Portland city politics reporter, @opb.org Past lives: TX, DC, CA 📬 azielinski@opb.org Signal: alex_zee.03 www.opb.org/author/alex-zielinski/https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mznpdopfbs2gSome masterful headline work over here: https://opb.org/article/2026/11/06/clackamas-county-mayors-gen-z-west-linn-milwaukie-oregon-city/06 Nov 2026 15:32 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mznpdopfbs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mzmj6f7vtc22I can’t tell you why, but this is a bonkers thing for the county to drop the day after an election. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Nov 2026 04:09 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzmj6f7vtc22https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mzlbknh7fc2fFor those curious, two major Portland unions are still barreling toward a strike. CPPW is poised to walk off the job Monday; LiUNA Local 483 could do the same in early Dec. Here's where things stood a few weeks ago: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/19/portland-oregon-worker-strike-union/05 Nov 2026 16:20 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzlbknh7fc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mzje3724b22sEarly takeaways from Portland's second ranked-choice election. Including: “This was a repudiation of the old style of Portland campaigning, where you get a couple of rich guys in a trenchcoat and throw money at ads." https://www.opb.org/article/2026/11/04/portland-oregon-city-council-government-politics-clark-green-zimmerman/04 Nov 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzje3724b22shttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mzhvzeqfzc2sFYI: All local city and county results remain unchanged after midnight update. [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Nov 2026 08:16 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzhvzeqfzc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mzhiquxwms2sEarly Portland metro results: Singleton leading in Mult Co Chair race https://www.opb.org/article/2026/11/03/multnomah-county-chair-singleton-brim-edwards-meieran/04 Nov 2026 04:19 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzhiquxwms2shttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myzp6wkprs2tThe county's largest union continues to express their opposition with leadership's new hybrid work requirement: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/29/multnomah-county-public-union-declares-no-confidence-in-top-officials/29 Oct 2026 16:36 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myzp6wkprs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myxfwttp7s24Q: Where to Oregon's candidates for gov't stand on addressing potentially devastating Medicaid cuts? A: 🤷 https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/28/oregon-is-hundreds-of-millions-short-in-medicaid-funding-neither-top-gubernatorial-has-shared-a-plan/28 Oct 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myxfwttp7s24https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myx6br45ck24Investigation by @katekaye.bsky.social finds that Portland police are planning to use an AI tool they are currently prohibited from using: https://www.streetroots.org/news-stories/2026/10/28/portland-police-are-banned-from-using-ai-theyve-planned-to-use-it-anyway/28 Oct 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myx6br45ck24https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myx2xhxews2sMore than half of those surveyed by the city said shelter staff did not handle grievances or other issues raised well. That includes complaints about sexual harassment and theft. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/28/portland-village-style-shelters-dont-respond-well-to-complaints-cit-survey-finds/28 Oct 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myx2xhxews2shttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mykrpycz3c2hAs an aside: It makes me proud to work at a newsroom that's worked hard to build a trustworthy reputation in Bend and other communities across the state -- to be entrusted with this interview. The years of labor from our reporters that went into earning this kind of trust shouldn't be overlooked. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Oct 2026 18:12 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykrpycz3c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mykglzazss27Powerful interview with the man who killed the Silver Rail school shooter by @emilycuretoncook.bsky.social: "I said, 'Mom, I just had to take the life of what I think might be a child.'" https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/23/bend-oregon-kaylub-giamanco-silver-rail-elementary-school-shooting/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVIUqxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWJyaWQRMWJBQnNRc0dDbkdOY1JxZTBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeuu3p967c5GvUJtlrRvxBdaxzKTSizmzSzTXCd4aSMDnKaz7wmuxPLc5i0kY_aem_Vg6Lj5rnm_kulpVeUM2Bxg23 Oct 2026 14:53 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykglzazss27https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myic2mx6o22sA lil news: AFSCME Local 88, the largest union representing Multnomah County employees, has rescinded its endorsement of Julia Brim-Edwards for county chair. This comes a week after @basicrightsoregon.bsky.social reversed its endorsement.22 Oct 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myic2mx6o22shttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3myg7y7jeys2rThe election complaint has created a possible test case for a nascent state law requiring campaigns disclose use of AI. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Oct 2026 22:44 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3myg7y7jeys2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mxx5atgk722vLive updates here: [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Oct 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxx5atgk722vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mxjvzfzzuk2vI have been off work for a while for (see previous post) — but want to elevate this deeply odd story. A lot of interesting choices being made here. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Oct 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxjvzfzzuk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mxib2mpuus2zHardest assignment of my career this week: Writing an obituary for my extraordinary dad. I usually keep my personal stuff and work stuff far apart. But I really want the world to know who he was. https://www.northcoastjournal.com/lifelines/obituaries/william-zielinski/10 Oct 2026 00:43 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxib2mpuus2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwtihollek2uThe Metro Chamber has made good on their promise to sue the city over its arts tax adjustment: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/01/portland-metro-chamber-ceo-sues-city-arts-tax-increase/01 Oct 2026 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtihollek2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwqrmudnjs2kFiling reports from the "GoPDX" PAC show the direct link between the business-led United for Portland PAC and a trio of new independent expenditures (GoPDX, Ditch Mitch & fix multco). These are the PACs behind a grip of billboards bashing Councilor Green / supporting Commissioner Brim-Edwards.30 Sep 2026 16:36 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqrmudnjs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwqntuem322x"OPB’s poll suggested the governor has only a slightly better image than Trump among Oregon voters: a 38% favorability rating to the president’s 37%." [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Sep 2026 15:28 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqntuem322xhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwqnshvd5k2xWhen asked initially who they were most likely to vote for, 46% of voters chose Drazan and 44% named Kotek. An additional 3% picked Brett Smith, the lone third-party candidate in the race, and 8% were undecided. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/30/opb-poll-shows-oregon-governors-race-virtually-deadlocked/30 Sep 2026 15:27 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqnshvd5k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwmguxlrnc23How Washington County politics reflect a bigger, nationwide shift in the Democratic party: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/25/data-centers-ice-and-the-dsa-election-tensions-rise-in-washington-county/28 Sep 2026 23:13 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmguxlrnc23https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mwe4ep3cyc2rWe're approaching the second election under Portland's new ranked-choice system (and districts!). What have candidates and local politics watchers learned from the first election? It's a little 😫, a little 🤔 and mostly a lot of 🤷. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/25/uncertainty-unknowns-candidates-portland-second-ranked-choice-city-council-election/25 Sep 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwe4ep3cyc2r