December is here, and with it comes twinkling lights, jingling sleigh bells, and all manner of seasonal delights. Even if the holiday season isn't your cup of eggnog, there's also the usual array of concerts, major author appearances, festivals, food & drink events, and tons more. As we do every month, we've compiled the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, from Jonathan Van Ness to December To Remember and from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to Peacock Lane. You can also check out our December events calendar to view events by date.

Marlon Wayans: Microphone Fiend Tour
Longstanding actor, producer, comedian, writer, and director Marlon Wayans will drop by ilani Casino Resort for more laughs, hot on the heels of his starring role in Netflix's Halloween spook fest The Curse of Bridge Hollow. 
ilani Casino Resort, Ridgefield (Thurs Dec 1)

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! If you're already needing a stiff drink this holiday season... then rejoice! Because the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening RIGHT NOW! Get all sorts of creative, holiday-themed fancy cocktails concocted by your fave Portland bartenders... and get this: They're only $7 each! But hurry, hurry—the fun ends this coming Sunday, December 4. Now let's drown our sorrows with some NEWS. 😑

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Okay, prepare to lose your goddamn mind: Portland City Council voted today to approve the $27 million needed to launch Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Ryan's unpopular plan to criminalize the homeless and force them into three mass internment camps. OH! But it gets worse: Not only is this $27 million *a fraction* of the amount actually needed to carry out a plan that only wealthy business people want, the required budget cuts that will be used to fund this cruel, inhumane plan could possibly lead to the closing of two already running, successful homeless shelters (pushing more people into the street), AND possibly the elimination of emergency rent assistance programs and eviction legal defense (again... PUSHING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE STREETS). Mayor Wheeler and Commissioners Ryan and Mapps (AKA the satellite office of the Portland Business Alliance) continue to loudly crow that this is the ONLY plan that can eliminate homelessness, though they never asked the advice of actual experts or their county partners at the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Learn more stuff that will make you slap your forehead and scream "OMIGOD!" in frustration in this report from our Alex Zielinski.

Mayor Wheeler on the county purportedly not working w/ the city to address homelessness: "The main problem is nobody one wants to be in the mud with us. We’re in the mud. We deal in blood, we deal in mud, we deal... in human feces."

— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) November 30, 2022

• Related: You may be asking yourself, "Is the pressure on Mayor Wheeler and his fellow wealthy business community puppets really so strong that they can't resist spending millions on plans that won't work and will most likely create MORE homeless folk?" The answer is YES, and proof can be found in this article entitled "Salt & Straw’s safety concerns spark summit to address Portland’s business climate." Reminder: In post-pandemic Portland, business success is more important than people.

• Today Portland’s Charter Review Commission voted to send seven charter amendments to voters in 2024. (Yes, there are more decisions to make, which also means more opportunities for Commish Mingus Mapps to come up with terrible counter proposals. Yay.) Our Isabella Garcia has the details on what we can expect.

• Do not miss this terrific OPB article about the record number of homicides in Portland this year (93 so far), and the data-supported proof that the quick-fixes intended to reduce that number set in motion by Mayor Wheeler and the police bureau ARE NOT WORKING. 

Want to take a sneaky-peek at some of the deliciously festive cocktails you'll be gulping down during the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK (happening right now)? Behold!https://t.co/8UXRx2V2Gm

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) November 30, 2022

• In the newest edition of Jenni Moore's HEAR IN PORTLAND, she turns you on to a load of great shows to attend and hot new music to listen to, including The Thesis 8-Year Anniversary, a fun show from Atlanta rap star J.I.D. and St. Louis singer / rapper Smino, and more!

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• In a show of unity, House Dems have elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, making him the first Black person to lead either congressional chamber.

Breaking: Immigration and Customs Enforcement accidentally posted the names, birthdates, nationalities and locations of more than 6,000 immigrants who claimed to be fleeing torture and persecution to its website.https://t.co/sB3blhHEcb

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 30, 2022

• Meanwhile in a desperate attempt to stop a looming railroad strike, the House has passed a bill that would force management and workers to accept a proposed agreement—one that was rejected by 12 of the unions that were involved in negotiations.

• After years of nagging and obstinance, the Treasury department has finally turned over Trump's long-hidden tax returns, which are now firmly in the hands of Congress. 

Oh. Ok. Instead of shooting at people the robot will just blow them up. Jfc https://t.co/1k6CR6SzjC

— Kat Mahoney (@kmahoneylaw) November 30, 2022

• Super-duper sad news: Beloved member of Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie, has died at the age of 79 following what the family calls "a short illness."

• And finally... is any current World Cup teams in the market for... THE BEST KEEPER IN THE WORLD??

Best goalkeeper.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/UVxtb6Bch6

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) November 28, 2022

Portland City Council voted 3-0 Wednesday morning to approve a controversial budget package that lays the groundwork for a plan to criminalize street camping and build mass encampments to hold unhoused Portlanders by 2024. Both city commissioners Carmen Rubio and Jo Ann Hardesty were absent for the morning's vote. (According to council staff, Hardesty is on a planned vacation and Rubio is out sick.)

The bulk of the $27 million budget package—$17 million—goes toward building and operating three of the proposed six outdoor encampments planned to hold up to 250 people. The rest of the funding covers salaries for 50 new homeless outreach jobs, fills budgetary gaps in the city department responsible for sweeping homeless camps, and pays for a contractor to help set up a diversion program to soften the blow of criminal penalties levied against people camping outside. A sliver of the package—$150,000—addresses the dearth of housing in Portland by directing the housing bureau to identify 400 city-owned properties that could be redeveloped into affordable housing. 

The programs these funds are set to support were first introduced in late October by City Commissioner Dan Ryan and Mayor Ted Wheeler without any identified funding source. 

"For far too long we have tolerated the intolerable," said Ryan, who oversees the city's housing bureau, before voting Wednesday. "These resolutions do not criminalize homelessness. What is criminal is for government to accept the status quo."

Prior to voting, Commission Mingus Mapps said that he knows the budget package won't end the city's homelessness problem.

"However," he said, "I do hope that the investment we make today we can mark the beginning of the end of Portland's homelessness crisis."

The $27 budget package cuts $8 million that the city previously committed to the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), which is co-funded by both the city and county. 

According to the county, the city’s $8 million budget cut to JOHS alone could threaten to shutter two homeless shelters in the next year. If the cut is permanent, it could lead to a loss of 249 shelter beds and the reduction of rent assistance and housing support for 1,449 county residents.

“As you can see, any on-going budget reductions to shelter, street outreach and housing programs could be devastating and counterproductive for our shared goal of urgently ending homelessness,” writes current Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury in a letter sent to City Council Wednesday morning.

Another budget item passed Wednesday, as part of the council’s larger Fall budget monitoring process, threatens to withhold an additional $7 million in city funds from JOHS unless the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners hands over $15 million to go toward emergency rental assistance and eviction legal defense. 

Before casting his vote, Ryan appeared to brush aside concerns about how the proposal is being funded.

"The people's money is there to invest in this system improvement," said Ryan. "No one cares where the money is currently housed, there is plenty of it. The money is there to improve the first response system."

It's not clear how the county or city will find funding to keep open the two shelters—River District Navigation Center and Wy’East Shelter—threatened by the JOHS budget cuts. No commissioners addressed that predicted cut Wednesday.

The $27 million funding package was first pitched to the public in a November 17 council meeting, where community members largely panned the investment. Most urged commissioners to instead invest the $27 million into building affordable housing.

“I am angered that this money is being used to criminalize houselessness rather than house people,” said Madison Mordaunt.

When City Council first passed the then-unfunded ordinances to ban street camping and create mass encampments in early November, commissioners heard from dozens of property and business owners who supported the plan. None of those supporters offered testimony during the November 17 hearing on the plan’s funding. Commissioners instead heard from several business owners and homeowners who opposed the idea.

Small business owner Desiree Mariscal said she was “appalled and embarrassed” to hear the city use businesses as an excuse for forcing people into mass encampments. 

“It’s really unprofessional,” said Mariscal. “I hope that one day you understand that humanity comes before money.”

Mariscal said she told her friends in other cities that running a business in Portland is difficult because of poor city leadership and over-policing—not due to homelessness, which other business lobbying groups point to as a major deterrent. 

Frann Michel, who identified herself as a landlord, called the budget package “a counterproductive waste of taxpayer money.”

“I strongly oppose spending these funds on camps and I would strongly support a housing first approach,” said Michel. 

Ryan characterized public criticism of the proposal as being driven by "the houseless industry" and the "special interests" that receive support for the industry. The majority of public testimony City Council has heard in opposition of the street camping ban and encampment plan have come from homeless Portlanders, nonprofits that work to address the needs of unhoused Portlanders, and members of the public unaffiliated with homeless or housing service providers. 

The majority of those in support of the proposal are business owners, tourism lobbyists, real estate firms, and other industries that see visible homelessness threatening their financial stability. No homeless Portlander has testified publicly in support of the city's proposal (however, Ryan said Wednesday that he has spoken to one unhoused person who supports it). 

The funding package is only a fragment of the total capital needed to bankroll the city’s ambitious street camping ban. According to the city budget office, operating just three camps of 150 people could cost up to $6.8 million annually to operate (the office has yet to publish a calculation for the proposed six camps of 250 people). And the proposal’s larger goal of creating 20,000 new units of affordable housing in ten years comes at an estimated cost of $10 billion.  

The city has been clear that it needs financial support from other government agencies—like Multnomah County, Metro Regional Government, and the state—to see the proposal through. Yet it has been unable to secure committed funding from any of these agencies, largely because it didn’t involve these agencies in forming the sweeping plan. 

Multnomah County Chair Kafoury has declined to commit new funding to the city’s plan, instead pointing to the millions of funding already dedicated by the county to regional programs proven to address chronic homelessness. She has additionally accused the city of using faulty data to sway the public's support of this plan. 

Wheeler has boasted that both incoming Multnomah County chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Governor-elect Tina Kotek have expressed their support of the budget plan.

Last week, Vega Pederson told the Mercury that while she shares City Council’s commitment to addressing the region’s homeless crisis, she still needs to “figure out the specifics regarding the city’s proposal, particularly in terms of ongoing funding for any new efforts.” She raised specific concern about the city’s funding commitments to the JOHS.

Kotek did not respond to the Mercury’s questions about her purported support of the budget package. In a November 16 press statement, however, Kotek echoed Vega Pederson’s cautious endorsement of the idea. Kotek said she “generally supports” the city’s approach to ending street camping and “will continue to follow closely as more detailed plans are developed.”

The funding package will go info effect immediately, pending a few significant decisions. The city has yet to identify where the proposed encampments will be located, or what outside contractor will be responsible for operating the camps.

Wheeler concluded the council vote addressing the public's opposition to the detailed plan. 

"The city cannot wait for a perfect solution," said Wheeler. "I know that leading on this issue, while critical, may not be received favorably. But doing what is right is not always popular."

ALERT! The wildly festive Portland Mercury’s HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening right NOW and until Sunday, December 4! And not only are these specially crafted, original holiday themed cocktails mixed by the best bartenders in town, they're also only $7 each!

We’ve teamed up with the finest bars and restaurants in Portland—along with our cocktail-lovin’ pals at Jim Beam—to bring you this one-of-a-kind booze-tacular! At each location, you’ll find $7 specially crafted cocktails, and even better? They'll be available ALL DAY (not just during happy hour)!

Want to take a mouth-watering peek at some of the ho-ho-holiday boozy drinks featured in the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK? Why, yes! YOU DO!

What's In It: Cruzan Estates dark rum, Suntory Whisky TOKI, Chinese 5-spice maple syrup, apple cider, Fee Brothers black walnut bitters, and Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 served in a chilled tumbler over a large cube.

What's In It: Suntory, lemon, blackberry syrup, egg white

What's In It: That's right... two drinks for the price of one! Pendleton apple brown sugar hot toddy and a creamy hot chocolate with Pinnacle Whipped Vodka and 100-proof Dekuyper Peppermint Schnapps with whipped cream and cinnamon on top.

What's In It: Jim Beam bourbon, amaro, cranberry, lemon, allspice, and rosemary

And OH! There are so many more! CHECK OUT ALL THE FESTIVE MERCURY HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK COCKTAILS HERE!

Stay tuned to holidaydrinkweek.com and the Mercury for announcements—then plot your strategic course with our handy-dandy Holiday Drink map and set sail on a river of booze happening right now through December 4! You'll get even more hot tips if you sign up for Mercury and EverOut newsletters, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Say, do you love the Mercury’s Food and Drink promotions (such as Highball, Burger Week, Pizza Week, and more)? Then please consider becoming a recurring contributor to the Mercury. We would never be able to do these fun things without you!

Now get ready for the booziest, funnest week of your life, the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK! Happening right NOW and through December 4!

Portland’s Charter Review Commission voted to send seven charter amendments to voters in 2024 and five potential charter amendments to City Council for final deliberation Tuesday evening. 

Every 10 years, the Portland City Council convenes a group of 20 volunteers to review and possibly amend the city’s charter, which functions as Portland’s constitution. The current Charter Review Commission, which began its work in December 2020, opted to use this review to make significant changes to the charter. During the first phase of their work, the commission proposed a new form of city government and a new voting system for citywide elections, which was approved by nearly 60 percent of voters in the November 8 election.

The second phase of the commission’s work, which kicked off in June, included reviewing possible changes to environmental justice and voting rights in the charter, as well as considering charter amendments proposed by city bureaus and offices. The commission, which has since slimmed to 17 members, developed 14 proposed amendments during the phase two process, many of which garnered support from members of the public.

The commission was originally expected to vote on the amendments this coming Saturday. However, the vote instead took place during a Tuesday evening work session because of an expected lack of quorum on Saturday. If at least 15 of the 17 commission members voted for a proposed amendment, the amendment will appear on a ballot in 2024. If a proposed charter amendment received between 11 to 14 votes, the proposed amendment must be sent to City Council for final deliberation. If City Council determines that the amendment should go before the voters, they can place the amendment on a ballot in any year of their choosing.

The seven amendments approved to go directly to the voters are related to updating old or unclear language in the charter and removing policies that get in the way of the city’s climate goals.

Here are the amendments making their way to a ballot in 2024:

Proposal #1: Delete the prohibition on mandating the weatherization of structures built before September 1, 1979.

Proposal #2: Clarify language to reflect the City’s existing role to protect recreational and natural resources.

Proposal #4: Delete vague and archaic language: “roaming the streets at unseasonable hours”. 

Proposal #5: Delete vague and archaic language: “offensive” businesses.

Proposal #6: Delete outdated, burdensome, and redundant requirements for franchise agreements.

Proposal #9: Update, and make consistent, references to “protected classes.”

Proposal #10: Replace “disability” with “incapacity” when referencing an elected official’s inability to perform their duties. 

It has not been determined whether the amendments will all be different ballot measures, or if some amendments with related topics will be combined. More detailed explanations of all of the proposed amendments and their related charter revisions can be found in the Charter Review Commission’s progress report.

The commission sent five more substantial proposed amendments to City Council for review, including creating an independent elections commission, allowing the public to determine how one percent of the city’s general fund is spent in the annual budget, and expanding voting rights to noncitizens if allowed by law. 

Here are the proposals that will go before City Council for further deliberation:

Proposal #11: Create an Independent Portland Elections Commission. 

Proposal #12: Create an article dedicated to environmental issues that includes environmental justice as a core value of the City, requires the City to assess the climate impact of its decisions and establishes a right to a clean and healthy environment.

Proposal #13: Establish meaningful public engagement as a core value of the City.

Proposal #14: Require the City to create by ordinance a participatory budgeting program open to all residents.

Proposal #15: Expand the right to vote in City elections to the fullest extent allowed by law.

It's not immediately clear how long Portland City Council has to deliberate and vote on the amendments.

Two proposals failed to gather enough support from the commission to move forward at all. Proposal #3, which would have clarified the city’s role to protect and manage water, sewage, and stormwater, collected only 10 votes. Proposal #7, which would have removed a 5 percent tax cap on transient lodging like hotels and short-term rentals, also only collected 10 votes. Supporters of the proposal argued that prescriptive tax caps should be determined by city policy not the charter, while members of the local tourism industry believed that lifting the cap could potentially harm tourism while the industry is still recovering in the wake of the pandemic.

The commission ran out of time to discuss a last-minute call from transparency advocates and local journalists to appoint a Transparency Advocate within the city’s Ombudsman's office, although the commissioners showed interest in including the proposal in their list of recommended topics for the city to consider addressing through policy and other non-charter changes.

The Charter Review Commission will meet one final time on December 3.

Portland City Council voted 3-0 Wednesday morning to approve a controversial budget package that lays the groundwork for a plan to criminalize street camping and build mass encampments to hold unhoused Portlanders by 2024. Both city commissioners Carmen Rubio and Jo Ann Hardesty were absent for the morning's vote. (According to council staff, Hardesty is on a planned vacation and Rubio is out sick.)

The bulk of the $27 million budget package—$17 million—goes toward building and operating three of the proposed six outdoor encampments planned to hold up to 250 people. The rest of the funding covers salaries for 50 new homeless outreach jobs, fills budgetary gaps in the city department responsible for sweeping homeless camps, and pays for a contractor to help set up a diversion program to soften the blow of criminal penalties levied against people camping outside. A sliver of the package—$150,000—addresses the dearth of housing in Portland by directing the housing bureau to identify 400 city-owned properties that could be redeveloped into affordable housing. 

The programs these funds are set to support were first introduced in late October by City Commissioner Dan Ryan and Mayor Ted Wheeler without any identified funding source. 

"For far too long we have tolerated the intolerable," said Ryan, who oversees the city's housing bureau, before voting Wednesday. "These resolutions do not criminalize homelessness. What is criminal is for government to accept the status quo."

Prior to voting, Commission Mingus Mapps said that he knows the budget package won't end the city's homelessness problem.

"However," he said, "I do hope that the investment we make today we can mark the beginning of the end of Portland's homelessness crisis."

The $27 budget package cuts $8 million that the city previously committed to the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), which is co-funded by both the city and county. 

According to the county, the city’s $8 million budget cut to JOHS alone could threaten to shutter two homeless shelters in the next year. If the cut is permanent, it could lead to a loss of 249 shelter beds and the reduction of rent assistance and housing support for 1,449 county residents.

“As you can see, any on-going budget reductions to shelter, street outreach and housing programs could be devastating and counterproductive for our shared goal of urgently ending homelessness,” writes current Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury in a letter sent to City Council Wednesday morning.

Another budget item passed Wednesday, as part of the council’s larger Fall budget monitoring process, threatens to withhold an additional $7 million in city funds from JOHS unless the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners hands over $15 million to go toward emergency rental assistance and eviction legal defense. 

Before casting his vote, Ryan appeared to brush aside concerns about how the proposal is being funded.

"The people's money is there to invest in this system improvement," said Ryan. "No one cares where the money is currently housed, there is plenty of it. The money is there to improve the first response system."

It's not clear how the county or city will find funding to keep open the two shelters—River District Navigation Center and Wy’East Shelter—threatened by the JOHS budget cuts. No commissioners addressed that predicted cut Wednesday.

The $27 million funding package was first pitched to the public in a November 17 council meeting, where community members largely panned the investment. Most urged commissioners to instead invest the $27 million into building affordable housing.

“I am angered that this money is being used to criminalize houselessness rather than house people,” said Madison Mordaunt.

When City Council first passed the then-unfunded ordinances to ban street camping and create mass encampments in early November, commissioners heard from dozens of property and business owners who supported the plan. None of those supporters offered testimony during the November 17 hearing on the plan’s funding. Commissioners instead heard from several business owners and homeowners who opposed the idea.

Small business owner Desiree Mariscal said she was “appalled and embarrassed” to hear the city use businesses as an excuse for forcing people into mass encampments. 

“It’s really unprofessional,” said Mariscal. “I hope that one day you understand that humanity comes before money.”

Mariscal said she told her friends in other cities that running a business in Portland is difficult because of poor city leadership and over-policing—not due to homelessness, which other business lobbying groups point to as a major deterrent. 

Frann Michel, who identified herself as a landlord, called the budget package “a counterproductive waste of taxpayer money.”

“I strongly oppose spending these funds on camps and I would strongly support a housing first approach,” said Michel. 

Ryan characterized public criticism of the proposal as being driven by "the houseless industry" and the "special interests" that receive support for the industry. The majority of public testimony City Council has heard in opposition of the street camping ban and encampment plan have come from homeless Portlanders, nonprofits that work to address the needs of unhoused Portlanders, and members of the public unaffiliated with homeless or housing service providers. 

The majority of those in support of the proposal are business owners, tourism lobbyists, real estate firms, and other industries that see visible homelessness threatening their financial stability. No homeless Portlander has testified publicly in support of the city's proposal (however, Ryan said Wednesday that he has spoken to one unhoused person who supports it). 

The funding package is only a fragment of the total capital needed to bankroll the city’s ambitious street camping ban. According to the city budget office, operating just three camps of 150 people could cost up to $6.8 million annually to operate (the office has yet to publish a calculation for the proposed six camps of 250 people). And the proposal’s larger goal of creating 20,000 new units of affordable housing in ten years comes at an estimated cost of $10 billion.  

The city has been clear that it needs financial support from other government agencies—like Multnomah County, Metro Regional Government, and the state—to see the proposal through. Yet it has been unable to secure committed funding from any of these agencies, largely because it didn’t involve these agencies in forming the sweeping plan. 

Multnomah County Chair Kafoury has declined to commit new funding to the city’s plan, instead pointing to the millions of funding already dedicated by the county to regional programs proven to address chronic homelessness. She has additionally accused the city of using faulty data to sway the public's support of this plan. 

Wheeler has boasted that both incoming Multnomah County chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Governor-elect Tina Kotek have expressed their support of the budget plan.

Last week, Vega Pederson told the Mercury that while she shares City Council’s commitment to addressing the region’s homeless crisis, she still needs to “figure out the specifics regarding the city’s proposal, particularly in terms of ongoing funding for any new efforts.” She raised specific concern about the city’s funding commitments to the JOHS.

Kotek did not respond to the Mercury’s questions about her purported support of the budget package. In a November 16 press statement, however, Kotek echoed Vega Pederson’s cautious endorsement of the idea. Kotek said she “generally supports” the city’s approach to ending street camping and “will continue to follow closely as more detailed plans are developed.”

The funding package will go info effect immediately, pending a few significant decisions. The city has yet to identify where the proposed encampments will be located, or what outside contractor will be responsible for operating the camps.

Wheeler concluded the council vote addressing the public's opposition to the detailed plan. 

"The city cannot wait for a perfect solution," said Wheeler. "I know that leading on this issue, while critical, may not be received favorably. But doing what is right is not always popular."

It’s been pretty quiet lately in these music streets, especially release-wise—but there are more than enough shows popping up on the horizon to keep our ears full. This week we are jazzed about lots of hip-hop: a prolific rap pioneer at Crystal Ballroom, a FOMO-worthy co-headlining tour, and monthly hip-hop series the Thesis celebrates its eight years with a packed party of local talent.

MUST-SEE: 

Can’t miss upcoming events.

Putting on a show every first Thursday, every month, for eight years straight (save for a few COVID-forced cancellations) isn’t easy to pull off. Long serving as an introduction and uplifting of Portland's hip-hop and R&B scene, the team behind the Thesis proves over and over again that they know their stuff. So whether you're familiar with one person or none on this bill, you’re basically guaranteed to have a good time at their eighth anniversary. Rapper Real3am headlines the show, bringing his smooth nighttime flows to Kelly’s side room venue. Eclectic poet/lyricist Nexus J. and outstanding soul singer Veana Baby are also featured, along with Leebo, DJ OG ONE, guest star Akira West, and of course, resident DJ Verbz slays on the boards, as always. (Kelly’s Olympian, 426 SW Washington, Thurs Dec 1, 9 pm, $15-20, tickets here, 21+)

It’s not every day you get the chance to enjoy a true blast from the past, that also stands the test of time. Golden age MC Rakim is almost universally accepted as one of the pioneers of rap as we know it today. Many credit him for inventing the concept of “flow,” and marking the move to conceptual and complicated pre-written rhymes—as opposed to improvised, simpler ending ones. All this, along with his massive success, as both a solo artist and as one half of the legendary DJ/MC duo Eric B and Rakim, has cemented him as one of the most influential artists of all time. In 2016, the game-changing duo announced their reunion and even teased fans about a tour, but it’s basically been crickets ever since. Who knows if that reunion will happen, or if Rakim will be performing any tracks off their 1987 debut Paid In Full, which is an absolute classic. Hosted by Portland hip-hop DJ and radio personality DJ Klyph, this show will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rakim’s 1997 album, The 18th Letter. Portland hip-hop veterans like Cool Nutz, DJ Fatboy, as well as DJ OG One share the bill. (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Fri Dec 2, 8 pm, $32-45, tickets here, all ages)

ADDED TO THE QUEUE: 

Some upcoming music buzz to put on your radar.

Atlanta rap star J.I.D. and St. Louis singer / rapper Smino both share the stage and perform separately for this co-headliner stop on their Luv is 4 Ever Tour—the name a mashup of J.I.D.’s excellent The Forever Story, and Smino’s recent Luv 4 Rent. Between the two, J.I.D. may be the bigger draw. In 2018, he was in XXL Magazine’s Freshman Class of 2018, then signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville label, before joining EarthGang’s Spillage Village music collective. Check out his recent appearance on Tiny Desk Concert for an idea of what his bouncy, poignant tracks are like in the flesh. On a local note, J.I.D. also worked with Portland rap queen Wynne on “Ego Check,” the lead single from her 2019 debut If I May.... But while we gush about J.,I.D., there's no denying that Smino is also a very charismatic performer, and a member of two super groups: Zoink Gang (with J.I.D.), and Ghetto Sage. We don't generally recommend sold out shows, but this may be the one to StubHub, if you can’t fight the FOMO. Check in with the merch table to see if Smino’s slinging any of those ingenious satin-lined hoodies. (Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th, Thurs Jan 26, 8pm, sold out, all ages)

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good Morning, Portland! It snowed in Hood River! And it might snow in the Portland to Salem areas of the Willamette Valley tomorrow and / or Friday morning. MIGHT. PUT THE KALE DOWN, AMBER.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• You may have read about last week's complaints from local ice cream moguls Salt & Straw about—Eater PDX clarified this—the area around its main kitchen, at SE 2nd and SE Ankeny. Strangely enough, the news came to light due to an impassioned email from Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale, addressed to two dozen representatives at the city, county, and state congress levels. Other business leaders in the area rallied around the letter: CEO of Smith Teamaker Darren Marshall, Revant Optics owner Jason Bolt. And last night the area's businesses and property owners association held a "listening session," with state Rep. Rob Nosse, Mayor Wheeler, Portland Police Captain James Crooker, and Chris Fick, who is chief of staff for Multnomah County Chair-elect Jessica Vega Pederson. As a result of the listening session, the Oregonian's Austin De Dios reports that the mayor announced a “90-day reset” in Southeast Industrial, similar to that of the reset implemented in Old Town, which led to homeless camp sweeps and an increased police presence.

“At the meeting, Wheeler said he supported the re-evaluation of current rules for involuntarily committing people with severe mental illness, and state Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, said Oregon may consider lowering those requirements.”https://t.co/yyqhvPWWRW

— Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) November 30, 2022

• Sorry about these long ass openers, folks. But this shit is, like, layered: In 2019, during the infamous Republican walkouts in Oregon's Capitol (which kept the state's legislation from reaching quorum and effectively killed both a bill to fund K-12 schools and one to institute a carbon tax), State Senator Brian Boquist responded to the idea of state police escorting him into the session with: “If you send the state police to get me, hell’s coming to visit you personally,” and later "send bachelors and come heavily armed.” Since then, Boquist has been required to give 12 hours notice before coming to the Capitol so the state police would have time to bolster security. Anyway, it's been three years and those requirements were rescinded. But Boquist is still suing Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, saying that the requirements infringed upon his first amendment protections. Anyway, yehaw.

• The city of Portland has agreed to stop using "Rubber Ball Distraction Devices"—munitions commonly referred to as "flash-bang grenades"—against Portlanders for the next 14 months. What's more, the city has agreed to "engage in a process to decommission" the bureau's inventory of these specific munitions entirely in that time period. Read News Editor Alex Zielinski's explanation of the the agreement.

• Car are weapons. Come for me, you weak-calved drivers. We'll see who is the victor—unless you are driving. It will be YOU, if you are driving, because cars are weapons. In the latest instance of cars being weapons, would-be robbers crashed a car into the REI on NW Johnson. Crashing cars into businesses, with the intent to rob them, is catching on locally, as people have come to see that cars are weapons.

This week's Savage Love is a series of "quickies"—we know this is a favorite—and contains the question: Is it possible to give a quiet blowjob? Read Dan's response.

• Speaking of quickies, it only takes a second to enter the Mercury's weekly free ticket giveaway—and you can do so until Thursday! This week we've got your guest list spots for Rakim and the Trinity of Terror Tour!

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

• This story unfolding in New York City mirrors Portland's own decision-making climate: The city's mayor, Eric Adams, announced yesterday that there would be a major push to remove people with severe, untreated mental illness from the city’s streets and subways. From my years working in social services, I can tell you that one of the great questions in that world is: At what point do you deprive someone of liberty? Adams said the effort would require involuntarily hospitalizing people who were a danger to themselves, even if they posed no risk of harm to others. Sounds fucking slippery, we should keep an eye on how this goes for them—like the recent, increased police presence on the NYC subway, will it do nothing?

• Designer Bastian Allgeier had some words of wisdom to impart before he deleted all his tweets forever. I find time-based perspective reorientation to be comforting, and I hope you will as well. P.S. I'm on Mastodon (but so far I only use it to follow Oregonian photographer Dave Killen) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A good bit from @bastianallgeier on Mastodon about how *weird* Twitter used to be. Useful to put things in perspectives. No new system will be perfect or polished from day one. pic.twitter.com/v68FZPEBJf

— Damien ✨ (@Eramdam) November 8, 2022

• It's no "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush AND IT NEVER WILL BE, but Metallica finally found someone to ask why they allowed Netflix series Stranger Things to use their song "Master of Puppets." Screen Rant has the scoop—well, Howard Stern had the scoop, but Screen Rant wrote it down.

• Here is your energy for today. They cannot keep you down with their impotent "safety" impositions. You will make music!

@kevwalkman @nick from space is a pleasure to have in class #fyp ♬ Im Not Crazy verse 1 by Kevin Walkman - Kev Walkman

Seen your water bill lately? It doubled. Just fucking doubled. And ours was already the most expensive water in the country.  Water is a human right, not some fucking cash cow for ted and friends.   Seems the perfect time to boycott the portland water bureau. These fuckers have no problem using water as a weapon to price the marginalized into the street, perhaps we can return the favor.

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good Afternoon, Portland! The world is a museum of people who have different ways to cook a turkey, and I’m just passing through.

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• We should just ignore the angry man in the comments yelling stuff that isn't true, but if some asshat tries to tell you that local advocacy group Don't Shoot Portland will get a large payout from the settlement of a June 2020 lawsuit that accused Portland police of "indiscriminate use" of tear gas and impact munitions against nonviolent protesters, they don't know anything. Go off to your 600 American flag icon followers, Greg—or read News Editor Alex Zielinski's explanation of the agreement.

• The arguments surrounding flavored tobacco, and the possible banning of it in Multnomah County, are varied and cavernous. On Monday night, retailers and health officials offered public testimony about the proposed ban. Isabella Garcia reports on their concerns.

• As part of the midterms, voters passed a $450 million bond to make campus and technology improvements at Portland Community College. OPB's Meerah Powell reports on where that money is headed:

Voters supported a historic bond for PCC. The college will improve campus facilities as well as its technology infrastructure for remote learning. That’ll happen simultaneously with the development of a strategic plan to address declining enrollment. https://t.co/kUhvDbWleI

— Meerah Powell (@meerahpowell) November 29, 2022

• Carrying a gun while drinking it a terrible idea. Barry Washington Jr. reminded Ian Cranston of this, outside a Bend nightclub, in 2021, just before Cranston shot and killed him. Washington had just moved to Central Oregon, and his family expressed that they feel Cranston's actions were racially motivated—Cranston is white and Washington was Black. In some small justice, today Cranston was sentenced to ten years in a state prison for the crime.

• Only Alex Zielinski could make a New Seasons unionization mega list (no one is calling it this) and still have it read with respect for the importance of the story—and the people whose livelihoods it impacts. Check out which locations are organizing and the status of their efforts. We'll update as needed.

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• NBC reports that two of five Oath Keepers on trial for the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol—the extremist militia's founder Stewart Rhodes and leader of its Florida chapter Kelly Meggs—have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy by a federal jury. All five defendants were found guilty of obstruction of an official. Read more about the verdicts or just peep this cheatsheet:

My verdict cheat sheet for those following along pic.twitter.com/zoHTlAQmUR

— Daniel Barnes (@dnlbrns) November 29, 2022

• The US Senate passed new legislation to mandate federal recognition for same-sex marriages this afternoon. While the federal government does currently recognize same-sex marriage, that recognition is based on 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which was ruled upon based on Roe v. Wade. The bill would not require any state to allow same-sex couples to marry, but it would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

• As Russian forces retreat, in areas of Ukraine near the city of Kherson, villagers must balance elation with horror—as they unearth evidence of what are likely war crimes committed by Russian soldiers.

• Nothing like curling up with a book and some hot tea on a cold, rainy evening. Here are some of my favorite books right now:

@johnschu where are they all going #booktok #barnesandnoble ♬ original sound - big time book guy

[ Read more ]

Multnomah County leaders heard hours of public testimony Monday about their proposed ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol. Public comments were split between retailers concerned that a ban on flavored tobacco would potentially shutter their shops, and health officials and community members urging the passage of the ban to combat the rising rates of youth vaping and smoking.

“We will lose an entire generation of people if we continue to allow big tobacco to sell whatever they want,” said Haoua Dogo with Upstream Public Health, a supporter of the proposed ban.

Multnomah County, at the direction of County Chair Deborah Kafoury, began crafting a proposed ban on flavored tobacco products in August, with a goal to stop young people from developing a nicotine addiction through flavored tobacco products. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14 percent of high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students in the nation reported using e-cigarettes in 2022. Approximately 80 percent of youth smokers who use e-cigarettes in the US report using flavored e-cigarettes.

The proposed ban, which is expected to be voted on in December, would end the sale of flavored tobacco in the county, including at convenience stores, liquor stores, vape shops, and hookah lounges. Each of these tobacco retailers would be subject to an annual inspection by the county, with violators offered a remediation plan and follow-up inspection. Retailers who are still in violation of the ban on second inspection would be penalized with a fine. Individuals would never be punished for buying flavored tobacco products from stores in violation of the ban. This policy doesn’t apply to online tobacco sales because, as of January 2022, state law prohibits the sale and delivery of any cigarettes, vape devices, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco online. 

Representatives from every major health system in Portland, including Providence, Kaiser, Legacy, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), and OHSU’s Doernbecher Children's Hospital, commented in support of the proposed ban. A representative from Portland Public Schools (PPS) also expressed the district’s support of the ban, stating that vaping has transitioned from a classroom nuisance to a full blown crisis in schools, leading PPS to take the doors off of some bathroom stalls to try to limit the areas students can hide to vape in school. Advocates with the American Cancer Association and American Heart Association also urged county commissioners to pass the ban.

Several licensed tobacco retailers, grocer associations, and tobacco lobbying groups spoke in opposition to the ban Monday. They argued that Oregon already has made strides to limit youth tobacco usage, like raising the legal smoking age to 21 in 2018. In 2018, the Oregon Health Authority found that 18 percent of minors who attempted to buy tobacco products through state regulatory tests were successful.

Retail owners also raised concerns that banning flavored products would create an unregulated illegal market because flavored tobacco products would still be sold in other counties and possibly resold in Multnomah County. 

“Producers [make flavored products] because consumers expect to have a choice,” said Plaid Pantry CEO Jonathan Polonsky. “Please don’t press the easy button by banning all flavors.” 

Representatives from the National Hookah Association and hookah lounge owners asked the county to make an exemption in the proposed ban for hookah—flavored tobacco smoked through a large hookah pipe. Hookah lounge owners and supporters noted that hookah is considered a cultural practice and that hookah has not been identified as a problem among youth smokers the way that e-cigarettes and vapes have.

Some white retail store owners and representatives from the tobacco industry argued that it is racist to ban menthol cigarettes because Black smokers overwhelmingly choose menthol-flavored tobacco over other tobacco products. According to the CDC, approximately 85 percent of non-Hispanic Black or African American adults who smoked used menthol cigarettes in 2019. Yet Black representatives from the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and other cultural organizations refuted that claim, noting that Black people—along with Hispanic people and members of the LGBTQ community—are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes because of predatory marketing tactics used by tobacco companies.

“The white men telling us that the Black community thinks the policy is racist are wrong,” Avery Dukes with Flavors Hook Oregon Kids—an organization opposing flavored tobacco—told the county board. “As a Black woman, I can say with confidence that we abhor the disproportionate targeting that tobacco companies and stores have been doing for years and are still doing today. They shouldn't mistake addiction for enjoyment.”

Similar bans on flavored nicotine products have been challenged in court. In 2019, a temporary ban on flavored vape cartridges in Oregon amid a series of severe vape-related lung infections throughout the nation was halted by a state appeals court. Washington County recently tried to ban flavored nicotine products, but it was overturned by a county judge who ruled in favor of a challenge from the 21+ Tobacco and Retail Vape Association. The judge ruled that a flavored tobacco ban must come from the state, not county by county; Washington County is appealing the decision. 

Richard Burke with the 21+ Tobacco and Retail Vape Association told the commissioners Monday that the association will launch a legal challenge against the county ban if it is approved by the board.

“If this passes,” Burke said, “we will fight it vigorously.”

When asked about possible legal challenges to the proposed ban, Multnomah County spokesperson Julie Sullivan-Springhetti said that the county isn’t concerned about being impacted by the legal challenge in Washington County “because only the Washington County ordinance was at issue in that lawsuit.” Sullivan-Springhetti also said that banning flavored tobacco products is not a novel idea and over 300 cities and jurisdictions nationwide have already passed similar restrictions.

The Multnomah County Commissioners will hold a first reading of the proposed ban Thursday, with a final vote on the proposal planned for mid-December.

The first federal lawsuit filed against the city of Portland for its officers' actions against demonstrators during the city's racial justice protests of 2020 has come to a close.

On Monday, lawyers representing five demonstrators and the advocacy group Don't Shoot Portland reached a $250,001 settlement with the city over a June 2020 lawsuit, which accused Portland police for the "indiscriminate use" of tear gas and impact munitions against nonviolent protesters.

The settlement's payout will divided equally among the five plaintiffs—Nicholas Roberts, Misha Belden, Lester Wresckie, Thomas Dreier, and Alexandra Johnson—with the remaining $1 going towards Don't Shoot Portland. The settlement also includes changes to Portland Police Bureau (PPB) protocol.

Per the court filing detailing the agreement, the city has agreed to stop using "Rubber Ball Distraction Devices"—munitions commonly referred to as "flash-bang grenades"—against protesters in the 14 months following the agreement. What's more, the city has agreed to "engage in a process to decommission" the bureau's inventory of these specific munitions entirely in that time period. 

“This is a win for organizers and antifascist activists everywhere,” said Teressa Raiford, director of Don’t Shoot Portland in a Tuesday press release. “Our freedom of expression is the foundation of how we make social change possible."

The agreement also requires officers to follow city policies and state laws that limit the use of tear gas and other munitions when working at demonstrations in the next 14 months. (Officers will presumably be expected to continue following the law after this time period.) District Judge Marco Hernandez will be responsible for overseeing the non-monetary terms of the settlement agreement.

Portland police have a long history of using flash-bang grenades to quash demonstrations—often resulting in litigation. PPB temporarily suspended the use of these grenades in 2018, after an officer lodged a flash-bang grenade in a protester's skull. After suing for his injuries, that protester was granted a $125,000 settlement from the city. A lawsuit filed by another person hit by a flash-bang at the same 2018 protest was settled with $50,000 from city coffers.

The grenades were back in rotation by the start of the 2020 racial justice protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Injures sustained by these munitions are the subject of several other lawsuits against the city still tied up in the courts. 

The lawsuit succeeded at limiting officers' use of force prior to its Monday conclusion. Shortly after the litigation was filed in early June 2020, plaintiffs were granted a temporary restraining order, which barred officers with the PPB from using tear gas and “less-lethal” weapons (like rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades) against protesters except in limited circumstances. In December 2020, however, Judge Hernandez determined that the city had violated that restraining order. 

To move forward, the city agreed to a number of sanctions, including a training for PPB’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), removal of RRT officer Brent Taylor from crowd control events pending an internal investigation, and a training for all PPB officers on crowd control by the end of 2021.

This agreement was slightly skewed when, in June 2021, all officers assigned to the RRT voluntarily stepped down from their position in protest after RRT member Corey Budworth was slapped with criminal charges for hitting a woman with a baton during a 2020 demonstration. And, while the results of an internal investigation into Taylor's conduct remain concealed, Taylor remains employed by PPB. 

Attorneys for Don't Shoot Portland and other plaintiffs originally hoped to file the lawsuit as a class action. Judge Hernandez declined that request this summer.

Attorney Ashlee Albies, who represented the plaintiffs, noted the prior success of the lawsuit through restraining orders in a Tuesday press release. The work to hold the city accountable for its actions in 2020 isn't over, she added. 

"We’ve succeeded in getting an injunction to force PPB to follow the law, and to dismantle their flash bang arsenal," said Albies. "We will be vigilantly watching PPB over the next 14 months.” 

Who's ready to see some shows? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland's best concerts—our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst... if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep us alive and kickin'!) And oh boy, do we have some great shows coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!

• ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX to see Rakim at the Crystal Ballroom on December 2!

Where many MCs of the time developed their technique through improvisational battles, Rakim was among the first to demonstrate the possibilities of sitting down to write intricately crafted lyrics packed with clever word choices and metaphors (of course, he also had the delivery to articulate them). Even after his innovations were worshipfully absorbed and expanded upon by countless MCs who followed, Rakim's early work still sounds startlingly fresh, and his comeback recordings (beginning in the late '90s) only added to his legend. So what are you waiting for? Enter for your chance to win or snatch up those tix now!

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Fri Dec 2, 8 pm, $32-$45, all ages

• ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX to see the Trinity Of Terror Tour at the Moda Center on December 11!

Fans demanded it, and so the Trinity of Terror Tour has been extended to additional dates in December! Don't miss the biggest names in metalcore, Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White and Black Veil Brides, as they bring the head-banging part three of their co-headlining tour, Trinity Of Terror, to Portland. Enter to win tickets or get yours right now, right here!

Moda Center, 1 N Winning Way, Sun Dec 11, 6:20 pm, $35-$55, all ages

GOOD LUCK, and all winners will be notified by this Thursday. And check back next week for more FREE TIX from the Mercury!

Ho-ho-HELLO, Mercury lovers!

Like it or not, it’s the holiday season. And I just wanted to temporarily slide into your sweet brain to say TWO THINGS...

THING ONE: You are a wonderful, thoughtful person, and you are both important and needed. Like everyone else at the Mercury, you are in the “Give a Crap Club” and want Portland to be a place that's fun, vibrant, and cares deeply about those in the community who need assistance. That’s why it’s really important to support local journalism—especially the kind that isn’t beholden to the wealthy special interest groups who put their own profits over the health and welfare of the rest of Portland. Every single day the Mercury fights to produce clear-eyed, hard-hitting journalism that cuts through the lies of the power-hungry, and alerts you to what’s really going on behind closed doors at city hall. It’s hard work… but we freaking love it. Why? Because you and Portland are worth protecting. And this brings us to….

THING TWO: Excellent journalism isn’t free, and (for obvious reasons) the city’s wealthy power-brokers aren’t exactly lining up to support us! So this holiday season, when you’re considering how to share your generosity, I hope you’ll consider the Mercury. Every penny you contribute goes DIRECTLY to our reporters’ salaries, and guess what? It makes them feel really appreciated and fired up to keep bringing you the daily reporting (and occasional sassy-ass fun) you deserve. So what do you say? Help us help Portland. If you’re able, please consider a small monthly or one-time contribution to the Mercury. Contributions from you help us stay free for everyone, and on the job every single day! And wait… actually there’s a…

THING THREE: We really appreciate you! Thank you SO MUCH for all the support you’ve given us over the past two decades, and all the love you show your fellow Portlanders. We have every intention of sticking around (and sticking it to the man) for a very long time. Have a great holiday season, and remember, you are deserving of love and happiness every day of the year!

Thinking of you this season,
Wm. Steven Humphrey
Editor-in-Chief
Portland Mercury
(he/him)

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good morning, Portland! There is a 10 percent chance that we may see some snow today, with chances of snowfall slightly increasing throughout the week. If you love this weather, why not celebrate it by grabbing a drink at one of the 24 bars participating in the Mercury’s Holiday Drink Week? If you detest this weather, why not cheer up by grabbing a festive $7 drink during the Mercury’s Holiday Drink Week? Now, onto the news!

In local news:

• An Oregon Senate panel rescinded security measures against Senator Brian Boquist (Republican turned Independent representing Polk and Yamhill counties) Monday. Since July 2019, Boquist has had to give 12 hours notice before going to the state capital so that police could increase their presence due to threatening statements he made against fellow lawmakers and state police. That security protocol was removed Monday in response to Boquist’s ongoing lawsuit against the state, which claims that the security measure is a violation of his free speech.

• Over half of the New Seasons locations in the Portland area have moved to unionize this year. Check out which locations and the status of their efforts with this comprehensive breakdown from Alex Zielinski.

Is the revival of the Lloyd Center a mere moment of brightness on the heels of a very dark past couple of years? Or is this the beginning of more good news to come?https://t.co/hV9RfxjbNX

— Portland Monthly (@PoMoMagazine) November 29, 2022

• Fir trees in Oregon and Washington are dying at record numbers this year, creating a “Firmageddon” according to researchers. Swaths of dead firs were observed on more than 1.23 million acres in both states—the largest die-offs ever recorded. Researchers believe that the event may be due to a combination of drought, last year’s heat dome, insects, and fungal diseases.

• It’s going to get pretty dang cold overnight this week. If you or someone you know needs a warm place to stay, you can call 211 or check the website to find available overnight shelters. The county may also open additional warming shelters, depending of the severity of the weather as the week progresses.

Check your old tickets... Oregon Lottery confirms it's still waiting for someone to come forward with $1 million Powerball ticket sold in Portland on November 2, 2022. It's currently the Oregon Lottery's largest unclaimed prize. pic.twitter.com/7EgNHxQWbt

— Kyle Iboshi (@KyleIboshi) November 29, 2022

In national news:

• Online Black Friday sales hit a record $9.12 billon this year, quelling fears that inflation would severely dampen end-of-year spending. According to Adobe Analytics, sales were 2.3 percent higher than last year thanks to greater electronics, toys, and exercise equipment purchases. Americans are taking on more debt and using "Buy Now, Pay Later" programs to afford the purchases, according to CNN.

• Over 10,000 sippy cups and bottles made by Green Sprouts are being voluntarily recalled after the discovery of lead used in soldering material on the cups. Thousands of cups purchased between January 2020 and September 2022 can break, exposing a solder dot containing lead. No injuries have been reported in connection to the cups.

Two jurors in the Danny Masterson rape trial test positive for COVID and are replaced with alternates, meaning deliberations must entirely restart.

Read the latest athttps://t.co/QjOs6ZvjTq

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 28, 2022

• The white gunman who killed 10 Black shoppers and workers at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, pled guilty Monday to murder and hate-motivated terrorism. During the hearing, the 19-year-old gunman confirmed that he murdered the shoppers because of their race. The charges carry a lifetime sentence.

• The San Francisco Police Department is looking to get clearance to employ robots to use deadly force (yes, this is real life, not the synopsis of a dystopian movie). When editing a draft of the defined authorized uses for all military-grade equipment used by the SFPD, a San Francisco official added a line prohibiting the department’s 12 robots from using deadly force against people in any circumstance. SFPD crossed out the line, writing "robots will only be used as a deadly force option when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers are imminent and outweigh any other force option available to the SFPD.” The debate over robot usage continues in city meetings this week.

• I, like any self-respecting Portlander, have a soft spot for Big Pink. You go, Big Pink!

A COUPLE MORE… shots of that cool fog phenomenon around ‘Big Pink’ last Thursday. A couple notes: I took the photos and own the sole rights to them. And it’s just fog, not an actual fire. Wanted to include a shot without the damn crow flying thru 😬 #LiveOnK2 #Portland #fog pic.twitter.com/ZQ6NHBdShM

— Mike Warner (@MikeKATU) November 28, 2022

If it wasn't so pathetically obtuse and depressing it'd might be funny. But it's not. To see some of you Portlanders try to call out Trump and republicans for failing to condemn antisemitism while you yourselves remained silent when Jewish and Israeli businesses and community centers were attacked in Portland says everything about your own character and values. You can shout about how anti-hate you are all day long, but if you aren't living it, you're just another ignorant child putting your lack of self-awareness and moral character on full display, amplified and recorded for the record. Stop pretending who you are to the internet and start living who you are to the community. (And not just because you think you'll be indicted soon, we can all see through that.)

As of Monday afternoon, workers at more than half of all New Seasons grocery stores in the Portland Metro area have moved to unionize. A New Seasons store in Beaverton's Cedar Hills neighborhood became the tenth to file a petition to hold a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Monday.

As with many New Seasons workers who've joined the union drive this year, employees at the Cedar Hill store say the effort was inspired by the 2019 purchase of New Seasons by a company called Good Food Holdings, which is owned by international retail giant E-Mart. After that sale, New Seasons introduced several policies around worker attendance and scheduling that, to employees, felt uninformed by staff experiences. 

"People realized that workers speaking up for themselves was increasingly useless," said Cedar Hills New Seasons employee Maggie Myers."And the polices started to negatively impact staff."

These concerns are shared among workers employed by New Seasons across the metro region.

The campaign to form an independent union, the New Seasons Workers Union (NSWU), began seven months ago. The movement has faced pushback from New Seasons management, who has dispersed anti-union literature at most of its store's staff areas and hired a union-busting law firm to fight the quickly-growing campaign. Myers at the Cedar Hill store said several of her coworkers feared that signing on to the union drive would trigger retaliation from management.

Since May, ten of the areas's 19 grocery stories have joined the movement. Yet New Seasons management has declined to voluntarily acknowledge these unions, forcing workers to hold a vote. With the majority of stores now involved, we're overdue for a comprehensive breakdown on which stores have announced and where each union drive stands. 

Seven Corners (SE Division St. and SE 20th Ave.)
Staff at the Seven Corners New Seasons were the first to establish the independent NSWU in May. In early September, its workers voted 62-15 to formally unionize.

Orenco Station (Hillsboro) 
Workers at Orenco Station are the only New Seasons staffers who petitioned to join an already-established union, the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555. In an early September election, Orenco Station workers voted 60-37 against joining the union.

Sellwood
Sellwood New Seasons staff filed to unionize in June, yet voted 33-29 against joining the NSLU in September. Workers say they want to make a second attempt in the future.

Slabtown (NW Raleigh St. and NW 22nd Ave.)
Slabtown workers voted 62-14 to join the NSWU in October. 

Woodstock (SE Woodstock Blvd. and SE 45th Ave.)
Workers at the Woodstock New Seasons filed to unionize in September. They have yet to hold an election.

Grant Park (NE Broadway and NE 33rd Ave.)
Grant Park New Seasons staff filed paperwork to join the NSLU in October. The  have yet to hold an election.

Concordia (NE 33rd Ave. and NE Emerson St.)
Staff at Concordia's New Seasons also filed to unionize in October, and have yet to hold a formal vote.

Arbor Lodge (N Interstate Ave. and N Holman St.)
Arbor Lodge employees filed to unionize last week, after first announcing their intent on November 15. They have yet to hold an election.

Cedar Hills (Beaverton)
Cedar Hills workers filed paperwork to hold a union vote Monday afternoon. They are awaiting an election date.

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! If you love a festive, holiday cocktail, get ready to crap your pants in glee... for the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening RIGHT NOW! Get all sorts of creative, holiday-themed fancy cocktails concocted by your fave Portland bartenders... and get this: They're only $7 each! But hurry, hurry—the fun ends this coming Sunday, December 4. Now let's drink up some partially festive NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• HELLO to Portland's screeching wealthy people who cannot be convinced that the city and county are making headway in getting the homeless off the streets and into permanent housing. Check out the opening sentence from this OPB article about the voter-approved supportive housing fund: "In its first year, Metro’s supportive housing fund placed 1,669 people into homes." 💥 An oversight committee will now look into the fund to see if even more improvements can be made, but WOW. Wave this in the face of the next willfully ignorant rich person you see screaming at a cloud.

• Related: Despite little interest from the county, and against the advice of actual experts (who weren't even asked), on Wednesday, City Council is expected to pass a $27 million “down payment” for the six internment camps described in Mayor Wheeler and Commish Ryan's plan to criminalize the homeless. They say this money would build and operate three of the camps for one year. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was the lone voice of reason who voted against it. (Too bad she was voted out of office, only to be replaced by a puppet from Portland's wealthy "Screaming at Clouds Committee.")

• Attention snow bunnies:

15” of snow has blanketed parts of the Cascades…all three major ski resorts in Oregon are expected to be open by midweek. #kgw #kgwweather #November #pacnw pic.twitter.com/QqqmtMRBMN

— Joe Raineri ☔️🎥 📺 (@JoeRaineriWX) November 28, 2022

• Despite a court ruling that struck the idea down in Washington County, Multnomah County is still heavily considering throwing caution to the wind and creating a ban on the sale of all flavored nicotine products in a bid to stop the county's kids from getting so easily hooked on this addictive garbage.

• Police have been called in to investigate a suspicious death after a body was found inside a building that burned down on Sunday night in the Lloyd District.

• Calling all trash pandas! 🦝 It's time for the hilarious new edition of THE TRASH REPORT by the hilarious Elinor Jones! This week: Salt & Straw's new "PANIC!" flavor, look out for "Kevin the Turkey," and Ellen's got a new skincare line for mean people. 🤔

Shake yourself out of your turkey-induced stupor because the holiday season is officially in full swing. This week brings top events from The 1975 to Patti Smith: Songs & Stories and from A John Waters Christmas to Portland Mercury's Holiday Drink Week. https://t.co/Jgl8GRzQOk

— EverOut Portland (@EverOutPortland) November 28, 2022

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• China's possible leader for life, Xi Jinping, is not making any friends with his oppressive, long-running “zero COVID” strategy which is sending thousands of demonstrators into the streets in cities across the country, calling for Xi's resignation.

• Republican leaders in rural Cochise County in Arizona are refusing to certify the results of the 2022 election—even though there were no irregularities detected with the vote. (So now they're just doing it out of habit?)

• Wheeeeeeee!

A protester holding a rainbow flag and wearing a shirt saying 'Respect For Iranian Women' ran onto the pitch during a game between Portugal and Uruguay at the #FIFAWorldCup in Qatar https://t.co/IegVOz0i8K pic.twitter.com/OzTjeOrLT5

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 28, 2022

• Former professional liar for Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway, reportedly sat in front of the January 6 investigatory committee today, testifying for five hours even though she left the Trump administration months before the domestic terrorist attack on the capitol. 🍿

• Headline: ‘Gaslighting’ is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2022. (Uh-huh. That is exactly what they want us to believe!)

I know nothing about selling advertising but I'm pretty sure this is not how you do it. pic.twitter.com/3yTpEkZQeV

— Jarrett Walker @humantransit@mastodon.online (@humantransit) November 28, 2022

• And finally... I'm sorry, but this was actually helpful.

How to find Kentucky on the map pic.twitter.com/WTggL1xobC

— Terrible Maps (@TerribleMaps) November 27, 2022

I know there is an anon here who loves to rant about corruption. I wanted to let you know that we are seeing more and more people openly and honestly raise the issue of corruption across the public sphere. It's happening slowly, but it is gaining steam. The question is whether it will gain enough momentum for individuals to recognize their personal interest and the public interests are not in conflict with each other. There is a reason that so many "experienced" people "let things slide", it's because they believe they could personally harmed if the rhetoric of equal accountability were amplified in our society. Most of these people haven't done anything wrong, but there insecurities restrict their moral movement and force them to be dependent on others for validation and approval. But many people are waking up to their own personal, ethical, and professional responsibilities to the community so maybe something will happen. So, anticorruption anon, I want to caution or maybe advise you, as the thoughtful and considerate individual you are, that when you examine the details of professionals past oversights, missteps or failings, that you frame you insights in the context of how we can overcome them and move forward together rather than sentence them to public shamings or professional infamy. There are a lot of people who know plenty but are afraid to speak up and speak out because they feel shame for not saying anything YET. They need to know that SOONER WAS BETTER THAN LATER and NOW IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN NEVER and that they'll be welcomed and celebrated for their part in helping to dismantle networks of corruptions and improve our communties. Give people a chance, give people in scary situations the benefit of the doubt, and count wins as wins.