Alex Zielinski
@alexzee.bsky.social
Portland city politics reporter, @opb.org
Past lives: CA, DC, TX
📬 azielinski@opb.org
Signal: alex_zee.03
Past lives: CA, DC, TX
📬 azielinski@opb.org
Signal: alex_zee.03
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
This is easily the hardest thing I've ever had to write.
I Had a Dream Journalism Job. Here's Why I Quit.
The rot that hollowed out trust in corporate media finally reached OPB. I had to go.
westernedgemedia.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
This is easily the hardest thing I've ever had to write.
The number of candidates for Multnomah County chair has doubled:
Multnomah Commissioner Brim-Edwards joins county chair race
Brim-Edwards is the second commissioner to announce her candidacy for Multnomah County chair. District 2 Commissioner Shannon Singleton announced her run last week.
www.opb.org
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM
The number of candidates for Multnomah County chair has doubled:
While we're talking about surprise buckets of city funds: The Portland arts tax has been sitting on roughly $9 million in unallocated dollars for years.
How Portland’s arts tax let $9M go unused for years
As Portlanders gear up to once again pay their arts tax by April 15, even supporters say the voter-approved charge needs an overhaul.
www.opb.org
February 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
While we're talking about surprise buckets of city funds: The Portland arts tax has been sitting on roughly $9 million in unallocated dollars for years.
What we know for now:
Portland now says roughly $106M in housing funds went unspent
The city continues to struggle to address homelessness and affordable housing, but officials say significant pots of money went untapped.
www.opb.org
February 7, 2026 at 1:10 AM
What we know for now:
City of Portland now reports $106 MILLION total in unbudgeted housing funds. More soon.
February 6, 2026 at 11:23 PM
City of Portland now reports $106 MILLION total in unbudgeted housing funds. More soon.
“The incident was a reminder of their past in Yemen, she said.
The pair moved from Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, shortly after their home was hit by an airstrike in 2014.”
The pair moved from Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, shortly after their home was hit by an airstrike in 2014.”
Tear gas and whizbangs have been a familiar sight for people living near the Portland ICE facility. Recently, a projectile shot through an apartment window across the street, frightening a 70-year-old Yemeni woman inside who called her daughter crying, saying she "couldn't breathe."
Yemeni mother and daughter shaken after apartment window broken by projectile near ICE building
The incident is one of several accounts by neighbors who are upset with tear gas and other munitions being deployed in the neighborhood.
www.opb.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:57 PM
“The incident was a reminder of their past in Yemen, she said.
The pair moved from Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, shortly after their home was hit by an airstrike in 2014.”
The pair moved from Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, shortly after their home was hit by an airstrike in 2014.”
Multnomah County officials expect to have $87 million less to pay for shelters, rent assistance and eviction prevention in the next fiscal year.
(Meanwhile, City of Portland may have $35M+ more?)
(Meanwhile, City of Portland may have $35M+ more?)
Multnomah County faces an $87 million drop in homeless services funding
Jobs could be cut, shelters could lose funding, and rent assistance could shrink as the county faces major homeless services budget reductions.
www.oregonlive.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Multnomah County officials expect to have $87 million less to pay for shelters, rent assistance and eviction prevention in the next fiscal year.
(Meanwhile, City of Portland may have $35M+ more?)
(Meanwhile, City of Portland may have $35M+ more?)
The race for the top spot on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has begun. (Election day is in Nov.)
Multnomah Commissioner Shannon Singleton enters county chair’s race
Singleton is the first to announce her plans to run for the power seat in Oregon’s most populous county.
www.opb.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
The race for the top spot on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has begun. (Election day is in Nov.)
Federal officers in Portland have been blocked from directing or using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions at protesters outside the ICE facility.
Judge limits federal officers’ use of crowd control munitions at Portland ICE building
The decision Tuesday blocks federal officers from directing or using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls and tear gas “unless the specific target of such a weapon or device pose...
www.opb.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Federal officers in Portland have been blocked from directing or using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions at protesters outside the ICE facility.
The news of this surprise cache comes two months after the city revealed roughly $21 million in housing dollars sitting unspent in city coffers.
Portland finds additional $15 million in unspent housing dollars
The Portland Housing Bureau has identified at least $15 million in additional unspent funds that could be spent on affordable housing, rental support, and other housing programs. The news comes months...
www.opb.org
February 3, 2026 at 10:41 PM
The news of this surprise cache comes two months after the city revealed roughly $21 million in housing dollars sitting unspent in city coffers.
Following a nearly 16-month vacancy, the tribal relations department at the City of Portland has been filled.
City of Portland announces Gerald Skelton Jr. as the new tribal government relations manager
The main priority for the position will be to focus on government-to-government relationships with the nine federally recognized Native nations in Oregon.
www.opb.org
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Following a nearly 16-month vacancy, the tribal relations department at the City of Portland has been filled.
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
Weekend protests in Portland against federal immigration actions were again met with thick clouds of tear gas outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Here's what to know about how the city is reacting to tear gas, ICE’s use of force and other factors tied to the facility.
How Portland is using city policies to try and punish an ICE facility
Local officials are also looking toward a number of bureaucratic sanctions within their control to limit ICE’s actions against protesters.
www.opb.org
February 3, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Weekend protests in Portland against federal immigration actions were again met with thick clouds of tear gas outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Here's what to know about how the city is reacting to tear gas, ICE’s use of force and other factors tied to the facility.
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
Council President Jamie Dunphy tells @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social that Jonas Biery, the city’s chief financial officer, informed him Friday night that PHB had “millions” of additional dollars within a housing investment fund that remained unbudgeted.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
‘No way to run a city’: Officials learn Portland has millions more in unspent housing funds
The revelation comes months after policymakers learned of a different $21 million in unspent money.
www.oregonlive.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Council President Jamie Dunphy tells @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social that Jonas Biery, the city’s chief financial officer, informed him Friday night that PHB had “millions” of additional dollars within a housing investment fund that remained unbudgeted.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
A large protest, dubbed “Labor Against ICE,” is underway in downtown Portland, with thousands of people gathering at Elizabeth Caruthers Park on Saturday.
Thousands of protesters gather in downtown Portland for ‘Labor Against ICE’ rally
Organizers said it’s not common for so many unions to protest together around one issue.
www.opb.org
February 1, 2026 at 12:38 AM
A large protest, dubbed “Labor Against ICE,” is underway in downtown Portland, with thousands of people gathering at Elizabeth Caruthers Park on Saturday.
“It’s grossly irresponsible,” said Isaac McLennan, president of the Portland Fire Fighters’ Association, the union representing the front-line workers. “There’s no way these cuts could be made without risking public safety”
Portland firefighters union sounds alarm on potential budget cuts
The union representing the city’s firefighters is worried that fewer city dollars could put Portlanders at risk.
www.opb.org
January 31, 2026 at 12:36 AM
“It’s grossly irresponsible,” said Isaac McLennan, president of the Portland Fire Fighters’ Association, the union representing the front-line workers. “There’s no way these cuts could be made without risking public safety”
City councilors want Mayor Keith Wilson to speed up an effort to fine Portland's ICE landlord for his tenants’ use of chemical munitions on protesters.
Portland councilors urge Mayor Wilson to carry out new penalties on ICE facility
A pair of Portland city councilors want Mayor Keith Wilson to speed up an effort to fine the landlord of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building for his tenants’ chemical munition use on p...
www.opb.org
January 27, 2026 at 11:27 PM
City councilors want Mayor Keith Wilson to speed up an effort to fine Portland's ICE landlord for his tenants’ use of chemical munitions on protesters.
Alert: We updated this story and @andrewtheen.bsky.social made some headline magic.
Portland’s foie gras ban fails in committee, but it might not be cooked
Portland city councilors will discuss a citywide ban on the sale of foie gras on Tuesday morning.
www.opb.org
January 27, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Alert: We updated this story and @andrewtheen.bsky.social made some headline magic.
FWIW, this failed in committee. But Councilor Green said he's going to find another path to get it before the full council.
One of those magical stories which sparks outrage from... everyone!
Portland councilors mull citywide foie gras ban
Portland city councilors will discuss a citywide ban on the sale of foie gras on Tuesday morning.
www.opb.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:10 PM
FWIW, this failed in committee. But Councilor Green said he's going to find another path to get it before the full council.
One of those magical stories which sparks outrage from... everyone!
Portland councilors mull citywide foie gras ban
Portland city councilors will discuss a citywide ban on the sale of foie gras on Tuesday morning.
www.opb.org
January 27, 2026 at 4:28 PM
One of those magical stories which sparks outrage from... everyone!
Children detained at a South Texas ICE facility led a demonstration yesterday to protest their treatment.
“He heard what sounded like ‘hundreds of children’ shouting, with voices he described as ‘high-pitched’ and ‘urgent’… chanting ‘Libertad.’”
“He heard what sounded like ‘hundreds of children’ shouting, with voices he described as ‘high-pitched’ and ‘urgent’… chanting ‘Libertad.’”
Protest breaks out at Dilley immigration detention facility holding 5-year-old Liam Ramos
A protest broke out Saturday at the ICE-run South Texas family detention complex in Dilley, where five-year-old Liam Ramos is being detained.
www.tpr.org
January 25, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Children detained at a South Texas ICE facility led a demonstration yesterday to protest their treatment.
“He heard what sounded like ‘hundreds of children’ shouting, with voices he described as ‘high-pitched’ and ‘urgent’… chanting ‘Libertad.’”
“He heard what sounded like ‘hundreds of children’ shouting, with voices he described as ‘high-pitched’ and ‘urgent’… chanting ‘Libertad.’”
On Thursday, 7 yr old Diana Crespo suffered a nosebleed that lasted most of the night. The next morning, Diana's parents took her to urgent care at Portland Adventist Health, but they only made it to the parking lot before they were detained by immigration officers.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Gresham family detained by immigration officers while seeking medical care for their 7-year-old
The family’s detainment marks the first confirmed detainment of an entire family in Oregon, advocates say.
www.opb.org
January 23, 2026 at 9:24 PM
On Thursday, 7 yr old Diana Crespo suffered a nosebleed that lasted most of the night. The next morning, Diana's parents took her to urgent care at Portland Adventist Health, but they only made it to the parking lot before they were detained by immigration officers.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
Since the city's new camping rule went into effect, data shows 20 people have been charged, but court delays and missed court appearances have kept the citations from advancing. In all cases, those charged with the crime have been released back into the public. No one has spent time in jail.
No one has been convicted of violating Portland’s public camping ban, records show
Last December, people experiencing homelessness began facing citations for violating a public camping ban. Court data reviewed by OPB finds that, in the first two months of enforcement, no one has been convicted for violating the camping ban.
www.opb.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Since the city's new camping rule went into effect, data shows 20 people have been charged, but court delays and missed court appearances have kept the citations from advancing. In all cases, those charged with the crime have been released back into the public. No one has spent time in jail.
A progress report on Portland's new public camping ban, two months in:
No one has been convicted of violating Portland’s public camping ban, records show
People experiencing homelessness face citations for violating a public camping ban.
www.opb.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:10 PM
A progress report on Portland's new public camping ban, two months in:
Ahmed is the third bureau director to be placed on leave in the past year.
Portland emergency management director placed on administrative leave
The head of Portland’s emergency management bureau is on administrative leave.
www.opb.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Ahmed is the third bureau director to be placed on leave in the past year.
Reposted by Alex Zielinski
2,500 additional homes per year would be about 33% fewer homes than Portland added, on average, from 2006-2024.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
January 16, 2026 at 12:06 AM
2,500 additional homes per year would be about 33% fewer homes than Portland added, on average, from 2006-2024.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.
In other words, this is an achievable goal but one that'd still probably require effort, especially if we don't want prices to rise as much as they did in 2006-2018.