City Cast Portland
👮 Diverting climate funds to hire Portland police?
November 13, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning, Portland! 🌧️ Another bout of intense rain is coming our way 💧That oh-so-wet weather condition called an atmospheric river is expected to arrive today and last through the weekend.
What's DC Talking About
New Use for Climate Fund
The city’s police union — along with Jeff Swickard, the new owner of the U.S. Bancorp Tower — is supporting a ballot measure that would dedicate 25% of Portland Clean Energy Fund tax revenues to hiring 400 additional police officers. The backers are aiming for the November 2026 ballot and would need to gather 40,437 signatures. [Willamette Week]
US Supreme Court To Review Vote-by-Mail Deadlines
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted a case brought by the Republican National Committee, challenging a Mississippi policy that counts mail-in ballots received up to five days after an election. Their decision, which isn’t expected till next year, could impact Oregon and the 15 other states that count ballots postmarked by Election Day but arrive after — as well as the 22 states that accept overseas or military voters that arrive after Election Day. [Oregonian]
Hearing From Portland’s DA
Portland is not the hellhole of President Trump’s rhetoric — according to Nathan Vasquez, whose job as Multnomah County district attorney puts him in touch with the worst elements of Portland. He says the protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building right now merit charges for only minor offenses, but there’s a question about whether the federal agents should face arrest for their actions. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
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How Well Do You Know Portland Memorials?
Occasioned by Veteran’s Day, earlier this week, today’s quiz is about Portland’s memorials. How well do you know them?
The first question links to a longer quiz. (The answers appear after each question, so you can learn the memorials as you go.)
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What To Do
Thursday, Nov. 13
- 🍴 Live Fire Cooking Dinner: Alma × Aji Fish Butchery | Alma (King)
- 🎶 Perennial: A Concert in Honor of Nancy King | Lincoln Recital Hall (Portland State)
- 😆 Carte Blanche: An Evening with Robby Hoffman | PAM Cut’s Tomorrow Theater
- 🎨 ADX Community Night | ADX (Buckman)
Friday, Nov. 14
- 🎭 Sketchgiving | Back Door Theater (Sunnyside)
- 🕺 You Look Good, Bud | Open Space (Kenton)
- 🍷 Monthly Wine Bar: Grilled Whole Duck and Alpine Wines | Albariza Wine Bar (at Meastuff, Southeast Foster)
- 🎶 Ground Breaking | St. Philip Neri Catholic Church (Hosford-Abernethy)
- 🥩 Jantar Junto Dinner Pop-Up | ADX (Buckman)
- 💬 Portland in Black: Documenting Our Lives in the City of Roses | The Black Memory and Preservation Lab (Downtown)
- 🎸 Bandapalooza | Barrel Room (Old Town)
- 🐻❄️ BrewLights | Oregon Zoo
Today on City Cast Portland
County DA Nathan Vasquez on Protests, Federal Troops, and the Camping Ban
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez answers questions about the state of Portland: Does he have a strategy to address the threat of federal interference? With the camping ban back in effect, does his office even have the resources to prosecute those cases? And from his legal point of view, are we really a war-torn hellhole?
It’s a lot…of very juvenile behavior.
Moment of gratitude: ☀️ I am struggling with the change of seasons this year. So I’m grateful right now for every moment of sun we get — like much of yesterday. It’s a reminder we get plenty of breaks from the rain even during this dark, gray season.
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