Your Daily Guide

Study Finds Less Depression and Anxiety After Psilocybin

Oregon Health and Science University has done the largest and most rigorous study of the first three years of the state's legal psilocybin program. The data supports arguments that it’s safe — with some key exceptions, including people who are pregnant, on lithium, suicidal, or with active psychosis. The findings also “support the idea that there may be a broad benefit to people’s sense of well-being and mental health if and when they choose to seek it out,” OPB reports. [Oregonian / OPB]

A Wetter, Warmer Winter Likely

This past winter is tied for the warmest on record in Oregon, and weather patterns suggest another warm winter is coming, though possibly with more rain or snow. “I think the odds are also really loaded towards it being a really wet and warm winter,” Oregon state climatologist Larry O’Neill told the Oregonian. “So, the real wild card is whether we can get periods of colder air with precipitation that gives us the snow.” It’s part of an extreme El Niño event, when Pacific Ocean surface temperatures become significantly warmer and winds near the equator reverse their pattern. [Oregonian]

Mayor Wilson Snubbed Socialists

In this fall’s election, Mayor Keith Wilson endorsed three incumbents running for reelection this fall — City Councilors Olivia Clark, Eric Zimmerman, and Steven Novick — picking sides in the moderate versus progressive divide of council. The incumbents he didn’t endorse — Mitch Green, Angelita Morillo, and Tiffany Koyama Lane — are all members of the Portland Democratic Socialists of America. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

I asked your opinions about whether it’s necessary to have a car in Portland, based on a news story last week that ranked Portland 14th on a list of the best U.S. cities to be car-free. Here’s what some of your fellow readers say about that:

• “My wife and I have debated this throughout the years. We live in inner Southeast Portland, but work in Portland suburbs. With two kids, it would be impossible to not have two cars and make it to kid activities. Portland offers so many amazing cultural opportunities both in the city, but also in the region, that not having a car would make it difficult to experience. Take the coast for instance. Maybe when the kids graduate and move on, we'll go down to one car.” — Jason A.

• “I raised my children as commuter cyclists in 90s inner-city Portland. We were poor and biking was a necessity. As we got older, we biked as a matter of principle. At this time there were now bike lanes and a developed bike culture that made it much more enjoyable. We had a bike bus from two NoPo routes that merged and traveled to Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) school for a few years around 2006-09. (We even did a funky bike bus promo video for shift2bikes.) We moved to St. Johns, and we struggled to make the transition to carpooling and biking just for enjoyment. We just invested in ebikes recently and that has rocked our world! As aging commuter cyclists living outside the city core, it has changed everything. Who really needs a car?” — Angela

• “We recently moved to Portland (Pearl District) from the burbs in Florida. We initially brought both of our cars with us, because we thought we needed them. I work remote and travel to other states monthly, and my wife works about 5 miles outside of the city. As of last month we are now a single car household, because having two cars was just too much. I now either walk, use the MAX system, or scooter rentals around the city, and I love it!!” — Jamie G.

📲 Please email us with your opinion on this. I welcome your recommendations and feedback at any time. It’s my favorite part of writing the newsletter. (A reminder: You can always hit reply to this email.)