Portland.

It was 20 years ago that I first moved to Portland. I lived there until the end of 2017, with a hiatus from 2007 to 2013 when I lived in San Francisco. When I first moved there, it was a beautiful, friendly, safe city. No more.

The last four years - from the beginning of 2014, when I moved back from SF, to the end of 2017, when I moved out of the city to take a job near Scappoose - it became clear that the Portland I had known and loved was gone and was not coming back.

For the latest from Portland, you can read Andy's feed -
https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo

So, it is what it is. I'm living in Hillsboro now, about 10 miles to the west of Portland proper, and it's a whole different world.

Fire at Portland Chabad.

This is the synagogue where I used to pray when I lived in Southwest Portland a couple of years ago.

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/08/sw-portland-jewish-center-damaged-in-2nd-fire-in-under-a-week.html

'The Chabad Center for Jewish Life appeared to be fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Lt. Rich Chatman, a Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman. An external shed was also on fire.'

It was the second fire there in less than a week. According to the article: 'The center’s previous fire broke out Friday, and investigators determined it occurred because of an electrical malfunction in an upstairs office area.' This time, though, the power in the building was turned off.

Also from the article: 'On Tuesday night, vandalism - the throwing of eggs - was reported at the nearby Kesser Israel congregation in Southwest Portland.' Kesser is just down the street from Chabad.