News
Our American Winter
By Jake Thomas, Staff Writer The Great Recession began nearly five years ago. Since then, economists and the media have produced a string of graphs, as well as employment and financial data that show that the economy has made a sluggish, yet, clear march toward recovery. But what is often absent from this tepidly optimistic…
Vetting Oregon’s next top vet
Last month, Gov. John Kitzhaber nominated policy advisor and Marine Corps veteran Cameron Smith to be the next director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs in the wake of Jim Willis’ announced retirement. Today (March 12, 2013), the Oregon State Senate confirmed Cameron Smith’s nomination as Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.…
Soup Can Sam: March 1-14, 2013
By Soup Can Sam, Staff Astrologist Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20) Don’t be afraid to be bold this month. We suggest dressing up like a Spartan and going to your weekly Zumba or yoga class. Don’t hold back. Aries (March 21-April 19) The power of positive thinking will be all around you this month. It might…
Fake online ads intend to dupe would-be Section 8 applicants
by Aaron Burkhalter, Contributing Writer Section 8 is hard enough to come by, but those who are duped by fake websites that appeared Feb. 4 on Google, Bing and Yahoo may have no chance at all. The Seattle Housing Authority opened registration for the Section 8 lottery Feb. 4. The same day, a number of…
To the beat of a very different drum
MarchFourth Marching Band was born on Alberta Street 10 years ago this week. Since that time, the band’s 22 members have become ambassadors of joy and funk, taking a piece of Portlandia with them as they tour the country with their off-beat brand of circus-tent pageantry. Bandleader John Averill and four friends living in the…
Vendor Profiles
Vendor Profile: A big smile and big goals ahead
By Ann Derrick Gaillot, Contributing Writer Michelle Sapp has bright eyes and an open face that smile easily. She is an adept conversationalist who speaks with a bouncy Texas lilt, who loves to talk to new people, who loves to read. Who loves to joke around, relax, have people sign, write and draw in a…
Opinion
Effort to control sidewalks sidesteps civil liberties
Street Roots editorial Oregon statutes are filled with preemptions, those law-of-the-land overrides on local government. They have their supporters and detractors, depending on what side of the argument you’re on, but in the best of matters they can be protections against the whittling away of civil rights that we hold self evident. One such preemption…
Homeless veterans will benefit from House proposal
The Housing Alliance believes everyone needs a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. We believe that home is the foundation of opportunity; without a home, kids can’t succeed in school and adults can’t be stable at work or address barriers in their lives. Today, too many Oregonians are without that safe, stable and…
Losing it — or maybe not
By Jim Douglas, Contributing writer The extreme and unpredictable highs and lows that come with bipolar illness can be like having a frightening head “full of frantic rats.” And even with treatment, the symptoms may continue seemingly without relief. Family and loved ones, as well as the person suffering the problematic behavior, can feel mystified…
Director’s Desk: Businesses, readers, and vendors work together
Street Roots is growing. At the core of what we do is our vendor program. More than 80 individuals and families who sell Street Roots in the community collectively represent the idea that people experiencing poverty and homelessness can provide for themselves. Of course, it takes a great newspaper team, a loyal readership and the…
Affordable housing reform needed to help Section 8 work
By Justin Buri, Contributing Columnist We know that when Oregon residents have access to safe, stable and affordable housing, we are not only able to better provide for the health and wellbeing of our families, but the entire community benefits as well. When hard-working Oregonians have the opportunity to live in healthy, stable and integrated…
