🧹 Downtown is clean but empty?

$8.5B for Intel

The Biden administration is giving Intel $8.5 billion with another $11 billion in loans. It’s part of an effort to create a domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry. The federal funding will help Intel with its plan to invest $100 billion in U.S. semiconductor plants — in Hillsboro, as well as in Ohio, New Mexico, and Arizona. [AP via OPB]

City Mistakenly Sent a $17K Water Bill

An immigrant couple from Tonga, who live in North Portland and don’t speak English, received a more than $17,000 bill for supposedly using enough water to fill 35 swimming pools during a three-month time period. The Portland Water Bureau initially blamed the bill on the ratepayer (for having a water leak), repeatedly refused to correct the bill, and still hasn’t identified the reason for such an astonishingly high bill. [Oregonian 🔒]

• Related: Cheap rent for lawmakers, PGE rate hike pushback, and hunting for potholes. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Sunday, Monday Closures for Mother’s Bistro

The owner of Mother’s Bistro has been a leading force for cleaning up downtown. And now owner Lisa Schroeder says there’s been progress: Crime isn’t the problem, the streets are cleaner, but fewer people are still coming downtown. The restaurant has opted to close on Sunday and Monday nights, because there aren’t simply not enough customers in the area after the pandemic. [KATU]

Comedian Julia Corral recently shared how much she loves her Montavilla street, and readers responded with stories of their own:

• “When the ice storm hit, I was woefully unprepared, with just a few Duraflame logs that hardly provided any heat. I'd just moved in and hadn't met my neighbors yet, but one came by and checked on me. When he found out about my firewood problem, he came back an hour later with a big armload of chopped wood from his yard … and a spare lighter! I wanted to give him a big hug, but he looked uncomfortable with that, so I just said ‘I'll have you over for coffee sometime!’” — David S., Southwest Portland

• “We are in the Bridlemile — the Southwest Portland area with high property tax rates and potholes. The excellent elementary school draws young families, but we older folks in our 70s to 90s don't want to move anywhere else. Our street holds onto the ice after a storm and is bordered by a beautiful forested green space with a creek running through it. Coyotes, rabbits, owls and migratory birds, raccoons, and raptors all call this place their own sanctuary. We also hear of deer passing through. No cougars spotted yet!
  
  “Four of us neighbors have been restoring the land with native trees and plants after ripping out 75 years’ worth of ivy. That's civic pride. It's very satisfying to be part of this community. After traveling the world from India to Ecuador, to wine country, to the coast, to the high desert of Eastern Oregon, and desolate places in Nevada and Arizona, we are very fortunate to call this block home.” — Anne Mansfield

Go to These Bars for Great Cocktails

What are the best cocktail bars in town? City Cast Portland podcast host Claudia Meza and producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni share their picks for all-around favorites, best date spots, the most adventurous menu, and best deals.