Readers of The New York Times and viewers of Fox News know that Portland, especially downtown Portland, is the center of a decaying star, a horrible place full of death and sadness. Of course, that’s just one side of the story, as told by national news outlets. The story on the ground is much more complicated. Portland, like most major cities in the United States, is grappling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the emptying out of downtowns, and a horrific fentanyl crisis. Simultaneously, downtown is full of hope – people working to help those living on the streets, new restaurants, businesses, tourists and yes, even some office workers. And now, three new murals are hoping to inspire something Portland is in dire need of: Civic pride. Read more at the link in our bio. 📸: mark_w_graves #murals #portland #downtownportland #pdx #art #theoregonian