City Cast Portland
🎨 How Portland Art Museum is helping downtown
November 17, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning! The Portland Art Museum is officially opening the new Rothko Pavilion on Thursday — and celebrating with four days of free admission and events.
The museum’s outgoing executive director, Brian Ferriso, talked to the City Cast Portland podcast about what this new space means for downtown — and what’s changed at PAM during his tenure.
What's CITY Talking About
Immigration Detentions Soar
The number of people detained in Oregon by federal immigration authorities rose by 550% in October — according to the advocacy group Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition. In a violation of the usual norms, federal agents also started targeting not just the individuals they're looking for but anyone in the same car or nearby who can’t immediately prove their immigration status. [OPB]
Property Taxes Increase for Parking and Storage Units
Multnomah County has increased its estimates for the property value of at least some parking spots and storage units, even as condo prices declined this year. County officials say the updated parking and storage values were long overdue and, overall, condo property taxes will drop. But condo owners question the county’s timing — suggesting officials were looking for ways to make up for other lost revenue. [KOIN]
City Council Rejected Cut to Homeless Sweeps
City Council last week voted down a proposal that would have shifted $4.3 million from cleaning up homeless camps toward services like rent assistance. Councilor Angelita Morillo said she was aiming to reduce the number of sweeps, while Mayor Keith Wilson said it would endanger city livability. Some councilors said there was not enough time given to consider the weighty change. [Willamette Week]
Intel Cut More Jobs
Intel last week announced another round of local layoffs: 669 workers from its Aloha and Hillsboro locations. That brings the total to 3,100 Oregon jobs that Intel has cut in 2025. [OPB]
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What To Do
Monday, Nov. 17
- 🎤 An Evening with David Sedaris | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
- 🎶 The Darkness | Revolution Hall
- 📚 Ryan Boudinot & Rebecca Brown | Powell’s City of Books (Pearl District)
- 🎵 King Princess | Roseland Theater (Old Town)
- 🎵 Your Smith | Mississippi Studios
Today on City Cast Portland
How the Portland Art Museum Is Leading the Downtown Renaissance
The Portland Art Museum’s new Rothko Pavilion is opening this week. This means the entire museum’s collection will be under one roof for the first time since it opened in 1932. It’s a culmination of the last 20 years of outgoing executive director Brian Ferriso's tenure. Ferriso shares everything we need to know about the Rothko Pavilion opening — and reflects on his time leading the largest art institution in the state.
The impacts will be significant for years to come.
🙏 Moment of gratitude: The nonprofit cafe Heretic Coffee raised over $360,000 to feed Oregonians during the government shutdown, while the Trump administration was refusing to pay SNAP benefits. It was an inspiring response from the nonprofit and from everyone who gave.
Heretic Coffee will continue to offer free breakfast to those in need, but they’re also going to donate what they raised (and didn’t need) to groups that focus on hunger. They plan to start announcing the recipients this week.
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