PSU Police Unarmed + Vaccination Sites Close + PDX Plant Shortage

I’m back and I just can’t stop talking all about Portland — maybe more than anyone has a right to.

Weather

Cloudy for most of the day, with a chance of showers in the early afternoon. High temp of 68.

Top news stories for Portland

1. Bad news for gardeners, as plant shortages plague local nurseries. When people became home bound in the wake of the pandemic, many turned to plants as a way to keep themselves occupied. That increased demand has put a strain on the supply chain and nurseries are seeing a shortage of plants. (KATU)
2. Now that the majority of Oregonians have been vaccinated and COVID cases are dropping, so is demand for the vaccine. Due to this, two of the busiest vaccination sites in Portland will be closing. The Oregon Convention Center and The Red Lot at Portland International Airport will be packing up on June 19th. (KOIN)
3. Police patrolling Portland State University will no longer be armed, starting this September. The plan of creating unarmed campus patrols began 2 years ago, after police shot and killed a Black man who was attempting to break up a fight. (OPB)
4. Clackamas County entered Oregon’s Lower Risk level for COVID-19 over the weekend. Gov. Kate Brown announced the county’s new status after it reached the goal of 65% vaccination rate for all adults. (KPTV)
5. The Oregon Legislature has made it harder for police officers to hide their identities. House Bill 3355 dictates identification requirements for law enforcement officers assigned to crowd control events, stating that they must affix unique identifiers to their uniforms and helmets. (Willamette Week)

Today’s events for Portland

1. AARP celebrates Pride Month by partnering with Pride Northwest and SAGE Metro PDX to put on a free, online concert. Featuring performances by Tatiana Hargreaves & Jake Blount, Amythyst Kiah and Angie K. While it’s free, online registration is required. 5:30 PM.
2. Annie Bloom’s Books will be livestreaming a conversation between Portland author Cindy Baldwin and author Jamie Pacton. Baldwin will be discussing her new Middle Grade novel, The Stars of Whistling Ridge. Register online. 7:00 PM
3. Eric Ward, Senior Fellow with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Race Forward, will be giving an online talk on The Roots of White Supremacy. Hosted by the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, it will be streamed over ZOOM. Registration required. 4:30 PM.
4. The Clinton Street Theater presents the documentary QUEERCORE: HOW TO PUNK A REVOLUTION. It features an extensive list of interviewees, including John Waters, Pansy Division, Kim Gordon and more. 7:00 PM
5. Are you a computer nerd? Do you like to eat dinner? Why not combine your passions by attending the Portland Geek Dinner – EASTSIDE! Meet others in the industry while sharing food and conversation. The meet happens at Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge in Southeast Portland. 5:30 PM

Portland Patch Notebook

1. Mimi’s Fresh Tees, a social justice clothing store, has just opened its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Portland. Owner Kamelah Adams is a Portland native and has been selling tee shirts since 2018. I may just have to update my wardrobe! (Mimi’s Fresh Tees)
2. Know someone that needs a computer, but doesn’t have the money to pay for it? They can get one free from local non-profit Free Geek. They’re dedicated to the sustainable reuse of technology and enabling better digital access for the community. They offer a number of programs the will grant participants a rebuilt computer for free. (Free Geek)
3. In case you didn’t know, Portland is a comic book mecca, boasting multiple comic book writers, artists and publishers. With the upcoming Eisner Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars in the world of comics, Portland is in the spotlight. Portland based Image Comics garnered 29 nominations, including a Best Continuing Series nomination for local writer David F. Walker’s series Bitter Root. Milwaukie’s Dark Horse scored seven nominations and Portland’s Oni Press received two. Winners will be announced next month. (Eisner Awards)

Where has the time gone? I guess it takes a while to talk about all the things going on in Portland. But I’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow. Stay groovy!