DA Mike Schmidt announces indictment of Jesse Calhoun
Portland, Ore. –
Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, has been formally charged with the murders of three women who were found deceased under suspicious circumstances in the past year. A Multnomah County grand jury indicted Calhoun on three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of abuse of a corpse, according to an announcement made by prosecutors on Friday.
The victims have been identified as Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leanne Webster, 31, and JoAnna Speaks, 32.
Initial reports by media outlets, had identified Calhoun as a person of interest last July, following the discovery of the women’s bodies in remote areas over a three-month period.
Calhoun was nearing the end of his sentence at the Snake River Correctional Institution, where he was serving time for burglary and car theft dating back to 2019. His sentence was commuted in 2021 by then-Governor Kate Brown, who reduced the sentences of Calhoun and 40 other inmates in recognition of their service as volunteer firefighters. Calhoun was scheduled for release next month.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley handed down the sentence for David DePape, 44, whom jurors found guilty last November of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. Prosecutors had asked for a 40-year prison term.
DePape was given 20 years for one count and 30 years for another count. The sentences will run concurrently. He was also given credit for the 18 months that he’s been in custody.
DePape stood silently as Judge Corley handed the sentence and looked down at times. His public defense attorneys had asked the judge to sentence him to 14 years, pointing out that he was going through a difficult time in his life and had no prior criminal history.
Corley said she took into account when giving DePape’s sentence the fact that he broke into the home of public official, an unprecedented act in the history of the country.
“He actually went to the home, that is completely, completely unprecedented,” she said.
Before sentencing, Christine Pelosis read victim statements on behalf of her father and mother, explaining how the violent attack changed their lives.
“The Pelosi family couldn’t be prouder of their Pop and his tremendous courage in saving his own life on the night of the attack and in testifying in this case,” Aaron Bennett, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement. “Speaker Pelosi and her family are immensely grateful to all who have sent love and prayers over the last eighteen months, as Mr. Pelosi continues his recovery.”
DePape admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco home Oct. 28, 2022, intending to hold the speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up, saying his plan to end what he viewed as government corruption was unraveling.
The attack on Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, was captured on police body camera video just days before the midterm elections and sent shockwaves through the political world.
Defense attorneys argued DePape was motivated by his political beliefs, not because he wanted to interfere with Nancy Pelosi’s official duties as a member of Congress, making the charges against him invalid.
One of his attorneys, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that DePape was caught up in conspiracy theories.
At trial DePape, a Canadian who moved to the U.S. more than 20 years ago, testified that he believed news outlets repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump. In rants posted on a blog and online forum that were taken down after his arrest, DePape echoed the baseless, right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory that claims a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles runs the U.S. government.
DePape also told jurors he had planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his interrogation of the Democratic speaker, who was not at the home at the time of the attack, to upload it online.
Prosecutors said he had rope and zip ties with him, and detectives found body cameras, a computer and a tablet.
Paul Pelosi also testified at the trial, recalling how he was awakened by a large man bursting into the bedroom and asking, “Where’s Nancy?” He said that when he responded that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
“It was a tremendous sense of shock to recognize that somebody had broken into the house, and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I recognized that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Pelosi told jurors.
DePape is also charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other felonies. Jury selection in that trial is expected to start Wednesday.
Paul Pelosi suffered two head wounds in the attack, including a skull fracture that was mended with plates and screws he will have for the rest of his life. His right arm and hand were also injured.
The 2024 Oregon International Air Show will take place from Friday to Sunday at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport. This year’s event will feature the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper and the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Rhino demonstration teams. On Friday night, attendees can look forward to an exciting lineup, including a new drone show and flyovers with sparks and fireworks.
Lt. Caleb Smith with the U.S. Navy Rhino Demo Team, says the F/A-18 has a strong presence in Hollywood films, such as Top Gun: Maverick.
F/A -18 in flightU.S. Navy Rhino Demo Team
Capt. Taylor Hiester, the F-16 Demo Team Commander says “The first airshow I attended was in 2003 and I’ll never forget seeing a fighter jet fly for the 1st time…Our goal is to inspire both young Americans and old Americans to serve their community…our team is designed to be an example of what it looks like when a small group of people give everything they have for something bigger than themselves.
F-16 in flightF-16 in flight 2F-16 Viper Demonstration Team
All planes will be based at the Hillsboro Airport, except for the Viper and Rhino, which will fly over from Portland International Airport. On Saturday, around 14 planes will be on display, including F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing and a MH-60M helicopter from the 160th SOAR.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The air show will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. each day. Tickets can be purchased online.
DALLESPORT, Wash. — State assistance is being mobilized for a fire across the Columbia River from The Dalles, near the town of Dallesport in Klickitat County. Washington State Patrol (WSP) said Thursday evening that the Tidyman Road Fire had reached an estimated 20 acres.
The fire started around 2:45 p.m. and was burning at a lumber mill and in the wildland-urban interface area, WSP said. There were no evacuations in effect as of Thursday evening, but WSP said that homes, infrastructure and “cultural values” were threatened.
Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighter resources at 6:15 p.m. at the request of the fire chief for Klickitat County Fire District 6.
State officials had ordered three firefighter strike teams to the area, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office was working to coordinate the dispatch of resources. Washington’s State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remained activated at Level 3 – Monitoring.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This is a developing story and may be updated with more details as they emerge.
Police have been investigating ever since reports first came in six weeks ago.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Someone has reportedly been throwing cans of food off of a high-rise apartment building in downtown Portland for weeks.
The cans have been crashing onto the ground, damaging cars and putting people’s safety at risk. People who walk and work in the area have now been voicing their concerns.
KOIN 6 News spoke with someone who had their property damaged. For workers at Higgins Restaurant, it became a reality to witness cans thrown from a building whizzing by them, barely missing, and sometimes hitting their car. Employees said they found nearly 10 cans.
Lauren Ellis, a bartender at Higgins, told KOIN 6 it’s hard to pinpoint what unit from Ladd Tower the cans are coming from, making it hard to hold anybody responsible.
Last month, she said a coworker at the restaurant warned her someone was throwing canned goods from the high-rise apartment building across the street from Higgins. Then one night, she noticed cans near her car after her shift. It wasn’t until the next morning that she saw the car roof had been dented.
“I kind of looked at my car at first to see there wasn’t any initial damage and didn’t think to look at the top of my car,” Ellis said. “I’m lucky it didn’t hit the windshield or I wasn’t in the vehicle when the can hit my car.”
A woman’s car roof was dented after someone throwed cans from a high-rise apartment in downtown Portland. May 16, 2024 (courtesy Lauren Ellis).
A can in downtown Portland is suspected to be one of many thrown from a high-rise apartment. May 16, 2024 (courtesy Lauren Ellis).
A can in downtown Portland is suspected to be one of many thrown from a high-rise apartment. May 16, 2024 (courtesy Lauren Ellis).
A can in downtown Portland is suspected to be one of many thrown from a high-rise apartment. May 16, 2024 (courtesy Lauren Ellis).
Nearly six weeks ago, the Portland Police Bureau received the first report of a car being damaged by canned goods. They said the person responsible is reportedly occupying an upper-level apartment in Ladd Tower, making it incredibly difficult to pinpoint the exact unit.
Central Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team is now investigating.
“There’s been close calls with some of our employees and our employees have witnessed close calls with other pedestrians — almost seems like it’s intentionally aimed for people walking by,” said Dylan Shmitt, a general manager at Higgins.
The cans appear to be coming from the north side of Ladd Tower, along Southwest Jefferson Street between Park Avenue and Broadway.
The Holland Partner Group, which manages the Ladd Tower, released a statement, saying in part:
“[A]t this point, our security team has not found any evidence of what is being described as coming from our building; however, we have urged them to contact police and our front office if they see something like this taking place from our property.”
People who work at Higgins said they are on high alert.
“It’s been happening in the afternoons when people are arriving for our evening shifts and so it’s a danger to actual commuters and civilians out here,” Shmitt said. “The end of last week when our most recent encounter was one of our chefs almost got hit by it and exploded right next to him.”
Portland police said to contact them if you have any information.
Rhubarb, also known as the “pie plant,” is a quintessentially Northwest ingredient and a harbinger of spring. It also holds a special place in my heart—it grew wild near my childhood home, and I love it so much I even named my cat after it. Here’s where to get your fill of the blush-pink, sweet-tart stalks this season, from cake to pie to doughnuts.
Note: Availability may vary. We recommend calling ahead to check to ensure specials are still available—or just take your chances and accept the fact that you may end up with an equally delicious, non-rhubarb option.
The cozy French bistro is celebrating the season with its “La Rhubarbe” cocktail (vodka, rhubarb simple syrup, lemon, dry vermouth, sfumato rhubarb amaro, and soda). Woodstock
Around this time of year, the Vietnamese bakery that’s sister to the James Beard Award-winning fine dining restaurant Berlu makes its bánh khoai mì nướng (a satisfyingly chewy cassava root cake) with strips of locally grown Winter Farms rhubarb, layered on the bottom of the cake pan and baked until caramelized. Buckman
The dairy-centric snack shop has reprised its fan favorite rhubarb crumble sundae special, known simply as “Rhubarbara.” The dessert consists of vanilla soft serve, Oregon rhubarb compote, and cinnamon oat streusel. Kerns
This trendy neighborhood cafe and bar has two rhubarb-based beverages right now: the “Two in the Bush” (vodka, Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro, a house-made strawberry rhubarb shrub, lemon, an egg white, and simple syrup) and the vegan and non-alcoholic variation “Strawberry Darryl” (strawberry rhubarb shrub, lemon, aquafaba, and simple syrup). Kerns
The charming pie bakery says, “We are of the opinion that caramelly/buttery/crunchy streusel is the ideal pairing for bright and fruity rhubarb,” and I couldn’t agree more. Their rhubarb streusel pie embodies this heavenly combination. If you’re for some reason not into buttery, crumbly topping (not sure why you wouldn’t be, but okay), they’ve also got a classic strawberry rhubarb pie and a blueberry rhubarb Danish. Richmond
The enduring Italian staple recently introduced a velvety elderflower and rhubarb semifreddo with vanilla cake, Chantilly cream, and a sprinkle of tiny elderflower blossoms. Buckman
Portland City Leaders held a press conference this morning to discuss the community-city initiative called CeaseFire, aimed to curb gun violence in the upcoming months. The leaders included Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland Police Chief Bob Day, Sierra Ellis, the director of Ceasefire and others.
At the end of 2022, Portland experienced an all-time high in gun violence. However, last year saw a 22% reduction in overall shootings. Mayor Ted Wheeler credited this decline to Ceasefire.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day mentioned that one of the reasons he returned to the force was to be part of this collaborative approach to enhancing life safety in the Rose City. Ceasefire also plans to educate students in summer programs about the danger of guns.
Who’s ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland’s best concerts and events—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 fun events coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!
Kamasi Washington is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader born and raised in Los Angeles. His three bodies of work to date include The Epic,Harmony of Difference (an EP originally commissioned for the 2017 Whitney Biennial), and Heaven and Earth, all of which are among the most acclaimed of this century. His new album Fearless Movement, inspired by dance and the birth of his first daughter, is out now. Get your tickets now or enter to win free tix here!
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Sun June 2, 8 pm, $40-$50, all ages
George Clinton is one of the foremost innovators of funk music, and was the mastermind behind the bands Parliament and Funkadelic and captured 40 hit R&B singles, including No. 1 hits “Flashlight,” “One Nation Under a Groove,” “Aqua Boogie,” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep.” Don’t miss your chance to celebrate 50 years of funk! Get your tickets now or enter to win free tix here!
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Fri June 14, 8 pm, $55-$70, 21+
The Prids play Polaris Hall on May 25th! One of Portland’s longest running bands, DIY dark pop outfit The Prids share swirling pop songcraft and air-brushed punk melodies from their best and most cohesive album yet, Do I Look Like I’m In Love?Get your tickets now or enter to win free tix here!
Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth Ct, Sat May 25, 8 pm, $16, 21+
This Will Destroy You plays Aladdin Theater on May 25! Atmospheric post-rock outfit This Will Destroy You visits in celebration of the 10 Year Anniversary of their acclaimed LP, Tunnel Blanket. Get your tickets now or enter to win free tix here!
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Sat May 25, 8 pm, $25, all ages
Sabertooth psychedelic stoner rock festival draws nigh! Catch two full nights of rock on two stages, and enjoy beer brewed on site in collab with Sabertooth bands. Featuring Black Mountain, Blackwater Holylight, Death Valley Girls, and more! Get your tickets now or enter to win free tix here!
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Fri May 31 & Sat June 1, $40-$85, 21+
GOOD LUCK! Winners will be notified on Monday. Check back next week for more FREE TIX from the Mercury!
A spike in car thefts has impacted thousands of Portlanders over the last few years. Now, it seems that trend has been reversed.
PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s no secret that the problem of stolen vehicles has plagued Portlanders for the last couple of years. But now, it appears the trend has been reversed.
Portland police reported that over the last 12 months, stolen vehicle operations have consistently delivered results in reducing vehicle theft rates. In March 2023, officers said there were 747 vehicles reported stolen. A year later, in March 2024, it was 442. That’s a 40% decrease.
Officers in Portland are finding and recovering more stolen cars with more accuracy. Police officer Michael Terrett, the lead officer of the stolen vehicle operations, said this is a big win.
“We’re noticing that it’s actually getting more challenging to find stolen vehicles, which is a good sign,” he said.
Admittedly, Portland police said they couldn’t do this alone.
“I mean the numbers speak for themselves. It is a unique collaboration, but one that works,” Terrett said.
One of Portland police’s unique partners is Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute. Scientists and data analysts help officers hone in on what’s working during stolen vehicle operations, and turn that into a formula to help them better identify occupied stolen cars.
“The goal is, if we can minimize the amount of stops we do, but get better outcomes in the sense that we take an active stolen vehicle out of the community, return the vehicle, and also we’re able to prosecute the person, that is really what this program is about,” Terrett said.
Even with this focused approach, officers can’t see everything all the time, but with the help of community — specifically the PDX Stolen Cars Facebook community — their reach extends.
“There’s such a level of eyeballs on that information, that they’re able to really point us in a very precise direction,” Terrett said.
Titan Crawford, the founder of PDX Stolen Cars, works with his team of volunteers independently, but alongside, officers.
“The more eyes and the more ears, the more cars were going to find,” Crawford said.
A group of four people work on each stolen vehicle mission.
“We take our own cars and we go out into the area that police are looking for a stolen vehicles, and what’s different about those is the resources available. You’ve got officers from Clackamas County, Multnomah County, Gresham — even Vancouver participates — and when you find stolen vehicles, they’re able to respond in a minute’s time.”
Even when not on a formal mission, the members of the group are always on the lookout, crowdsourcing by snapping and posting pictures of what they believe to be stolen vehicles, while cruising around or even on their own street. With 20,000 members in the Facebook group, they cover a lot of ground and provide information to police.
Both Crawford and Terrett said the car thieves that are out there are getting craftier.
“Sometimes, they are hiding in plain sight. It used to be if you heard a catalytic converter that was removed from a car or you saw a car driving with a broken window and no plate, that was an obvious clue that that was a stolen vehicle,” Crawford said.
Terrett said some car thieves find a license place from a matching vehicle to use.
“There are tricks that we’re seeing to help de-identify the car or make the car not stand out as much,” Terrett said.
Now the work continues to stay ahead of the curve and they’re confident the trends will continue, seeing how well their partnerships have paid off.
“We certainly had a hope and a belief that if we looked at this in a in a very specific way —if we go outside the box and if we applied best practices from outside industries, from the private sector, from the medical industry and we leverage their methodologies — that we could improve our results. That was the goal,” Terrett said.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon is home to the steepest four-person gondola ride in North America, according to Travel Oregon, and the seasonal, 3,700-foot lift is set to reopen on May 18.
Built in 1970, the Wallowa Lake Tramway carries passengers from Wallowa Lake to the summit of Mount Howard. At an elevation of 8,150 feet, riders get out to panoramic views of the Wallowa Mountains — one of the ‘7 Wonders’ of Oregon.
“In just under 15 minutes you are taken on a 3,700-foot ascent to the summit of Mount Howard, where you’ll be treated to awe-inspiring views of the Wallowa Valley including the communities of Joseph, Enterprise, Lostine and Wallowa,” Travel Oregon writes.
Once passengers reach the top, people can go for a secluded mountaintop hike or stop for food and drinks at the Wallowa Lake Tramway & Summit Grill. According to county visitation numbers provided by Travel Oregon, the Wallowas are one of Oregon’s least-visited natural wonders. Each year, Wallowa County sees 97,912 visitors — a fraction of the annual visitors seen in Multnomah (2,786,516), Umatilla (468,986), Deschutes (1,586,917) and Klamath (500,108) Counties.
File: Wallowa Lake State Park (KOIN)
The Swiss-made gondola rides operate from May to September in unison with the Wallowa Lake Tramway & Summit Grill. The restaurant offers a variety of soups, sandwiches and beer from one of the tallest peaks in the Pacific Northwest. The Tramway & Summit Grill opens at 10:15 a.m. on days when the lift is running. Food service ends at 3:30 p.m. and drinks are sold until 4 p.m.
“Before or after eating at the Summit Grill & Alpine Patio, we invite you to go for a hike and enjoy over 2 miles of trails with spectacular viewpoints and an abundance of great scenery,” the Summit Grill webpage states. “The quiet peacefulness at the summit area and dynamic scenery is why the Wallowa Mountains were designated and were considered the ‘best view in Oregon’ and is truly a place to remember.”
Seasonal hours, pricing and reservations for the gondola rides are available through the Wallowa Lake Tramway website. Standard tickets for adults ages 18 to 64 cost $50. The aerial tram will run on weekends from May 18 to May 27 and on a daily basis from June 1 to Sept. 29.
Portland’s Inclusionary Housing program is intended to help the city’s affordable housing needs, but could instead make it worse, an audit found.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Unclear goals, lack of resources and trusting compliance are some of the risks identified by a recent audit of one of Portland’s most-criticized affordable housing programs.
The city audit of Portland’s Inclusionary Housing initiative released Wednesday revealed that if adjustments are not made by Portland’s Housing Bureau, a program intended to help the city’s affordable housing needs could instead make it worse.
The program requires new apartment buildings with 20 units or more to make some of them affordable to tenants earning less than the area’s median income for 99 years after the building opens. In return, property owners and developers can get some tax breaks and fees waived to help offset the revenue loss for those units.
Despite these incentives, the initiative has remained highly contentious since its adoption in 2017, to a point where several 19-unit apartment buildings have sprung up in a clear effort to avoid meeting the affordability requirements.
Critics of the policy also contend that it has stifled the creation of housing and added to the affordability and housing crisis at hand.
While a lot of attention has been paid to these critiques, City Auditor Simone Rede’s office said less focus has gone toward whether housing through the initiative is being used as intended and is addressing Portland’s housing needs.
From the start of the program to April 2023, 566 apartments for rent across 78 buildings had been built and around 1,157 more units were anticipated, according to the audit. Plus, two condominium buildings had been built.
Most of the new apartment units built and planned are income-restricted to tenants earning no more than 60% of the Median Family Income (MFI), which in Portland is $47,400 for a one-person household.
Nearly 70% of these units are in what’s considered “high opportunity” areas of Portland that have “superior access to quality schools, services, amenities and transportation” — like downtown Portland and the city’s inner east side, where rent can typically be higher. This is largely because Inclusionary Housing is mixed alongside market-rate apartments in privately developed buildings; developers want to build in these areas because they are highly desirable to renters.
What is affordable?
However, despite the program’s success in creating affordable housing, the audit found multiple problems that could in turn make it more difficult for people struggling to find lower cost options; starting with how affordability is calculated.
“The Program has created new housing opportunities for moderate-income households — those making below 60% and 80% MFI — not Portlanders facing the greatest economic disparities,” the report said.
The eligibility and rents for Inclusionary Housing are tied to the Median Family Income for the Portland area. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) calculates the MFI using incomes from both homeowners and renters. Since the median income for homeowners tends to be significantly higher than the average renter, the Median Family Income for an area can quickly become skewed, and in turn, increase Inclusionary Housing’s rent and eligibility ceiling.
“The expanded eligibility and rent increases may make Inclusionary Housing apartments less accessible to households whose incomes have not risen at the same rate,” the report said.
Portland city code also allows property owners to require that tenants make a minimum income. This is to ensure tenants don’t default on rent, minimizing risk for the owner. For apartments priced below market-rate, per city code, property owners can require tenants to prove they earn at least two-and-a-half times the rent, while most market-rate tenants are asked to show they earn two times the rent.
Because the Inclusionary Housing program requires that renters not make more than the maximum allowable income, the income minimum can narrow the eligibility window substantially. It also further ties a string to the area’s Median Family Income, making it harder and harder for people to afford housing in Portland when their incomes may not have risen as quickly as others.
The audit found that this has substantially limited the ability for Black families looking to rent in Portland to find housing. While a family’s median income may be high enough to be eligible for Inclusionary Housing, when property owners require a minimum income fewer Black families can find apartments that may best suit their family size, according to the report.
Since Inclusionary Housing units are mixed with market-rate housing, most of the apartments are studios and one-bedroom units. Of the 566 Inclusionary Housing units built, 435 are studios or one-bedroom apartments. Only around 23% of the units are considered “family sized.”
Compliance woes
If a developer chooses to not set aside units to be affordable, they can pay a fee instead. Between July 2017 and April 2023, the Housing Bureau collected more than $5 million in fees. According to the audit, the bureau expects to collect an additional $7 million by the end of 2025 from a single building.
For the most part, these relatively low collections suggest that while the Inclusionary Housing initiative is highly criticized, developers and project owners tend to include affordable units over paying a fee.
The fees are supposed to fund future affordable housing development, but according to the auditor this hasn’t happened yet. Instead, the Housing Bureau has been using the fees collected over the course of five years to fund operating costs for the Inclusionary Housing program.
“Bureau managers said they plan in the future to use the fees to also fill affordable housing finance gaps,” the audit report said.
The audit also found that Housing Bureau staff rely on the “honor system” in assessing whether the rents charged and tenant income reported by project owners and property managers are correct. The bureau doesn’t require owners to submit backup documentation in their annual compliance report.
As of May 2023, Housing Bureau staff were also two years behind in reviewing all submitted compliance reports, according to the auditor’s office. And based on the current pipeline of Inclusionary Housing units, buildings the Housing Bureau will need to monitor will more than double.
“Without timely compliance monitoring, the Bureau cannot always identify and correct issues that can nullify the affordability benefits of the Program,” the report said. “This creates a risk that Inclusionary Housing units may not help meet Portland’s affordable housing needs.”
In response to the auditor’s report, Commissioner Carmen Rubio and Portland Housing Bureau Director Helmi Hisserich largely defended the program’s work and pushed back against many assertions made in the auditor’s report — like that the Housing Bureau should help property owners and managers market and lease Inclusionary Housing units.
They also said the program is “ill-suited” to provide housing to those that are significantly below 60% of the area’s median income and that low-income households are served best through permanent supportive housing options that include more wrap-around services.
“We provided this report to the Housing Bureau and the Commissioner in Charge for their response,” auditors noted, in part. “Their response did not specify agreement with our audit findings and recommendations.”
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A suspicious death investigation is underway after police found a dead man in Southwest Portland Wednesday morning.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded just before 11 a.m. on reports of a death in a home near Southwest Garden Home Road and Southwest 71 Avenue. When they arrived, they found a man dead.
Officials said that homicide detectives were called in based on evidence found at the scene. However, police said they aren’t looking for any suspects.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact police.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The iconic Mirage hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip will shut its doors on July 17. It marks the end of an era for a property credited with helping transform Sin City into an ultra-luxury resort destination.
The closure will clear the way for major renovations and construction on the property.
It is expected to reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Las Vegas with a 700-foot hotel tower in the shape of a guitar.
The Mirage opened in 1989 as the Strip’s first megaresort, and its success ushered in a building boom through the 1990s.
PORTLAND, Ore. — From student, to teacher, to social worker, to business owner. Jessie Burke has made her way along a varied career path. Burke hopes her next stop, is a stint on the Multnomah County Commission, representing District 2.
“I own the Society Hotel.” She has one location in Portland’s Old Town and another in Bingen, Washington. She’s now a partner and C.E.O. of the Society Hotel Brand.
That’s not how she started out. “I’m originally from Washington D.C. My undergraduate degree is in teaching. I went to be a social worker after teaching at an after school program at Roosevelt High School. And went back to get my master’s in public administration.”
She says disillusionment led to a big change in her life.
“Many people, myself included, in college, you think that government and nonprofit are doing God’s work. And private sector is the devil early on. And that’s definitely how I came to the table. And then I had this poignant moment where I did an internship at Prosper Portland. I was sure was going to be a sense of urgency for the community and efficiency. And how we affected change. And I actually felt like everyone was not urgent, and was running for public office and I was heartbroken.”
She says this is what’s breaking her heart now.
“That stuff is crushing me. Seeing people making policies that are not working ground level. That are not front facing. And seeing the effects. People dying outside. I have people dying in my hotel rooms because they think that they can dabble in the drugs. And I have to get the coroner in the building. Hopefully it doesn’t affect the experience of the other guests.”
She told other small business owners at the East Portland Chamber, she shares their concerns.
“One elected official once asked me, What do your customers say? What do you think they say? What a terrible place this is. I rely on people not knowing where we’re located. I understand any of you in business. I know what you’re going through. We are drowning in Old Town right now.”
If voters choose her to be their representative in Multnomah County’s District 2, these will be her priorities. “Three things. We need a central database of available shelter beds. We need sobering centers. And we need measurable metrics for every contract.”
If you’re acquainted with avant-garde music history, you might already know the story. One day in 1979, Brian Eno happened upon Laraaji meditatively busking with an electric zither in Washington Square Park and scrawled a short note inviting him to collaborate. Equally present in the online sphere is the counterpoint that Laraaji “discovered” Eno that day, a sentiment I tend to agree with. Although their partnership resulted in the shimmery album Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, Laraaji had already released an otherworldly debut, Celestial Vibration, before Eno stumbled across his trance-state performance in the New York park.
These days, Laraaji closes his emails with frog emojis and the phrase “vast field pervading,” which makes sense. The 81-year-old multiinstrumentalist and New Age pioneer creates poetry in each moment. Laraaji is also one of the genre’s warmest characters—he has worn primarily orange for decades, and his blissful DIY oeuvre includes laughter meditation “playshops” worldwide.
Laraaji has opened for Solange, performed with plants at South by Southwest, and created hazy albums with fellow experimenters Sun Araw and Blues Control. Make no mistake: Laraaji is “out there,” but also a true New Yorker grounded in his vision, creating everything from guided meditation and reiki albums to force-of-nature instrumentals that have helped shape the New Age and ambient music landscapes for decades.
His process is compact and portable. Using modified autoharps, electrified kalimbas, an array of pedals, and improvisational trance states, Laraaji channels an ambrosial, lilting sound that’s positioned him as something of a do-good sonic alchemist in musical history. His layered compositions stretch across whole vinyl sides but still feel light and luminous, like melodic affirmations. It’s music as experience: Laraaji leads you to the cosmic waters, all you’ve gotta do is drink.
Laraaji and Sam Prekop (of the Sea and Cake) are performing as a duo on their Solar Reunion Tour in Portland and Seattle. The shows are curated and presented by Age of Reflections, an immersive event series for sound, light, and space. Ahead of the shows, I spoke to Laraaji (and his frog puppet, Dr. Love) about laughter and healing sounds.
MERCURY: You’ve participated in so many collaborations throughout your career. You’ve got upcoming shows with [The Sea and Cake musician] Sam Prekop in Portland and Seattle, but you’ve also worked with everyone from Solange to your partner, Arji Oceananda. Even going back to your time creating [the psychedelic ’80s-era public access TV show] Celestrana, you’ve invited collaborators into your sphere. If Celestrana existed in 2024, who would you invite onto the show?
Laraaji:Mmmm [laughs]. Yo Yo Ma! Michael Brook, jazz bassists, and jazz guitarists. Is Roberta Flack still with us? And some percussionists. Zakir Hussain. Yes! Can you imagine that? And some spontaneous, creative, dance movement people.
Speaking of Celestrana, do you find yourself relating to your older music differently now? What emotions come up when you listen to [your 1978 debut album] Celestial Vibration, for instance?
Laraaji: A heightened sense of present time, and an expansive sense of time, too, like eternalness. A field that is continuous and unbroken. A joy, a joy of acknowledging the self that extends beyond the physical body form.
Dr. Love (left) with Laraaji and interviewer Lindsay Costello. LC
Some of your most tried and true collaborators seem to be your frog puppets, Dr. Love and Dr. Peace, who you purchased from a toy store in Florida back in the ’80s. Oh, thank God, you’re going to bring out Dr. Love… I was so hoping this would happen.
Dr. Love: Hey.
Laraaji: Dr. Love gets me into a transcendental place. In the ‘80s, I was in Florida for a conference and a performance. I stayed at the home of the secretary of one of the New Age centers. During the day, I was just watching television when she said, “Hey, let’s get out of the house. I’m going to the mall, do you want to go with me?” I said yes without thinking.
I walked across the mall and into this toy store. I walked down one aisle, turned left, turned another left, and looked down. There were these two friendly beings. I picked them up, walked to the counter, and paid for them. It was all as if by guidance, remote guidance.
I had so much fun interacting with these little friends before I even dared to think somebody else would enjoy me interacting with them. And they turned out to be… I don’t know if the word is Gestalt, but I could go into a very nonlinear space and channel wisdom from that space. Dr. Love exposed me to a language for altering the function of the mind from a linear processing instrument into vertical field awareness. This is getting kind of technical, but from that perspective, I was able to bring forth information, details, and sometimes a lot of humor. If it’s for entertainment only, I tend to shy away from it, but when I’m in the moment with a yoga group or a meditation community, it flows better.
Dr. Love:Dajenetko kokona nesovech anev. Songa tao donquaa sanech anev.
Laraaji: “While we’re holding this conversation an unbroken unified field is permeating this whole technical apparatus, the digital, um…
Dr. Love: Degushi nuvi?
Laraaji: “…iPad Pro.”
[Pausing, speechless, enraptured.] We’re so blessed that Dr. Love is here. You share your meditation practice on your dublab show, Laraaji Laughs. You also teach “seriously playful” laughter workshops. During laughter meditation, when you feel that total dissolving of ego and boundaries… can that be sort of funny? Or is laughter more of a tool for the spirit?
Laraaji: I won’t leave funny out of the equation. The shortest distance between two people is laughter—boundaries come down and we become available and vulnerable. As I’ve laughed around the globe, I’ve noticed that even though I might not speak the language, when laughter is happening, there’s no question that we’re on the same page. The laughter that I’ve experienced is funny, it’s infectious. When we’re really into our laughter, it also triggers someone else’s laughter. The word “funny” might also be examined here. When we say funny, we might mean playful, disarming, or lovable. We’re lightening up, coming out of density and rigidity, and floating in a light or a buoyancy.
During the playshops, laughter is something to get going throughout the entire body. We work on the head, the throat, the endocrine system, the heart, the abdominal organs, and the lungs. The laughter goes for the entire energy field. [Laughs.] While doing this, I focus on scanning my entire body and seeing where there is any blockage or looseness. I send the luminous language of laughter into that area.
Mmm.
Laraaji: You have a nice mmm.
When I make that sound, I’m feeling it in my throat, and thinking about what you said about laughter in different areas of the body—I’m feeling the tone in my throat and how mmm might lead to a laugh.
Laraaji: Laughter is toning too, if we do our exercises. I call them laughtercizes. Eventually, our voice becomes softer and lighter. We can use these exercises to soften ourselves up before a conference, or before we talk with someone, or before going on stage. Laughter can lead to a lighter, lovely tone in our voice.
I love your devotion to wearing the color orange because it feels like the color of laughter.
Laraaji: Thank you!It’s radiant. It’s called the color of the second chakra. Creativity energy, sexual energy, fast food energy.
Has wearing one color for so long brought anything surprising into your life? Do any interesting interactions or stories come to mind?
Laraaji: Quite a few. In Spain, I watched people look at me pretty intensely until I discovered that they use a lot of butane and the butane tank cleaners wear all orange. Sometimes I’d be walking in a city like Berlin and I’d hear somebody chanting “Hari Krishna!” very playfully. And crossing the street, a truck driver will shout, “Ain’t nobody gonna hit you with all that color on!”
I’ve been in the woods in upstate New York and seen a buck at a distance, looking at me and stomping his feet, probably associating me with the color of a hunter. Even butterflies and bees—when I’m out in the wooded area they’ll come by, circle me, and sniff to see if I’m a flower or something. The color triggers them.
Laraaji: On my list of things to do is to visit the Amazon, but I hadn’t thought about playing music there… I didn’t think of it as an acoustic place in which to experiment. I’ve been considering the idea of the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal, following the footsteps of Paul Horn, who made music in those very acoustically lively places.
You create these waves of vibratory, shimmering sound, and they remind me of this Buddhist concept that I’ve been trying to get my head around lately: paticca samuppada, the interdependent co-arising of all things. I hear an interdependent co-arising of all these instruments, layers, and sounds, but there’s also something about your music that makes me think of silence itself. It makes me think of what I might hear if I were tuned into an underlying rhythm or pulse of the universe.
Laraaji: That’s very intuitive of you because more and more silence is entering my live performances. I leave a very noticeable silence. I appreciate audiences accepting the idea of silence or stillness or clearing. Sometimes I call it “impressions of the clearing,” or music that points to the unstressed field. A universal present time; stillness from the activity of thought flow and sensing the universality of this moment.
What, culturally, is pulling people back toward your improvisational healing sound?
Laraaji: I have found that improvisation is my go-to approach to being present, enjoying my presence, and enjoying the universe. Improvisation allows me to be in the moment without labored linear thinking. I contact worlds I could not have imagined through thinking. New music can show up if I am open enough and unprepared enough. Most of the meaningful music that has come through me has come through spontaneity.
All of the music I’ve released represents an improvisational trust and focus. I call it the celestial agenda or the celestial focus—by contemplating an absolute field or timeless presence, I massage, interact with, love, hold, embrace, and play with imagined absolute present time. It’s the imagined universal, or the imagined oneness, that’s permeating every individual conscious being. Yeah, this is a very potent interview. You’re bringing things out of me I haven’t put into words before.
What do you still dream of learning?
Laraaji: Teleportation. I once dreamt of learning to play the organ, and I achieved that through synthesizers. I also dream of learning to direct and produce a hilarious cinema film.
I can imagine that. Where would you teleport to if you could?
Laraaji: Well, I’d like to know there were stations on the West Coast, London, Tokyo, Melbourne, and Paris. I’d also like to check out Alpha Centauri A and B, just to see what it feels like. Or Keller—I hear it’s a planet, lightyears away, whose nature represents a habitat that could sustain human life. I’d also like to teleport to Bahia, where there are African descendants. It’s a very musical space. I’d like to use music or sound to teleport listeners far beyond their imagination, to places with no stress—where they could receive information and guidance on living their journey on Earth more fully.
That’s beautiful. Teleportation for good.
Laraaji: Yes. But have you ever seen a movie called The Fly? There’s a lesson in there—be careful about your experiments!
Hahahahahahahahahaha! LC
Can we laugh together, for a minute or so?
Laraaji: Let’s see, we’re usually in the chest, behind the breastbone. There’s something called the thymus—it’s been called the seat of our immune system, and it produces T cells. There’s a traditional practice of thumping the thymus. We can reproduce it with our laughter, and at my playshops, I invite participants into the “water body” first, to feel that the body is composed mostly of water. We feel that fluidity and send our voice into an area. I’m going to send it to that area behind the breastbone now.
[Laughing.] Yeah! So there’s a whole-body laughter for the head [laughs] and the heart [laughs] and the abdominal organs. Doing these exercises should bring a new personality to your real authentic laughter. Make it fuller.
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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! We’re on for sunny skies and warm weather again today, so get outside and enjoy! Or sit inside and sulk, see if I care. Whether you’re outside having fun or inside crying, please read the following news headlines. THANK YOU!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Five Portland environmental and transportation groups—including local freeway fighting juggernaut, the appropriately-named No More Freeways—are suing the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for its plan to expand I-5 at the Rose Quarter. The lawsuit says the I-5 project—which will cost about $2 billion, by the way—goes against city and regional climate goals, and the financially-beleaguered ODOT should spend its money on more pressing transportation needs. And you can read more about this in the Mercury‘s article, LINKED HERE.
• Looking to fill out your May ballot but don’t know who to vote for?? Fear not! We have some pretty good recommendations for you, if we say so ourselves, and you can find out all about them here.
Yipes, almighty! Oregon’s May election is only ONE WEEK AWAY! 😲 Need help filling out your ballot? Check out the Mercury’s trustworthy endorsements and our handy-dandy VOTER CHEAT SHEET to help you fill out your ballot lickety-split! 🗳️https://t.co/kylYps7xsD
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) May 15, 2024
• The U.S. Department of Justice ruled that a federal officer used “reasonable and privileged” force when he shot a protester in the head during the Portland racial justice protests in 2020. The protester, Donavan LaBella, survived the shot (the officer used “less-than-lethal” ammunition), but suffered a frontal lobe fracture. LaBella had to deal with nearly a million dollars in medical bills and will require continued medical care, as well as a financial conservator and a medical guardian. But the federal lawyers say the officer was wearing a gas mask that made it difficult for him to…aim the shot away from LaBella’s head? I mean, he could’ve refrained from shooting him at all!
• A Multnomah County judge ruled that a ballot measure introduced by Portland’s police union is unconstitutional and won’t be on the November ballot. The measure, as proposed by the union, would have made the city hire more police officers, expand street support services, and create a drug and alcohol detox treatment center. Those last two aren’t so bad, but the first part is questionable—and that’s where the judge ruled against the measure proposal, citing Oregon’s constitutional language that states ballot measures can’t change city administrative policies.
So, an L for the PPB union, I guess! However, the Portland Police Association has proposed an even worse ballot measure to restrict the city’s police oversight office, and a judge hasn’t ruled on that one yet.
• Dan Savage coming in with some advice for this frankly terrible situation:
“I’ve never been able to orgasm, and my current sexual relationship stinks. So why should I continue trying?”
Dan Savage and a guest expert ride to the rescue with some solid advice in this week’s SAVAGE LOVE! https://t.co/UCstamsuxN
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) May 14, 2024
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• President Joe Biden is apparently making the horrible decision to transfer $1 billion of arms and ammunition to Israel—the first proposed arms shipment to Israel since the Biden administration recently paused a transfer of 3,500 bombs due to concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (Gee thanks.) The arms sale can be blocked by members of Congress, so it may or may not go through. But, at the very least, it’s terrible optics on Biden’s part to suggest giving more aid to Israel (a billion dollars worth!) as the country’s government continues to indiscriminately kill thousands of civilians in Gaza. Biden is falling woefully behind in polls right now, and young people are giving up on him in large part because of his completely deranged loyalty to Israel, so this is really not the move.
• Meanwhile, the alternative to Biden is threatening to deport student protesters if he is reelected. At a rally, Donald Trump said he will “not allow our colleges to be taken over by violent radicals” and will “immediately deport” immigrants “trying to bring jihadism or anti-Americanism or anti-Semitism to our campuses.” This, compared to the measured take from the Ben & Jerry’s board: “Lunch counter sit-ins, student-led protests against the Vietnam War and Apartheid South Africa, and now the campus protests in solidarity with Gaza, all are part of our rich history of free speech and non-violent protest that makes change and is essential to a strong democracy,” the independent board said in a statement.
• Thoughts on this King Charles portrait?? I think it’s kinda artsy (in a cool way). Maybe undeservedly cool for the guy who did all those horrible things to Princess Diana.
King Charles III unveiled the first official painted portrait of himself since his coronation just over a year ago — a striking oil painting in which he stares head-on against a backdrop of mottled red, pink and fuchsia hues. https://t.co/JILDyUdnID
• Alice Munro, the revered Canadian short story author, died yesterday at age 92. 😞 If you aren’t familiar with Munro’s work, I urge you to get familiar. She is the Flannery O’Connor to literary girls whose George Saunders is Lorrie Moore. Every time I’m on a train, I think of her story “Chance,” helpfully linked for you here. Rest in peace, Alice Munro!! You were one of the greatest to ever do it.
• Biden has proposed two debates against Trump for June and November, and Trump—who refused to participate in the recent primary debates—has apparently agreed. And I, for one, will not be watching. It’s crazy to think that even in 2020, that horrible year of years, we could get some laughs out of political debates. (Remember Mike Pence’s fly?) It honestly doesn’t seem enjoyment or laughter is a remote possibility this time around.
• Finally, check out this video: Porcupine Takes a Walk. Happy Wednesday.
