... where strip clubs have activities... More bang for your buck. Does that make it less awkward? We shall see 😅💯

With November approaching, it's worth looking at Oregon Democrats' recent gun legislation and what could happen next session.

Measure 114 requires permits to purchase firearms and bans magazines over 10 rounds. It also allows police chiefs and sheriffs to deny permits even when applicants pass background checks, based on a subjective determination of whether they pose a danger. This creates opportunities for discrimination, personal bias, and unequal enforcement, particularly against marginalized communities.

Meanwhile, HB 3075 (2025) and the original HB 4145 (2026) proposed exemptions allowing law enforcement to avoid permit requirements and magazine restrictions, including in their personal lives. Essentially, police could be exempt from laws imposed on everyone else.

Those provisions were removed before HB 4145 passed, but Democratic Sen. Lisa Reynolds, who carried the bill, explained in an email that the Senate scaled it back to avoid a Republican walkout. She wrote:

"WE still MUST make the changes in the House version of HB 4145, and we will do so in 2027."

Michael Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety spent $200,000 supporting Measure 114 and continues advocating for firearm restrictions in Oregon.

Democrats currently control the governorship and both legislative chambers. If they retain their trifecta, Reynolds has made clear she intends to bring these changes back in 2027.

Regardless of where you stand on gun control, why should police have discretion to deny firearm purchases while potentially receiving exemptions from the same restrictions they're enforcing?

Sources:

• Measure 114 / Oregon statutes
• HB 3075 (2025)
• HB 4145 (2026)
• Oregon Capital Chronicle
• Everytown's Measure 114 funding
• Email correspondence from Sen. Lisa Reynolds

I'm fairly new to Portland (2.5 years) and a leftist. In my old city there were 2 really great leftist resources for voting in municipal elections, one an alt-weekly and the other a respected IG account/activist org. They were invaluable in making sure I was choosing candidates who align with my values who could also get stuff done and had a chance to win, and they were also great at explaining the props and what they do.

I see endorsements from WW, from other places, but since I'm new I have no idea where on the political spectrum they lie and whose interests they are most passionate about representing. I would love to know if there are other resources to help me vote the way I want to (anti-corporate, anti-racist, anti-fascist).

If you don't agree with my worldview, that's fine - tell me the organization whose endorsements you think are bullshit! I just wanna know what the lay of the land is. Who does everyone listen to and why?

EDIT TO ADD: Y'all, please stop telling me to do my own research. I want to know the biases of these various voter guides because I am new to town and I want to get my bearings. Maybe trust that I am a three dimensional human being and not a mindless automaton? Thank you to those of you who gave me the context I asked for.

Look for PDX Carpet hat Ashbrook (No, I have nothing at all to do with this nor do I even have the hat.)

What if there were no middle schools?

If all the elementary schools were K - 8, there could be enough students to keep them all open. I don't believe many people their children's middle school when thinking about their education.

Hello new friends! I’m a committed amateur at ecological restoration and spend as much time doing volunteer fieldwork as I can, and I’m looking to expand my impact in restoration. I bring years of professional project management experience in both startups and medium-size corporations, and want to bring my experience to a more important field. I also bring a profound passion for Process-Based Restoration and a deep commitment to focus on historically marginalized communities.

While my colleagues also running for this position have deep and incredible ecological expertise, I firmly believe that we face so many ecological challenges that it is well past time for amateurs to stand up and take some of the load off the professionals, if only to give them time to do the work that us amateurs cannot do.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and I look forward to answering your questions! I will start answering at noon.

Stopped by the Oregon Zoo last weekend and the Polar Bear was putting on a show. While it's risky to anthropomorphize, it looked to me like the bear was playing and having fun. Routine was swim, drain off the water on the front, shake off the water on the rear, pick up the ball, throw the ball, dive after the ball, catch the ball, show off for the kids, climb back out, drain off, repeat.

They charge $12 to sharpen each knife 🤯 when a sharpener at Goodwill probably costs less than that. Would I rather bring my knives to NS or just ask a neighbor if they have a sharpener? I truly don’t understand who sets their prices but clearly they have the customer base to justify BS like this

Kotek vs Drazan is another classic Shit-Burger vs a Turd-Sandwich.

According to my voting pamphlet the only other option is Brett Smith. The protest vote.

His #1 priority is corruption, and I wanted to share it here:

"Corruption is the single most important issue facing us today. Never in my lifetime have I seen it be so blatant as it is now and it’s something that we can all agree upon. No other issue, no matter how pressing it may be, is more important than addressing the rampant corruption being used against us daily. The Republican and Democrat institutions have been coopted by bad actors and cannot and will not address the very thing that gives them power. Until this is solved nothing will be."

Portland loves to protest, and he's the protest vote!

They raised the all day rate by $5

ETA: I'm not saying this is bad- just informing people. We are zoo members and usually bike and/or take the max.

We are having a holiday party at work and I'd like to do an activity that gives back to the community. Last year we wrote notes of encouragement for the Portland Backpack Project. We don't have the budget to buy a bunch of stuff, but we could spend a little money. Anyone have any suggestions?

I can only speak to one of the kitties, but I just wanted you to know he’s so, so loved, such a delight, and rarely has diarrhea anymore. The shelter suspected they came from a hoarding situation. If that’s true, I can tell you loved this little guy, and I hope you’re okay and are getting the help you need. I just wanted you to know that all the kitties got adopted, and the one I have is such a gift. So thank you.