City Cast Portland
📚 The one book Portlanders should read right now
November 5, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning! Portland is full of bookworms, and this weekend the Portland Book Festival, featuring more than 100 authors and thousands of attendees, takes over downtown. Here’s a preview of the upcoming festival.
What's DC Talking About
Parks Levy Appears Poised to Pass
In early returns last night, Portland voters favored the local ballot measure to increase property taxes for maintaining parks — 53% to 47%. If the results hold, the owner of the median home will pay around $310 annually — a 75% increase from the current parks levy. [Oregonian]
- Related: The latest parks levy results. [Oregon Secretary of State]
Housing Bureau Director on Leave
The director of the Portland Housing Bureau, Helmi Hisserich, is on leave after she clashed with Mayor Keith Wilson’s focus on opening overnight shelters, the Portland Mercury reports. Hisserich, who was previously a deputy mayor for housing in Los Angeles, has been focused on long-term solutions to housing. [Portland Mercury]
Unemployment May Be Up
There’s no official unemployment rate while the federal government shutdown persists. But state data show the number of Oregonians filing for unemployment continues to rise. So far this year there have been 190,000 claims — 14,000 more than last year. From June to the beginning of November, the number is 20% higher than the same period last year. [Oregonian]
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Ready for Purposeful Senior Living?
The Watermark at the Pearl — urban living for older adults, just steps from galleries and cafés. Member-led clubs, author talks, and wellness on your schedule. Your story continues at PortlandWatermark.com.
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Ride in the rain, win prizes!
PBOT’s Rainy Rider Photo Contest is here! Each week in November, enter to win waterproof & high visibility gear from Showers Pass, Cleverhood, or Portland Design Works. To participate, text BIKE to 888-520-0526 followed by a photo of yourself biking in the rain. Attend a ride or workshop too!
What To Do
Wednesday, Nov. 5
- 🥃 Craft Mixology Class | Straightaway Cocktails (Buckman)
- 🧑🎨 Artist Lecture: Cameron A. Granger | PNCA
- 📚 Book Swap and Bookmark DIY | Baerlic Brewing (Concordia)
- 📽️ Portland Latin American Film Festival: The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto) | Hollywood Theatre
- 🎤 Oregon Jewish Voices 2025 | Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (Pearl District)
🫨 Taking a moment for gratitude: I’m thankful that a Portland novelist has drawn new attention to the issue of our city’s earthquake risks, particularly at schools. Emma Pattee, author of “Tilt,” is one of my heroes this year, and she’ll be at the Portland Book Festival too.
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