City Cast Portland
✂️ Should Portland cut the police budget?
May 21, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Happy Wednesday! We’re at the middle of the week — and over the hump of our spring membership campaign. Thank you so much to everyone who has joined! 🎉
We’re down to the last three days — and looking for at least 17 new City Cast Portland Neighbors to join before Friday! You’ll get some good perks! But, more importantly you’re saying you value what we do here — and you want this newsletter to keep coming. It’s just $10 a month.
What's CITY Talking About?
$1.83B Portland School Bond Approved
Voters appear to have narrowly approved Portland Public Schools’ bond. It marks the fourth time in a row district votes have approved a PPS bond, and this one will pay for the renovation of the final three district high schools that have yet to be modernized. [Oregonian]
- Related: More of the special election results including school board races. [OPB]
Competing City Budget Proposals
Today the Portland City Council will take up Mayor Wilson's budget proposal, working through competing amendments in a marathon session scheduled to last 12 hours. Among the highest-profile debates is whether to cut the police budget. [OPB]
- Related: The Portland Trail Blazers and Timbers are publicly opposing any cuts to the public safety budget. [Willamette Week]
[It's] a great example of how really well-intentioned and even well-funded things can sort of go sideways.
Midweek News Roundup
On the midweek roundup, we’re zipping through a bunch of updates: Gov. Tina Kotek wants a portion of kicker refunds to go toward funding wildfire prevention. TriMet is looking for ways to prevent fare evasion. The city has left affordable housing vacant. And there’s more. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
Sponsored Content
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What To Do
Wednesday, May 21
- 🦅 Wednesday Morning Bird Walks at Tryon Creek State Natural Area
- 🍨 Ice Cream Cocktail Mixology (21+) at Tipsy Scoop (Boise)
- 🧠 Trivia Night at The Hostel Cafe (Northwest District)
- 📚 Silent Book Club: Fiction at Argyle Winery (Dundee, Ore.)
- 📖 Incite: Queer Writers Read at Literary Arts (Buckman)
- 🎸 Rolling Quartz at Star Theater (Old Town)
Thursday, May 22
- 🎻 Cello & Piano Concert Duo at German American Society of Portland (Rose City Park)
- 🎬 No Place To Grow Old at OMSI
- 🎭 The Other Place at 21ten Theatre (Hosford-Abernethy)
Before I go: Thank you to Catherine K., Laura S., Julia S., Reggie W., Susan M., Joan M., Christopher S., Miguel S., Wynne F., Dan W., Elizabeth B., Max F., and Erin C. for joining City Cast Portland Neighbors.
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