OPB’s First Look: Homelessness data dispute locks Portland mayor, county

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Good morning, Northwest.

Multnomah County data suggests unsheltered homelessness is going up. Portland’s mayor says it can’t be true.

The data dispute is a familiar one. The city and county have often disagreed on how to measure and address homelessness. OPB’s Alex Zielinski starts today’s newsletter with what makes this time different.

In other news, the Umatilla tribes have secured the return of thousands of cultural artifacts and historical items.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

Behind Portland’s homelessness data, a familiar political fight emerges

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson entered office last year promising to end unsheltered homelessness in the city.

He swiftly opened a series of overnight shelters, where the majority of beds are filled each night. Wilson is certain this means homelessness is decreasing, but the numbers say otherwise.

According to Multnomah County, nearly 3,000 more people are living unsheltered in the county than when Wilson took office.

Now, as both governments face multimillion-dollar budget gaps that could force shelter closures, old disagreements are resurfacing. (Alex Zielinski)

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3 things to know this morning

• The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the central and southern Oregon Cascades today through tomorrow night with heavy snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph expected. (OPB Staff)
• Vancouver Public Schools’ financial situation has been steadily worsening for years, according to a recent audit. Rising costs and dropping revenue have district leaders preparing for layoffs and other cuts next school year. (Erik Neumann)
• Residential customers of two of Oregon’s largest for-profit electric utilities will see their bills increase by at least 4% starting today. (Monica Samayoa)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath Sr. remembered as teacher, mentor and friend (Lauren Dake)
• Oregon officials push back against Trump order limiting mail-in votes (Seung Min Kim, Ali Swenson and Jonathan J. Cooper)
• A pencil running for Oregon governor hopes to make its mark on education issues (Alex Baumhardt)
• Ashland council votes to remove city offices from community center (Roman Battaglia)
• Washington adds safeguards for Flock cameras (Jake Goldstein-Street)
• Acting ICE director says feds not ‘currently’ planning new Oregon detention centers (Shaanth Nanguneri)
• Amazon to pay $20.5 million settlement over northeast Oregon nitrate pollution (Alex Baumhardt)
• Holiday scores 30, Avdija adds 28 to help Trail Blazers beat Clippers (Associated Press)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Portland women’s health and wellness coach highlights gaps in research, education for women in sports
• ‘The 100 Year Effect’ documentary enlivens new research into origins of chronic disease and prevention

Agreement returns thousands of historical items to the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Yesterday, a small audience assembled for a signing ceremony at the Nixyaawii Governance Center as collector Fred Mitchell officially signed over his collection to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.

It represents a watershed moment for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The museum has worked to preserve and share the history of the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes for the better part of 30 years. Its collection will now feature thousands of historic artifacts. (Antonio Sierra)

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