The regional government Metro is laying off 40 percent of its employees, most of them workers at the now-shuttered Oregon Zoo, Oregon Convention Center and Expo Center. Metro currently has 1,700 employees, spokeswoman Kimberlee Ables tells WW.
Most of them do nothing but shuffle papers and hold meetings, so it's no great loss.
Now for the bad news:
The Oregon Department of Education has closed the state's online charter schools under Gov. Kate Brown's order to close public schools to halt the spread of COVID-19, according to a document obtained by WW.
Every child left behind.
Otherwise known as equity.
Interestingly:
With much of the city effectively on lockdown, Portlanders can at least take solace in this: They can now get weed and booze while staying safely in their cars.The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has temporarily altered its rules to allow curbside pickup of factory-sealed bottles of spirits. Customers can call in their orders, then have them brought out to the sidewalk by a clerk.
Maintaining that tax revenue under trying conditions, I guess.
