🚙 Are Portlanders bad at parking?

The State of Oregon Wine

Distributor sales of Oregon wine — around 75% of the state’s supply — are atypically showing a larger decline than the rest of the U.S. industry. The biggest decline: Chardonnay. Despite a sluggish 15-year trend, the Willamette Valley was recently ranked the world’s top wine destination of 2025 — yes, even better than France. [Portland Business Journal 🔒]

• Do your part: Must-try wineries near Portland. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Utility Rates Power Struggle

Oregon lawmakers are currently weighing at least six pieces of legislation aimed at reining in utility costs from private energy companies, but many of them face strong opposition and are stuck in committee deliberation. Gov. Tina Kotek supports several of the bills, adding that large users like data centers should pay their fair share. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]

Portland’s Homeless Budget Draws Criticism

The Welcome Home Coalition — a representative for dozens of homeless service providers in Portland — is pushing back on Portland and Multnomah County’s proposed homeless shelter budgets, calling the programs an “expensive band-aid” that mirrors President Trump’s agenda and doesn’t do enough to provide long-term solutions. The city disagrees, saying the criticism discounts distinct levels of housing needs. [Oregonian 🔒]

Portland’s Most ‘Portlandish’ Neighborhood

Southwest Portland’s Richmond neighborhood is home to two of the city's busiest commercial corridors, with plenty to eat, see, and do. To get better acquainted, we ask longtime resident — and coincidentally, someone who works for PBOT creating public plazas and street art — Greg Raisman to share his guide to the Richmond neighborhood. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

The amount of humor in our inbox from Hey Portland readers is incredible — I nearly missed my deadline for this newsletter reading them all. Here are some of my favorites this week.

⭐️ Portland Icons

We received a spirited last-minute suggestion for the Portland Icons costume contest, which we held this past weekend during our 503 Day celebration:

“The ridiculous Portland’s statue that costs mucho bucks and can’t be seen unless you’re under it with your head cranked so far back that your head looks like it might roll right off your shoulders.” — Anonymous

🍝 Who Makes the Best Pasta in Portland?

Plenty of you reached out to help us brainstorm our recent City Cast Portland podcast episode on the city's best pasta. Here are a few picks:

“ANYTHING from Grassa (it gives The Bear level experimentation, forcing you to be mindful with each bite, always worth the money), garlic noodles from An An (moaning-and-groaning good, unlike anything else.)” — Linnea

“Boccelli's in Gresham — [my] favorite dish is Eggplant Parmesan.” — Sue R.

“I haven’t been to a ton of Italian places yet, I'm new to Portland, but I recently went to Fantino and it was awesome.” — Cosi

🚘 One More PDX Bumper Sticker Idea

Here’s another iconic Portland bumper sticker idea, courtesy of reader and graphic designer Grey J.:

💅 Portland Toxic Traits

Ever since we asked you to share Portlanders' most toxic traits, the suggestions have been rolling in. Here are a couple more:

“A lot of Portland folks are very left and often complain that people they know are normie or far right. Folks need to understand that engaging, discussing, and sometimes debating these points is important to how things could change. Just getting your next salt and straw isn’t enough.” — Michael S.

“Portlanders can't park correctly. I've lived in 5 different countries and cities in the U.S. and I have never seen such bad parking like in Portland. People take unnecessary space or give up on a space because they think they can't fit. It seems they don't teach parking at driver's ed. When I got my driver's license, the exam included uphill and downhill parallel parking on a shift stick.” — Alfred S.