👽 Salutations, Thursday. We think you're out of this world.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny. High 77, low 56.

🎤 Sounds like: "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" by Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, who play the Schnitz tonight.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Merry Wingfield!

Today’s newsletter is 1,050 words — a 4-minute read.

Portland families are angry and sad over a proposal to close up to 14 schools, with some considering leaving the city.

Why it matters: The announcement last week drew a swift and widespread response from parents across the city, with many saying their schools are the foundation of their communities.

Catch up quick: The district proposed two options last week aimed at "right-sizing" its footprint as student enrollment drops. The closures could come ahead of next school year.

• Scenario A would close 14 schools while Scenario B would close 11 schools. A third option would defer any closures to an undetermined future date.
• Both scenarios would require dozens of boundary changes that would affect many schools beyond just those slated for closure, moving a dozen or more programs and reconfiguring some K–8 schools.

What you're saying: Several Axios Portland readers told us they chose where to live based on schools now facing possible closure.

• "We live close to the Maplewood school and this is a big reason we bought in this neighborhood," Austin L. wrote. "If this school closes we will likely move out of Portland."

Some readers worried about programs affected by the reorganization, including Metropolitan Learning Center, a K–12 alternative school whose high school students would be sent to traditional schools.

• "The high school program at MLC is the first time our now-freshman has felt welcome and invited at a school, has not been bullied, and finally has a team of teachers that helped us finalize their (individualized education program)," wrote Chris C.

Liz W. questioned how the district selected schools for possible closure and whether it considered factors like community impact and student belonging.

• The district has said the selections were the product of "months of analysis and community engagement to better align schools, programs and resources with current enrollment."

The latest: The district is hosting more than a dozen listening sessions over the next month, including one tonight at Kellogg Middle School specifically to hear from those with disabilities.

• If you go: The session will run from 6-8pm at 3400 Southeast 69th Ave.

What's next: Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong is expected to recommend a plan to the school board in the coming weeks, with a vote expected in December.

Pass to a parent

Living in downtown's luxury Ritz-Carlton Residences comes with a hefty price tag beyond the million-dollar mortgage.

By the numbers: Homeowners there pay $1.30 per square foot in monthly HOA fees — more than anywhere else in the city — per the Oregonian.

• For reference, one Ritz-Carlton resident pays $2,467 a month in HOA fees for a two-bedroom condo, while another shells out $3,724 for a three-bedroom unit.

Reality check: Those fees alone are considerably more than the average rent for similarly sized homes in the city.

• Meanwhile, the median monthly HOA fee in Oregon last year was $111, according to Realtor.com.

Yes, but: Portland's Ritz-Carlton has the lowest HOA fees among the brand's residences nationwide, per the O. Residents at its Waikiki Beach property pay $2.75 per square foot.

Between the lines: Aside from usual building maintenance and security, Ritz-Carlton residents' HOA fees give them access to amenities like round-the-clock concierge services, an indoor pool with skyline views, a fitness center and even a golf simulator.

• Those perks, particularly the convenience, make the steep fee worth it, residents and real estate agents told the O.

The bottom line: Let's be honest, ordering Bellpine for room service and booking a massage at the spa without ever leaving the building seems pretty nice.

✋🏼 Gov. Kotek told regulators to stop issuing pollution permits to new or expanded data centers in Oregon through at least next summer, serving as an effective moratorium on the facilities. (OPB)

🛩️ The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident last week where the pilot of a seaplane took off from the Willamette River and flew under the Hawthorne Bridge. (The Oregonian)

🛍️ Amazon appears to be pulling back on plans to offer 30-minute drone delivery from a fulfillment center in North Portland after pushback from nearby residents and city leaders. (Portland Business Journal)

👀 If you've ever wished you could wear the carpet at PDX (as seen in our nifty gif above) Columbia has you covered: a limited edition version of its Helvetia Fleece is now being made with the same pattern. (KOIN)

Supporters of "Medicare for All" now outnumber opponents by nearly 2-to-1, according to a new survey of U.S. adults from the Axios-Ipsos American Health Index.

By the numbers: 43% of Americans said they support the idea of establishing a "Medicare for All" program to provide government-run health insurance to all, largely replacing private health insurance.

• 24% oppose the idea and 32% say they aren't sure.

Keep reading

Vietnamese coffee topped with black sesame cream, sweetened with salted condensed milk or mixed with coconut soda are specialties at Two Roosters — a new cafe bringing southeast Asian-style brews to Northeast Portland.

State of play: The Parkrose Heights shop, which opened earlier this summer, is the latest addition to the city's small but growing Vietnamese coffee scene.

Zoom in: At Two Roosters, the drinks are made with beans sourced from Vietnam and brewed using traditional phin filters (metal drip style) that produce intense, bold flavors.

• The shop was founded by Portland natives Khang Duong and his brother-in-law Jun Robles, a chef whose résumé includes Le Pigeon and Nostrana.
• The two wanted the name to honor their parents — who were born in the year of the rooster.

🥐 Robles is behind the snacky menu, which includes pork floss croissant toast, mango mochi rice crispy treats and banana pudding tiramisu.

If you go: Two Roosters (11937 NE Halsey St.) is open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 8am.

🍎 Meira is researching where to find the best apple cider doughnuts. Tell me your faves!

🤗 Kale can't believe (men's) basketball starts up again in less than a week.

This newsletter was edited by Hadley Malcolm.