⛺ Removing RVs from Portland streets

Removing RVs from City Streets

Mayor Keith Wilson wants derelict RVs removed from city streets: He’s seeking to almost triple the number towed each month (to 96 in October). Also, the city will no longer waive the more than $300 fee for retrieving a towed RV — as the city has done in the past — for rightful owners who show up within 30 days. [OPB]

• Related: Some advocates and people experiencing homelessness are concerned about the impact of the policy on the city’s most vulnerable. But the mayor is hoping more people stay in the city’s expanding number of overnight shelters. [OPB]

An Ongoing Problem for Oregon’s Economy

John Tapogna, a leading Oregon economist, says the state’s population growth — a trend that has endured since European settlers arrived — is over now. In his view, that’s because the state has failed to build enough housing and improve the quality of schools. [Willamette Week]

$4.25B for the Trail Blazers

There’s a final agreement in place for Paul Allen’s estate to sell the Portland Trail Blazers to a new group of owners led by a National Hockey League team owner, Tom Dundon. The deal still needs approval from the NBA, but the Oregonian reports the new owners agreed to pay $4.25 billion. [Oregonian]

A New Pest Arrived in Portland

The emerald ash borer, an inch-and-a-half-long beetle, is the most destructive forest pest around— having killed hundreds of millions of U.S. ash trees. First found in Oregon in 2022, it was spotted in Portland for the first time last week. [Oregonian]

Portland enjoys a reputation for closing down early. But there are plenty of tasty options if you’re out late. Last week we ran some of those picks, but here’s the second installment — from Southeast Portland:

🍜 Short Round, Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard

Open until: 2 a.m. Fridays - Saturdays; midnight Tuesday - Thursday.

City Cast Portland senior producer Giulia Fiaoni says this is her “favorite late-night spot in all of Portland.” This family-run Vietnamese restaurant has amazing beef noodle pho and banh mi. 🥗

🐉 Double Dragon, Southeast Division Street

Open until: 1 a.m. Friday - Saturday; midnight Sunday - Thursday.

Just because you’re eating late doesn’t mean it can’t be healthy. This pick is from City Cast Portland’s executive producer, John Notarianni, who highly recommends the kale Caesar salad with an egg on top.

🌯 Kay’s Bar, Southeast Milwaukie Avenue

Open until: 1 a.m. Thursday - Saturday; midnight Sunday - Wednesday

The buffalo chicken wrap here is so good that Fiaoni thinks about it all the time. Plus, they’ve also got a late-night happy hour menu.

🤙 Da’ Hui, Southeast Foster Road

Open until: 2 a.m. daily

Da’ Hui serves delicious classic Hawaiian eats. We recommend any of their plates that come with sides like rice and potato mac salad. We especially love their garlic and teriyaki chicken options.

🎤 Ka-Te Portland, Southeast 82nd Avenue

Open until: 2:30 a.m. daily

We loved their fish sauce wings, salt and pepper squid, and special fried rice. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find it at first! It’s sort of hidden because you enter through the back door. You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you hear people singing karaoke.

🗺️ Check out this map of all our favorite late-night spots!

Will the Swifts Ever Come Back to Chapman Elementary?

The Vaux’s swifts disappeared from their usual fall-migration stop in Portland. The Chapman Elementary school chimney has hosted tens of thousands of swifts each night at their peak since the 1990s. Last year they stopped coming. Joe Liebezeit, the statewide conservation director for the Bird Alliance of Oregon, has theories on what happened and hope that they’ll be back.