Good morning! ☀️ You can expect some summery weather for today — the second day of fall. It’s supposed to hit the upper 80s — and be nearly as warm tomorrow 😎 And there’s no rain in the forecast for the next several days.
What Portland's Talking About
Trying Legal Psilocybin
Willamette Week reporter Anthony Effinger tried legal psilocybin after years of reporting on the industry. Hear his impressions of the experience in today’s podcast interview. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
A $400 Bill Is a Big Problem for Many
A third of Oregonians say they would have to borrow to cover the costs of a $400 emergency, according to a Oregon Consumer Justice and the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center poll. Housing and utility costs were the biggest sources of stress for poll respondents. [Oregonian]
Related: Demographics made a huge difference. According to this survey, 64% of college grads say they would have no trouble coming up with $400. For Oregonians who didn’t finish high school, only 18% reported the same. [Oregonian]
Many PPS Buildings Aren’t Earthquake-Ready
There have been years of delays in seismic upgrades for Portland Public Schools’ buildings. In the latest example, the school board has blown a Sept. 1 deadline to decide which schools will get a retrofit under the school bond approved by voters in May. [Oregonian 🔒]
White Nose Syndrome Arrives in Oregon
A fungus responsible for killing off bats across North America has now been found in Oregon — near Astoria. Anyone visiting caves where bats live is asked to take extra precautions — for the flying mammals' sake; white nose syndrome does not affect humans. [OPB]
It sparked a slew of additional good suggestions from readers:
From Jess: I’ve been volunteering at Rose Haven in Northwest Portland for over a year, and it’s a phenomenal organization. It’s a women’s day shelter serving marginalized genders in Portland, and they are always in need. Women’s clothes are preferred, but we also take gender neutral and some men’s clothes so our guests have options. We also take children’s clothing as we serve many mothers and families. Rose Haven accepts drop-off donations Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. or by appointment.
From Michelle Akerson: Mustard Seed Thrift Store takes donations, and the money goes towards their community outreach programs (food pantry, clothing closets, hot food, mobile showers, etc). They are very welcoming to all people and doing great things for the unhoused community.
From Matt: I was sad to see you list Goodwill as one of the three donation ideas ahead of SO MANY Portland non-profits that can put donations to use directly helping people who need it. I know that figuring out the right non-profit to contact can be more work, but there are years of reports that Goodwill dumps waste in poor countries. Portland, please take a minute, and check in with a few locals that will actually put useable donations to work:
Since 2020, when Oregon legalized psilocybin therapy, Willamette Week's Anthony Effinger has been one of the most rigorous reporters covering the industry. But recently he went on a different kind of reporting trip: he found the cheapest legal facilitator within our city limits and decided to experience a legal mushroom therapy himself. Effinger shares his personal experience using psilocybin to address his own mental health challenges, and what it taught him about Oregon's industry.
The sculpture “Infinity Crystals” is being raffled off. (Therese Gietler / Portland Winter Light Festival)
💡 The Portland Winter Light Festival, the mid-winter event that lights up downtown and gives us all a reason to look forward to February, is raising money by raffling off a light sculpture. Tickets start at $50.
