In a letter sent to City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty late Thursday afternoon, Mayor Ted Wheeler chided her for incendiary claims she made yesterday that Portland police embedded themselves among protesters and set fire to public property, effectively framing protesters for arson.Hardesty , and  Thursday."When I'm wrong, I'll say I am wrong," Hardesty told reporters July 23, adding that she was sorry for "the stupid words I said yesterday."After not speaking to Hardesty since July 18, Wheeler broke his silence Thursday. In his letter, he called Hardesty's...…In a letter sent to City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty late Thursday afternoon, Mayor Ted Wheeler chided her for incendiary claims she made yesterday that Portland police embedded themselves among protesters and set fire to public property, effectively framing protesters for arson.Hardesty , and  Thursday."When I'm wrong, I'll say I am wrong," Hardesty told reporters July 23, adding that she was sorry for "the stupid words I said yesterday."After not speaking to Hardesty since July 18, Wheeler broke his silence Thursday. In his letter, he called Hardesty's...WW…

This post has been updated below with an apology from Hardesty.On Wednesday, City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty blamed the Portland Police Bureau and Mayor Ted Wheeler for exacerbating violence in Portland and effectively welcoming federal law enforcement agents to the city.She also leveled an incendiary charge at Portland cops: Hardesty claimed it was they, not protesters, who had started fires around government buildings."Portland police have consistently lied to the public. They've lied to our congressional delegation about whether or not they were coordinating activities with this...…This post has been updated below with an apology from Hardesty.On Wednesday, City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty blamed the Portland Police Bureau and Mayor Ted Wheeler for exacerbating violence in Portland and effectively welcoming federal law enforcement agents to the city.She also leveled an incendiary charge at Portland cops: Hardesty claimed it was they, not protesters, who had started fires around government buildings."Portland police have consistently lied to the public. They've lied to our congressional delegation about whether or not they were coordinating activities with this...WW…

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Monday rejected City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty's request to take over as police commissioner."I will continue to serve as police commissioner through this time of transformation," Wheeler said in a statement. "And I will continue to work with elected leaders from the county and the state to ensure that we are examining the criminal justice system as a whole."Wheeler did not provide a specific reason for his decision, which follows a ."Mayor Wheeler, if you can't control the police, give me the Portland Police Bureau," Hardesty wrote. "You are putting...…Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Monday rejected City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty's request to take over as police commissioner."I will continue to serve as police commissioner through this time of transformation," Wheeler said in a statement. "And I will continue to work with elected leaders from the county and the state to ensure that we are examining the criminal justice system as a whole."Wheeler did not provide a specific reason for his decision, which follows a ."Mayor Wheeler, if you can't control the police, give me the Portland Police Bureau," Hardesty wrote. "You are putting...WW…

Camouflage-clad federal officers, who were caught on video this week plucking protesters off the Portland streets and into unmarked vans, rented at least one of the vans from Enterprise Holdings rental car service, according to records reviewed by WW. broke the story July 16 that federal agents in unmarked vehicles have detained at least two protesters in downtown Portland since July 14. The protesters say they were not breaking any laws at the time they were detained, raising questions whether the feds' actions were constitutional.Militarized Federal Agents from a patchwork of outside...…Camouflage-clad federal officers, who were caught on video this week plucking protesters off the Portland streets and into unmarked vans, rented at least one of the vans from Enterprise Holdings rental car service, according to records reviewed by WW. broke the story July 16 that federal agents in unmarked vehicles have detained at least two protesters in downtown Portland since July 14. The protesters say they were not breaking any laws at the time they were detained, raising questions whether the feds' actions were constitutional.Militarized Federal Agents from a patchwork of outside...WW…

Portland Police Bureau Deputy Chief Chris Davis defended the bureau's aggressive tactics in scattering protesters from downtown, in a press conference that marked an escalation in the city's rhetoric toward the nightly gatherings near downtown courthouses.Davis refused to describe many nightly demonstrators as "protesters," instead referring to them as "agitators.""There's a very big difference between protests and the kind of mayhem that we see every night," Davis said during the 1 pm press conference. "You're going to hear me make a lot of effort not to refer to what...…Portland Police Bureau Deputy Chief Chris Davis defended the bureau's aggressive tactics in scattering protesters from downtown, in a press conference that marked an escalation in the city's rhetoric toward the nightly gatherings near downtown courthouses.Davis refused to describe many nightly demonstrators as "protesters," instead referring to them as "agitators.""There's a very big difference between protests and the kind of mayhem that we see every night," Davis said during the 1 pm press conference. "You're going to hear me make a lot of effort not to refer to what...WW…

The Portland Police Bureau announced on Thursday that the city will take down the 120-year-old Thompson Elk statue between Lownsdale and Chapman squares, across the street from the Multnomah County Justice Center, because protesters damaged its structure by setting it on fire.On July 1, protesters lit fires at the base of the statue, police say. The Regional Arts & Culture Council determined the damage to the base so severe that the statue might topple over and injure someone."Engaging in criminal activity including vandalism and property damage is not peaceful...…The Portland Police Bureau announced on Thursday that the city will take down the 120-year-old Thompson Elk statue between Lownsdale and Chapman squares, across the street from the Multnomah County Justice Center, because protesters damaged its structure by setting it on fire.On July 1, protesters lit fires at the base of the statue, police say. The Regional Arts & Culture Council determined the damage to the base so severe that the statue might topple over and injure someone."Engaging in criminal activity including vandalism and property damage is not peaceful...WW…

On June 30, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law  and announce out loud that tear gas is imminent before deploying it.Hours later, as protesters gathered in Northeast Portland and marched toward Portland Police Association headquarters, the Portland Police Bureau declared a riot—and deployed tear gas onto protesters. Officers also arrested three journalists.The use of tear gas against protesters falls in the wake of a federal lawsuit against the city of Portland, and a temporary restraining order issued by Chief U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez that banned...…On June 30, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law  and announce out loud that tear gas is imminent before deploying it.Hours later, as protesters gathered in Northeast Portland and marched toward Portland Police Association headquarters, the Portland Police Bureau declared a riot—and deployed tear gas onto protesters. Officers also arrested three journalists.The use of tear gas against protesters falls in the wake of a federal lawsuit against the city of Portland, and a temporary restraining order issued by Chief U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez that banned...WW…

Lawmakers last week completed a special session notable for its efficiency, bipartisanship and an unprecedented focus on police accountability, forced by four weeks of street protests.The session began on shaky ground with Senate Minority Leader Fred Girod (R-Stayton) beefing about the rules in a way that suggested the GOP could walk out for the third session in a row."Without the ability to create or amend legislation, my colleagues and I are legislators by name only during the special session," Girod said June 24.But a whirlwind of lawmaking concluded in 72 hours with the unlikely specter...…Lawmakers last week completed a special session notable for its efficiency, bipartisanship and an unprecedented focus on police accountability, forced by four weeks of street protests.The session began on shaky ground with Senate Minority Leader Fred Girod (R-Stayton) beefing about the rules in a way that suggested the GOP could walk out for the third session in a row."Without the ability to create or amend legislation, my colleagues and I are legislators by name only during the special session," Girod said June 24.But a whirlwind of lawmaking concluded in 72 hours with the unlikely specter...WW…

House Speaker Tina Kotek tonight gaveled out a rapid, masked special session of the Oregon Legislature that was remarkable chiefly for the quantity of police reform bills lawmakers passed.The Legislature on Friday, June 26, passed six criminal justice reform bills during a special session that was prompted in part by weeks of protests against police brutality and calls for systemic reform to the criminal justice system.The House and Senate today passed the following six bills championed by the People of Color Caucus:Legislators spiked one public safety bill for future work...…House Speaker Tina Kotek tonight gaveled out a rapid, masked special session of the Oregon Legislature that was remarkable chiefly for the quantity of police reform bills lawmakers passed.The Legislature on Friday, June 26, passed six criminal justice reform bills during a special session that was prompted in part by weeks of protests against police brutality and calls for systemic reform to the criminal justice system.The House and Senate today passed the following six bills championed by the People of Color Caucus:Legislators spiked one public safety bill for future work...WW…

PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. A spokesman for the United States Postal Service confirmed that the agency has removed four blue boxes from Portland, and 27 from Eugene this week. The USPS plans to remove a few more boxes from Portland next week. "The reason we're doing it is because of declining mail...…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. A spokesman for the United States Postal Service confirmed that the agency has removed four blue boxes from Portland, and 27 from Eugene this week. The USPS plans to remove a few more boxes from Portland next week. "The reason we're doing it is because of declining mail...WW…