Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Oregon public defender backlog drops 66%, but 1,100 still wait
Oregon's unrepresented defendant backlog fell from more than 4,000 to 1,104 in one year, with Multnomah County down 57%, but an Oregon Supreme Court dismissal rule has already wiped about 1,500 cases in the county, including 186 robberies.
Local Government
Oregon public defender backlog drops 66%, but 1,100 still wait
Oregon's unrepresented defendant backlog fell from more than 4,000 to 1,104 in one year, with Multnomah County down 57%, but an Oregon Supreme Court dismissal rule has already wiped about 1,500 cases in the county, including 186 robberies.
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Local Government
View MoreKeller Auditorium backers drop $250 million rebuild, pitch modest upgrades instead
Keller Auditorium supporters have abandoned a $250 million rebuild plan in favor of a $10–15 million upgrade pitch as Portland City Council prepares to vote in August on a rival $332–449 million performing arts complex at Portland State University.
Local Government
View MorePortland's Airbnb fines, already 27 times higher than other cities, rise again Friday
Portland's cap on short-term rental fines for first-time violators rises 26% to $34,670 on Friday, July 10, even as the City Ombudsman's Office warns the penalties are 27 times higher than comparable cities and disproportionately harm vulnerable homeowners.
Local Government
View MoreTwo trade unions pull reelection endorsements from Portland Councilor Mitch Green
IBEW Local 48 and Ironworkers Local 49 rescinded their reelection endorsements of Portland District 4 Councilor Mitch Green on Monday, July 7, citing his hesitation to support the $600 million Moda Center renovation and the Bull Run water filtration plant, escalating political pressure ahead of the council's August 12 vote on the arena deal.
Local Government
View MoreMetro Council to pick District 4 replacement Thursday in Beaverton
Metro Council will interview candidates and vote Thursday, July 9, at Beaverton City Hall to fill the District 4 seat vacated when Juan Carlos González became Council President, giving Washington County residents a narrow window to testify before the appointment.
Local Government
View MoreNorth Portland disability-inclusive housing project locks in $1.4M, clears path to build
Cathedral Park Cohousing, a 23-unit disability-inclusive development in North Portland, secured $1.4 million in state Lottery Bond funds, closing its final funding gap and clearing the way for an early 2027 groundbreaking.
Local Government
View MoreMore than 1,100 Portland-area shelter beds set to close by year's end
Portland and Multnomah County budget cuts will eliminate more than 1,100 shelter beds by December 31, 2026, complicating Mayor Keith Wilson's stated goal of ending unsheltered homelessness as both governments face historic shortfalls.
Local Government
View MorePortland ends email distribution of weekly campsite report
Portland's Street Services Coordination Center sent its final email newsletter of the Weekly Street Services Report on June 30, 2026, shifting to online-only posting; the last emailed edition shows 107 campsites removed and only 3 shelter beds used during the week of June 22–28.
Local Government
View MoreMultnomah County closes $78 million budget gap by cutting shelter beds and 158 jobs
Multnomah County commissioners voted 4-1 on Friday, June 5, to adopt a $4 billion FY 2027 budget that protects 9,000 formerly homeless residents in permanent housing but closes 605 shelter beds and at least 158 county positions to fill a $78 million gap.
Local Government
View MorePortland is weighing $900 million in public money for a Blazers arena
Portland city councilors and roughly 50–100 protesters demanded Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon commit private money to the Moda Center's proposed $600 million renovation before any of the nearly $900 million in public funds flow, as Dundon made his first public Portland appearance at the Metro Chamber's June 24 annual meeting.
Local Government
View MorePortland water and sewer bills rise July 1 — here's what the $10-a-month increase is paying for
Portland water rates rise 8.1% and sewer/stormwater rates rise 5.15% starting July 1, adding about $10.20 per month to a typical single-family bill, plus a new $1.20/month Flood Safety Benefit Fee.
Local Government
View More75 apartments just opened in North Portland for families pushed out by gentrification
The Luther Strong Jr. and Dr. Jackie Strong Empowerment Village, a 75-unit affordable housing building in Portland's Humboldt neighborhood, officially opened June 23, offering homes to families displaced from North and Northeast Portland under the city's N/NE Preference Policy.
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