🗳️ Why Tina Kotek wants to be governor again

Building Acquired by Portland’s Newest Real Estate Titan

Jeff Swickard purchased a majority stake in downtown's Park Avenue West high-rise, which he says brings his total investment in downtown properties to $250 million. The Nevada car dealership magnate made headlines last year when he purchased downtown's iconic U.S Bancorp Tower, aka Big Pink. He claims he is investing so heavily because downtown’s vitality isn’t guaranteed. [Oregonian]

Top Chef Blames Tariffs for Restaurant Closure

Gabriel Pascuzzi’s Italian steakhouse Bistecca is set to close on Oct. 17. Pascuzzi says that his profits dropped when the Trump administration instituted tariffs, leading to the cost of ingredients from Italy to increase dramatically. He also says that high gas prices and fear of the central city has driven down suburbanites' willingness to come to the city for a meal. [Oregonian]

The Grasshopper Fire Could Have Been Mitigated

This summer's 94,000-acre fire on the east side of Mount Hood could have been a lot less destructive. In 2023, loggers, conservationists, Native tribes, and local officials developed a plan to lessen a potential fire's impact. But before it could be enacted, the environmental group Oregon Wild sued, claiming the plan violated the Endangered Species Act. By the time the suit was settled and fire mitigation efforts could have begun, the Trump administration had made substantial cuts to the Forest Service — killing the plan. [Willamette Week]

Celebrities Showed Up At Beloved Local Businesses

Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro ate at downtown’s Mother’s Bistro and Bar last week, according to the business’s facebook. Del Toro is working on a new feature film with Portland production company ShadowMachine based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “The Buried Giant.” Plus, less than a week earlier, actor Pedro Pascal was spotted at Sleeper Coffee in Astoria. Supporting great Oregon businesses – I guess stars are really just like us! [KOIN / Oregonian]