Angels Watching the City
By Nancy Tannler Even though 44 percent of Americans own some kind of gun, violent crime rates have been on a steady decline since they peaked in 1991. It was …
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Local Headlines
Racial Slurs Cropping Up on Traffic Signs
By Jack Rubinger Several neighbors have noticed the n-word being written in pen on many street signs in inner SE along SE 30th Ave. between Division and Salmon, and on …
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Safe Routes to School Expanding to Include High Schools
By Lula Hugo, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is attempting to expand its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to encompass Portland high schools, …
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Sports Additions Coming to Laurelhurst Park
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Anyone who’s driven by or walked around Laurelhurst Park during the last couple of years has probably noticed the off-and-on encampments lining it nearby, especially on SE …
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Portland Sees Spike in Collision Fatalities
By Annalise Shorb, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post On Tuesday October 4, Sarah Pliner was hit and killed on the intersection of SE Powell Blvd. and 26th Ave., right …
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Healthy Homes Grant Program Coming
By David Krogh The Healthy Homes Grant Program was created by the 2021 Oregon State Legislature, separate from but in support of, the Federal HUD Agency’s Healthy Homes program. It …
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How Harmful is a Fire?
By Jonathan Cruz Brendon Haggerty crouched beside a Solo Stove fire pit in his Portland backyard and stacked a few pieces of well-cured wood. This is a common scene for …
How Harmful is a Fire? Read More
Guarding Against Cybercrime
By Kris McDowell Cybercrime is a broad term that encompasses any type of criminal activity that involves computers or the internet. Often committed by cybercriminals or hackers who are seeking …
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Employment Scams Target College Students
By Better Business Bureau Great West & Pacific With the fall college semester in full swing, many students are now looking for multiple sources of income as they balance their …
Employment Scams Target College Students Read More
Representatively Speaking November 2022
By State Representative Rob Nosse By the time you are reading this, you should have received your ballot in the mail. Election season is almost over, and it is a …
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Suspects Detained in Mt. Tabor Arson Case
By Francesca Silverstein, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post Three suspected arsonists have been arrested after allegedly setting a string of fires within Mt. Tabor Park. According to the Multnomah …
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Safe Rest Village Worries Neighbors
By Nancy Tannler The proposed Reedway Safe Rest Village is an unpopular plan for a group of Lents residents. The Safe Rest Village approach (bit.ly/SafeRestVillages) is a city-led, federally-funded, alternative …
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Growing Gardens Receives EPA Grant to Support Programs
By Ellen Spitaleri In late August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $100,000 Environmental Education Grant to Growing Gardens, a nonprofit organization set up to provide gardening education to …
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Addressing Homelessness with Built for Zero
By Don MacGillivray There are many causes of homelessness, but the lack of affordable housing is fundamental. It took years to create Portland’s housing crisis and now much of the …
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Do Good Multnomah’s Mobile Support Services
By Lauren Everett Amanda starts her workday by checking her phone to see if there have been any crises overnight. She sometimes ends the day with a late-night phone call …
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Dogs and Foxtails: A Dangerous Duo
By Jack Rubinger Foxtail is a grass-like weed that’s popping up everywhere in parking strips and yards. The weed is out there in abundance in all our parks and trail …
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Think Out Loud’s Future of Cities
By Don MacGillivray Portlanders are having difficulty just finding housing and they often must take what is available instead of what they need or want. As Portland works to create …
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Council Approves Millions of Clean Energy Grant Funds
By Daniel Perez-Crouse City Council has unanimously approved the second round of the Portland Clean Energy Benefits Fund (PCEF) recommendations on grantees, totaling around $120 million. As a reminder, the …
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Charter Commission Action and Next Steps
By David Krogh On June 14 the 20-member Portland City Charter Commission voted to send Phase 1 of its review with proposed changes to the city’s charter to voters. This …
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Increasing Access to Preschool
By Don MacGillivray Finding daycare and preschool for young children in Portland has always been difficult. This is especially true for families where affordability is an issue. And over the …
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RIP2: A Commitment to Middle Housing
By Nancy Tannler City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Residential Infill Project – Part 2 (RIP2) zoning code amendments, going into effect on June 30, 2022. RIP2 addresses several …
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REACH Hosts Bike Fair
By Jack Rubinger On June 2, REACH sponsored their first bike fair for residents living in REACH’s SE Portland affordable apartment communities, hosted at 72Foster (5005 SE 72nd Ave). 40 …
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Preserving the Reservoirs’ Integrity
By Nancy Tannler Residents of Portland have the good fortune to live in a city where the founders set aside a substantial amount of land for public use. They took …
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Building Villages to Address Homelessness
By Don MacGillivray It is well known that Portland has a housing problem, which is the primary cause of increased homelessness. The only satisfactory answer to the problem is to …
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PPS Budget Edging Closer to Approval
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The month of May saw much activity over the proposed Portland Public Schools (PPS) 2022-2023 budget of $1.87 billion, involving its introduction, work sessions and input from …
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PCC and Partners Battle COVID-19, Bridge Equity Gaps
By Amy Bader, PCC Oregon healthcare providers and partners successfully vaccinated more than 80 percent of the state’s total population in less than a year, a milestone that has proven …
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City Council Position 3 Candidate Round Up
By David Krogh Portland’s trend for large numbers of candidates on a ballot for a single City Council position is continuing with the Thursday, May 17 primary, even after the …
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Nine Candidates Seek City Council Position 2
By Kris McDowell City Council Position 2, a role currently held by Dan Ryan, is one of the races on the May 17 ballot. Ryan faces eight other individuals looking …
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Reigning in Health Care Costs
By Nancy Tannler The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) held their annual public hearing in April focusing on the impact of high and rising health care costs to Oregonians. The meeting …
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Cultural Heritage Garden Plans Progress at Lone Fir Cemetery
By Don MacGillivray Lone Fir Cemetery is the oldest and most diverse cemetery in Portland. It began with the burial of Emmor Stephens in 1846, only two years after the …
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Portland Police Union Contract Finalized
By Don MacGillivray The Portland Police Union (PPU) contract is now complete and final after a lengthy, contentious process. The previous contract was expected to expire June 2020 and be …
Portland Police Union Contract Finalized Read More
Building a Better Childcare System
By Nancy Tannler What has become known as a “childcare desert” has Oregon parents scrambling to find affordable, reliable places for their children while they are at work. The problem …
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PPS Budget Planning Deepens Divide Between Teachers, District
By Oscar Ponteri, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post Following a projected drop in enrollment, Portland Public Schools (PPS) has outlined a budget plan to cut roughly 107 teachers from …
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Representatively Speaking
By State Representative Rob Nosse In March I wrote this column before the legislative session ended. I tried to avoid making too many predictions, not knowing how all the chips would …
Representatively Speaking Read More
BPS Strategic Plan
By Don MacGillivray In recent years, Portland has undergone significant challenges including COVID-19 health issues, racial concerns, forest fires and climate change. While everyone has been stressed by these conditions, …
RIP2 Moves Forward After Amendment Discussions
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The final stages of the Residential Infill Project Part 2 (RIP2) approached as the Planning and Sustainability Commission moved to adopt amendments at its February 8 meeting. …
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How to Prepare for a Disaster
By Nancy Tannler As you are reading this article, somewhere in the Cascadia Subduction Zone a small tremor will take place. In the past month, there have been 67 quakes …
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Safety Within Portland Public Schools
By Isabella Smejtek, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post During the 2018-2019 school year, there were numerous incidents within the Franklin High School community concerning shooting threats and physical violence on or …
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Franklin Talks: Normalizing Talking About Race
By Maya Bryant, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post For the first time in its history, Franklin High School ran its Franklin Talks program; an hour-long discussion surrounding racial equity …
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HBBA Starts Weekly and Monthly Clean Ups
By Jack Rubinger It’s midday on a weekday on Hawthorne Blvd. and Uri Kushner, owner of Dairy Hill Ice Cream, is mad as hell. There’s a guy passed out, sprawled …
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Update: Homelessness 2022
By Don MacGillivray In many of Portland’s neighborhoods the homeless crisis is increasingly observable. The lack of progress in addressing this crisis is due, in part, to the pandemic, but …
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Short-Term Rentals Find Their Place
By Gabe Frayne Angela Dorsey-Kockler is giving me the quick tour of her short-term rental (STR) in the Richmond neighborhood. Her husband Nick and two young sons follow her up …
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Train Blockages Frustrate SE
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The infamous train blockages in SE near Division St. are the bane of anyone caught on 8th, 12th and especially 11th Aves. There was even a website …
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Portland Street Response: Expansion and Effectiveness
By Jack Rubinger The Portland Street Response (PSR) team operates within the 911 system for non-emergencies and consists of a multi-disciplinary, culturally diverse team. It includes peer support, and will …
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Parents Push Back on PPS Proposals
By Nancy Tannler Over a year ago, leaders of Portland Public Schools (PPS) decided to change the system’s education inequities with The Enrollment and Program Balancing proposal. The Southeast Guiding …
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Substitute Teacher Shortage Contributes to High Stress Levels for Educators
By Miranda Phinney, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post During a year in which the Portland Association of Teachers reported half of all surveyed educators are considering early retirement, a …
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Lloyd Center’s Evolution
By Don MacGillivray Lloyd Center has been one of the largest urban shopping centers in the Pacific Northwest for many years. It is built on a 50-acre site located one …
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Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility
By Don MacGillivray Portland’s transportation system today is inequitable, contributes to climate change and presents safety risks due to the traffic on our crowded streets. There is a significant need …
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Historic Resource Code Revision
By Nancy Tannler On November 3, City Council listened to six hours of public testimony regarding code amendments purposed by the Historic Resource Code Project (HRCP). The intent of the …
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Does Architecture Matter?
By Gabe Frayne The winding down of testimony and negotiations in connection with Portland’s Historical Resource Code Project (HRCP) has brought the contentious issue of historical preservation back to center …
Does Architecture Matter? Read More
City Council Approves Budget
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The much-lamented problems plaguing Portland in recent years were heavily discussed over the course of two City Council sessions involving the “unprecedented” budget surplus of $62 million …
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Oregon’s Struggle to Address Mental Illness
By Don MacGillivray The glowing tributes for Oregon are flawed by a few egregious realities. One is Oregon’s lack of care for the mentally ill. According to a recent study …
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Roller Derby Rolls Into Park Rose Middle School
By Jack Rubinger By Jack Rubinger Kids haven’t had it easy for the past two years with COVID-19 impacting fun, free time and school resources. Way too much time is …
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AARP Livable Communities
By David Krogh Not many people are aware that Portland belongs to the AARP’s Livable Community Network of Age-Friendly Communities and States or what that means. Currently 573 communities nationwide …
AARP Livable Communities Read More
SNAP Increases Begin in October
By Nancy Tannler A permanent increase to the food stamp program was issued by the Biden administration to help low income households buy more groceries. The new plan will ensure …
SNAP Increases Begin in October Read More
Medicare Waiver Update: Inequities and Behavioral Health
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Continuing discussion over the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) drafting of a Medicaid waiver application for 2022-2027, a forum hosted by the OHA focused on how issues of …
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National Housing Crisis
By Don MacGillivray Portland’s housing crisis is now seven years old and the nation is waking up to the same reality. Even before the 2008 recession, the US saw a …
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Keys to Enter the Housing Market
By Jack Rubinger For first-time home buyers, getting into the housing market has gotten tougher and tougher. Today’s economic crisis has only exacerbated this situation. Recovering from the pandemic requires …
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OCPP Issues Job Market Report
By Kris McDowell It won’t come as a surprise to many that most Oregon jobs don’t pay enough to support a family. The Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) took …
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Back to In-Person School
By Jack Rubinger From teens to toddlers, the transition to in-person back to school is happening all over town. It’s an anxious time for parents, administrators and teachers, but most …
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CRC Bridge Replacement Project
By Don MacGillivray The modernization of the I-5 Columbia River freeway bridge between Portland and Vancouver is a critical objective for the next decade. The I-5 Bridge, previously known as …
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Calls for Blood Donations Amidst Pacific Northwest Shortage
By Daniel Perez-Crouse “If you’re looking for something good to do, you will literally save someone’s life,” said VP for Blood Services at Bloodworks Northwest, Vicki Finson. She is referring …
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Charter Review Commission Update
By David Krogh Over the last year, Portland Charter Review Commission has been busy learning the charter process and taking initial testimony from both the public and city officials. The …
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OCCL Continues to Change to Address Problems
By Don MacGillivray It might be said that Portland’s Office of Community and Civic Life (OCCL) is a Utopian experiment that potentially could save us from a Dystopian present. Portland …
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Lines for Life
By Jack Rubinger Lines for Life is casting a wide net to reach Oregonians in need of community resources and assistance. The program is driven by the devastating impact of …
Free Dental Care for Portland Kids
By Nancy Tannler Dental 3 (D3) was formed in 2014 as a partnership with Medicaid Dental Plans, Coordinated Care Organizations and Community Partners in the Portland metropolitan community. They serve …
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New Kellogg Middle School Opens
By David Mayne The new Kellogg Middle School at 3330 SE 69th Ave. is complete and awaiting its Grand Opening on Saturday, August 28, 10 am. The ribbon cutting ceremony …
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City Repair Project Brings Art to the Streets
By Ellen Spitaleri The City Repair Project is a nonprofit with a mission to educate and inspire communities and individuals to creatively transform the places where they live and gather. …
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LWV Police Study: Opportunities for Change
By Don MacGillivray Policing in Portland is in torment over racism, human rights, mental health, violence and public safety issues. This is not new. Studies and reports have circulated nationwide …
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North Tabor Freeway Noise
By Gabe Frayne Among the inconveniences wrought by the Coronavirus pandemic, one that is ever more bothersome to residents of the North Tabor neighborhood is the increase in freeway noise …
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Liveability and Affordability: The Future of Senior Housing in Oregon
By Nancy Tannler In the state of Oregon, there are approximately 440,000 adults over the age of 65. This number is expected to increase by 300,000 in the next 15 …
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Nursing Struggles at Unity Center for Behavioral Health
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Unity Center for Behavioral Health, founded in 2017, is a 24-hour mental health services center and a joint effort by Legacy Health, OHSU, Kaiser Permanente and Adventist …
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Magic in the Mushrooms: Psilocybin as a Healer
By Nancy Tannler June is Brain Awareness month and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) has been offering a series of lectures on this complicated organ. The lecture Psychedelic Therapy: The …
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New Proposal Seeks to Improve Building Procedures
By Daniel Perez-Crouse A public hearing on the Design Overlay Zone Amendments (DOZA) proposals was held May 12. There were dozens of testimonies with varying points of agreement and opposition …
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21st Century Doughnut Economics
By Don MacGillivray A recent article in Forbes magazine has suggested that Portland is dying. The article’s author stated that Portland’s ranking among major US cities has dropped from 11 …
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Post-Pandemic Portland: Will SE Ever Be the Same?
By Gabe Frayne It was a fitting denouement to the year 2020: The Rocking Frog café at the corner of Belmont St. and SE 25th Ave., a mainstay of SE …
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History of Homelessness
By Don MacGillivray Homelessness in Portland was generally unseen until the 1980s when it was exposed by various economic and social changes. These included a lack of growth in real …
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Ethics of Vaccine Allocation
By Nancy Tannler As all Americans begin to queue up to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, medical ethicists want to be sure to prioritize racial minorities. In Oregon, our first allocations went …
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Oregon’s New Medicaid Waiver Implications
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Oregon’s 1115 Medical Waiver is up for renewal in 2022 and a focus addressing Governor Kate Brown’s directives on healthcare quality/inequities and cost savings for the state …
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Inner SE Action Panel Meets
By David Krogh Inner Southeast Action (ISA) held a panel discussion as part of their monthly meeting March 2 to discuss the Residential Infill Project (RIP) and related programs adopted …
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Shelter to Housing (S2HC) Clarification
By Nancy Tannler In the March edition of The Southeast Examiner the article, “S2HC Offers Remedies for the Houseless” stated, “There will be no camping in natural areas, environmental zones …
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Police Union Faces Funding, Staffing and Public Relations Difficulties
Op-Ed By Don MacGillivray Currently the City of Portland and the police union are in the middle of difficult contract negotiations. There is a high degree of polarization going on …
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Portland Street Response Launches
By Nancy Tannler The Portland Street Response (PSR) program launched their first four-person team on February 16 in the Lents neighborhood. PSR is an alternative to sending the police to …
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Multnomah County Justice System
By Don MacGillivray Over the summer, Portland’s impassioned demonstrations and accompanying riots have received national attention. Law enforcement in Portland has been seriously scrutinized, but the other half of the …
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Webinars Focus on Racial and Housing Equity
By David Krogh Ever since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May, there has been an increase in awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement and groups calling …
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Laurelwood Park Construction Underway
By Ellen Spitaleri It has been a long time coming, but construction has finally begun on improvements to Laurelwood Park, a third-of-an-acre green space at the intersection of SE Foster …
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S2HC Offers Remedies for the Houseless
By Nancy Tannler The Shelter to Housing Continuum (S2HC) will file an ordinance to adopt the new codes for City Council’s approval this month. This joint effort of the Bureau …
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Thanksgiving Vandalism on Hawthorne Sparks Awareness
By Jack Rubinger The vandalism, graffiti and other destructive activities that took place in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving on Hawthorne Blvd. had messages about issues facing indigenous peoples. …
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Portland’s Struggle with Diversity
By Don MacGillivray Portland is known for its lack of racial diversity and its lack of African Americans. With the Black population at six percent and Latinos at 10 percent …
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Measure 101 Promises Addiction Recovery Tools
By Nancy Tannler In November, 58 percent of Oregon voters approved ballot Measure 110. This yes vote is intended to provide the state with more addiction recovery services, partially financed …
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Commissioner Bureau Assignments for 2021
By David Krogh As one of the by-products of Portland’s Commission form of government, City Council members (each of whom are referred to as “Commissioner”) are assigned to oversee city …
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City Commissioners Raise Safety Concerns
By David Krogh Mayor Ted Wheeler has made the Commissioner bureau assignments for 2021 and will have oversight of the Police Bureau under his umbrella. In response, City Council Commissioners …
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Feed the Mass Feeds the Community
By Ellen Spitaleri Everyone is hoping for better times in 2021, but Jacobsen Valentine has specific items on his wish list for the new year. As the founder and executive …
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The Beginning and End of Laurelhurst Camping
By Don MacGillivray Since early spring, the Laurelhurst Park homeless camp along SE Oak St. grew until it was finally removed a week before Thanksgiving. A few tents appeared along …
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Charter Commission Chosen
By David Krogh Portland City Council formally appointed 20 community members to the 2021 Charter Commission on December 3. The Commission will meet throughout a two-year period to identify issues …
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Nurses Propel Healthcare Reform
By Nancy Tannler As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, we have all become aware of the important duty front line workers are taking on in this crisis. It has …
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Avenue of the Roses 15th Anniversary
By Jack Rubinger While many of us drive up and down 82nd Ave., the sights and sounds are familiar – car dealerships, fast food restaurants and the occasional dispensary. Certainly …
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Rethink PDX
By Don MacGillivray No one ever dreamed that peace loving, but weird, Portland, OR would become a center of attention for nightly rioting and citizen demands for law and order …
Bartlett vs. The City
By Nancy Tannler When Mark Bartlett first requested access to legal opinions and documents from the City Attorney back in 2015, he never imagined it would take five years, four …
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Fiber Network Study
By Daniel Perez-Crouse A new study commissioned by Multnomah County (and neighboring cities) assessed the feasibility of a publicly owned fiber-to-the-premises network. The study provides data and information relevant to …