🧯 Prepare for wildfires and save money

🛻 An Eco-Fight in the Dunes

The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the U.S. Forest Service in an effort to stop off-roading events in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, claiming that vehicle activity is harmful to coastal martens, especially during breeding season. Only 71 of the nearly 400 known remaining martens live in the dunes. [Oregonian]

🧯 Oregon’s New Wildfire Safety Certifications

The state is partnering with a national nonprofit to offer wildfire prevention assistance to homeowners and help them keep their homes insured. Certifications could be factored into home insurance rates, which have risen 30% since 2020. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]

• Related: What you can do to prepare for wildfires and other emergencies. [Hey Portland 📰]

🤝 Multnomah’s Vision Needs Outside Help

Multnomah County spent $1.1 million last year to create an internal team charged with drafting a new strategic plan, but the five-person group struggled to make progress. Now the county is planning to spend as much as $250,000 to hire an outside group to do the same work, calling the plan crucial to addressing their financial challenges. [Oregonian 🔒]

💸 Mayor Wilson’s Plan to Patch Portland’s Purse

Mayor Keith Wilson dropped his new city budget proposal this week, calling it a back-to-basics approach to addressing Portland’s big budget shortfall. City Cast Portland podcast executive producer John Notarianni and senior producer Giulia Fiaoni break down the mayor’s proposal, what’s being cut, and how he plans to pay for it. [City Cast Portland 🎧]