Why the Providence strike continues

5th Week of Providence Strike

After nurses at eight Providence hospitals rejected a tentative agreement last week, Providence and its nurses hadn’t met for a week and weren’t scheduled to, as of yesterday. Nurses are seeking higher pay and benefits as well as better staffing levels. [Oregonian 🔒]

Permanent Portland Public Schools Closures?

At a recent meeting, Portland Public Schools’ superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong opened the door to closing some schools as district enrollment continues to decline, though the official closure discussions won’t begin until next school year. The district’s enrollment is projected to decline 15% over the next 10 years. [Willamette Week]

Skatepark To Help Old Town?

Old Town business owners and leaders are sparring over whether a skatepark on a “troubled block” will help the neighborhood. A separate effort to build out a skatepark near the Steel Bridge is also under way. [Willamette Week]

A Guide to the Piedmont Neighborhood

Portland’s Piedmont residents stake a claim to living near the city’s best park. Longtime Piedmont resident and BikePortland publisher and editor Jonathan Maus offers a trip through the restaurants, parks, and bikeways of this neighborhood straddling North and Northeast Portland. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

A recent segment on Portland’s best coffee shops inspired a bunch of reader suggestions:

Dragonfly Coffeehouse

2387 NW Thurman St. (Northwest District)

FETCH Coffee Roasters

1540 SE Bybee Blvd. (Sellwood neighborhood)

“FETCH in Sellwood is an outstanding coffee shop! They roast the beans at the coffee shop and also donate part of their proceeds to animal rescue organizations. Nice people too!” — reader Debbie

Fuller's Coffee Shop

136 NW 9th Ave. (Pearl District) — reader Kenyan Simmons

Rose City Coffee

3370 SE Milwaukie Ave. (Brooklyn neighborhood)

“Very warm, inviting, friendly and you can buy a gift while there!” — reader Claudia W.

The Great North

7373 N. Burlington Ave. (St. Johns neighborhood) — reader Cait H.

2909 NE Alberta St. (Alberta Arts)

1951 W Burnside St. (Northwest District)

Tov Coffee

3639 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (Sunnyside)

“Tov is my favorite coffee shop. Check out their cardamom coffee drinks.” — reader Ann K.

“Joe started TOV in an old red double-decker London bus in a food cart pod at 32nd & Hawthorne in 2015. The shop outgrew the bus and has now moved to the old Starbucks. Joe is meticulous about coffee. He offers special treats like Turkish and Egyptian coffees. The shop is decorated with Egyptian rugs and furniture and is a delightful and aromatic experience.” — reader Lee Lancaster

What’s your favorite coffee shop in town? Please send us your recommendations.