JAMES WHAT IS THE LATEST INFORMATION COMING FROM THE MEETING? WELL JUST A MOMENT AGO WE HAD A VERY BIG DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING THE BALLOT INITIATIVE CURTAILING CRUISE SHIPS IN PORTLAND. THE COUNCIL ATTEMPTED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE OUTRIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO PUT IT INTO COMMITTEE AND AMEND THE LAW. THIS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND THE COUNCIL IS STILL DISCUSSING ITS NEXT MOVE, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ORDINANCES PUT FORWARD BY THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS WERE SENT TO THE BALLOT. ?THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PUT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT REFERENDUMS ON CURTAILING SHORT TERM RENTALS SUCH AS AIR BNB'S IN THE CITY, PROTECTING TENANTS FROM NO- CAUSE EVICTIONS, AND A MEASURE WHICH WOULD RAISE THE CITY'S MINIMUM WAGE TO 18 DOLLARS AN HOUR AND ELIMINATE THE TIPPED CREDIT FOR SERVICE WORKERS, WHICH REFERENDUM SUPPORTERS REFER TO AS THE SUB MINIMUM WAGE. BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THESE WAGE. THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THE CHANGES SAY THE WAGE HIKES WILL HELP MAKE PORTLAND MORE AFFORDABLE, WHILE OPPONENTS SAY THEY WILL HURT THOSE IT IS INTENDED TO HELP. (SOT) I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD ARGUE THAT HIGHER PAY TO ADJUST FOR INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING IS NECESSARY. BUT THE ELIMINATION OF TIPPED CREDIT DOES EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY, THE PEOPLE LIKE ME, THE TRADESPEOPLE WHO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS CAN HARDLY AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT WE'VE BUILT. THE REFERENDUM TO COME IS SURE TO BE CONTENTIOUS, BUT THE QUESTION OF THE CRUISE SHIP INITIATIVE IS STILL IN FLUX. KEEP IT ON WMTW.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AS IT HAPPEN