Shows / City Cast Portland
City Cast Portland
City Cast Portland captures the one-of-a-kind creative spirit of this place and tackles who we are and where we’re going — from big deals, like equity and livability, to tiny delights, like the city's most wonderful doughnut. Host Claudia Meza is so over the notion that ‘Portland is over.’ On the show, she’ll revive your civic pride and stir you to help create local change — through conversations with neighbors, newsmakers, artists and entrepreneurs about our ever-changing city. Learn more and…
Episodes
- City Cast Portland
The State HR Director Who 'Rolled the Dice,' Saving the Sea Star, and 6 Ways to Finish Summer Strong
Today we're talking about what happened when the state's human resources director violated their own policies, and how a Northwest tribe and local researchers…
- City Cast Portland
Why More Celebrity Chefs are Coming to Portland, What to Expect at Rose City Comic Con, and Big AI Has a New Local Champion
Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about why there's a wave of celebrity chefs hitting Portland’s shores. We’re also getting a sneak peek into Rose…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: A Madison Landfill That’s A Smart Business Move — Presented By City Cast Portland
What will Portland do when it runs out of space for trash? Madison, WI, has a plan, and it’s one that other cities could follow. What could’ve just been…
- City Cast Portland
City Council OKs Moda Renovation, What Now? Plus, Oaks Bottom’s Wildfire Risk and the World’s Last Sam Goody
We're talking about City Council approving the Moda Center term sheet and what that means heading into negotiations — as well as the wildfire risk within…
- City Cast Portland
Why Your Commute Time Might Triple, St. Helens Treatment Center Dumping Patients in Portland, and Red House Gets Raided
We're talking about the upcoming I-5 closure predicted to potentially triple your commute time and the recent raid on the infamous Red House, which was the…
- City Cast Portland
We Tried 6 Portland Mercury Burger Week Offerings! Plus Top Food Carts and Coast Trip Food Picks
We're talking about our city's best food carts, Portland Mercury's Burger Week, and the best places to eat on your way to the coast. Joining host Claudia Meza…
- City Cast Portland
Could Trains Topple This Crumbling Warehouse? Plus, the Lloyd Center's Wild Goodbye and a Moda Center Deadline
We’re talking about the Lloyd Center’s bittersweet final weekend. We’re also looking ahead to this week’s big deadline for Moda Center negotiations and…
- City Cast Portland
Will Portland Ban Some Right Turns on Red? Plus, a Councilor Torched His Backyard and Portland’s Pettiest Gripes
We’re talking about a Portland city councilor who was caught burning yard waste during the worst wildfire season on record and a proposal to ban right turns on…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Portland
As much as you love Portland, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have complaints, questions, and…
- City Cast Portland
Portland Had the World's Worst Air, Downtown Is Bribing Brokers, and Climate Dollars for Cops Fails
We've got updates on the I-5 Rose Quarter renovation, the climate cash for cops ballot initiative, and Portland's toxic air quality as we bring back our news…
- City Cast Portland
Roaches, Comedians, and a Rebel Grocer Saving Parkrose's Biggest Food Desert
We're talking about a lawsuit alleging a nearly year-long cockroach infestation at a Home Forward property. Plus, an insider's look at this year's Helium…
- City Cast Portland
Why You Might Smell Smoke This Week. Plus Salem's Data Center Revolt and the Real Reason PDX Trees are Dying
Today we’re talking about how Oregon’s wildfires are the largest in our state’s history. Plus, Salem is standing up against encroaching data centers, and…
- City Cast Portland
Why Portland Should Host the Food Oscars, the New Punk Rock Mall, and Portland's Newest Party Bars
Today on City Cast Portland, can Portland snag the world-famous James Beard food awards from Chicago? And could Pioneer Place become the new Lloyd Center?…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Portland
Do you know how zoning laws affect Portland’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it physically…
- City Cast Portland
Police Ballot Signature Mess, State Hospital Scandal Updates, and Portland Parks Kills Beloved Waterslide
We're talking about why efforts to fund cops with climate dollars aren't going as smoothly as some had hoped, and we have updates on our state hospital’s…
- City Cast Portland
Your Guide to August 2026 in Portland
Whether you’re riding bikes to the cutest curated public art galleries, roller skating to some local hip-hop, or trying delicious Hawaiian shaved ice for the…
- City Cast Portland
City Gets Sued for $717K Over a Single Tree, Why Nextdoor is the Worst, and Theories on All Those Loud Booms
We’re talking about how a single tree cost the city over $700,000 and a new local alternative to Nextdoor promising less snark and more community. Plus, we’re…
- City Cast Portland
Mayor Keith Wilson on Keeping the Blazers, Fixing 911 Response Times, and His Efforts To End Homelessness
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is joining host Claudia Meza to talk about how things are going nearly halfway through his term. We’ll be chatting about his…
- City Cast Portland
Is Portland Really Better Than Seattle?
Today, it's Portland vs. Seattle. Which city is actually better? We're listening back to a conversation with Jane C. Hu, host of City Cast Seattle. Stay tuned…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Portland
It’s not a given that every Portlander will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writer Taylor Lahey about…
- City Cast Portland
Does City Council Have a ‘Daddy’? Plus, Oregon’s Outdated School Funding Formula and Shady Landlords
We're talking about a Portland renter beating his landlord in court and Mayor Wilson's tie-breaking vote on a City Council ordinance and why some are not happy…
- City Cast Portland
Why No One Is Happy With the Moda Deal. Plus, Preschool for All’s Uncertain Future and Listener Maibag
We're talking about the latest in the ongoing Moda Center negotiations, and why Preschool for All might need fewer seats in the coming year. Plus, we’re diving…
- City Cast Portland
Why Portland Is at Risk of an LA-Style Wildfire. Plus, We Beat Seattle in a World Record and Intel in Trouble
We're talking about the Guinness World Record our city just broke, why an energy expert is sounding the alarm that Portland is at risk of an LA-style wildfire…
- City Cast Portland
The Most Overrated (and Underrated) Portland Summer Activities
We're talking about our city's most overrated and underrated summer activities. Yes, we've got gripes but also tips about how to get the most out of a fleeting…
- City Cast Portland
Why Fox News Hates the Portland Pickles. Plus, More Financial Trouble for Home Forward and Our Top Summer Drink Spots
We’re talking about the news that Portland’s housing authority, Home Forward, is in a bigger financial shortfall than previously reported. And as we hit…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Are Chattanoogans ‘Doing It Their Damn Selves’? — Presented By City Cast Portland
Sometimes it can feel like the Portland government is two (or more) steps behind the needs of its neighborhoods. Enter the residents of Chattanooga, Tennessee…
- City Cast Portland
Portland EMT Fights Against Cameras in Ambulances, a Guide to Seaside, and Why Mini Horses are Allowed in Portland Schools
We're talking about miniature horses in classrooms and why one Portland EMT's fight against cameras in ambulances has gotten national attention. Plus, we’ve…
- City Cast Portland
Is the County’s Deflection Program Working? Plus, Last-Minute Summer Outdoor Adventures and Missed Connections
We're checking in on how our county's drug deflection program is faring. Plus, we've got ideas for last-minute outdoor summer adventures and we’re also digging…
- City Cast Portland
Slow Police Response Sparks Outrage, a Dream Property Buried in Tires, and Gov. Kotek's Approval Ratings Are Tanking
We're talking about the thousands and thousands of tires illegally dumped on an unsuspecting property owner and Portland Police’s troubling response times…
- City Cast Portland
Is Oregon's Psilocybin Industry Done For? Plus, Legal Murkiness of AI Political Ads and RIP Nutmeg
We're talking about the possible end of the psilocybin industry here in Oregon and the legality around the use of AI in local political ads. Plus, we’re…
- City Cast Portland
Why Is Portland Having a Wine Boom? Plus, RIP Lloyd Center Ice Rink and Best Local Drive-thrus
We've got ideas on where to build a new ice rink once the Lloyd Center mall is gone. Plus, we've got picks for the best new wine bars and local drive-thrus in…
- City Cast Portland
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Does Portland Have a ‘Perfect’ Airport? — Presented By City Cast Portland
There’s lots to love about Portland, but being able to get in and out of it easily and cheaply can be an underrated metric of its livability. Accommodating…
- City Cast Portland
Budget Power to the People, 700 Homes Nobody's Buying, and Portland's Yo-Yo Champion
We're talking about an incoming ballot measure aimed at giving the public more say in city budget matters, City Hall's newest efforts to increase affordable…
- City Cast Portland
PGE Sticks It to Data Centers and Surprising Results on Education Report. Plus, Mailbag!
We're talking about massive rate hikes coming for data centers across our state, where our Oregon students are lagging and where they are thriving. Plus, we're…
- City Cast Portland
Does Portland Need More Cops? Plus, Hidden Library Perks and PDX's Billion-Dollar Glow-up
We're talking some of the best hidden perks you can get with your library card, the proposed ballot measure that would redirect money from the city's climate…
- City Cast Portland
Portland's Ultimate Summer Date Spots
Today on City Cast Portland, we're embracing the dreamy summer weather we're having by revisiting a conversation host Claudia Meza had with Eden Dawn, author…
- City Cast Portland
Oregon Wine Loses a Legend, Picks For Your Next Beach Read, and Best Frozen Dessert Spots
Today we're talking about the legacy of one of the winemakers who helped put Willamette Valley on the map. We also have recommendations for the best summer…
- City Cast Portland
'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Portland
See if your Portland knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with…
- City Cast Portland
Why We're Losing Over 1,000 Shelter Beds, a Psilocybin Pioneer Is Pivoting, and More of Portland's Pettiest Gripes
Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about how over a thousand Portland-area shelter beds are closing before the end of the year and what that means to…
- City Cast Portland
Your Guide to July 2026 in Portland
Whether you’re watching fantastical kinetic sculptures race each other, catching some live music, or slurping down a slushie, July is when our Portland summer…
- City Cast Portland
Why Councilor Angelita Morillo Is Prepared To Lose the Blazers. Plus, City Hall Drama and Saving City Jobs
We're talking with District 3 Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo about the interpersonal dynamics of City Council, the Moda Center renovations, Avatar…
- City Cast Portland
The Best Summer Food Events, Portland Vs. Chicago Dining, and Clackamas County's $200K Scandal
A Clackamas County official is accused of stealing over $200,000 of tax payer money. Plus, we have picks for the best summer food events and a highly…
- City Cast Portland
'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Portland
Just how good are the sidewalks in Portland? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is…
- City Cast Portland
Why Portland’s Affordability Is Tanking, and the Moda Center Deal Is Getting Rockier. Plus, 911 Operator Response Times Improve!
We're talking about improved wait times for emergency calls, what happened at the big Moda Center renovation business summit, and why it’s getting more and…
- City Cast Portland
Land Back in Northeast Portland, Grocery Digital Price Tag Fears, and Some Truly Portland Missed Connections
A Portland church is giving its land back to a local indigenous organization, and why consumer advocates are concerned about digital price tags hitting our…
- City Cast Portland
Portland’s Best Neighborhood Bars
We’re revisiting a conversation about the essential neighborhood bars holding our city together. These community hubs are our third spaces, our therapist…
- City Cast Portland
Portland's Unwanted Roommate Grant, County Contractor Blew Millions, and Your Pettiest Gripes Judged
A homeless services provider on the verge of shutting down could owe Multnomah County millions of dollars, and Mayor Keith Wilson’s home-sharing pilot program…
- City Cast Portland
A Park for a Portland Legend, Tracking Your Councilor's Travel Spending, and Downtown’s Pop-Up Program
We're talking about a new downtown park honoring a local icon, the deep dive a city reporter made into our City Councilors’ travel expenses, and a program…
- City Cast Portland
OHSU's Messy CEO Firing, Wildfire Emergency Declared, and Portland Home to Best Bar in America
We're talking about big leadership changes coming to our major health providers, Gov. Tina Kotek declaring a wildfire emergency, and the Portland winners at…
- City Cast Portland
Oregon State Hospital Scandal, the Bottle Bill Is Unraveling, and an Unusual CSA
We're talking about why Oregon is now considered to have the worst state hospital in the nation, and why our leader’s best laid plans for the Oregon Bottle…
- City Cast Portland
Moda Center's Funding Fight Continues, PCC’s Ethics Scandal, and Listeners Weigh In
We're talking about the latest concerning public funding for the Moda Center, as well as the state ethics investigation into former PCC president Adrien…
- City Cast Portland
How To Fix Portland’s Worst Traffic Jam, the Council Impasse That Could Cost 100 Jobs, and Why’s Oregon So Old?
Today, we're talking about ideas to bring down the state’s median age, why Portland City Council can’t seem to agree on how to fund about 100 city jobs, and…
- City Cast Portland
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake’s — Presented By City Cast Portland
Do you know how many parks Portland has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast Salt Lake host Ali…
- City Cast Portland
How To Have the Best Portland Summer Ever
We're talking about our best summer hacks for eating, lounging, adventuring, and cooling off. Joining City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza are producers Giulia…
- City Cast Portland
Portland’s Affordable Housing ‘Cleanup Guy’ on Why Things Are So Effed
City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza is sitting down for a one-on-one with Home Forward’s interim executive director, Michael Buonocore, to dig into major…
- City Cast Portland
The County’s Tick Warning, and PGE Wants Data Centers to Pay More. Plus, Mailbag!
We're talking about the uptick in ticks in Portland, according to Multnomah County health officials, and a proposed 29% electricity rate increase for data…
- City Cast Portland
Portland's $3.6M Pothole, Cuts to County Homelessness Programs, and Travel Oregon Gets a Cheaper Boss
Today, we're talking about a record-breaking payout for damage caused by a Portland pothole, the deep cuts in Multnomah County’s $4 billion budget, and Travel…
- City Cast Portland
Why TriMet Is Slashing $64.5 Million, Free Summer Bus to Forest Park, Plus Albina’s 94-Acre Resurrection
We're talking about the free shuttle bus service to the Zoo and Forest Park coming this summer, and the major cuts coming to TriMet services and staffing…
- City Cast Portland
'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast Portland
Portland recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have enough…
- City Cast Portland
The Portland Fire Is on Fire, Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against a Local Spiritual Leader, and Do You Doughnut?
In honor of National Donut Day, we're looking into Portland's reputation as a doughnut town and sharing our favorite — and least favorite — Portland doughnut…