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City Cast Portland

We ask Portland movers and shakers the essential questions.

The anthem of garage rock was recorded here in Portland. Before “Louie Louie” became the most covered song in history, it was dismissed and also banned. Dick Peterson, the last remaining original member of the Kingsmen, talked to 

the City Cast Portland podcast about how the song got famous

How did "Louie Louie" get on the radio at first?

“Arnie ‘Woo-Woo’ Ginsburg, a DJ in Boston who had a 50,000-watt radio station that beamed all over the East Coast, was on a mission to find the worst record ever recorded. He would put records on every evening. And so 'Louie Louie' started winning every single night. If you hear something, even if you don't like it and it's horrible, pretty soon, you hear it enough and you start liking it.”

Tell us about the FBI's effort to ban the song.

“The FBI followed us and they were at our concerts for a year before they had a hearing to have the band lifted. The judge listened to it…so he said, 'I'm going to agree with the FCC that the lyrics are unintelligible at any speed and I'm going to lift the ban because I can't tell what they're saying.’”

“We were on TV. We did 'American Bandstand' several times. Everybody had to have a song.”

Who Came to Concerts With Lyrics Sheets?  

3 Question With Dick Peterson of The Kingsmen

What Portland celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Portland Public Figures

3 Questions With

It’s a common belief that Portland’s problems with homelessness result from a drug addiction problem. But that’s not what research shows. Morgan Godvin serves on the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council and is a post-graduate fellow at Northeastern University’s drug policy research organization, The Action Lab. Godvin 

Your own experiences with addiction led you to a jail sentence, but never to you living on the streets. What’s your theory on why that was? 

“I was never homeless because I could always pay my rent. I became addicted to heroin here in Portland around 2009. And if we got enough of us into an apartment, we were paying $200 a month. With this explosion of homelessness, I hear a lot of people trying to blame addiction. That just doesn't align with my experience, because my friends and I, we were equally as addicted. And yet, we weren't in the tents.”

You're a member of the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council. Where do you see it succeeding and falling short?

“The fact that Oregon has taken the bold step to diminish the war on drugs and to stop arresting people for simple drug possession, that is a win for human rights. The war on drugs is a racist tool of oppression. When we look at the states with the highest drug overdose rate — West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee — those states all have incredibly punitive drug policies.”

Are you guys afraid of the backlash that might be coming? There's a group that's filed a petition to repeal aspects of the measure.

“The fact that they're calling it ‘Fix Measure 110’ is semantics. They are absolutely returning to criminalization. Anybody who bought weed before 2016 knows that buying drugs isn't on the same moral footing as stealing or crimes of violence. [And] we do not have effective law enforcement responding to the actual crime that we are facing on our city streets. Why would you want to target drug possession?”

Record Evictions Are a Bad Omen

It’s a common belief that Portland’s problems with homelessness result from a drug addiction problem. But that’s not what research shows. Morgan Godvin serves on the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council and is a post-graduate fellow at Northeastern University’s drug policy research organization, The Action Lab. Godvin points to the rising cost of housing.

Simple Reason for the Homelessness Crisis in Portland, Oregon

The Simple Reason for Portland's Homelessness Crisis

Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing. Sheila Hamilton, who founded the company and the podcast Beyond Well, shared her own experience and advice. It’s 

What has helped you during the rainy months?

“I did engage in an entire series of cognitive behavioral therapy lessons. That's all about training you to recognize your thoughts, the things you're telling yourself, and how to reframe in a way that might be more helpful for you to move into an action mode.”

What do you say to someone who is feeling really sleepy this time of year and doesn’t really want to leave the house?

“The most you should be focusing is an hour-and-a-half at a time. And then you should be taking a break for yourself. One of the best-kept secrets for people to avoid exhaustion at the end of the day is to get the F up. Walk away from your computer.”

“The most powerful thing you can do to change your mindset is to say, ‘I'm not doing very well. Can I talk about [it]?’, and it does not have to be to a therapist. Now, if you have a serious mental illness and you're actually considering suicide, you absolutely need to talk to a professional.”

 in a conversation with the City Cast Portland podcast, including a few wellness apps that might help during this time of year.

  Feel Better

Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing. Sheila Hamilton, who founded the company and the podcast Beyond Well, shared her own experience and advice. It’s a good reminder for the season ahead.

How to Feel Good During the Rainy Season in Portland, Oregon

How to Feel Good During Portland's Rainy Season

This year, the Oregon Department of Energy began offering 

landlords incentives to install heat pumps and electrical upgrades in rental properties.

 The heat pumps offer the opportunity, despite the name, to cool down a home. OPB climate reporter Monica Samayoa 

answered the City Cast Portland podcast’s questions about the program

What makes this program different from other government clean energy initiatives that are already out there?

“What makes this unique is that it is focused solely on renters. It can be any type of rental property like a home, an apartment, a townhome, a manufactured home, an RV, or even a one-bedroom apartment as long as the tenant is renting it for more than 30 days.

“Why I say it's unique is because right now there's billions, with a ‘b,’ of dollars available for climate action, specifically for these kinds of energy efficiency retrofits. [But] it's mostly aimed for homeowners.”

“It's a start. I talked to a contractor in Bend that is part of this program and he was also like, ‘Check in with me in six months to see how this program's working. Because there are some homes that would need a lot of retrofits to make this happen.’”

“I think about this question a lot because what we're doing is ensuring people are comfortable in their homes. But is it helping with climate change? I mean, if your home is getting that renewable energy, and then that means we're producing more [energy]. I don't think that this alone will help fight climate change. I think we're just becoming more resilient, right? There's climate change, and then you can be climate resilient.

“Climate change is happening so quickly, we need to find quick ways to adapt, and this is what we're doing. But overall there does need to be more work in terms of other ways that we can fight climate change.”

Samayoa also offered her suggestions for 

keeping cool when the temperature gets hot:

“The city has started to increase the amount of cooling centers that are available.”

“Always remember to drink plenty of water. I think one of the scariest things about heat is that you don't know when you're in trouble until it's too late.”

“Just try to find the spaces that keep you cool. Go shopping. Go to Target. Go go to these places that are gonna have AC running all day.”

City Cast Portland contributor Eden Dawn also has tips, suggesting some fun 

activities and outings for coping with Portland heat

More on AC for Renters

Oregon's Unique Incentives Program to Give Renters AC

Will Oregon’s Incentives Work to Give Renters AC?

 is back with a whopping 81 participating locations this year, so we asked Eater Portland editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden 

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Are there any particular burgers you’re excited for?

“I noticed that Abigail Hall is participating this year, and historically their burger has been one of my favorites in town. When I close my eyes and picture a burger, that's the burger I think of. Their Burger Week burger is more of a smash burger than their typical one. They're using Wagyu beef with it, which I think is particularly fun. I also really like a burger that's slathered in something saucy, so Burger Stevens — their burger is like a queso burger and that feels very fun to me. If you’re gonna Burger Week, you really gotta lean into it.”

“First off, be nice to your server. There might be waits, so having a strategic plan B nearby is not a bad idea. And creating little pathways for yourself to try two or three in a little crawl, I think that's a fun way to do it.”

“I do think that there is also value in coming up with the burgers that you're the most excited about and going to those places when they open. If they sell out, it might be that a restaurant can't afford to buy another round of these burgers and sell them at that same $8 price. They're not doing it to make you feel bad.”

Eating Our Way Through Burger Week

3 Questions About Burger Week with Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Whether you’re a seasoned bicyclist or just getting started, riding a bike in Portland can be daunting. We spoke to 

about the best places to bike and how to stay safe

Is biking getting more dangerous in Portland?

“I think it’s safe to say that it has gotten more dangerous for the vast majority of people. I don't want to get involved in a blame game, but people are driving way worse. The divisiveness and polarization we see in other parts of people's lives, that doesn't end when people get behind the wheel of their car. So, whether you're in a big truck or a little bike, those two people have to have mutual respect or things can go terribly wrong.”

“We have this amazing neighborhood greenway system. Look for the streets that have the bike symbol with three little arrows on top — those are called ‘sharrows.’ And if you can't find a route on the neighborhood greenway streets, try to find streets that have the most separation between where you'd ride your bike and where people are driving.”

What are three things you check for before heading out on a ride?

“The first thing I look for is if my chain is making noise, I lube it. Make sure your tires are pumped up. Bike tires lose air naturally, so if it's been sitting for a while it's going to be low — it's going to be really squirrely when you turn and you will probably get a flat. The big thing that I really believe in is making sure that I have a really good bell. And don't be afraid to use it!

Biking 101

Portland Biking 101 with Jonathan Maus

five days next week forecasted to reach well into the 90s

. So I checked in with National Weather Service Portland meteorologist David Bishop about what to expect.

July didn’t have any apocalyptic events — smoke or 100-degree days. Was it hotter than normal?

“It was running about 3.2 degrees warmer than normal [on average]. [It] was definitely warmer than normal.”

“There are a couple models out there that are showing temperatures in the 104 to 105 range. Now those are outliers. There is a nonzero chance that could happen.”

What’s the forecast for early next week?

“What we are forecasting are temperatures in the mid-to upper-90s. About five days. The peak heat will be on Monday or Wednesday, with the high on Wednesday around 97.”

It’s about to get hot out there, with five days in next week expected to reach well into the 90s. So I checked in with National Weather Service Portland meteorologist David Bishop about what to expect.

Portland, Oregon, prepare for a Heatwave Next Week

There's a Heatwave Coming Next Week

A recent survey by the American Lung Association showed Oregon to be a leader in preventing smoking. But the state got an 

F when it came to the use of flavored tobacco

. I asked Jamie Dunphy, an Oregon lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network why the group was working to pass a ban on flavored tobacco statewide (it didn’t happen this session). Already Washington and Multnomah counties have passed such a ban, though Washington County’s is on hold after a legal challenge.

Is tobacco use still a problem in Oregon?

"Tobacco-related illness is the number one cause of preventable death in Oregon, and it's higher than the next six types of preventable death combined. That's drug use, alcohol, obesity, car crashes, weapons, and the flu. Over 8,000 people died from tobacco-related illness last year in Oregon alone."

Why are flavored tobacco products a problem?

“The tobacco industry [uses] the flavor in order to try and make it taste palatable and hook a new generation of addicts.

“95% of adults who smoke report that they started before they could legally buy them themselves.

“But of those same adults, fewer than 25% report using any form of a flavored product regularly, whereas 80% of children under the age of 21 report exclusively using a flavored product.”

Would statewide legislation impact the Washington County lawsuit?

“We're very confident that the Washington County lawyers are going to be successful in their appeal. But in the meantime, a statewide policy would make that question moot.”

Who Should Get Our Next 3 Questions?

A recent survey by the American Lung Association showed Oregon to be a leader in preventing smoking. But the state got an F when it came to the use of flavored tobacco. I asked Jamie Dunphy, an Oregon lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network why the group was working to pass a ban on flavored tobacco statewide (it didn’t happen this session). Already Washington and Multnomah Counties have passed such a ban, though Washington County’s is on hold after a legal challenge.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Wants Oregon to Ban Flavored Tobacco

Why Oregon Advocates Want Flavored Tobacco Banned

Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications Senior Dispatcher Stephen Zipprich was recently named North American 911 Dispatcher of the Year. He talked with host Claudia Meza on the City Cast Portland podcast 

We've heard a ton about how Portland's emergency response has been really slow recently. From your perspective, what are you seeing?

“The caller that I'm talking to when I answer the phone, that person is my world for however long that call goes. But our phone system shows us how many calls are waiting and that can get stressful for us as call takers to see how long people have to hold. It's really heart-wrenching for us.”

What I'm not hearing is instructions on how to perform surgery or to give birth or how to not pull something out of an orifice. You're not doing these things, right?

“I could walk you through childbirth because part of our medical triage protocol is childbirth instruction. But of the three of those things, that's the only one.”

“I have two daughters. One of them's nine, one of them's five, and I get to tell them that I'm helping people and that is really rewarding.”

Inside Scoop

Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications Senior Dispatcher Stephen Zipprich, was recently named North American 911 Dispatcher of the Year. He talked with host Claudia Meza on the City Cast Portland podcast about what’s involved in the job.

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland, Oregon

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland

So far this year we’ve had nine days at 90 or above, five of them in May. It’s not quite like the extreme heat in the Southwest, but it’s definitely hotter than normal here too.

, answered some questions about what’s up with the heat:

“We're going to see very upper 80s to low 90s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with Saturday most likely peaking in the mid-90s.”

“It's unusual to have that many at this point in the summer. May was very, very warm — way above average. June wasn't quite as extreme, but it still was on the warm side. And then we've certainly been relatively warm here for the first half of July so far.”

It sounds like you’re saying the climate has changed?

“This last decade has not been anything we’ve seen historically. It’s been way way warmer during the day and at night. It’s not just limited to the Portland metro [area] either.”

True. The World Just Had Its Hottest Week on Record.

We are going into another heatwave, possibly hitting 90 degrees this weekend. So far this year we’ve had nine days at 90 or above, five of them in May. It’s not quite like the extreme heat in the Southwest, but it’s definitely hotter than normal here too.

