Alex Zielinski
@alexzee.bsky.social
Portland city politics reporter, @opb.org Past lives: TX, DC, CA 📬 azielinski@opb.org Signal: alex_zee.03 www.opb.org/author/alex-zielinski/
Update: Mediation talks between CPPW and the city didn’t resolve this over the weekend. This means roughly 800 city staff won’t be showing up to work tomorrow.
Alex Zielinski@alexzee.bsky.social · 5d agoFor those curious, two major Portland unions are still barreling toward a strike. CPPW is poised to walk off the job Monday; LiUNA Local 483 could do the same in early Dec. Here's where things stood a few weeks ago:
I can’t tell you why, but this is a bonkers thing for the county to drop the day after an election.
Multnomah County Health Department@multcohealth.bsky.social · 5d agoWintertime rains are on the horizon! Sometimes excess rain can enable rats to swim into your sewer drain. This can also be caused by a sewer break. Follow these instructions to flush the rat back down. If you need help reach out to Vector Control at: 503-988-3464. Interpreter services available.
Multnomah County voters have elected Shannon Singleton as the county’s next chair. According to the county’s latest preliminary results, Singleton secured the position with about 57% of the vote. Fellow commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards trailed with 42%.
Multnomah County chair race: Shannon Singleton wins, Julia Brim-Edwards concedes
Multnomah County voters have elected Shannon Singleton as the county’s next chair.
opb.org
For those curious, two major Portland unions are still barreling toward a strike. CPPW is poised to walk off the job Monday; LiUNA Local 483 could do the same in early Dec. Here's where things stood a few weeks ago:
More than 800 city of Portland workers poised to strike
Some 800 Portland city workers could strike as soon as next month — and that number could nearly double by December if another city union approves a strike next week.
opb.org
Early takeaways from Portland's second ranked-choice election. Including: “This was a repudiation of the old style of Portland campaigning, where you get a couple of rich guys in a trenchcoat and throw money at ads."
Portland councilors seem to coast to reelection as incumbency reigns
Portland voters have opted for continuity over change as the city’s fledgling government enters its next chapter.
opb.org
FYI: All local city and county results remain unchanged after midnight update.
Alex Zielinski@alexzee.bsky.social · 6d agoEarly Portland metro results: Singleton leading in Mult Co Chair race
Early Portland metro results: Singleton leading in Mult Co Chair race
Shannon Singleton is leading Multnomah County Chair’s race in early returns
The position is one of the most powerful in the Portland metro area.
opb.org
City’s new public safety leader twice sued former employers after they fired him.
City’s New Public Safety Leader Was Fired From Two Recent, High-Profile Jobs
Sophie Peel
wweek.com
The county's largest union continues to express their opposition with leadership's new hybrid work requirement:
Multnomah County’s largest public union declares ‘no confidence’ in top officials
It’s been a little over a week since Multnomah County enacted a stricter in-person work requirement, and its largest employee union is making its opposition known.
opb.org
Q: Where to Oregon's candidates for gov't stand on addressing potentially devastating Medicaid cuts? A: 🤷
Oregon is hundreds of millions short in Medicaid funding. Neither top gubernatorial candidate has shared a plan
Oregon's next governor will have to lead the state through difficult cuts to spending on the Oregon Health Plan.
opb.org
Investigation by @katekaye.bsky.social finds that Portland police are planning to use an AI tool they are currently prohibited from using:
Portland police are banned from using AI. They’ve planned to use it anyway.
Records reveal PPB and city staff meeting for months, laying groundwork to use prohibited, risky AI
streetroots.org
More than half of those surveyed by the city said shelter staff did not handle grievances or other issues raised well. That includes complaints about sexual harassment and theft.
Portland’s village-style shelters don’t respond well to complaints, city survey finds
People who’ve stayed at Portland’s village-style shelters aren’t pleased with how shelter operators handle serious concerns and complaints.
opb.org
Oregon election officials took news of the monitoring in stride, saying DOJ officials would be granted no greater access than any member of the public who wants to observe ballot tallying.
Federal election monitors will be on hand in Portland on Election Day
Multnomah County is one of a growing number of localities where the U.S. DOJ will send observers.
opb.org
As an aside: It makes me proud to work at a newsroom that's worked hard to build a trustworthy reputation in Bend and other communities across the state -- to be entrusted with this interview. The years of labor from our reporters that went into earning this kind of trust shouldn't be overlooked.
Alex Zielinski@alexzee.bsky.social · 3w agoPowerful interview with the man who killed the Silver Rail school shooter by @emilycuretoncook.bsky.social: "I said, 'Mom, I just had to take the life of what I think might be a child.'"
Powerful interview with the man who killed the Silver Rail school shooter by @emilycuretoncook.bsky.social: "I said, 'Mom, I just had to take the life of what I think might be a child.'"
‘I’m just a carpenter from Bend’: Father who killed Silver Rail school shooter grapples with the aftermath
In an exclusive interview with OPB, Kaylub Giamanco, the man who fatally shot the teenage school shooter at Silver Rail Elementary, shares what he wants people to know about his experience.
opb.org
A lil news: AFSCME Local 88, the largest union representing Multnomah County employees, has rescinded its endorsement of Julia Brim-Edwards for county chair. This comes a week after @basicrightsoregon.bsky.social reversed its endorsement.
The election complaint has created a possible test case for a nascent state law requiring campaigns disclose use of AI.
OPB@opb.org · 3w agoA political action committee formed to oppose Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards’ run for county chair posted a photo online of Brim-Edwards that appears to have been edited with AI.
After ten months of negotiations broke down over a disagreement over wages, 93% of the City of Portland Professional Workers Union, or CPPW, voted to authorize a strike.
More than 800 city of Portland workers poised to strike
Some 800 Portland city workers could strike as soon as next month — and that number could nearly double by December if another city union approves a strike next week.
opb.org
Three children were killed in Thursday’s shooting at a Bend elementary school, three sources confirmed to OPB. Police said earlier Thursday that the suspected shooter was killed at the scene.
OPB sources: 3 children among dead in Bend school shooting
The shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School. A Bend police spokesperson confirmed the shooting suspect is dead.
opb.org
Portland City Council made the first step Wednesday toward restricting aerial drone delivery services in the city.
Portland considers moratorium on delivery drones
Portland City Council made the first step Wednesday toward restricting aerial drone delivery services, a system that Amazon has begun rolling out in cities across the country.
opb.org
I have been off work for a while for (see previous post) — but want to elevate this deeply odd story. A lot of interesting choices being made here.
Portland Mercury@portlandmercury.com · last mo.A Multnomah County judge ordered Councilor Dan Ryan to preserve evidence on his personal phone until an ongoing public records lawsuit is resolved. “This is not a game of cat and mouse," Judge David Rees said. "There are some indications that those games are being played, and it has to stop today."
Hardest assignment of my career this week: Writing an obituary for my extraordinary dad. I usually keep my personal stuff and work stuff far apart. But I really want the world to know who he was.
William Zielinski - North Coast Journal
William Zielinski, age 71, passed away peacefully on Oct. 2, 2026, in Portland, Oregon from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Bill, as he was known to most, was a loving husband, father, brother, ...
northcoastjournal.com
The Metro Chamber has made good on their promise to sue the city over its arts tax adjustment:
Portland Metro Chamber CEO sues city over arts tax increase
The complaint argues that Portland City Council doesn’t have the authority to increase taxes.
opb.org
Filing reports from the "GoPDX" PAC show the direct link between the business-led United for Portland PAC and a trio of new independent expenditures (GoPDX, Ditch Mitch & fix multco). These are the PACs behind a grip of billboards bashing Councilor Green / supporting Commissioner Brim-Edwards.
"OPB’s poll suggested the governor has only a slightly better image than Trump among Oregon voters: a 38% favorability rating to the president’s 37%."
Alex Zielinski@alexzee.bsky.social · last mo.When asked initially who they were most likely to vote for, 46% of voters chose Drazan and 44% named Kotek. An additional 3% picked Brett Smith, the lone third-party candidate in the race, and 8% were undecided.
When asked initially who they were most likely to vote for, 46% of voters chose Drazan and 44% named Kotek. An additional 3% picked Brett Smith, the lone third-party candidate in the race, and 8% were undecided.
OPB poll shows Oregon governor’s race virtually deadlocked
The poll shows Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan with a slim lead over Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, though it was within the survey’s margin of error.
opb.org