New Portland City Council knows it needs help

Toy Store Closes in Face of Tariffs

Merci Milo will close its toy store on Northeast Broadway, citing the extra costs of tariffs. The business will keep its online shop and its Los Angeles location. [KGW]

Uncertain Path for $217M Homeless Shelter Bill

A bill to provide $217 million for homeless shelters may not pass the Legislature after the new revenue projections estimated $500 million less available for this next biennium. The bill is part of Gov. Tina Kotek’s agenda — and lays out policy for a statewide plan for shelters. [OPB]

A ‘Government Reset’ for New City Council

On the Friday news roundup, City Council is asking for outside help with “a government reset plan,” just five months into their tenure. One contractor is willing to do the work for free, but the City Council has put the bid out for other consultants. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Last week’s photo included a couple extra hints as to the sculpture’s location at the corner of North Cook Street and Williams Avenue.

“You gave it away with the American Nail Bar sign showing in the background 😅” wrote reader Chris J.

Today, I used a different photo of the sculpture, which is more of a closeup. “I didn't realize until I zoomed in on the picture that it is made of bike parts. I should look closer at the art in our city,” wrote reader Anita Carroll.

“Sculpted by local artist Ivan McLean, the Gear Sphere is comprised of 1,300 bicycle chainrings and rear cassettes and is an ode to this busy Portland bike corridor,” wrote reader Heidi Franklin.

McLean has “made lots of cool sculptures, benches, bike racks around town,” reader JD Williams added. “Across the street [from the sphere] is the creepy Ellis Dry Cleaner's lot with its pipes and tanks sucking up toxic perchloroethylene gas and scrubbing it. Hold your breath when you bike or walk near it!”

A shoutout to our first 10 readers with the correct response: Dave H., Brian C., Mark McClure, Nicole Lauzon, Randy F., Hanna L., Michael B. Stevenson Jr., Anita Carroll, Heidi Franklin, and Chris J.

Staying with the bike theme, this week’s scavenger hunt comes from reader Karen Jeffery:

Where are these bouquets?

Please click here to send me the location — and anything you know about it.

If you’re new to the newsletter, there’s a scavenger hunt every Friday. Please send me the location if you know it — and for unofficial bonus points, anything you know about it. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll shout out the first 10 readers who respond correctly (and reveal the answer).

📸 Want to submit a photo? Please email me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming “Where Is It?” segment!