PORTLAND DRIZZLE

🦔Wednesday already? Huh. Mid-60s today, barely a cloud in the sky. While Portland enjoys the weather, the city is watching Clackamas County — Mayor Wilson's deadline for a homeless shelter funding commitment lands this morning. Also Willamette River tragedy still unfolding, and somewhere out there, a person dancing without shoes.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Adrian Brown has asked her colleagues to cover her scheduled misdemeanor domestic violence trial rotation this month — because she's too busy running for reelection to show up. Brown made the request Friday, writing on Microsoft Teams that "none of us should be expected to be in trial while being tried by an election challenge." The assignment had been planned well in advance. Brown, who earns $209,000 a year, said nights and weekends aren't enough time to campaign, and plans to take paid leave. The situation is complicated by the fact that Brown was already effectively sidelined from serious felony trials — DA Nathan Vasquez has maintained a prosecutorial boycott of her courtroom for over a year. She also missed the March 12 Voters' Pamphlet deadline and was denied a disability accommodation for ADHD she sought in order to extend it. Circuit Judge Jeff Auxier has volunteered to cover her first week.

Portland is staring down a $15 million gap in its homeless shelter budget, and Mayor Keith Wilson went hat in hand to the neighbors. He asked Clackamas County for $4 million — enough to keep two SE Portland shelters and a NE day center running — and set a deadline of this Wednesday morning. Clackamas County commissioners met Tuesday and said no, citing trust concerns and a preference to fund their own residents first. Washington County is leaning toward a $1 million offer, well short of the $6 million Wilson requested. Portland faces a broader $50 million general fund shortfall heading into the July budget cycle. The clock is ticking and the math isn't there.

Marine crews returned to the Willamette on Tuesday, still looking for a fourth person presumed dead after a car plunged into the river at Tom McCall Waterfront Park early Monday morning. Police say an officer spotted the vehicle speeding the wrong way through downtown around 2 a.m., activated lights, and watched it rocket down Harvey Milk Street and through the seawall. No pursuit. The car hit the water in about 15 seconds. One survivor — treated for minor injuries — told officers there were three other people in the car, all between 17 and 20 years old. Dive teams recovered two bodies Monday despite zero visibility in 35 feet of water and a strong current. The third has not been found. The waterfront park remains closed.

Taqueria Capullo: Listen to me, Portland, this is the spot for tacos. This hidden gem taqueria on Foster and 86th has been open for about 5 years and I cannot get enough. Absolutely perfect street tacos- get the pastor. Also you can take the food over to J West bottle shop and enjoy it there if you want. WEBSITE

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run in Atlanta, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record before a roaring crowd — and amid death threats that had shadowed the entire chase.

Anyone out there seeing David Byrne tonight or yesterday? I’m jealous. Get some tacos and drive safely please.

by Michael Simpson Contact: [email protected]