Alex Zielinski
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Covers:
public health, city planning, social services, women's health, reproductive rights, transportation, homelessness, minority issues, green issues, poverty
But, why? Portland city govt reporter, Oregon Public Broadcasting
Past words: @portlandmercury @sacurrent @wcp
Past lives: TX, DC, CA
📬 azielinski@opb.org
Articles by Alex Zielinski
Department of Justice sues Portland over mask ban
Department of Homeland Security officers protect the driveway of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Ore., June 17, 2025. Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB The federal government is taking Portland to court over its recently adopted policy banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings and requiring officers to wear clear identification. The complaint filed Thursday accuses the city of unconstitutionally enacting a law that regulates federal law enforcement.
Portland considers moratorium on delivery drones
Amazon’s MK30 delivery drone in a provided image. Nov. 2024. Portland City Council made the first step Wednesday toward restricting aerial drone delivery services, a system that Amazon has begun rolling out in cities across the country. Councilors voted overwhelmingly to “consider” a moratorium on building facilities that support delivery drones.
What to know about Portland’s District 3 council race
The Portland City Council chambers on Oct. 5, 2026 in Portland, Ore. Half of Portland voters will cast their ballots for their district city councilors this November, including those living in Portland’s District 3. That district includes most Portland neighborhoods west of Interstate 205 and south of Sandy Boulevard.
What to know about Portland’s District 4 council race
The Portland City Council chambers on Oct. 5, 2026 in Portland, Ore. Three council seats in Portland’s District 4 are on the ballot in November. That district includes all Portland neighborhoods west of the Willamette River along with the Southeast Portland neighborhoods of Reed, Eastmoreland, Sellwood-Moreland, and Ardenwald.
Portland Metro Chamber CEO sues city over arts tax increase
FILE — Portland Metro Chamber president and CEO Andrew Hoan speaks during the annual Portland Metro Chamber meeting, amid discussions of renovating the Moda Center with public money, at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on June 24, 2026. The head of Portland’s largest chamber of commerce is taking the city to court for hiking the city’s arts tax without voter approval. “Cities have to talk to their voters about taxes,” Portland Metro Chamber President Andrew Hoan told OPB.
‘I’m not sleeping easy’: Uncertainty and unknowns prevail as candidates head into Portland’s second ranked choice council election
Portland City Hall in downtown in Portland, Ore., on July 9, 2026. Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists Portland’s 2024 City Council election was like nothing the city had ever experienced: 12 open seats for a new legislative body split into four districts, 98 candidates and a brand-new ranked choice voting system. Candidates had little direction on how to run a successful campaign and learned what worked — or didn’t — on the fly.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Half of Portland’s City Council is back on the ballot
Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists We have just over a month left before the November general election. Portland is barreling toward its second election using ranked choice voting. With half of the Portland city council seats up for grabs, what should voters expect? On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” reporters Bryce Dole and Alex Zielinski talk about the upcoming Portland election and how it differs from the 2024 election.
Portland Police chief accused of violating state law by criticizing city councilor’s past tweets
FILE - Portland Police Chief Bob Day speaks at a press conference held at the Central Precinct in Portland, Jan. 8, 2026. Did Portland Police Chief Bob Day break the law when he criticized a city councilor last week? That’s a question several Portlanders are asking state officials to answer. At least two people have filed complaints against Day with the Secretary of State’s office in the past week.
Portland’s largest overnight homeless shelter has closed
FILE - The entrance of the Northrup Shelter, an emergency overnight shelter in Portland, Ore,. pictured Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Portland’s largest overnight-only shelter is closing its doors Friday, a year after opening. Northrup Shelter opened a year ago as a key component of Mayor Keith Wilson’s sweeping plan to curtail homelessness.
Portland Police Chief condemns councilor’s past criticism of police
Portland police Chief Bob Day says he’s lost trust in Councilor Mitch Green after reviewing his past statements about the city’s police officers. Portland city councilor Mitch Green of District 4 participates in a city council meeting at Portland City Hall in Portland, Ore., on July 9, 2026. “I no longer have confidence that this Councilor is evaluating the Police Bureau reasonably and objectively,” Day wrote in a Wednesday press release.
Adam Silver would consider it a ‘failure’ if NBA lets Blazers leave Portland
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he’d “see it as a failure” if the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t remain in the city. “It is my hope and belief that the Trail Blazers can be successful in Portland, Oregon,” said Silver at a press conference Tuesday, following an NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York.
Portland leaders vote to remove Cesar Chavez’s name from major street
The intersection of Southeast Cesar E Chavez Boulevard and Belmont Street in Portland, Ore, on March 18, 2026. Portland leaders voted Wednesday unanimously to remove Cesar Chavez’s name from a major city street, months after reporting revealed that Chavez had allegedly sexually abused women and girls. Councilors chose to rename the eastside thoroughfare Campesinos – a Spanish word meaning “farmworkers” – to honor the larger Latino labor movement that Chavez was a part of.
Survey: Portlanders don’t feel represented by newly representative form of government
Pillars mark the entrance to Portland City Hall, reflected in the door, in Portland, Ore., on July 9, 2026. Portlanders are feeling iffy about their new government. In a survey released this week, only 22% of Portland voters polled believe the city’s government is effective, while nearly 40% do not. “It feels like there’s no strategic plan in place,” wrote one of the 1,252 unnamed Portlanders surveyed by Oregon Values & Beliefs Center, a nonpartisan research group.
Portland poised to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard after farmworker movement
In Portland, Cesar Chavez Boulevard’s days appear numbered. The Portland City Council advanced a plan Wednesday to rename the roughly 8-mile-long street on the city’s eastside, months after reporting from the New York Times revealed that farmworker labor advocate Chavez had allegedly sexually abused women and girls.
Portland poised to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard after farmworker movement
People wait at the intersection of Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Hawthorne Boulevard on March 27, 2026 in Portland, Ore. In Portland, Caesar Chavez Boulevard’s days appear numbered. City Council advanced a plan Wednesday to rename the roughly 8-mile-long street on the city’s eastside, months after reporting from revealed that farmworker labor advocate Chavez had allegedly sexually abused women and girls.
The behind-the-scenes players at Portland City Hall adjust to new normal
Pillars mark the entrance to Portland City Hall, reflected in the door, in Portland, Ore., on July 9, 2026. Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists Portland city government has spent the past year and a half changing the way it does just about everything. Twelve new city councilors. New geographic districts. New rules about who gets to make decisions.
Portland police ballot initiative backers sue local elections officials
FILE - The Safer Portland campaign holds a press conference July 6, 2026 in Portland, Ore., announcing the signature requirements for the November 2026 ballot measure were met. The proposal aims to hire more police officers using Portland's Clean Energy Fund. Backers of a stalled initiative to use Portland’s clean energy funds to hire police officers filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing local elections officials of discrimination and calling for an independent signature recount.
Trail Blazers will meet with Portland to discuss lease negotiations Monday
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, center left, looks to his computer during a Portland City Council meeting, in which the final vote on a “term sheet” is slated to happen, at Portland City Hall in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 12, 2026. The term sheet lays the framework for Moda Center lease negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Portland puts the Trail Blazers’ future in Tom Dundon’s court
Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists Practically all year, elected officials in Oregon have been trying to solve a puzzle: How can they ensure the enigmatic new owner of the Trail Blazers doesn’t attempt to take the team elsewhere, but not lose the public’s metaphorical shirt in the process? We now have a basic idea of what that approach looks like. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski break down the latest.
Portland City Council approves term sheet for Moda Center renovations
Portland City Council voted 8-4 to kick off the city’s negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, approving a blueprint for hashing out a long-term lease with the team. The vote also pledges councilors’ commitment to spending $120 million on renovating the Moda Center, despite not knowing exactly how they’ll pay for it.
Portland City Council approves term sheet for Moda Center renovations
From left, lead city negotiator and a managing partner of Stafford Sports, LLC, Carl Hirsh, deputy city administrator Donnie Oliveira and senior deputy city attorney Ken McGair sit at the dais as dozens of attendees hold up “No Bailouts for Billionaires” signs in protest of public funds going to the Moda Center during a Portland City Council meeting, in which the final vote on a “term sheet” is slated to happen, at Portland City Hall in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 12, 2026.
Portland councilors advance plan to develop city land adjacent to Moda Center
FILE - Portland’s Moda Center in September 2025. As the future of Portland’s Moda Center remains in flux, city leaders are looking for other ways to redevelop public land near the NBA arena. A city council committee unanimously advanced a proposal Tuesday to kick off negotiations with Albina Vision Trust, a nonprofit focused on revitalizing the neighborhood around the Moda Center. That neighborhood, called Albina, was once a major hub of the city’s Black community.
5 things to know before Wednesday’s vote on Moda Center negotiations
FILE - The Moda Center and Interstate 5 pictured from OPB drone footage. The months-long effort to secure public funding for an arena renovation is entering a key phase. After months of back-and-forth, the ball’s in Portland’s court to start negotiations with the Trail Blazers over a long-term lease deal. On Wednesday, city councilors are scheduled to cast their final vote on a term sheet laying out the city’s desired framework for negotiations with the Blazers.
Portland and Multnomah County set table for Moda Center negotiations
FILE - A fan sports a Damian Lillard jersey during the third game in the Trail Blazers’ first round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on April 24, 2026. The governmental talks to put public money toward renovating the building continue. With deadlines fast approaching, Portland and Multnomah County officials Thursday hammered out the framework for their looming negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers over Moda Center renovations.
Same Hazard, No Protection: The Occupational Cancer Gap for Industrial Firefighters
Privately employed and third-party contract industrial firefighters face identical carcinogen exposures as municipal crews, yet lack statutory cancer presumptions and federal death benefits. At refineries, chemical plants, steel mills, and manufacturing facilities across the country, a class of workers performs high-hazard emergency response duties. Duties like suppressing fires, managing hazardous chemical releases, and performing confined space rescues.
From Foundation to Flight: How Strong BLS Builds Exceptional ALS
Bilanol / Shutterstock.com Emergency medical services (EMS) systems invest significant resources in building paramedics. Recruitment pipelines, field internships, and medic school sponsorships reflect a real commitment to advanced care. But there is a critical gap in that pipeline that rarely gets addressed directly: what happens to an emergency medical technician (EMT) between initial certification and the first day of medic school?
City staffer threatens to sue Portland councilor over alleged retaliatory firing
Portland District 1 City Councilor Candace Avalos listens during a meeting at Portland City Hall on Nov. 12, 2025 in Portland, Ore. A former staffer for Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos claims she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment at work. And she’s planning to sue. In a legal notice sent to the city Friday, an attorney representing Sabina Urdes signaled her intent to file a lawsuit due to the “financial harm and severe emotional upset” caused by working under Avalos.
As Moda Center deal looms, Portland city officials at the center of negotiations weigh in
FILE - The jumbotron at the Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Portland, Ore. Summer is usually a slow period in Portland City Hall. But with a complex and contentious deal with the city’s NBA team to spend public dollars on the Moda Center careening toward a council vote next month, that’s not the case this year. Last week, the city sent the Portland Trail Blazers’ management team an early draft of its term sheet.
Portland’s WNBA team pushes the county to invest in Moda Center renovations
In the escalating talks over whether public money should go to the Portland Trail Blazers to renovate the Moda Center, the public has heard little from the other national basketball franchise that calls the arena home. That changed Thursday, when Portland Fire President Clare Hamill spoke up at a Multnomah County board hearing on the arena renovations. Hamill urged county commissioners to sign off on their proposed $101 million investment in the Moda Center.
Portland City Council saves 30 jobs from August layoffs in contentious budget vote
FILE - Pillars mark the entrance to Portland City Hall, reflected in the door, in Portland, Ore., on July 9, 2026. Portland City Council took the rare step of compromising on a budget proposal Wednesday, following a meeting that once again showcased a divided council and featured a first-of-its-kind vote by Mayor Keith Wilson.
Who is leading Portland’s Moda Center negotiations with the Blazers?
The Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Lease negotiations between Portland and its beloved NBA team are off to a rocky start. Both city officials and representatives for the Trail Blazers have issues with the city’s initial draft of a term sheet – a document outlining the starting terms of the Moda Center renovation deal that will be hashed out over the next several months. City leaders will hold a closed-door meeting Wednesday to discuss the deal further.
Mayors from 24 Portland-area cities call on city to secure Moda Center deal
FILE - The Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Portland, Ore. As debate around public money on Moda Center renovations heats up, officials from Portland’s suburbs are chiming in. In a letter sent Wednesday to Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, a group of 24 mayors from cities around the metro area urged leaders to do what they can to keep the Trail Blazers from leaving Portland in their arena negotiations.
‘OPB Politics Now’: ICE’s building in Portland is back in the legal spotlight
Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists A surge in enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has led to two fatal shootings by ICE agents in recent weeks. Those occurred in Texas and Maine, but Oregon continues to grapple with immigration enforcement as well. The Portland ICE building that was a focal point of protests much of last year is back in the news, as lawsuits and land-use cases surrounding the property come to a head.
Northeast Portland neighborhood split over new proposed service district
Cars whizz by shops on both sides of Sandy Boulevard, many of which have been in the historic Parkrose neighborhood for years in Portland, Ore., on July 15, 2026. A proposal to create a new business district in Northeast Portland — which sticks a hefty fee on property owners — has divided an often overlooked neighborhood.
Portland 911 call wait times improving, audit finds
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Portland outdoor pools open this week
FILE - Portland Parks & Recreation has seven outdoor pools. Courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation Portland’s outdoor public pools are open for summer, just in time for another warm weekend. The city will open its seven outdoor swimming pools on Thursday. It comes days after the state reversed a controversial new order requiring all children under the age of 14 to be accompanied by an adult at public pools.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Portland’s divided City Council passed another budget no one is pleased with
Experience this story in an audio version created by OPB journalists Portland’s elected leaders entered this budget season with a $170 million funding hole. Finally, after weeks of painstaking deliberation, they passed the city’s budget Wednesday. Once again, no one seems pleased. On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” reporters Alex Zielinski and Bryce Dole break down where the city landed and what the deliberations say about how Portland’s new council is working in its sophomore year.
Portland City Council begrudgingly adopts $8.5 billion budget
FILE - City Hall on Nov. 12, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Eli Imadali / OPB After nearly two months of long-winded debates and indecision, Portland has a budget. But no one is thrilled about it. “This is not a great budget,” said Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney, before voting to support the spending plan Wednesday. “This is not even a good budget.” Councilors passed the $8.5 billion budget with a 9-2 vote, with Councilors Eric Zimmerman and Dan Ryan voting in opposition.
‘She wasn’t finished’: Portland community remembers life of unsheltered leader cut short by tragedy
A quote from Becky Lange was pinned on the wall at Ground Score Association in Portland's Old Town on June 4, 2026. The event featured shirts, a tiny fabric dumpster fire on a keychain, and other crafts Lange made before she was fatally assaulted in May. Alex Zielinski / OPB OPB's "First Look" is your guide to Northwest news and culture, delivered to your inbox every weekday and Saturday morning. The event was supposed to be a celebration.
Portland councilors skip funding threatened public safety positions
Disagreement over how to use a unique city funding source left Portland City Councilors unable to save public safety jobs slated to be cut in Mayor Keith Wilson’s budget. FILE - From left, Portland City Councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney of District 2, Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane of District 3, Angelita Morillo of District 3 and Steve Novick of District 3 at a Portland City Council meeting on Nov. 12, 2025, in Portland, Ore.
Sharon Meieran enters Multnomah County chair’s race
FILE - Sharon Meieran pictured in her campaign photo for the 2022 race for county chair. Courtesy of Sharon Meieran Former Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran is running for the county’s top office. Meieran told OPB she hadn’t initially planned to enter the November race for county chair.
Portland unveils timeline for Moda Center deal
FILE - The Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Saskia Hatvany / OPB Portland’s 31-year-old Moda Center arena is in a moment of transition. So too is its major tenant. With a lease between the city and Blazers coming up for renewal and the team’s new owners coming in with big demands, city and state leaders have been pressured into making big funding commitments on a whirlwind timeline.
Portland councilors approve ban on foie gras
FILE - A man walks into Portland City Hall on Nov. 12, 2025 in Portland, Ore. Eli Imadali / OPB Portland city councilors voted 7-5 Thursday to ban the sale of foie gras, a fatty liver dish traditionally made by force-feeding ducks or geese. Under the policy, led by Councilor Mitch Green, any restaurant or store that sells foie gras could face up to $5,000 in fines. The proposal was supported by animal rights activists, who have lobbied City Hall for decades to ban the controversial dish.
Court delays land use ruling against Portland ICE building
FILE - A protester pictured outside the South Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in February, 2026. The owner of Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building successfully lobbied the county court to block the city from ruling on a land use violation against his property, a ruling that could have imposed steep fines against him.
Homelessness declined nationally in 2025. Not in Oregon
FILE - Portland police speak with two people in a tent during the forced removal of an encampment of unhoused people in the central eastside of Portland, Ore., on Jan. 28, 2026. Eli Imadali / OPB After years of consistent increases, the country saw its homeless population decline by 3% in early 2025. But that pattern wasn’t replicated in Oregon.
Juan Carlos González appointed Metro President
Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González, a candidate for Metro Council president, in an undated photo provided by the candidate. Courtesy of Juan Carlos González Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González is starting his new job leading the regional government six months early. González was elected to Metro President with 67% of the vote in May, for a term that begins on Jan. 1. But Metro Councilors voted Tuesday unanimously to appoint González, 33, to enter that office immediately.
From Arrival to Action: The Impact of Assembly Time
Special guests John Norman and John Walters, now both retired from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), join the Humpday Hangout for a look back at their experiences on and following September 11, 2001. They share firsthand recollections from the pile, command decisions, standpipe and hose incompatibility, mutual‑aid responses, void entries, and long‑term medical and mental health FeaturesFirefighting#9/11#FDNY#Key Hose Hangouts
Portland approves policy to bar law enforcement from wearing masks
FILE - Councilor Sameer Kanal at a Portland City Council meeting on Feb. 5, 2025, Portland, Ore. Anna Lueck for OPB Portland officials approved a policy Wednesday that supporters say could open the door for local police to stop federal agents and ask for their identification, in a move aimed at stopping potential imposters. But the plan likely faces legal challenges.
Portland votes to increase arts tax, allow fewer people to pay
FILE - Jamie Dunphy pictured in a 2025 photo. Eli Imadali / OPB Portland’s unique arts tax will increase next year, but fewer people will have to pay. On Wednesday, city councilors adopted a 43% increase in the annual tax and a plan to relieve an estimated 40% of current tax filers from paying. The Arts Education and Access Tax, commonly called the arts tax, is a $35 tax on individuals who earn more than $1,000 annually that goes toward public school art programs and art nonprofits.
Head of Portland’s civic life office is on leave
FILE - City Hall on Nov. 12, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Eli Imadali / OPB The head of Portland’s bureau that oversees neighborhood associations and community engagement is on leave. Amanda Garcia-Snell has led the Office of Community & Civic Life as the city’s first engagement officer since January 2025. She was hired to oversee the department following Portland’s major government overhaul, which intended to improve how the public interacted with city officials and departments.
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