City Cast Portland
🏚️ Should Portland tax empty buildings?
May 15, 2025 · — Adrian González
Happy Thursday! We have so many people and places around the city that make Portland special — like a smile from your favorite barista, or that organization helping make the city better. Do you have a Portland spot you admire and can’t wait to share with everyone? Now you can!
As part of our expanded membership program, City Cast Portland Neighbors have the opportunity to shine a light on local businesses and organizations through Neighbor shoutout submissions that will be featured in Hey Portland and the City Cast Portland podcast. We have a goal to bring in 85 new Neighbors by next Friday, so we're hoping you'll join us!
What's CITY Talking About?
Are Landlords Benefiting from Empty Buildings?
The housing crisis is hitting Portland hard, yet many residential and commercial properties remain empty. One person exploring ways to fill vacant spots: Portland City Councilor Jamie Dunphy. He tells the City Cast Portland podcast how a vacancy tax might help ease our city’s housing crunch. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
There’s no market incentive right now for any of these buildings to lower their rent. And they have every incentive to keep them vacant.
Oregon’s Budget Forecast: Cloudy With a Chance of Cuts
The state’s latest revenue forecast shows lawmakers will have about $755 million less to spend over the next two years than expected. The shortfall is largely due to economic uncertainties caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs, along with declining tax revenue and employment rates. [Oregonian]
The Fight for Local Arts
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and 20 Oregon arts leaders gathered in Portland this week to push back against federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. Some 27 arts organizations around the state have already lost $590,000 in grants this month. [Portland Business Journal 🔒]
- Related: The Portland arts community is relying on each other to survive, and putting on some great events this spring. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
Fake Letters Sent to Portlanders
Portland Fire & Rescue is asking residents to ignore fraudulent letters claiming violations over illegal burning and threatening fines or property forfeiture. The letters are not printed on official letterhead, include an irrelevant city ordinance, and come with a toll-free number linked to adult content. [KOIN]
Sponsored Content
What To Do
Thursday, May 15
- 🍔 Sellwood Neighborhood Fundraiser at Killer Burger (Sellwood)
- 💬 New Conversations: The Pain We See at Co-Working PDX (Downtown)
- 🎤 Slamlandia Poetry Open Mic at Literary Arts (Buckman)
- 🎭 The Other Place at 21ten Theatre (Hosford-Abernethy)
- 🌹 Rose Tinted at The Goodfoot (Kerns)
- 📽️ Aftersun // Nationale Movie Night + Salon at PAM CUT's Tomorrow Theater (Richmond)
Friday, May 16
- 🧪 Ciencias Night at OMSI
- 🎵 Songs for the End of the World at Now Serving (Buckman)
- 🌍 Sebé Kan Youth African Dance at Newmark Theater (Downtown)
- 🎸 Josie and the Pussycats + Bingo at PAM CUT's Tomorrow Theater (Richmond)
- 🎉 10th Vanport Mosaic Festival Opening Day at CoHo Theatre (Northwest District)
- 🚴 22nd Annual Filmed by Bike Festival at Hollywood Theatre (Hollywood)
And a warm welcome to Angela R., Kieran C., Anna B., Marcelle FK, Ayleen C., Meghan K., Andy V., Ashley T., Jody F., and Jamie D., who just joined City Cast Portland Neighbors. Thank you for your support!
This kind note from Bryan W. about why they joined particularly struck me:
"I appreciate the local journalism and reporting on significant issues in the city. There are few reputable local news outlets left and City Cast is doing a good job with interviewing smart people and asking tough questions. I also appreciate the clear love for Portland - it's refreshing after so many outlets have been very negatively biased towards the city for years. Your work is much needed!"
Thanks Bryan!
If you love this newsletter and wouldn’t want to live in Portland without it, become a Neighbor today.
Free · Daily