News
The border war: Author Todd Miller talks about the increasing militarization of our borders
Fear is big business, and managing that fear along our nation’s 5,000 border miles is a booming industry. Author Todd Miller has researched and written about immigration and border issues along our Canadian and Mexican boundaries for more than 15 years. His writings on the issue have appeared in the New York Times, TomDispatch, Mother…
For the Record April 11-24, 2014
-Percent of runaway youth served by Multnomah County Runaway Youth Services that are reunited with their families: 85 -Number of passengers PDX received from flights in February: 1,025,571 -Number of flight operations PDX saw in February: 14,877 -Percent of Oregon population that is foreign-born, 2008-2012: 9.8 -Homeownership rate in Oregon, 2008-2012: 62.5 -Percent of cyclists…
An illustrated outcry: Patients’ stories reach a wider, influential audience painted on the backs of business suits
Regina Holliday wears many hats. She is is an activist, artist, speaker and author. She uses the tools of technology and social media to better understand the patient condition and the landscape of medicine. But nothing had prepared her for the experience of navigating the nation’s health care system. In 2009, Holliday’s husband, Fred Holliday,…
Ending homelessness. A pipe dream or a reality?
The following is an excerpt from a speech by Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The Alliance is a public education, advocacy, and capacity-building organization with a network of more than 10,000 nonprofit, public sector agencies and corporate partners. Roman spoke at the City Club of Portland’s Friday Forum…
Director of Oregon’s psychiatric review board says she welcomes change
On the desk in Juliet Follansbee’s downtown Portland office is a thick book of Oregon laws. It contains only a few sentences that grant the state agency she operates tremendous power over the lives of hundreds of Oregonians. In May, Follansbee was made interim executive director of the Psychiatric Security Review Board, a position she…
When the safety net breaks, Portland’s most vulnerable are left to pick up the pieces
The walls at Safety Net of Oregon, a nonprofit that once helped disabled people manage their federal benefits, are usually covered with collages and fake flowers. But now the plaster walls are bare except for a sign stating that there will be no tolerance for weapons, drugs, alcohol and threatening behavior to staff. There’s also…
Opinion
It’s not just about the White House, Oregon seats up for vote
Regular readers of our column will know that Partnership for Safety and Justice often writes about voting and why we think it’s so important. During presidential election years, voter interest is usually high and so is voter turnout. But in mid-term election years, like this year, there is no presidential race to get excited about.…
Cruel, inhuman and degrading: US policies on homelessness called out by UN
My organization, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, works to end homelessness in the United States. As the Law Center’s policy director, most people would expect me to be pounding the pavement here in Washington, D.C. – lobbying the administration and Congress for the funding and policy changes we need to ensure that…
Frustration on all sides with ‘half-baked’ JTTF involvement
After the third year in a row of a disappointingly vague report from the Portland Police Bureau on its cooperation with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, frustrated City Council members appear ready to revisit Portland’s nebulous relationship with the FBI. Mayor Charlie Hales is quick to remind those tuning in that, as city commissioner, he…
Keep the presses rolling — every week, with your support!
Did you know Street Roots is working towards going weekly? It’s a big deal. Going weekly will mean stabilizing your neighborhood vendor’s income. It will mean fostering more relationships between people experiencing poverty and the general public. It will mean more quality journalism and voices from the community. It will mean supporting Street Roots to…
Vendor Profiles
Injury inspires vendor to help others’ lives
It’s not always easy to stay positive when you don’t have a bed to sleep in, a roof over your head, or a job to support you. Evan, however, doesn’t seem to have trouble keeping a smile on his face throughout the short time I sat down to chat with him. “I know people out…
