Since we have been having fun recently talking about crime statistics in Portland, and I'm filling out my ballot, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at some historical data of crime in the city by population and compare it to today.

(1/x) To do this, I will use the Portland Police Bureau's crime stats and census estimates for the population.

For our reference point, we will use May '15-'16 -- the first full year the city adjusted stats to be more in line with FBI standards. Prior years may log crimes diff.
(2/x)

As someone who has covered a fair share of extremism in the NW since 2015, I'll say that what's been happening this summer is definitively NOT GOOD.

Abdication of responsibility from local/state/federal leaders and LE is making for dangerous conditions that rival 2020. I've spent almost all of this year researching and reporting the throughlines of the 80s/90s movements to today, and we are headed back there.

2024 will be wild if nothing is done.

.@OPB & @propublica have uncovered several new eye witnesses to the shooting of Michael Reinoehl in Lacey, Washington.

They say federal officers did not identify themselves or even use sirens before opening fire.

opb.org/article/2020/1… I was in some meetings, but coming back to this...there are so many new details in this story that are worth highlighting.

The first being that law enforcement originally said Reinoehl pointed a gun at officers. They have now walked that back and said the gun was in his pocket.

I hear it constantly: 'How did Portland get this way?'

The simple answer is political inaction.

And changing that course is something both progressive activists and police agree would help end protest violence in this city.

opb.org/article/2020/0… The reporting and quotes in this story are just stunning. @_jlevinson learned that civil rights activists like @Muzzakh tried years ago to get Portland to take legal action against extremist groups.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says we are approaching 900,000 acres burning in Oregon right now.

Says in a typical year, the entire fire season averages 500,000 acres. Gov. Brown says today will hopefully mark the end of the weather that have pushed fires so hard, but the system hasn't broken yet.

Fires have "unpredictable movement" at the moment.

Clackamas Community College has confirmed to @OPB that they did not know today's Trump vehicle parade was planning to use their facility as a gathering point. A spokesperson tells me "the event is not sanctioned by the College." "For the safety of participants and the general public, the college is working with the Oregon City Police Department," the spokesperson also said.

I see political commentator @MrAndyNgo is trying to direct his followers to harass a local journalist for doing the right thing and correcting a mistake. Funny coming from a guy who has literally had articles written about his voluminous mistakes. businessinsider.com/wall-street-jo… And I use the word "mistakes" quite freely here. It assumes good intentions when there are few to be assumed. Andy regularly harasses journalists (or anyone) when he thinks he can get away with it. (He's blocked me apparently for correcting him enough times.)

CBP Chief Mark Morgan says arrests in Portland by BORTAC have been "highly targeted" toward people committing violence. The arrest story we broke that drew attention to this was against someone who had not committed any crime and was not charged. Also says unmarked vehicles are normal and necessary to deal with protesters.

Portland Police deputy chief Sgt. Davis says total cost of 6 weeks of protests is $23 million. Says that includes lost work. not sure how that figure is fully reached. Deputy Chief Chris Davis also said there have been more than 100 injuries during protests. Some of these are officers. Unclear if that figure includes protesters injured by less lethal munitions fired by police. opb.org/news/article/c…

Since March, every week has felt like a million news years, but THIS WEEK! 🙃

I thought I would gather just some of the big news that happened this week to put it in perspective. On Monday, we learned that a Union County church had a massive outbreak of COVID-19 -- significantly adding to concerns whether Oregon is moving too fast on reopening. opb.org/news/article/e…

.@tedwheeler speaking now about planned reforms to Portland police. Mayor Wheeler says he is taking serious the demands to change how Portland police work.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is now speaking. Calls George Floyd's death a "stain on this country" Brown says she counts herself among white politicians who have not done enough to tackle systemic racism

.@OregonGovBrown says the state's success so far gives her confidence on the next steps toward reopening parts of the economy. Governor Brown says office workers who have been working from home (hi!) must continue to do so, even as restrictions ease.

I know I said I was done, but I realized on my drive home I should probably do some recap in one place.

From what I saw today, this protest was a bust for Joe Biggs and the group of people who traveled to Portland to "fight antifa." 1/ Within an hour of arriving at Waterfront Park, that group asked police if they could cross back over the river to the east side. Police say they allowed that as a way to keep groups separate. 2/