Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters City Administrator Carmen Chu was sworn in by Mayor London N an elected representative on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2007-2013) and Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Policy and Finance (2004-2007) City Administrator Chu has over 20 years of governmental management and finance experience in the City and County of San Francisco and is the first Asian American woman to serve as City Administrator City Administrator Chu oversees over 25 departments and programs that include the Department of Technology Office of Contract Administration/Purchasing She is responsible for a 1,000 person strong workforce and an annual budget of over three-quarters of a billion dollars her office generated over $3 billion in annual revenues for vital City services and for public education Her efforts to overhaul the operations and performance of the office and successfully reverse a decades-old backlog earned her office the prestigious 2020 Good Government Award an honor recognizing excellence in public sector management and stewardship She also implemented an in-progress lien date construction value process which increased enrollments from under $500 million in 2014 to over $11 billion in 2018 Cumulative growth in the total assessment roll contributed to over half a billion dollars in property tax revenues above forecasted expectations which resulted in the State’s return of ERAF dollars to San Francisco in addition to over $2.6 billion in increased bonding capacity for road repairs and needed public infrastructure work Chu served as President of the Bay Area Assessors’ Association and on the Board of the California Assessors’ Association organizations committed to developing uniform assessment practices and collaboration across California Chu also overhauled the office’s outdated technology and processing infrastructure she launched a new public records system which improves service to taxpayers and adds functionality and safeguards for City staff The project empowered more efficient operations and enabled audit and tracking functionality the office launched electronic recording and automated online annual business filings to ease taxpayers’ interactions with the office Chu also lifted a standards function in the office streamlined workflow management and access to critical property information for over 211,000 properties by launching the Assessor’s Information Management System (AIMS) Over 3 million images are now secured and easily accessed by staff on and offsite Chu took important steps to ensure accountability she initiated the office’s Transfer Tax Audit program which has identified close to $40 million in underreported or unreported transfer tax she sought to tighten San Francisco’s transfer tax laws by working with the Board of Supervisors to strengthen the City’s ability to collect unpaid transfer taxes and to close loopholes for legal entities To ensure accurate accounting of public physical assets she worked with the Board of Supervisors to pass mandatory recording requirements to capture intra-governmental transfers of property Chu and her staff were proud to be the only County Recorder office in the state to remain open the entire weekend when California first resumed same-sex marriages 479 couples were able to immediately record their public marriages in the historical records of the City and County of San Francisco without waiting a minute longer for the same rights others experience she also helped to draft and pass legislation to ensure domestic partnerships received the same property tax benefits as married couples As a public servant, Chu’s values are rooted in her experience growing up as a daughter of immigrants. In 2017, she launched the Bay Area’s first Family Wealth Forum an initiative to bridge the resource gap for low-income and monolingual immigrant communities in accessing free credible financial and estate planning services Over 3,000 residents and their families have since received one-on-one counseling or have been helped though this program Other efforts to expand access like launching a new public website and forums across the City in neighborhoods such as the Bayview and Sunset have earned her the 2018 Epic Awards top honors from the California Association of Public Information Officers As a strong women leader of color, Chu firmly believes in providing equitable opportunities for the community. In 2018, Chu launched the W Challenge a non-partisan civic engagement effort aimed at uplifting the representation and voices of women Forty-eight non-profit organizations and 150 local women civic leaders have helped to amplify the message of civic participation through the W Challenge so far Additional rolesChairJUSTIS Council SecretarySan Francisco Community Investment Fund ChairRefuse Rate Board Meetings And Related Events Workers' Compensation Council ChairCommittee on Information Technology (COIT) Phone415-554-4851EmailWeb Accessibility Coordinator MIAMI – It’s one of the most iconic stories in opera and dance — but now, Miami City Ballet is turning "Carmen" on its head the company’s world premiere of Carmen brings a modern “Because Carmen is unpredictable and so is this production,” said internationally acclaimed choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa Local 10 News got a behind-the-scenes look at the ballet’s dramatic reinvention which draws inspiration from the 2017 film Molly’s Game and repositions Carmen not just as a seductress — but as a card dealer who seizes power throughout the performance I wanted her to become a card dealer and then slowly in the ballet she becomes more and more powerful and then show runs her own poker games,” Lopez Ochoa said high-style production that challenges tradition while celebrating spectacle It’s also going to be a celebration for the eyes,” Lopez Ochoa added Helping bring that vision to life is costume designer Mark Eric who worked with Miami City Ballet’s costume shop and collaborators in New York to create a wardrobe fit for Carmen’s transformation into a modern power figure “We had them developed in New York City (and) we sourced all the fabric so we wanted to bring her in today’s times give her a full wardrobe and she’s kind of the person in power.” Some outfits were 3D printed and gilded with gold leaf paired with ornate props — including a skull — to emphasize the ballet’s daring aesthetic “This is all 3D printed and gilded with gold leaf,” Eric said “We have these kind of fun sparkly costumes The designs took nearly a year to complete with some costumes requiring up to ten mockups Lopez Ochoa says she hopes audiences come dressed to match the mood “I’m inviting everybody at home to wear their red outfit because we all have a bit of Carmen in us,” she said Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Alexis Frazier joined the Local 10 family in April 2020 The Fort Lauderdale native came to WPLG from the ABC affiliate in Columbia She's glad to be back in South Florida TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. If you are having trouble finding the information you need Carmen Rivera was elected to position 2 in November 2021 as the first openly queer person and youngest Latina to be elected to Renton City Council She is the second youngest woman to be elected and is the youngest current serving city council member at the age of 35.  Carmen is a first generation Rentonite who attended Renton Public Schools and graduated from Lindbergh High School (Go Eagles!) She attended Seattle University where she graduated with departmental honors a BA in Criminal Justice and double minors in Spanish and Psychology Carmen then attended University of Liverpool in England where she earned her MSc in the Psychology of Investigation a highly competitive program that gave her an international perspective on criminal justice and policing After having lived in both England and Spain Carmen returned to her home in the Pacific Northwest.  Her career began at Echo Glen Children’s Center where she worked as a counselor in an intensive management unit She worked her way to be the youngest Juvenile Rehabilitation Coordinator in Washington State and helped spearhead LGBTQ and gender-responsive youth programming on campus.  She continued her career with King County at YouthSource working with out-of-school youth and young adults throughout Renton and South King County It is Carmen’s experience working with the most marginalized communities that drove her to run for Renton City Council She has witnessed the positive impacts of wrap around social services and governments that support them.  Carmen is currently the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement for the College of Arts and Sciences at Seattle University and an Assistant Teaching Professor for Department of Criminal Justice She currently serves on Sound City Association’s Regional Law Safety and Justice Committee the State of Washington’s Sentencing Guidelines Commission and All Washington Cities’ Diversity When she is not spending time with her loving partner and beautiful fur babies you may find her golfing at Maplewood Golf Course or occasionally jumping out of a perfectly good airplane; she’s a licensed sky diver.  Carmen is a passionate supporter of Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter understanding there is no liberation without Black Trans Liberation.  View on Map P (425) 430-6400 This visually spectacular one-act production of "Carmen," set in southern Spain a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery Carmen José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties yet loses Carmen’s love to the glamorous torero Escamillo with arrangement by Rodion Shchedrin (1967) The choreography showcases Balanchine’s brilliant use of space and the geometric precision of his movement patterns and groupings The music is one of Mozart’s greatest works the epitome of 18th-century aristocratic music City Ballet of San Diego on Facebook / Instagram / X announced her plans to retire effective September 2 As the Seattle Times notes Best’s announcement comes after the City Council voted to cut the police department’s budget which would prompt officer layoffs and also cut Best’s own salary “This was a difficult decision for me it’s time,” the police chief wrote in a letter announcing her retirement has served more than 28 years on the police force As USA Today reports, the city council vote ended with the police department’s $400 million budget being cut by nearly $4 million this year which will result in about 100 officers being cut from the force through either layoffs or attrition This cut comes at a time when police brutality cases are under a heavier spotlight in recent months. After the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta “I am confident the department will make it through these difficult times You truly are the best police department in the country and please trust me when I say the vast majority of people in Seattle support you and appreciate you,” Best noted in her letter to the police department I am thankful my command team has agreed to continue serving the department and that Mayor Durkan has appointed Deputy Chief Adrian Diaz as the interim chief of police Chief Diaz shares my commitment to this department and has the trust of the community.” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued her own response to Best’s retirement noting that she accepts the top cop’s decision “with a very heavy heart.” grace and integrity have inspired me and made our city better I knew Chief Best was the person to lead our city through this challenging time to reimagine policing and community safety,” Durkan added “Her leadership is unmatched nationwide which is why it is a sad day for our city to lose her.” Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSIOUX CITY (KTIV) - The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra is gearing up for its final concert of the season Executive Director for the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra took KTIV cameras backstage and behind the scenes of the upcoming concert We’ve got it all for a great theatrical experience,” said Robert Neu the cast members and Symphony musicians worked full days of rehearsals We start at 10 in the morning and have some breaks People have come from all across the country which is probably one of the most iconic and famous characters in opera.” It’s a really beautiful thing to collaborate with this beautiful Symphony who is such a fabulous musician and a person.” Carmen has some of opera’s most iconic musical scores “It’s the kind of opera we’re gonna sit in the audience and go ‘ohh I’ve heard those before.’ This is a great introduction to opera And Carmen is the most produced opera in the world,” said Neu This is a grand finale for the Sioux City Symphony season and many say it’s one you don’t want to miss I say you might just have a really phenomenal experience at a theater,” said Lahyani Carmen is one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the world telling the love story of a free-spirited gypsy ”We just work really fast to learn the staging They come in knowing the music and we talk a lot about actors’ motivations and to make sure we’re all on the same page as far as our thinking,” said Neu explaining what it is like during rehearsals “The piece is so full of energy and colors Some tunes of it are being used in commercials and movies,” said Lahyani Lahyani has played Carmen eight times before making her debut in Sioux City for her ninth time as Carmen She loves that shows like this bring so many people together “So I’ve been living in the New York City area for 20 years but I moved to the United States from Israel,” she said It’s all those things that are so timeless Tickets are on sale now. Follow this link to grab your tickets to Sunday night’s show. but the community is invited to go “behind the curtain” of Carmen Join the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra for a Lunch & Learn on Friday Maestro Ryan Haskins and special guests will take you inside the creative process of bringing the show to life The Theatre describes this experience as ‘Gaining a rare Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app Carmen Llanes Pulido may be the youngest candidate in the five-way race for mayor but the lifelong Austinite with activism in her DNA arguably has the most boots-on-the-ground experience in the city’s grassroots arena As the executive director of the nonprofit Go Austin/Vamos Austin Llanes Pulido hopes to extend her future-focused leadership to City Hall Like the other mayoral candidates – Kathie Tovo Doug Greco and Jeffery Bowen – she recognizes the daunting challenge of trying to unseat a well-funded and well-known incumbent who won the seat in a tight runoff in 2022 Watson is a former state senator and also served as Austin’s mayor from 1997 to 2001 While Watson is popular among voters in segments of the community including business interests and once-skeptical density proponents Llanes Pulido said she hears general dissatisfaction from voters impacted by rising costs and a lack of adequate city services in some areas “And for those who pay attention to city policies they are really upset about the lack of transparency and how community and technical experts “there is a desire for new leadership.” “there are a lot of people who don’t even know there’s a mayor’s race – people who are just starting to hear the word.” Voters who follow local issues are concerned about the number of times Travis County courts have found the City Council to be in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act a problem the Council has since taken steps to remedy there is apprehension about the tentative contract agreement reached between the city and the Austin Police Association Council is scheduled to deliberate the proposed deal Oct although persistent questions from some Council members and the public could delay approval of a contract if conflicts aren’t resolved before then “I think we need a lot more transparency about how the police budget even works and how it’s been changed over the last several years,” Llanes Pulido said “Anything we add to our police budget cannot be taken away so I’m curious to see what kind of metrics and outcomes are being negotiated around hiring and training and retention And then there’s the question over the G file.” which contains allegations of officer misconduct and disciplinary information is a major point of contention in the tentative agreement  A judge recently ruled the city was in violation of the Austin Police Oversight Act The oversight act was intended to eliminate the G file and make information in the file available to the public There is disagreement over whether the G file would be grandfathered into the proposed contract or subject to public information requests Llanes Pulido said she is pleased that Lisa Davis “It was reassuring to hear someone approaching our city’s problems from a practical level and putting a high premium on accountability and trust and good policing And I think she understands some of the key issues that are required to boost morale and improve police-community relations,” she said Llanes Pulido is centering her campaign on three top priorities The first is infrastructure: “Keeping the power on and the water running and addressing our outdated infrastructure – fixing leaky pipes distributing our grid and planning our development and growth more responsibly in that respect.” she aims to address “the cost of living and real affordability which is rhetorically championed but not reflected in any policy in the last two years,” she said “And we desperately need to preserve the affordable housing we have and produce deeply affordable housing instead of just focusing on redeveloping as much as possible without thinking about affordability or infrastructure We can’t talk about affordability and cost of living without being more responsible in our spending.” the candidate aims to change the city’s approach to homelessness by putting more resources toward prevention “We spend more per capita on homelessness than Los Angeles We could immediately reallocate some of our resources for better outcomes by listening to front-line organizations and advocates who are telling us where money could be better spent,” she said “We’re spending millions of dollars on sweeps which are a temporary fix and extremely wasteful and cruel We could be spending more money on transitional housing and direct services support instead of just adding (money) to the problem There is massive spending with no accountability.” As a former member of the city Planning Commission appointed by then-Council Member Tovo Llanes Pulido is versed in land use policies She doesn’t subscribe to the ideas behind the HOME ordinances which allow for more housing units and different types of housing on single-family lots While the City Council voted nearly unanimously for the HOME ordinances with the intention of making housing more affordable Llanes Pulido is dubious of Council’s stated goals “There is nothing that prescribes or guarantees affordability … and there’s no plan for adequate infrastructure It’s being championed as a progressive reform for affordability but there’s really nothing progressive about it – it’s completely based in Reaganomics-style supply-side theory,” she said leaving the city to obtain a degree from the University of Chicago University of Texas lecturer Charlotte Herzele and community organizer Daniel Llanes They divorced when Llanes Pulido was an early adolescent Her mother now lives in Hyde Park while Daniel Llanes lives in East Austin where he has long been active in neighborhood issues and PODER an environmental and social justice organization Her uncle is developer and landowner Perry Lorenz a pioneer in building some of Downtown’s first residential high-rises Llanes Pulido credits Lorenz for much of what she knows about the development business “He’s a key source of insight and wisdom,” she said Through the lens of her activist parents and business-savvy uncle she was able to observe the disparities in Austin’s public and private investments but also appreciated the richness of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and their cultures “I went to magnet schools so I got to see neighborhoods all over Austin and how different they were but also the commonalities among them and common values and the things that make us uniquely special as a city.” “What I learned is that every area of Austin has wonderful qualities that have been brought about by champions in the community and the city and every community has knowledge that’s really critical to making good decisions and improving the quality of life in those areas You can’t do it without the technical expertise but you definitely can’t do it without the lived experience and that’s especially true for community planning and growth.” Growing up here also taught her why Austin is so often referred to as special music scene and local businesses all combine to make Austin stand out among other U.S “Those are all things that if we take care of them they ensure prosperity and economic investment in Austin But if we only focus on economic investment we actually lose the things that make this place so desirable to everyone.” Llanes Pulido has learned a few things about life Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia at age 29 she learned to bring humanity into every challenge “Plenty of people face cancer every day and you never want to put a judgment on beating it or not Part of me wants to say I know how to beat the odds I was lucky to have the treatment available to me when I was diagnosed it taught me that we can’t be passersby in our lives,” she said And we’re honored you look to us for serious You know a strong community needs local and dedicated watchdog reporting Now will you take the powerful next step and support our nonprofit news organization Austin City Council: The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin while the office of the City Manager 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Last month, Carmen Montano began her second term as Mayor of Milpitas.  The Milpitas Beat connected with Mayor Montano to learn of her plans and thoughts for her next two years in office…   The Milpitas Beat: How do you feel about winning your election the second term? MB: What are the things you are proudest of during your first term? MB: What are your plans for your second term? MB: What are some things you might do differently from your first term? MB: What are some lessons you learned during your first term? MB: What are you looking forward to most during this term? © 2025 Copyright All Rights Reserved By milpitasbeat.com. Playa del Carmen, now one of Quintana Roo's largest cities, ranks right up there with Tulum as one of the Riviera's trendiest spots. Sitting coolly on the lee side of Cozumel, the town’s beaches are jammed with super-fit Europeans. The waters aren’t as clear as those of Cancún or Cozumel, and the sand isn’t quite as powder-perfect as they are further north, but still Playa grows and grows. Playa del Carmen Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsParque Los Fundadores Playa del Carmen’s most iconic park is bordered by the famous Quinta Avenida on one side and by a popular local beach on the other side Parque la Ceiba shady picnic spots and walking trails as well as activities such as movie… Punta Esmeralda Emerald Point has become a favorite beach among Playa del Carmen locals Museo Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya This 'museum' is mainly info about Kahlo rather than displays of her artwork But if you're looking for something to do on a non-beach… Quinta Avenida stores and craft stalls line a 2km stretch of this busy pedestrian thoroughfare View more attractionsPlanning ToolsExpert guidance to help you plan your tripBest Things to Do Yoga on the beach, dining among jungle greenery, diving in cenotes and more: here is our guide to the top things to do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The vibrant beach town of Playa del Carmen has something to offer all year long. Here’s our month-by-month guide to when to visit. Our guide features important things to know before your visit to Playa del Carmen in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, including safety tips, etiquette and more. We round up the top 10 free things to do in Playa del Carmen so you can stay and play for longer. Explore the beauty and wildness of the Yucatan Peninsula on one of these 7 fun day trips from Playa del Carmen. We give you the lowdown on how to enjoy the best of Playa del Carmen on the Rivera Maya without breaking the bank. Plan with a localExperience the real Mexico Playa del Carmen doesn’t mess around when it comes to good eats From the best tacos to finding a traditional Mexican restaurant Read more articlesBuild a memorable collectionGet to the heart of Playa del Carmen with one of our in-depth Visit in ShopCancun Visit in ShopPocket Cancun & the Riviera Maya $13.99 Go to checkout (0 items)in partnership with getyourguide No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission 2024 at 6:01 am PDTWith a venti vanilla Frappuccino from Starbucks in one hand Carmen Rubio holds a three-page list of accomplishments in the other She leans forward in the lawn chair on her Rose City Park porch giving the pages a little flick every time she makes a point “I’m the only one that’s delivered results,” Rubio says who ran the nonprofit Latino Network for 10 years prior to election as a Portland city commissioner in 2020 has done a lot over the past three years: slashing the bureaucracies that slow construction permits cutting environmental costs for housing developers and plugging budget holes with a climate tax dollars But none of that is converting into momentum for Rubio’s bid to become Portland mayor With one month left before ballots are mailed to voters Despite a gradual shift to the center that has pleased business leaders close observers of the mayor’s race say Rubio hasn’t found a message that resonates with voters with the immediacy of her rival who pledges zero tolerance for drug markets and sidewalk camping Peering over a lectern at barely 5 feet tall she often reads from an iPad in stilted sentences She and her supporters struggle to boil her message down to talking points Perhaps that’s why The Oregonian’s report last week that her driver’s license has been suspended six times hit Rubio so hard—it could define her irrespective of what that change may be sometimes That anger,” says Multnomah County commissioner candidate Vadim Mozyrsky who is also running on a law-and-order pledge “Carmen is talking about her ability to get things done but she’s not connecting with the voters that are frustrated and upset.” “I guess my mission statement is: Putting in the good work gets you to where you want to go.” the only child of a father who worked for the sheriff’s office and a mother who worked in public policy including for a policing institute and later for Portland Mayor Tom Potter She was close with her aunts and uncles and cousins all tied together by grandparents who emigrated from Mexico and made their way up the West Coast working on fruit and vegetable farms during the summer Rubio’s nose could often be found in the Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary books her mother brought home for her like ‘This is for you,’ ‘This is why I read this book,’” Rubio recalls A self-proclaimed nerd in high school and college Rubio went to the University of Oregon on a full scholarship majoring in political science with a minor in ethnic studies Rob Nosse (D-Southeast Portland) overlapped with Rubio in Eugene since they were both involved in student advocacy clubs and traveled to conferences Nosse remembers her as quiet but sarcastic and opinionated “She’s a sit-down-and-get-crap-done human.” Rubio became campaign field director for an up-and-coming progressive Latina leader named Serena Cruz who was running for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners “It was very apparent in the first interview that she was articulate Potter and City Commissioner Nick Fish before taking a job as the executive director of Latino Network In 2009 the nonprofit had a budget of half a million dollars and had little political influence in Portland Rubio grew the nonprofit from a fly-by-night organization operating out of a North Portland home to an $18 million powerhouse that held sway in both local and state politics “She built the hell out of that thing,” says longtime lobbyist Amy Ruiz When City Commissioner Amanda Fritz decided in 2019 not to run for a fourth term “She was anointed to her council position,” one political adviser recalls In her first two years on the City Council Rubio had few accomplishments of note to her name among them Portland Parks & Recreation One former top staffer at City Hall calls Rubio’s office in its early days a “wokey-woke operation.” That insider points to an April 2021 vote in which the City Council allocated no new dollars to the Police Bureau to reduce shootings in city parks but instead directed $1.4 million to hire additional unarmed park rangers an experienced and driven campaign operative who had run the political academy Emerge became Rubio’s chief of staff in late 2021 “Jillian brought a level of sophistication and discipline to Rubio’s office,” says Sam Adams “She’s a deeply political and policy-oriented person.” that August and became stepmother to his teenager And surrounded by a blustering group of male City Council members After a monthslong fight with public works Commissioner Mingus Mapps in summer 2023 Rubio managed to convince the City Council to consolidate the city’s fractured permitting systems under one office cutting the red tape that had delayed developers from building homes for months and sometimes years says Rubio did what city leaders had failed to tackle for 25 years He says she fought the “institutional animal that’s the hardest to change”: bureaucracy Mapps was backed by the directors of public works bureaus Four of them wrote an open letter condemning Rubio’s plan—and she countered by rallying the private sector including homebuilders and the chamber of commerce Former Water Bureau director Gabe Solmer was one of those who signed the opposition letter “She was right,” Solmer says—and adds that prior to working with Rubio on permitting Solmer concedes she was hasty in making assumptions “I was surprised at how adept she was at getting us to the right solution,” Solmer says Rubio’s consolidation impressed the city’s most influential and deep-pocketed industry groups newly appointed to lead the Bureau of Development Services in 2023 Rubio asked developers and builders which of the city’s construction regulations—bird-safe glass and bike parking among them—were the most onerous and costly Rubio successfully nixed bike parking requirements She impressed business and development groups—her skeptics—by showing a willingness to kill some long-standing progressive regulations popular with her base That became something of a pattern for Rubio she had to decide whether to take a major policy step that would annoy the nonprofit community she hailed from The dilemma was by some measures an enviable one: Rubio was staring down $540 million in unanticipated revenues from the Portland Clean Energy Fund tax a corporate sales tax voters approved in 2018 to fund climate infrastructure projects and jobs for low-income communities of color (Rubio oversaw the fund because it was housed in the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Rubio proposed funneling all the excess revenue into climate-adjacent projects within city bureaus that were facing budget shortfalls the sector that expected to receive the excess PCEF dollars seemed to die almost as quickly as it rose Onlookers credit Rubio’s preexisting relationships with nonprofit leaders as a balm only she could have applied after redirecting money they anticipated The trio of shifts to the center—permitting consolidation regulatory relief and PCEF cash diversion—impressed the business community It was enough to neutralize them in the mayor’s race: United for Portland the political action committee set up by the Portland Metro Chamber will not endorse a candidate in the mayoral race nor does it plan to spend money in support of Gonzalez But here’s the nagging question: Did any of them change the trajectory of the city “We need bolder ideas if we’re going to move the needle on this one.” Rubio’s accomplishments don’t solve the biggest problem in her bid for mayor calls Rubio’s campaign “utterly underwhelming.” Mozyrsky says Rubio’s campaign platform is so broad that it doesn’t tap into voters’ top two priorities: homelessness and public safety “Her speeches are uninspiring,” Mozyrsky says “People are looking for a sense of urgency.” Rubio’s backers say that analysis is gendered and unfair “They want the mayor to be a personality,” Rep both critics of Rubio and some of her supporters say Rubio’s power comes from Schoene raising the question: Is Rubio a strong policymaker herself “Jillian is the right alter ego for Carmen,” Adams says “I have very good self-awareness of where I’m strong and where I’m not And I will tell you that Jillian is a great soldier for me,” Rubio says Last week was a difficult one for Rubio and her campaign: The Oregonian revealed Rubio’s dismal driving record including 150 parking and driving tickets and six license suspensions “I’ve been underestimated my entire life,” she says I still passed all these things in three years You can’t just pound your fist all the time Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission McFarland posted a statement on Instagram with alleged documentation showing that he was working with the city for the festival the documents show approval for an event with a maximum of 12 hours of music over three days for 250 people a huge contrast to the party McFarland has been promoting The cheapest ticket to 2 Fyre 2 Fest is $1,400 Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. There was an error processing the request. Please try again later. Portland is facing an historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland mayoral candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words Why are you the best candidate to serve as mayor at this time Please point to specific accomplishments as part of your answer Portlanders need a mayor who will take responsibility for the way forward and use their social capital to bring the city together A mayor who is going to fight for this city who is capable of working across diverse perspectives and be thoughtful and decisive when making tough decisions strong accountability and meaningful outcomes to our city I am proud of what I’ve delivered in one term: from initiating a record level of investments to reduce gun violence and making changes to build more shelters in my first year to passing the city’s first-ever Housing Production Strategy No other candidate for mayor has a record that comes even close to the positive changes I have accomplished in office and during my time as an executive of a large community-focused organization What are one or two issues that you’d like to draw attention to or champion as mayor that are overlooked or receiving less attention than they deserve There is a lot of focus on public safety — for good reason And many people agree that we need to right-size our police force for the needs of the big city we are today But no one else is talking about what that actually looks like this means recruiting and training a police force that reflects the Portland of today and evolving how we approach public safety We need a force grounded in community policing which some call “Democratic Policing” and “21st Century Policing.” The evidence is unequivocal: community safety is rooted in meaningful connection and trusted relationships People are safer when they know the officers who are present in their neighborhood and when they can count on those officers knowing them Community policing is deeply compatible with Portland’s strong neighborhood system and trusted community organization and businesses that animate our city Related: What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest Washington What specific examples do you have that demonstrate your competence to oversee a city with an $8.2 billion budget the organization had a big vision and very small budget and staff It couldn’t yet meet the high community demand — so I set ambitious goals to change that I was the strategic and steady hand: I left the organization operating in 3 counties and on track to close the fiscal year with $18 million in operating revenue We finally became the organization we needed to be to serve Oregon’s Latinx community: we launched programs in youth development youth violence prevention and civic leadership in response to what our families needed to be successful our budget reflected the needs of the community it served — just like the city of Portland’s budget should I have executive experience overseeing large budgets What role do you think the mayor should play in it I don’t have any deep structural concerns about the new government which on certain occasions provides balance I can’t underscore enough how important the first mayor will be we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine our city government blueprint Portland needs someone who hits the ground running temperament and skill to manage high stakes relationships to get the outcomes we need who’s already proven themselves to be dependable This is what I bring to the table and have the accomplishments and reputation to back it up How would you work to promote and boost Portland nationally as mayor and reinvigorate people’s sense of civic pride and I believe in this city’s capacity for transformation It’s time to stop pointing fingers and elect a mayor ready to take responsibility for the way forward and be a champion for Portland I’ve been focused on what we CAN do: developing a stronger shelter system Investing in small businesses and catalytic development projects that sustain our city and reintroducing our city to our metro area neighbors – a mayor who stands up for Portland These are the things that will bring our city back stronger and more globally renowned I’m ready to bring Portlanders together to reset the tone and focus on solutions Related: Issues important to Oregon voters Mayor Ted Wheeler has already warned that next year’s budget will be a difficult one as costs rise and forecasts call for lower revenue What would guide your decisions in developing a budget what specific ideas would you explore to minimize service reductions and are there specific areas where you would look to make cuts My guidance would start with ensuring our most basic and fundamental city services remain as intact as possible Residents need to be able to count on these basic and other services would be to look at ramping down external contracts and focus on retaining revenue in order to keep any employee jobs as intact as possible In recent conversations with the City Budget Office we have also been talking about what’s called “external materials and services.” All bureaus and programs have pots of money to hire external support for specific research projects related to policy development and/or community engagements activities I think it’s a worthwhile exercise as we change our form of government to do an analysis of those funds – how they are getting spent and if there are opportunities for savings or efficiency How can the city of Portland and Multnomah County improve their existing partnership to more effectively address the homelessness The answer to this begins with leadership alignment on strategy and funding at the city the good news is that we have greater alignment today than ever before And the outcome in the Mayor’s race can either take us forwards – or backwards Tent bans and congregate shelters without services – as proposed by two of my leading opponents – will not solve homelessness There are no quick fixes or short cuts here What will solve homelessness is fully building out a Shelter-to-Housing continuum that works with on-site services so that people can become stable and ready for housing – no waiting Along with that comes shared accountability – for every level of government because our respective successes are interdependent What is your opinion of police bureau priorities and operations and what changes Would you push for the city to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized I am a big believer in community policing and hiring the officers we need to build out a 21st Century Policing organization My office played a key role in breaking through the impasse on body-worn cameras so I am strongly focused on a successful citywide deployment plus the estimated 20 that will retire this year We also need to know that we have the right mix of officers and first responders in every role culture and best practices will determine the ideal staff capacity and how we build out our public safety systems Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now' Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who have refused repeated offers of shelter such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster the city’s camping policy isn’t just any shelter bed The available shelter must meet the needs of the individual That’s why I believe the revised policy strikes a balance between compassion and accountability The needs of the individual are centered in the decision-making process Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention among current city leaders Are there other specific neighborhoods in the city that have not received enough attention I support every action we have taken to revive and reimagine our downtown Our economy and small businesses depend on it Do you support the decision to use millions from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to backfill budget holes in various city bureaus I support funding city climate programs that meet PCEF criteria The Mayor and the PCEF committee agreed this year for a one-time redirect of interest earned on the funds – I am committed to holding the line moving forward I made sure the fund itself and Climate Investment Plan were protected Do you support a potential change to the region’s homeless services tax that would direct some of the program’s unanticipated revenue to construct more affordable housing I do support a change to allow excess funds for affordable housing construction we should only do so after critical services But it is my belief we will be able to fund both Describe the qualities and experience you will seek in a city administrator Describe the working relationship you plan to build with the top administrator and their half dozen deputies The first administrator must have experience with change management be trusted by employees who know how the city works and have strong communications skills with employees It’s a different job in these first years – it’s important to get it right Tags: Election 2024 Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.","type":"text"},{"_id":"FRW5DLKKJRFABFF6Z44YCNKZAQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753843},"content":"That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland mayoral candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election Here’s what they had to say.","type":"text"},{"_id":"OZX36UZ6RNGLDJC4TCXXO4VUDQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753844},"content":"For each of the following questions Please point to specific accomplishments as part of your answer.","type":"text"},{"_id":"RL5VA2HTZFAOXFKDOVZMTUAE5I","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753854},"content":"Portlanders need a mayor who will take responsibility for the way forward and use their social capital to bring the city together strong accountability and meaningful outcomes to our city.","type":"text"},{"_id":"2ZWCRJI5UVEJ7KQUWFZN4R3BPQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753855},"content":"I am proud of what I’ve delivered in one term: from initiating a record level of investments to reduce gun violence and making changes to build more shelters in my first year to which some call “Democratic Policing” and “21st Century Policing.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"4HGBA2B3CZC7HFKQBOCCGSINFM","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753858},"content":"The evidence is unequivocal: community safety is rooted in meaningful connection and trusted relationships What role do you think the mayor should play in it?","type":"text"},{"_id":"XYJ2SFKQQVFUPDI3SBNQMMZ3FI","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753864},"content":"I don’t have any deep structural concerns about the new government And we have to get it right!","type":"text"},{"_id":"VCZCUGLAD5AFFCLP3LHOBETP6U","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753865},"content":"Portland needs someone who hits the ground running This is what I bring to the table and have the accomplishments and reputation to back it up.","type":"text"},{"_id":"SNGT7I4UOZCOLJ5RPYKX7HY34E","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753866},"content":"How would you work to promote and boost Portland nationally as mayor and reinvigorate people’s sense of civic pride?","type":"text"},{"_id":"K7PJ7PFPL5GKXFLJUXRLHTG7XQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753867},"content":"We need to remember who we are what specific ideas would you explore to minimize service reductions and are there specific areas where you would look to make cuts?","type":"text"},{"_id":"6KFTTZGSOREEPCSQPWJMQCEI2M","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753870},"content":"My guidance would start with ensuring our most basic and fundamental city services remain as intact as possible I think it’s a worthwhile exercise as we change our form of government to do an analysis of those funds – how they are getting spent and if there are opportunities for savings or efficiency.","type":"text"},{"_id":"V4UZ2CHEYNE4JHNZG76HSJ7EPE","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753871},"content":"How can the city of Portland and Multnomah County improve their existing partnership to more effectively address the homelessness addiction and behavioral health crises?","type":"text"},{"_id":"TNCBXEB36VEVFENYSGXQ2O7SJ4","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753872},"content":"The answer to this begins with leadership alignment on strategy and funding at the city Along with that comes shared accountability – for every level of government because our respective successes are interdependent.","type":"text"},{"_id":"XWPUDZID7REIRDXOHL6LDNVDHE","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753873},"content":"If elected where would you find the money?","type":"text"},{"_id":"WIZOIFYS3NF5RLCHL4ZM7MF3AA","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753874},"content":"I am a big believer in community policing and hiring the officers we need to build out a 21st Century Policing organization such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?","type":"text"},{"_id":"HM3BPXZI3JHJRK74OIEKR4M4MQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753877},"content":"First The needs of the individual are centered in the decision-making process.","type":"text"},{"_id":"WHJ47HSGK5CNTPEKB4M36LIT5I","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753878},"content":"Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention among current city leaders Are there other specific neighborhoods in the city that have not received enough attention?","type":"text"},{"_id":"TAO7HP5HSNBDTA3NGZI27UWZCY","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753879},"content":"I support every action we have taken to revive and reimagine our downtown I believe we can.","type":"text"},{"_id":"2TADLD6EP5ANPLECOOIEM2ACLY","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753880},"content":"Do you support the decision to use millions from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to backfill budget holes in various city bureaus expand or halt that practice?","type":"text"},{"_id":"JDVGBWMEPNAUPGDLAVQZNEV4XA","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753881},"content":"I support funding city climate programs that meet PCEF criteria I made sure the fund itself and Climate Investment Plan were protected.","type":"text"},{"_id":"YDKABM6MW5DQPC6TLFW2AKJTOE","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753882},"content":"Do you support a potential change to the region’s homeless services tax that would direct some of the program’s unanticipated revenue to construct more affordable housing Why or why not?","type":"text"},{"_id":"22QG6QWTCJG3ZJ2SGYRENW7HTI","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753883},"content":"I do support a change to allow excess funds for affordable housing construction But it is my belief we will be able to fund both.","type":"text"},{"_id":"36CUYP7MWJFU3DB2SGD7U7EKOM","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753884},"content":"Describe the qualities and experience you will seek in a city administrator Describe the working relationship you plan to build with the top administrator and their half dozen deputies.","type":"text"},{"_id":"45JRV5VZHZAXPHJ7FCY4MWQIM4","additional_properties":{"_id":1727715753885},"content":"The first administrator must have experience with change management police were notably absent and never declared an unlawful assembly Tucker lost a shed but his home was intact.","copyright":"Copyright 2020 The Associated Press Ore.","copyright":"Copyright 2020 The Associated Press a demonstrator who has engaged in violence four days after pulling a gun on demonstrators in Portland protesters gathered in East Portland and clashed with police for hours who arrested 59 people throughout the night 2020 as fires spread through Clackamas County","copyright":"Copyright OPB","created_date":"2020-09-09T20:40:03Z","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"_id":"jonathan-levinson","additional_properties":{"original":{"_id":"jonathan-levinson","slug":"jonathan-levinson","byline":"Jonathan Levinson","firstName":"Jonathan","lastName":"Levinson","role":"Reporter/Producer","longBio":"Jonathan Levinson is a multimedia reporter covering policing for Oregon Public Broadcasting Jonathan spent five years as an infantry officer in the U.S Army and has a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University pulls a wagon with a Canadian flag cornhole game while walking to meet her fiance at Peace Arch Historical State Park in Blaine government closed the Canadian side of the park in June due to concerns about crowding and COVID-19 park due to a treaty signed in 1814 that allows citizens of Canada and the U.S A measles outbreak in Clark County led to dozens of cases of the preventable disease.","copyright":"Copyright OPB","created_date":"2020-08-12T20:17:50Z","credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"OPB","type":"author"}],"by":[{"byline":"Bradley W Unprecedented wildfire conditions across Oregon and the American West kicked up several fires over Labor Day weekend.","copyright":"Copyright OPB","created_date":"2020-09-09T06:07:54Z","credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"OPB","type":"author"}],"by":[{"byline":"Bradley W He was also a state lawmaker and three-term state attorney general.","copyright":"Copyright OPB","created_date":"2020-08-19T17:12:59Z","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"byline":"U.S including coronavirus screening and follow up care FILE PHOTO","version":0,"template_id":620},"address":{"locality":"Columbia","region":"SC","country_name":"USA"},"auth":{"1":"64f2ba16818b09227145262b99c17407e51093de509e4a282284408420b13e2f"},"caption":"FILE - In this Feb Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia The Democratic Party’s attempt to adapt its typical convention rituals to a pandemic-induced virtual affair will be put through its paces Tuesday night Her reporting seeks to hold powerful people to account promote honesty and transparency in public affairs She formerly contributed award-winning programming to Georgia Public Broadcasting and Jefferson Public Radio and reporting to community newspapers like the Del Norte Triplicate in Crescent City Emily graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. Send her feedback and story ideas at ecureton@opb.org Jonathan Levinson is a multimedia reporter covering policing for Oregon Public Broadcasting is an internationally published poet and writer and a native of the city's West Side barrios She is the author of more than twenty books Her literary works have appeared in more than 200 journals and kindergarten "Big Books." The tremendous diversity of her writings and her speeches reflect a joyful celebration of community and an affirmation of individual and cultural strength Tafolla has been involved with a myriad of local arts and cultural organizations as a board member and artist participant and has presented at all of the colleges universities and school districts in the greater San Antonio region She is also one of the co-founders of CantoMundo a national poetry workshop and creative development space for Latino poets Tafolla was awarded the Art of Peace Award for work contributing to peace and has been recognized by the National Association for Chicano Studies for "giving voice to the peoples and cultures of this land" She was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters (TIL) in 1999 in recognition of her outstanding literary achievement and in 2011 became a Councilor of the TIL she traveled to the Library of Congress to accept the coveted Americas Award from the Consortium for Latin American Studies Programs was named one of the Top Ten Best Books for Babies by the Fred Rogers Corporation Tafolla has presented her work throughout the U.S and Mexico as well as in Europe and New Zealand She has conducted thousands of motivational speeches and poetry workshops throughout the State Her poetry has been translated into Spanish Poets invited to participate in the Wellington International Poetry Festival from the University of Texas at Austin in Bilingual Education She currently teaches at the University of Texas at San Antonio where she holds the title of Writer-in-Residence for Children's she has established the Cuentos y Carino (Bilingual Bedtimes) Project of UTSA to encourage parents to read to their children Artist Website Gonzalez Convention Center is open at 100% occupancy as of May 17 As our number one priority is the health and safety of our guests we will continue with many protocols established over the last year to ensure our facility is clean and safe for your return Please contact your sales or event manager to address any questions or concerns you may have The Office of Military & Veteran Affairs and Government Affairs Department have moved Vital Record Services will be closed on Friday Carmen has more accomplishments than any other member of the City Council,” one prominent lobbyist said of Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio “Her problem is that she struggles to talk about or claim credit for them.”Destiny Johnson the 50-year-old Rose City Park resident cemented that reputation during the nearly four years she’s served in elected office In a display of deft political craftsmanship, Rubio — a former City Hall staffer who then transformed a small non-profit into a juggernaut — managed to shepherd powerful competing factions behind a rewrite of Portland’s cash-rich but beleaguered clean energy program She also successfully championed a package of reforms to ease red tape on housing production and bested bureaucrats and some of her colleagues by consolidating Portland’s byzantine permitting system under a single new agency So why isn’t hers a household name and her path to leading Oregon’s most populous city a sure one Carmen has more accomplishments than any other member of the City Council,” said Amy Ruiz “Her problem is that she struggles to talk about or claim credit for them.” That tension is at the heart of Rubio’s mayoral aspirations and could prove a high hurdle in the final five weeks before November’s election The self-styled “no drama candidate” has also dented her standing with voters with recent revelations that she racked up 150 parking and traffic citations over 20 years and had her license suspended six times Courts referred Rubio’s unpaid parking tickets to a collection agency on at least 100 occasions Days after The Oregonian/OregonLive first reported details of her problematic driving history, Rubio damaged a parked Tesla and walked away without leaving a note She and her campaign have since cast aspersions on the Tesla’s owners and exaggerated Rubio’s willingness to take account for her rule breaking Rubio and her backers believe that her low-key collaborative leadership style is what’s needed to dial down the divisiveness that’s permeated Portland politics and deliver results They say it would also help establish the right tone and culture as City Hall begins to operate under historic changes to its form of government Yet she’s failed to articulate a clear vision for most of the issues that are top of mind for voters the lines she regularly delivers by reading from prepared remarks or off note cards are peppered with platitudes and vague promises All that has made her effectively the inverse of her strongest challenger who commands a compelling get-tough narrative that resonates with many voters but who hasn’t demonstrated he can collaborate and has delivered few substantive wins is betting voters will get behind her distinctly different pitch She thinks Portlanders will appreciate that she’s a listener and problem solver and that she doesn’t point fingers or pontificate “People just want to know that competent adults are working together,” Rubio told The Oregonian/OregonLive the solutions that make neither side especially happy are the ones that can actually get to the heart of the matter.” And Rubio says she’d also leverage the housing policy initiatives she’s already created to spur new development In a nod to how she would like to govern, Rubio has endorsed a roster of City Council candidates who span the ideological spectrum but can work with each other and with her to move the city forward Rubio’s headline-grabbing parking and traffic mishaps have also cost her endorsements and run the risk of turning voters against her just as they are starting to seriously pay attention to the race “Not being well-known isn’t necessarily bad if the first thing people learn about her is her policy positions,” said Portland pollster John Horvick political representative for Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 737 which represents 3,000 construction workers and laborers in the Portland area called Rubio’s driving record “beyond the pale.” “We basically said, ‘Look, we can’t in good faith go in front of our members and staff and volunteers and say, this is someone you should spend time door knocking for,” Nielson told The Northwest Labor Press after the union pulled its backing of Rubio “She’s going to need a lot of other players to do work on her behalf.” she has an enviable roster of backers who remain in her corner and collectively signal her status as a Democratic standard bearer in Portland as well as racial and social justice groups and influential liberal organizations Rukaiyah Adams, former chief investment officer of Meyer Memorial Trust who is now spearheading the redevelopment of Portland’s historic Lower Albina neighborhood said Rubio is the one candidate equipped to take on the role of mayor as re-envisioned by voters two years ago Under Portland’s new form of government with help from a professional city administrator of their choosing But the mayor will hold no veto power over an expanded 12-member City Council It’s going to be a carnival atmosphere,” Adams said “We have lots of charismatic politicians who can give good speeches We’ve really been missing implementation and execution talent.” Rubio’s campaign to date has raised about $240,000, second only to Gonzalez, records show. She is also expected to benefit from a large independent expenditure campaign likely bankrolled by her many union supporters and progressive advocacy groups Perhaps just as important has been Rubio’s ability to neutralize the well-heeled political arm of the Portland Metro Chamber That financial powerhouse was instrumental in helping Mayor Ted Wheeler narrowly beat progressive challenger Sarah Iannarone in fall 2020 The group has said it plans to sit out the mayor’s race out this year Gonzalez and trucking company CEO Keith Wilson all as business-friendly leaders they can work with From left to right: Moderator Ken Boddie and Portland mayoral hopefuls Keith Wilson The three candidates made their pitches to business leaders at a debate sponsored by the Portland Metro Chamber earlier this month “I assume that some of you are probably thinking that my opponents are the business candidates and that somehow I’m not a pro-business candidate because I don’t look or sound tough or because I led a community-based organization,” Rubio told the audience at a chamber-sponsored debate this month “I’m the only candidate standing on the stage that has actually delivered your priorities with results that are actually meaningful and even historic.” Rubio was born and raised in Washington County where both sets of her grandparents settled after they immigrated to the U.S from Mexico and spent decades floating between fruit and vegetable farms as migrant laborers Her father also co-hosted a Spanish-language radio program with her uncle Rubio, an ace student and music lover, became the first in her tight-knit family to attend college — studying political science at the University of Oregon in Eugene — and entered public service after graduating She spent the late 1990s and early 2000s working as a policy adviser to Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz and Portland Commissioner Nick Fish She also served as director of community affairs for Portland Mayor Tom Potter Rubio later went on to work more than a decade as the executive director of the Latino Network which serves Hispanic youth and families in Multnomah County it had fewer than a dozen employees and an annual operating budget of less than $500,000 it grew into an $18 million a year advocacy and social service organization with influence in state and local politics and a staff of more than 140 people “Her impact cannot be overstated,” said Cruz one of the first Latinas to hold elected office in the Portland area Rubio’s executive experience provided her a firsthand view into the lives of Portlanders struggling to get by and it allowed her to develop lasting relationships with political They say it would also help establish the right tone and culture as City Hall begins to operate under historic changes to its form of government.Rubio campaign Rubio received the backing of nearly every swath of the city’s political establishment She captured more than two-thirds of the vote in a crowded field of seven candidates “One of the very special things about Carmen is how she brings people with varying perspectives together,” Cruz said As a new commissioner in 2021, Rubio was assigned the parks and planning and sustainability bureaus. Her first year in office unfolded with little fanfare even as Portland plunged into a pandemic-fueled abyss of rising gun violence, sprawling tent encampments and a proliferation of trash and graffiti She did, however, play a leading role in thwarting a push by Wheeler to provide millions of dollars to the Police Bureau in an attempt to combat a surge in shootings and homicides. She and her council allies instead directed that money to park rangers and community groups Rubio’s first major test came in mid-2022 as the city’s voter-approved clean energy program — awash in cash and under scrutiny for multiple missteps — faced serious questions Opponents of the retail-tax-funded initiative called for the city to freeze or pause all future spending she convened meetings with the coalition of social justice and environmental organizations that helped develop the program and champion its passage in 2018 as well as business groups like the Portland Metro Chamber that were among its harshest critics Rubio kept her nervous council colleagues in the loop as she and city staff plowed ahead with a proposed rewrite of the program to create a targeted $650 million climate investment plan and expand the pool of potential funding recipients “This is transformative change at scale,” Jenny Lee deputy director of the Coalition of Communities of Color one of the leading social justice organizations behind the program’s creation Her reforms drew no major opposition and received unanimous approval by the City Council. Earlier this year, she was able to steer millions of additional dollars in unanticipated climate tax revenues to plug budget gaps across city bureaus and the general fund “I assume that some of you are probably thinking that my opponents are the business candidates and that somehow I’m not a pro-business candidate because I don’t look or sound tough or because I led a community-based organization,” Rubio told the audience at a Portland Metro Chamber debate I’m the only candidate standing on the stage that has actually delivered your priorities with results that are actually meaningful and even historic.”Dave Killen / The Oregonian Rubio’s real star turn on council came last year the former nonprofit leader whose work for decades had focused on serving underrepresented families pivoted toward the concerns of the city’s business community she delivered tax breaks to downtown businesses She cut environmental costs for housing developers And she laid the groundwork to potentially streamline Portland’s frustrating permitting system “These are sizeable policy shifts that city has been resistant to implementing for the last decade director of public policy and government affairs for the Home Building Association of Greater Portland Making it less costly and onerous to build new homes could also aid families struggling to pay bills or find housing saying that it was still premature to determine what impact the rule changes would have on Portland’s sluggish housing production absent a significant course correction in the city’s battered reputation “Will these changes be enough to get investors excited again about Portland?” he said Some observers say that for all her talk of bringing an array of stakeholders to the table on thorny issues “She’s kind of written off an entire section of the environmental movement and I don’t think that’s good politics,” said Caleb who worked for former Commissioner Chloe Eudaly and also served on Wheeler’s transition team when he was elected mayor who he deems a far more palatable choice than Gonzalez “It’s kind of a default decision,” he said Days after The Oregonian/OregonLive first revealed Rubio's highly problematic driving history she damaged a parked Tesla and walked away without leaving a note She and her campaign have since cast aspersions on the Tesla’s owners and exaggerated Rubio’s willingness to take account for her rule breaking.Tesla recording/screenshot so was Rubio’s decision to ultimately run for mayor she recalled her growing frustration with the “really unproductive behaviors of my colleagues” — primarily fellow mayoral candidates Gonzalez and Mapps — and the absence of other credible contenders “I expected that there would be other candidates getting in the race of the caliber that I would like to see,” Rubio said When pressed to outline her vision for Portland as mayor Rubio spent the next 90 seconds offering a halting disjointed response that touched on everything from her desire for residents to “feel safe” and “have access to their local government,” to seeing downtown “bustle” and for the city to become an “innovative leader” in “clean industry.” “I don’t want to bore you,” she finally said “I can go down rabbit holes of what I see.” her campaign for the first time rolled out a specific five-point plan “to build a better Portland” centered on community policing revitalizing downtown and building a green economy Even Rubio’s biggest supporters concede her best qualities have not materialized on the campaign trail Carmen has shown that if you give her a problem methodically and gets the job done,” said Felisa Hagins “that the best mayor for Portland doesn’t have to be the best candidate.” -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on X @shanedkavanaugh Our journalism needs your support. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices FranchisesAngel City names president of business ops02.18.2025 Angel City FC has appointed Carmen Bona as the club’s first President of Business Operations LN-Angel-City Angel City FC has appointed United Talent Agency Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer Carmen Bona as the club’s first President of Business Operations Bona will lead Angel City’s business functions with the aim of driving revenue growth She will work with Angel City co-founder Julie Uhrman to expand revenue opportunities across sponsorships Bona will also oversee operations and finance Bona’s appointment is part of a broader strategy led by Uhrman who has been elevated to CEO by controlling owners Willow Bay and Bob Iger Uhrman will oversee the club’s business and sporting operations while driving long-term growth enterprise value and innovation (Angel City FC) It’s a story he’s been reluctant to share in the past because it inspires too much jealousy of his “street cred.” But he’s tired of tiptoeing around others’ sensitivities at the expense of his career “How many people in the alt-comedy scene do you know that have been shanked I should be winning the Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Tina Fey got stabbed in the face; they let her be the head writer of SNL for nine years Still, parodying this brand of show so precisely requires a deep understanding of what makes the best of these shows work, and perhaps it’s not a stretch to say it belongs at Edinburgh after all. In 2022, Liz Kingsman made a splash at the festival with her acclaimed Fleabag parody, One Woman Show; why couldn’t Christopher follow in her footsteps What screams “bad solo show” more than trying to milk more out of a premise that’s already creatively spent you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.  She graduated from Douglass High School and attended Morristown College before embarking on her career at Martindale Hubble-Lexus Nexus in New Jersey.   In addition to being a loving and devoted sister Carmen was a very special and dear friend to so many others She truly lived by the motto: “Shop til you drop!” Carmen enjoyed life to the fullest and her generosity knew no bounds Carmen was preceded in death by her parents and brothers George Parot Rogers and Aaron Mickey Rogers Those left to cherish the sweet memories of Carmen are her brothers and Phillip Rogers (Rhonda); sister -in- laws Lena Rogers and Deborah Hatcher; special nieces Latoya Howell and daughter Stephanie; and foster sons Josh and Jimmy Alford The family will have a special memorial service on Saturday at Gate City Funeral Home in the Gene Falin Chapel Gate City Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Carmen Rogers Prather.  An online guest register is available for the Prather family at www.gatecityfunerals.com.  Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors FYRE Festival 2 is not happening in Playa del Carmen a city official has exclusively told The U.S In a stunning revelation, a representative at Playa del Carmen's City Hall called the event "fake news" and went on to claim that there is no event called Fyre Festival 2 scheduled in the area "I am sorry there is no Fyre Festival 2 Playa del Carmen knows nothing about it," the official told The U.S The city hall elaborated on the subject in an official statement written in Spanish "In light of rumors about an event called 'Fyre 2' we inform that no event with that name will be held in Playa del Carmen there is no registration or planning in the municipality public order and social coexistence," the statement said before adding any further information will go through "institutional channels." During a press conference last week, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland's group claimed they had the appropriate permits for the event and introduced a local official as well. Playa del Carmen’s secretary of citizen security, Raúl Tassinari González, was briefly introduced by a woman hosting the event. the official said: "We are already in coordination with the whole group You are obviously having a formidable event." During the press conference Billy called on his Fyre 2 partner Mike Falb who has been living in Mexico for the last six months he handed the microphone over to someone who he only called his "partner Fernando." Fernando said: "As you know we already have the authorities here We are very happy to have this festival...in Playa del Carmen and we are very happy to have the Fyre Festival." A comment call to Billy was not immediately returned Sun reached out to local officials for clarification on Playa del Carmen’s secretary of citizen security's participation in the press conference The event's location has already changed twice in a month's time from Isla Mujeres to Playa del Carmen after the former's tourism board said the event didn't exist The statement from Isla Mujeres read: "General Directorate for Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that no person or company has requested permits from this office or any other municipal government department for said event." Billy and his team made big promises about the event currently scheduled for May 30 through June 2 Billy announced that the second Fyre Festival will serve as a chance for him to redeem himself following the catastrophic 2017 event which left attendees stranded on a Bahamian island without proper food The convicted felon, who was seen on a screen at the press conference last week from Playa del Carmen, in Quintana Roo, Mexico "Being a traveler and being an adventure seeker around the world converging on Playa del Carmen to live like Jack Sparrow The team claimed they were preparing for 1,800 guests and said they would have 40 live performances The team said they weren't ready to announce performers yet and there would be an update this week over social media Later in the press conference, Manuel Reta, the head of artists and commercial relations for the Mexican event organizer Lostnights, said the Fyre Festival 2 team has found a home for the festival in Playa del Carmen doubts and concerns are fixed with a very simple thing - we are in Mexico," he said The inaugural FYRE Festival remains one of the most infamous event disasters in history Attendees were left devastated after spending tens of thousands of dollars to attend the event only to arrive on an island in the Bahamas lacking food and accommodation- not to mention the musical acts all pulled out at the last minute with disgruntled influencers sharing their outrage after stepping onto Great Exuma expecting the party of a lifetime festival-goers were greeted by re-purposed emergency FEMA tents Enticed by the allure of world-class cuisine ticket holders found themselves served cold cheese sandwiches in foam containers Despite the spectacular failure, Billy exclusively told The U.S. Sun in an interview that he has his reasons for attempting the event a second time Billy said: "This is the most tangible way to repay the $26 million that I owe and having real partners gives an opportunity in the next five to seven years no one's offering me $26 million to work somewhere else." who faced charges for misleading his investors went on to say he is taking full advantage of his notoriety "We are literally the most talked about music festival in the world We've had three times as many mentioned this Coachella which is in second place and there's a huge drop-off after that."It's an incredible opportunity to steer that ship into the storm and embrace everything that's happened." There is no lack of 5-star hotels or 5 star culinary experiences." As The U.S. Sun previously exclusively revealed in the agreement for ticket holders, there are a slew of ominous warnings for what one might expect with their pricey purchase Among a complex maze of cautions is a direct warning that reads "All Ticket sales are final He agreed to forfeit the $26 million, and had previously claimed to The U.S. Sun that his attempt at Fyre Fest 2 would help him pay down his restitution. Rubio regularly failed to pay these citations The record has come to light as the city continues to struggle with declining transportation revenue which partially comes from parking meters and traffic tickets Most of Rubio’s tickets racked up before she was elected to City Council in 2020 during the years when she worked for elected city officials and led the nonprofit Latino Network She collected 26 parking tickets in 2012 alone The tickets were largely due to unpaid or expired meters along with her car registration being expired Rubio was fined $145 in 2023 for not updating her expired June 2021 registration tags This wasn’t the first time: She received a $145 fine in 2022 for this same expired tag for parking in a loading zone near Portland City Hall Court records show Rubio paid the $95 ticket in late August A photo of the license plate included in court records shows updated tags Rubio’s license was suspended at least six times for failing to pay fines or to appear in court Rubio has since paid all tickets and overdue fines she accrued over the past two decades Rubio is not the only mayoral candidate with a history of parking tickets – but the sheer volume of her violations is unmatched has racked up 20 similar infractions in the same time frame Mayoral candidate Commissioner Mingus Mapps has zero parking violations Rubio attributed the pattern of not paying for parking – or for tickets – to prioritizing her career over other responsibilities “I’ve never hid the fact that in my younger years I put my family financial and career obligations first - and that I learned some hard lessons about when life catches up with you,” wrote Rubio in a statement first shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive.com “I now know and try very hard to never put my personal life on the back burner even when times are tough.” She said these experiences make her a “better leader,” as she can better empathize with Portlanders who’ve also struggled to pay meters or fines Rubio declined an interview request Monday As reported by the Oregonian/OregonLive.com Rubio was earning $100,000 annually as the executive director of Latino Network during the times she accrued the most tickets and registration fees have hampered the city’s transportation budget since the state lifted its pandemic-related pause on DMV citations in 2021 The Portland Bureau of Transportation pointed to these revenue shortfalls as a contributing factor to a $32 million budget gap earlier this year In June, City Council approved funding to hire nearly two dozen new parking enforcement officers to crack down on registrations and unpaid parking fees “Addressing expired tags and other parking violations is of critical importance as we seek to maintain order and ensure safety in the public right-of-way,” PBOT Director Millicent Williams said at the time Tags: Politics, Portland This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries coral reefs and cenotes (natural swimming holes) It's no secret that Playa del Carmen – and the Riviera Maya as a whole – is a magnet for tourists but the beach town maintains a sense of convivial authenticity that appeals to travelers looking for a well-rounded destination I have learned a thing or two about navigating this energetic beach town Here are my first-hand tips to help you make the most of your time in Playa del Carmen As the fastest-growing town in the Riviera Maya Playa del Carmen attracts hordes of travelers especially during the peak season from December to April Picture-perfect skies and cool nights are standard – but so are high prices And the streets bulge at the seams during Christmas and spring break The low season runs from May to June and from September to November we recommend visiting during the shoulder season in July and August While there may be some downpours and a power outage or two if a tropical storm hits the sun always makes an appearance in between showers Playa del Carmen may seem small-scale at first but once you venture out to the various neighborhoods weekend markets and authentic taquerias to discover Centro – stretching from the ferry terminal to Calle 8 – is tourist central and the city's bustling heart This is where you'll find plenty of bumping nightclubs Gonzalo Guerrero is a lively jumble of international restaurants taco trucks and supermarkets sprawling to Calle 40 This area suits those who aren't hard-core partiers but still want to be near the center of the action an up-and-coming area that appeals to medium-term visitors and creative types with its affordable short-term rentals and co-working spaces South of Centro lies the gated community of Playacar, which caters to couples and families with young children seeking green spaces and tranquility. Here, you'll find several family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, plenty of short-term rentals and one of the best beaches in Playa del Carmen Note that you'll need to be ready to pedal or walk 15 minutes to town The thing that sets Playa del Carmen apart from next-door neighbors Cancún and Tulum is the town's remarkable access to the sand In a bid to avoid coastlines jam-packed with waterfront resorts and private beach clubs Playa del Carmen was laid out to allow the public easy access to most of its beaches This means that you don't have to spend extravagant amounts on a beachfront hotel room or an overpriced day pass to enjoy the powder-puff white sand It's wise to book boat tours and day trips well in advance, especially if you're visiting in high season. (A month ahead will usually suffice.) An exception is the ferry to Isla Cozumel which has regular departures daily and can be booked at the ferry terminal only one day ahead of travel Making reservations beforehand also means you won't have to deal with tourist touts and other pier-side hassles Leave your denim jeans or high heels at home: the fashion style in Playa del Carmen is low-key and casual Laid-back backpackers and well-heeled travelers alike tend to sport singlets It's perfectly fine to wear a linen shirt and cargo shorts to a plush dinner and even a night out at Coco Bongo Beachwear is a free-for-all; you won't be judged no matter what you want to wear Bring a light jacket for chilly nights if you're traveling in the rainy season One of Playa del Carmen's winning traits is its walkability this is a compact city that's easy to navigate on foot Most of the action is centered along Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) a pedestrianized boulevard lined with knickknack shops the less traffic and more local hideouts you'll find Playa del Carmen isn't quite as keen on two-wheeled transport as Tulum – yet. But it's getting there. The city now boasts a city-wide bike-sharing system, with lime green BiciPlaya bikes for rent from numerous kiosks dotted around town and you'll be able to unlock a bike and bop around town for just M$129 ($6.77) per day The best bike path in the city runs along Tenth Avenue from Playacar residential area to Avenida Constituyentes You'll often find pedestrians spilling onto the bicycle lane If you're planning to explore the ruins cenotes and adventure parks surrounding Playa del Carmen hiring a car will give you the freedom to explore at your own pace While it's relatively easy to drive in Riviera Maya car rentals in Mexico come with their own set of challenges You'll find no shortage of attractive deals online – but they don't usually include third-party liability insurance (required by law) Be prepared to pay a higher price than your initial quote There isn't a lot of traffic in Playa del Carmen itself but once you venture to the 307 Federal Hwy you'll find a constant barrage of vehicles as there are more speed bumps than you can count as it's hard to see all the speed bumps and potholes in the dark Although credit cards are accepted at more and more small businesses and you'll need small bills to enjoy its local taco joints Avoid changing money before getting to Mexico Note that not every ATM is safe to use in Playa del Carmen as there have been cases of card cloning and counterfeit notes and always use an ATM inside a bank rather than one on the street We recommend taking cash out at Cancún airport upon arrival for peace of mind banks and ATMs tend to have long lines at the middle and end of every month and many of them are eager to withdraw their earnings ATMs not only have a long wait at these times Playa del Carmen has a slew of dining options with varying etiquette and tipping expectations Ten to 15% is the standard at most restaurants that don't fall into the high-end or gourmet category Tipping is not expected in casual cafes and local joints where you order at the counter though most have a tip jar if you're feeling generous Note that prices listed on menus in Mexico represent the total price; neither taxes nor tips are supposed to be added Some restaurants offer a suggested sum for tips which is fine; others sneak the tips into the total price Make sure to always check your bill carefully Hassling is common on the streets of Playa del Carmen, especially along tourist-clogged Fifth Avenue and Parque Fundadores you can get by without speaking a word of Spanish as English is commonly spoken here – just be prepared to pay gringo prices learn some Spanish vocabulary that goes beyond the standard "Una cerveza For those planning to stay more than a week in town, sign up for an intensive Spanish class at the established International House Riviera Maya. If you already have a basic level, join in the free conversation evenings run by Chichén Itzá Language School to meet new people and improve your language skills over cocktails. An unfortunate string of shootings has plagued Playa del Carmen in recent months, sounding alarm bells in the tourism industry. Two Canadian tourists were shot dead in Hotel Xcaret in January 2022, and the manager of Mamitas Beach Club was found murdered in the same week. The Mexican authorities have admitted an increasing presence of drug-related crime in Playa del Carmen. Be mindful that the crimes here are usually organized and cartel-related, and violence tends to be targeted rather than random acts of terror. Playa del Carmen, for the most part, is safe for tourists and expats who steer clear of illicit activities. The only way most tourists interact with cartel members is when they buy drugs – and make no mistake: all the dealers are part of a cartel. It is important to always keep your wits about you and stay vigilant. Keep yourself informed of the latest happenings in Playa del Carmen before you travel. Don't be surprised to find military troops and police cars whizzing through the streets of Playa del Carmen: recent incidents have caused a need for heightened security. Several police checkpoints have been set up along the 307 Hwy, including one at the Playa del Carmen exit. With a raving bar scene, Playa del Carmen inevitably has its fair share of petty theft and robberies, which tend to happen at night. Solo travelers should avoid getting drunk alone or taking drugs on the streets. Stick with your group if you plan on late-night shenanigans. Keep an eye on your drink, and don't accept drinks from strangers. Mexicans are a friendly bunch – yet it can be hard to differentiate between genuine hospitality and a sales gimmick. Follow the rule of not trusting anyone selling on the streets, and you'll do just fine. When a local approaches you saying, "Do you remember me? I'm your waiter!" just smile, nod and walk away. It's almost certain that your "friend" is just trying to lure you into their overpriced shop. A common scam in Playa del Carmen (one familiar to expats) is the distraction scheme. A couple usually approaches and offers to clean the bird poop from your hair or the tomato ketchup on your back, distracting you and thus swiping your valuables while your guard is down. Uber does not operate in Playa del Carmen, but official white-and-green cabs are readily available. They tend to charge tourists more than residents, so check with a local to suss out how much you should pay. Always agree on a price before getting in: a ride within Centro should not be more than M$50 ($2.50). Alternatively, ask your Airbnb host or hotel concierge for a reliable driver that you can contact through WhatsApp. The water in Playa del Carmen is not potable, and you should never drink water from the faucet. It is OK, however, to brush your teeth using it, and many find local tap water acceptable for rinsing vegetables, cooking pasta and washing rice. The water served at restaurants is always purified drinking water, and so is the ice, so feel free to ask for a vaso de agua when you dine out. Several companies in Playa del Carmen deliver large 20-liter barrels of purified water right to your doorstep. You can also stock up at any OXXO convenience store in town; there's one at almost every corner in the town center. a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA PONCE BERRE HAIR AND MAKEUP BY STEVE DELATORRE STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA Wong wearing L’Agence short suit at The Garlands she never planned to return to the suburbs for almost a decade and graduating with her master’s degree she returned to the Barrington area to be with family and figure out her next steps Carmen started looking for local opportunities to stay busy She discovered the Barrington Area Volunteer Connect (BAVC) platform which led her to help the Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) with archival This experience jumpstarted her community engagement effort—she is now a Barrington Junior Women’s Club (BJWC) member and serves on the BAVC Advisory Board I am exactly where I need to be Best grooming tip An e-file manicure and pedicure Guilty pleasure Mariah Carey Best advice ever given to you It’s not our external environment that dictates our happiness our relationship to that environment Best advice you’ve given Know your worth and where you are valued Earliest memory Seeing a family of raccoons press their noses against our porch door waiting to be fed I noticed them first and was excited to have cute and furry visitors but when I showed my mom She started yelling and knocking on the door to scare them away Before bed Whatever I’ve checked out from the Barrington Library I recently read and enjoyed Julia Fox’s Down the Drain and my monthly magazine subscriptions Costco Connection and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance You can’t live without and skin care products (IMAGE Skincare and iS Clinical are staples in my routine) Love to escape to CA Advice you would give to your younger self Comfortable—matching sweatsuit set and Crocs and decorated with Sanrio charms Can’t leave the house without PinkPantheress and Lil Uzi Vert Place to eat I rent clothes every month from Rent the Runway Best thing about country and the occasional chance to play with my neighbor’s dogs Worst thing about country and then working on my scrapbook while a murder mystery show plays in the background I walked approximately 22 miles in them on a weekend trip to New York Can’t leave the house without My Olympus Infinity Stylus 35mm camera Transportation Magnificent Mile—there are so many shops to visit and peruse Best thing about town You can walk everywhere Worst thing about town The traffic going into the city The perfect day is visiting one of the city’s many museums (I like art museums) and getting a coffee before walking the lakefront trail VINELAND — Carmen Di Giorgio owes his success to many people but his mom played a special part in why he just wrapped up 30-plus years working for his hometown Di Giorgio's last day as tax collector was Aug and he had run the office since January 1999 But his city career actually started almost a decade earlier Di Giorgio had passed on an offer to put his accounting degree to immediate use in North Jersey to come home More: Call of the wild a start of career More: Things were 'Olympian' for the Vineland High 2024 senior prom “I actually finished one of the school years working for the Vineland public schools … as a long-term sub in math and science,” Di Giorgio said How about going the alternate route?’ I said A continuing interest in sports inadvertently served up a lead on a city job “And one of the ladies then told my mom … they’re looking for an accountant in the Electric Utility is a first-generation Vinelander who spoke Italian and English at home growing up Both his mother and father had accompanied their parents from Italy to the United States during the 1950s We were all in the vicinity of Third Street and Seventh Street.” Family was a good reason to return to Vineland and so was having a local girlfriend soon to become his wife Learning Italian at home ended up as an advantage at work given especially at the time the large number of locals who spoke it as their first language “We had a pretty large Italian population as the years went on,” Di Giorgio said they would come in and I’d get to use my Italian quite a bit Di Giorgio took over as tax collector at a time when computer access was very limited at City Hall but the trend was to add systems as quickly as possible “That really helped me make a mark,” he said Di Giorgio said the office staff always has been “top notch.” because some of the other ladies retired,” he said “You’ve got some younger ladies in the office who are in their 20s and 30s Di Giorgio plans to work at his tax practice a few more years to do when his wife Lisa retires from teaching in Millville “I’d like to go back and explore my roots with my family Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland Rubio’s most public supporters appeared to be closing ranks around her candidacy The news organization contacted a dozen of Rubio’s most prominent endorsers including representatives of large labor unions that are likely to fuel her get-out-the-vote efforts and individuals who have donated to her campaign or been publicly listed as among her most prominent supporters Others said they preferred to stay mute and excuse themselves from the complicated narrative swirling around Rubio but that they planned no change to their endorsement At least one announced supporter said he was rethinking his choice calling her behavior “inexplicable,” but refused to allow his name to be used because he is still considering his options Another said she wouldn’t be “surprised” to see more people distance themselves from the Rubio campaign in the coming days A notable exception was the Portland Street Trust low-carbon transit friendly transportation system and had defended its endorsement of Rubio after news broke of her history of dodging parking and driving laws It rescinded its support for her Thursday in the wake of news she’d dinged the parked car and walked away without taking responsibility “We were willing to forgive past mistakes in service of a candidate seeking to make change in how the city approaches traffic safety ...” the group’s leaders wrote But “in light of allegations that last week Rubio damaged a parked car and walked away Rubio was already under scrutiny after The Oregonian/OregonLive published a story last week revealing that she had racked up 150 parking and traffic citations over 20 years had dodged court appearances and had her license suspended six times Courts also referred Rubio’s unpaid parking tickets to a collection agency on at least 100 occasions the news organization reported that she had scraped the bumper and wheel rim of a parked 2022 Tesla when she pulled up next to it according to video footage captured by the Tesla’s security system Rubio began damage control almost immediately after the publication of that story In interviews with other news organizations Rubio said she deeply regretted her parking ticket record and added that the area near the headquarters of the Latino Network She said in her statements that she hadn’t realized she’d damaged the Tesla which she glanced at as she walked past after she sensed her car had hit something when pulling into the parking spot Photos of the Tesla and her car show the damage was clearly visible And Rubio said she felt “exploited” by the Tesla’s owners who knew about her mayoral candidacy and the unpaid tickets and implied they would notify the media she’d damaged their car and walked away without leaving a note said through a campaign spokesperson that she stuck by her endorsement “Carmen Rubio has a track record of getting results,” Kotek said “I know we can count on her to deliver the kind of change Portland urgently needs.” said he too planned to stay in Rubio’s corner “I am standing by her because I support her direction goals and platform for the city,” Nosse said “When you have been in politics for a while you care about people’s accomplishments as much as I care about their values I think the whole thing with the car bumper on the Tesla is unfortunate she is offering to help that woman get her car fixed Representatives for a handful of major labor unions including the American Federation of State the Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers did not indicate that they planned any changes to their endorsement of Rubio Previously, LiUNA Local 737, a union that represents 3,000 construction workers and laborers in the Portland area yanked its endorsement of Rubio after the revelations about her driving record — Julia Silverman covers education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her by email at jsilverman@oregonian.com. Follow her on X.com at @jrlsilverman The Carmen charter school network has received a key approval from a city panel to build a $55 million south side high school as it prepares for the possibility of losing its current space at two Milwaukee Public Schools buildings The school could open as early as fall 2026, when its leases with MPS are set to expire. The Milwaukee School Board is considering a resolution to not renew Carmen's leases at two of its its buildings, which are shared with MPS schools that have become overcrowded The project was approved Thursday by the city's Board of Zoning Appeals clearing the way for Carmen to obtain necessary permits said Carmen would move ahead with purchasing the property He said Carmen hoped to begin construction early next year "It’s still possible to potentially open school by August of '26 but that’s if everything aligns," Gamboa said Leaders of the Carmen Schools of Science and Technology network have said they don't want to move their campuses out of the MPS buildings the new building would be a new home for its South Middle School and could enroll additional high school students But if Milwaukee School Board members decide to non-renew the leases for Carmen's South and Southeast High Schools at the end of the 2025-26 school year, Carmen leaders plan to move those students into the new building. The Milwaukee School Board is scheduled to discuss the non-renewal idea in October Milwaukee School Board member Missy Zombor, who presented the idea of non-renewal said MPS needs to make space for the growing district-run schools that operate in different rooms of the same buildings: Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes (ALBA) and Pulaski High School said the school has grown because there’s a high demand for the bilingual education ALBA offers from kindergarten through eighth grade Martínez said the school would gradually add a class to each grade level At the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Thursday, Alderman Scott Spiker, whose district includes the site for the new building, said the project had his enthusiastic support. He said neighbors had some concerns about traffic but were generally supportive of having a school there. "I’m very excited Carmen’s going to be coming into this spot and livening a rather dead intersection right now with something that’s going to serve the kids and the citizens of Milwaukee," Spiker said. It is therefore a district with historical importance and its age is made apparent by the historical buildings old churches and its narrow winding streets Here is a list of the 10 best places to visit in El Carmen Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos Architectural Landmark Jaser Cervantes / © Culture Trip José Benlliure was a Valencian painter at the turn of the 20th century He became director of the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts and is most famous for his historical paintings the painter’s daughter donated the house to the City Hall of Valencia The house-museum now contains some of his paintings notes and sketches as well as works from other famous artists such as Sorolla and Rusinyol There is also a pavilion in the garden that contains more paintings and exhibits different collections of objects such as antique furniture The garden is beautiful and was designed by José Benlliure himself Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in Santander Food & Drink The 5 Best Food Markets in Madrid Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Architecture Spain’s Most Impressive Bullrings Guides & Tips How to Attend a Bullfight in Spain Sports The Most Epic Hiking Trails in Spain's Sierra Nevada See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Fyre Festival 2 was announced to take place in Isla Mujeres plans later changed with Playa del Carmen being announced as the new location for the event last month On March 28th, McFarland hosted a press conference for Fyre Festival 2 along with local officials McFarland said: “I’d like to thank all of my partners for making this happen … I’d also like to thank the special guests in the audience We have special representatives from the Secretary of Tourism the Secretary of Security and Civil Protection.” McFarland continued: “Our relationships with Playa may be new but I know I speak for the rest of the team when I say we couldn’t ask for a better group of people.” the Playa del Carmen government issued a statement on social media in Spanish “In light of rumours about an event called ‘Fyre 2’ we inform you that no event with that name will be held in Playa del Carmen there is no registration or planning in the municipality.” “This government acts with responsibility and commitment to safety and social coexistence.” It also stated that “institutional channels” would be used for any further information on the subject With less than two months to go until Fyre Festival 2 is set to take place the official line-up is still yet to be announced McFarland shared in a social media video that they would begin to release names “this week” but no artists have yet been revealed 🔥 Important FYRE Festival Update pic.twitter.com/7B1sGrOnTd