Almost no fentanyl users knew possession was legal

A Gang Took Control of Portland’s Jail

From 2018 to 2020, members of the violent gang known as the Hoover Criminals controlled a wing of Multnomah County’s downtown jail. Oregon State Police investigators found that, shockingly, sheriff’s deputies were also colluding with them, helping gang members beat up prisoners. Cameras were installed at the jail and the problem went away, but no one is likely to face prosecution in part because of the previous lack of photographic and video evidence. [Willamette Week]

Oregon Drug Policy

An op-ed in the Washington Post defended Oregon’s policy to decriminalize drugs — a bit too late to impact the decision, since the Legislature has made it a crime again. But one shocking (if not entirely unexpected) statistic: a 2023 survey found that only 7% of fentanyl users were even aware that possession of hard drugs had been decriminalized. [Washington Post]

• Related: What you need to know about fentanyl addiction in Portland. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Owning a Home Is Even Less Affordable

The salary needed to afford the typical home in Portland has skyrocketed — increasing by $65,000 since 2020. According to an analysis by the real estate firm Zillow, Portlanders needed to earn $95,960 to afford a typical home in 2020. Now it’s $161,624. In the last four years, both home prices and mortgage interest rates have risen. [KOIN]

Live in East Portland? Have a Pothole?

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has undertaken its own March Madness program — sending out multiple crews to repair the roads after the winter storm damage, focusing east of 82nd Avenue. Report potholes online, by email at [email protected], or by calling the 24/7 maintenance hotline at 503-823-1700.

It’s time for reader emails:

Self-Service Gas

I included a story on the crazy mistakes gas station attendants have witnessed since self-service gas became the law of the land, and received this fun note:

“The first time I filled up after the change, I asked the attendant at the full-serve pump for a tutorial for how to do it. He was most friendly and gracious and informative. I have yet to pump my own gas and find it amusing that I often pull right up to the full-serve pump when there is a line waiting for self-serve and have my tank filled and am on my way before the last of those cars has even made it to the pump. [Your Mileage May Very.]” — Fay W

Best Portland Views

I wrote last week on how my favorite city views are of our rivers. And a few of you wrote in with your favorites as well:

“I’m with you on the views from the banks of our rivers, particularly from the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade” — Mark McClure

Two readers recommend the view on commutes.

• The view of downtown from the exit onto I-84 from I-5 south:

“There is about 3 seconds where you get the best possible/highest possible view of all of downtown (and then the car turns to the Central Eastside Industrial District, which is less lovely on the eyes, lol).” — Jim

• The view from Upper Hall Street in the west hills:

“Twisting down [it’s] a beautiful view of NW and NE Portland. This is also a back way into town to avoid traffic congestion on the Sunset.” — Karla

Portland’s Ultimate Old-School Restaurants

Portland’s food and drink scene has some old standbys that have survived for decades — including for well over a century. What’s the secret behind their longevity? And are they still worth your patronage? Oregonian restaurant reporter and critic Michael Russell takes us back to Old Portland via some of its greatest and longest-lived eateries.