"Canvassers were asked to follow a script, which says the policy will 'speed up unacceptably long 911 response times.'" Some gathering signatures claimed the measure would hire additional 911 dispatchers.

By popular demand, the @portlandmercury.com is back with live reporting from today's city budget talks. Today's amendments to Mayor Wilson's proposed budget include tweaks to parks, city jobs, shelter and displacement. Tune in for highlights from me and the inimitable @taylorgriggs.bsky.social.

In March, Portland City Councilor Sameer Kanal gave a presentation to the Community Board for Police Accountability, bc of his past role as project mgr for the Police Accountability Commission. In a complaint, the Portland Police Association says he's using his elected position to interfere w/CBPA.

Follow Taylor & Jeremiah's live-blogging. It's the most fun way to digest the city budgeting process!

2 weeks after abruptly closing for a "temporary pause" Volunteers of America Oregon is now permanently closing its women's substance use treatment ctr in NE Portland, citing untenable operating & facility upgrade costs. All staff are laid off. (1/2)

A handful of women and a staffer say Volunteers of America Oregon had not confirmed placement at alternate treatment sites for the center's 47 clients before announcing the abrupt closure late last Friday. Many clients panicked. (1/2)

The Portland ICE facility is approximately two miles from the No Kings protests happening in the city’s downtown, at Waterfront Park. Right now there’s just a slight line standing in front of the facility singing: “its okay to change your mind courage… together we will abolish ICE”

Oregonians love their "tax the rich" signs & stickers, but will they actually do it? A proposed ballot measure seeks to implement a wealth tax for those with $30M+ in assets. (Yes, Oregon has a few thousand people who fall into that category, according to data.) @taylorgriggs.bsky.social dives in 👇

"The legal advice texted to the Council president's private cell phone about critical city issues raises questions about how well-connected figures quietly maintain power under a young government structure and recent charter changes that were supposed to increase transparency for Portlanders."

“If people know that you’re a serious person and you’re going to protect yourself they’re not going to be as quick to mess with you.” The notion that this wouldn't just invite more protest is a bizarre line of thinking.

Portland City Council's discussion about removing members & alts from the new Community Board for Police Accountability gives tremendous insight into a lingering question about who gets a say in police oversight/discipline and what counts as "bias." (1/2)

Like many have said, the gassing outside ICE today was really bad, and it impacted a huge group of people. I heard multiple people say they felt like they were going to throw up as they tried to leave the area. (I experienced similar effects.) It followed a peaceful protest led by labor groups.

Today I saw ICE gas little white kids in the streets of Portland with chemical weapons. Imagine what they're doing to brown and black kids in the detention camps

Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.

ICE used a warrantless forced entry to arrest a US citizen with no criminal record. Rather than acknowledge error, they smeared the family, saying they were harboring sex offenders and critics were defending sex offenders. Turns out that one of their targets was already in jail. ICE never checked.

Earlier this month, a journalist recorded a PPB officer repeatedly punching a protester who was already restrained. The following day, a protester recorded a PPB officer defending the ICE shooting of Renée Good. Through record requests, we ID'd the officers, who it turns out, might be related. (1/3)

He could have used his time to disavow the comments in the group chats. He could have called or had his staff call to get more insight before giving comment, as was suggested in the Mercury's initial email to his office. Instead he took a page out of the Trump playbook and just attacked our reporter

me when my friends want to hang out

At a Community & Public Safety Committee mtg in Portland, a police commander asserts a proposed ordinance to ban masks & require ID for law enforcement would be nearly impossible to enforce. Police union prez says it needs to go thru union bargaining. Lots of ppl here w/ "No Secret Police" signs.

New from me: As Portland's police chief encouraged residents to exercise their rights and speak out against violence by federal agents, his own officers defended the fatal shooting of Rene Good in MN and brutalized a protester during anti-ICE demonstrations. www.portlandmercury.com/news/2026/01...

A few hundred people are gathered in downtown portland to protest the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela. A broad coalition of groups is present. Maybe 350 people here so far.

I went deep on some drama over a DQ drive-thru in SE Portland. The franchisee is arguing with the city over his right to include a drive-thru, despite strict zoning rules. It’s sparked debate among neighbors, many of whom are nostalgic for the old DQ, which this business owner demolished in 2019.

From @jeremiahhayden.bsky.social "her memo suggests she was denied opportunities for advancement, and pushed out of her position for uplifting the same social housing strategies she was hired to implement." Story says Hisserich also clarified that she ordered the audit that uncovered unspent $$

"The Supremacy Clause only affords immunity to federal officers from State criminal prosecution in the reasonable discharge of their duties, and not beyond,” Oregon AG reminds Pam Bondi/DOJ, and DHS.

Weird scene at Portland City Hall as a group has gathered to demonstrate against a first reading of an ordinance that would fine landlords who rent their buildings for detention centers—they only want to revoke a permit—as a right-wing streamer Tommy Allen yells transphobic slurs into a megaphone.

Portland is setting up a new, more powerful police accountability office approved by voters in 2020. Whether current staff will be guaranteed jobs under the new structure is central to ongoing labor negotiations, and the dividing lines at City Hall are getting complicated.

Portland Police arrested a suspect who they say started the fire that spread to the home of City Councilor Candace Avalos. PPB says a man was trying to use an electrical outlet in a shed, then started a fire to stay warm when the outlet didn't work.

Judge Immergut is essentially buying more time to review all the evidence submitted during the trial. Says she wants to be thorough before issuing a final ruling.

Judges, upon reading US DOJ claims of violence and assaults on fed officers by protesters, while simultaneously watching videos of dancing, inflatable frogs.

Please no more updates this weekend. We are so tired.

As Oregonians wait to find out if Monday's 9th Circuit Appeals Court ruling re: National Guard will be re-heard by a full panel of judges, US District Judge Karin Immergut promises a decision on whether she'll dissolve the 2nd TRO, at fed gov't's request, "by Monday, if not before."

Much of the discussion in court centered on the question of how dangerous recent protests in Portland have been and whether they constitute a “rebellion,” with the state and the federal government taking drastically divergent positions.

Follow Suzette for updates

Rain hasn't deterred people gathered at ICE. Sidewalks are full and so are the costumes.

Crowd size at the ICE facility in S. Portland is growing. Many people came here from today's No Kings March. About 12-20 federal officers are planted on the roof, surveiling the scene. DHS agents fired off teargas at least twice this afternoon/evening. Things just feel like a chaotic parade now.

My most recent piece in the Mercury w/ @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social covers what all happened at the ICE facility last Saturday and what to expect going forward.

Sounds like federal agents are targeting press and others trying to film them.

Massive escalation at the Portland ICE facility. Worst I’ve ever seen. More pepper balls than I can count. Teargas in the middle of crowd. Violent arrests. Some type of either noise or rubber bullet shotgun fired into the air then later aimed at protesters chests/heads at near point blank range.

LAWSUIT UPDATE RE: NATIONAL GUARD IN PORTLAND: The Ninth Circuit just granted an administrative stay preserving the status quo: the Oregon National Guard remains federalized but the president cannot deploy them. We'll share more updates as we have them.

“In Portland ... some of the ICE officers were telling me that as they drove by the rioters that were saying “kill ICE agents” "Molotov cocktails melt ICE," that the Portland Police were cheering them on and had their fists in the air..." Kristi Noem tells Trump.

It's giving ... Talladega Nights

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

Just spoke to a family who had an immigration appointment at the ICE facility and were turned away; told to call and reschedule. A volunteer I spoke to is distributing pamphlets w/legal resources. Says dozens of ppl were cleared from the bldg earlier, as streets were being cleared for Noem's visit.

Residents of apartments surrounding the ICE facility say they can't get vehicles in or out and got no warning that the streets would be closed off.

Waiting for more info, but Portland Police Bureau has S Bancroft St blocked off, presumably in anticipation of Kristi Noem's visit to the ICE facility.

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Robert Taylor is not f*ckng around.

The order applies to National Guard troops from any state.

Apparently inspired by yesterday's embarrassing loss in court, Trump has ordered California Gov. Gavin Newsom to send 300 of that state's National Guard members to Portland. Oregon Gov. Kotek says 100 have already arrived, while at the ICE facility, federal agents are growing more violent.

Veterans & supporters gathered at Portland City Hall, urging active-duty service members to disobey any orders to deploy to American cities. "You do not need to follow unlawful orders...you have an obligation to defect from a military that is no longer functioning in the interests of its people."