08.28.2023

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Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

Fairness, competency, efficiency, and justice

Do you know the ombudsman?

Sunlight shines on the columns outside Portland City Hall

The ombudsman’s FAQ page is a great place to start if you have a complaint. | Photo by Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

*In a high-pitched Gingerbread Man voice*

Do you know the ombudsman? The ombudsman!

If you’re scratching your head and saying, “what,” just know you’re not the only one.

What is an ombudsman?

This strange word does give you a clue — are we buds, man? — essentially, it’s every Portland citizen and business owner’s friend at the city. More specifically, the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent, impartial body under the umbrella of the City Auditor that investigates other governmental bureaus and administrative agencies when complaints of their potential wrongdoing arise. They’re the Rose City’s watchdogs.

It’s possible you caught their recent high-profile report that found Portland Parks & Recreation illegally seized and destroyed boats on the city’s waterways last year. You can explore many other examples of the cases they take on.

How can they help you?

Every month, the three ombudsmen receive around 50 communications from people who feel they’ve been treated unfairly; of those, about 50% are what they call “jurisdictional and actionable,” meaning it’s relevant to something they actually do. They can’t change policy, so this isn’t the place to take your gripes about the Arts Tax.

Whatever your concern may be, you can reach the ombudsman online, by email, by phone at (503) 823-0144, by fax, or even with direct messages on social media. Their services are free and confidential upon request, with an emphasis on resolving conflicts in a timely, non-adversarial manner and promoting higher standards of fairness, competency, efficiency, and justice.

Events

Monday, Aug. 28

ARTSHITZ: Art & Flea Market | Monday, Aug. 28 | 6-10 p.m. | The High Water Mark, 6800 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland | Free | Browse local vendors of art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, and more at this 21+ and dog-friendly market; a full bar with food (and vegan options) will be available.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

“The Green Knight” | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 7-9 p.m. | Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St., Portland | Free | Set forth on a cinematic adventure, steeped in the ghosts, giants, and thieves of Arthurian legend.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake | Wednesday, Aug. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $25+ | If you have a bad taste in your mouth after Gio was fired, wash it down with some salt (and a win, hopefully).

Thursday, Aug. 31

2023 Portland Classic | Thursday, Aug. 31-Sunday, Sept. 3 | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Columbia Edgewater Country Club, 2220 NE Marine Dr., Portland | $5-$300 | Get ready to watch the best professionals in the game (and aspiring amateurs) at the longest running non-major tournament of the LPGA tour.

Events calendar here

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Eat

Food

🥩 This event is a smokeshow worth seeing

Presented by a PDXtoday Partner

From locally produced fruits and vegetables to heritage breed meats — there’s something for everyone at Heritage Fire. | Photo provided by Heritage Fire

Get your appetite ready, Portland — Heritage Fire is coming to Willamette Valley Sunday, Sept. 10 and bringing along 20+ top Portland chefs alongside local farmers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers + barkeeps for an unforgettable tasting experience.

Sink your teeth into heritage breed beef, pork, fish, and rabbit and enjoy locally produced fruits and vegetables, all prepared over open flames. After indulging in each dish, guests will vote for the “Best Bite of the Day,” crowning one chef as Austin’s “Heritage Hero.”

If you work up a thirst after all those delish dishes, they’ve got you covered. The all-inclusive tasting experience features a variety of wines, craft cocktails, and beers.

Snag tickets

News Notes

Number

$750 million. That’s how much the Portland Clean Energy Fund will dedicate toward reducing greenhouse emissions and boosting climate resiliency for the most vulnerable. The five-year investment plan will focus on renewable energy in multifamily housing, infrastructure upgrades at schools, and planting 25,000 trees on public and private property. (OPB)

Arts

Converge 45’s Contemporary Arts Biennal is in full swing and will grace 17 museums and galleries in Portland. This year’s theme is “Social Forms: Art as Global Citizenship,” a suitable stage for an event that’s expected to capture the attention of 60,000+ viewers now through October. (Portland Monthly)

Jobs

Look good in a hard hat and orange vest? Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation will host a job fair Saturday, Sept. 16, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with open positions across multiple agencies. Representatives at the Walnut Street Center will answer questions about their on-the-job experiences and the hiring process.

Plan Ahead

Tercet, the luxurious fine dining destination tucked away on the mezzanine of the Morgan Building, will pivot its tasting menu to a seven-course summer vegetarian feast, Wednesday, Sept. 6-Saturday, Sept. 9. Guests will enjoy an experience that’s an “ode to the height of the season’s produce and sustainable heirloom grains.”

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

The second full supermoon of August will brighten the sky this Wednesday, Aug. 30, but don’t feel blue.

There will be plenty more lunar excitement over the weekend at Lan Su Chinese Garden’s Mid-Autumn Festival Moonlight Market, where guests can eat delicious food, shop local Asian-owned businesses, watch illuminated lion dances, pet real rabbits, and more.

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