earlier this year, before agreeing to extend its contract until next summer. [OPB]

Gonzalez Joins the Mayoral Race

City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez officially announced plans to run for mayor next year, asserting that his pro-police, tough-on-crime and homelessness policies are what Portanders want. “We have a humanitarian crisis on our streets, and it’s going to take all of us working together to move the city forward,” he wrote in a statement. [KPTV]

• Fellow Commissioner Dan Ryan said he wouldn’t join the race earlier this week. [Willamette Week]
  
  

Reworking Measure 110

State leaders sparred over plans to revise Oregon’s controversial drug decriminalization law at a meeting in Salem this week. That’s part of the weekly news round-up. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

The Fight Over Measure 110, A Major Legal Amnesty for Drivers, and Righting Portland’s Past Sins

Today on our weekly news roundup we’re talking about the legislative hearings on Measure 110, Gov. Tina Kotek forgiving some uncollected traffic fines, and the federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Portland and Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week’s “Dive” podcast host and Potlander column author Brianna Wheeler and our executive producer, John Notarianni.