City Cast Portland
🌲 $100M for the Portland tree canopy
September 17, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning, Portland! Yesterday was likely the end of the summer heat. But the rest of the week is still expected to be plenty sunny ☀️
What's DC Talking About
$100M for Planting and Maintaining Portland Trees
The city has announced plans to plant 6,700 trees this next season — far more than the usual 3,500 planted each year. That’s part of a $100 million initiative funded by the city’s climate justice fund that aims to plant 660,000 trees over the next 40 years, as well as gradually take over maintenance of city street trees. [Oregonian 🔒]
- Related: The city also reversed course, going back to work with the well-regarded nonprofit Friends of the Trees, whose contract with the city suddenly ended in 2022. [Oregonian 🔒]
Transportation Bill Delayed Again
Senate Democrats have again delayed the vote on the special session’s transportation bill. Passage of the bill requires every Democrat, and Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, needs more time to recover from surgery. [Oregonian]
- Related: Oregon Senate Republicans have a new leader — Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee — in advance of the special session vote. The outgoing minority leader — Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles — announced he’s resigning from the Senate next month, while possibly looking for a Trump Administration post. [OPB]
Why Gas Prices Rose in Oregon
On the midweek roundup, gas prices in Oregon rose abruptly — by an average 16 cents — when a pipeline delivering fuel from Washington refineries was out of service for 10 days. It’s now back in operation, but gas prices may take a few days to come down. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Sep. 17
- 🍚 Behind the Wok: Preserving the Legacy of Chinese American Restaurants in Portland’s Jade District | Oregon Historical Society
- ✒️ Handwriting the Constitution | Midland Library
- 📚 Author Talk: Tilt by Emma Pattee | Hillsdale Library
Thursday, Sep. 18
- 🌱 Botanical-Pressed Bookmarks Workshop | Poppy & Finch (Sellwood)
- 🎵 Musica Mixta | Bar Botellón (Kerns)
- 😆 Charlene Kaye: Tiger Daughter | Helium Comedy Club (Hosford-Abernethy)
- 🎙️ Live Wire with Mary Roach, Janesh Rahlan, Amy Millan, and River Selby | Alberta Rose Theatre (Concordia)
- ✏️ Portland Zine Meetup | Rose City Book Pub (Sabin)
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Thank you for reading! I’ll see you tomorrow.
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