No highway speeds on Portland streets, k?

Speeding Kills in Portland

Driving 30 or 40 miles over the speed limit became more common during the pandemic and is a major factor in fatalities on Portland streets, Portland Bureau of Transportation officials said this week. Speed was a factor in 40 of last year’s 69 traffic deaths — the highest number of fatalities in three decades. “One of the things we're seeing since 2020 … is excessive speed in a majority of crashes,” PBOT’s Dana Dickman said. “What I'm talking about is highway speeds on local streets.” [KATU]

• Related: The traffic fatalities are intertwined with other social issues. Half of pedestrians killed last year were experiencing homelessness. [KGW]

Disaster Proofing Communities

Making a disaster-proof home requires more than just retrofits. While experts say some building upgrades (like strapping a home to its foundation) are necessary, they are also advocating for developing resilient communities. A 2014 earthquake in Napa showed that retrofitting did save buildings as intended, but plenty of people left and businesses closed, impacting the entire community. [Portland Monthly]

• Shocking stat: Half of the property tax lots in the state are at risk of wildfire, according to an Oregon State University map.

Harsher Camping Ban?

On the Friday news roundup, City Hall is debating two options for a new camping ban after City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez objected to the mayor’s plans to lessen the proposed penalties. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Gonzalez’s Punitive Camping Ban, Unfinished City Projects in SE, and Changing Public School Funding

This week in Portland there are delayed and unfinished city infrastructure projects in Montavilla, possible changes to parent fundraising for Portland Public Schools, and Commissioner Rene Gonzalez’s surprise camping ban proposal. City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan M. Vance, joins City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni.