News
All about Eve
Situated in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country that’s green and red at the same time. The equatorial climate allows palm trees to flourish and provides lush habitat for the world’s only wild population of bonobos, primates that are some of humanity’s closest evolutionary relatives. The…
A pictorial on immigrant farmworkers housing in rural Oregon: Part II
Oregon is a bountiful state. We produce 220 crops and livestock commodities, a greater variety than any state except Florida and California. The value of these crops and commodities totaled more than $5 billion in 2011, a record high. As consumers, we can shop row upon row of premium produce, meats and other products, most…
Reaching out in St. Johns
Her day starts early. Around 5 a.m. she gets up. She’s spent the night behind a church. Sometimes it’s a school. Other times, she sleeps in a park. Fifty-three-year-old Sandy Gaudio has been homeless for the past year. Her day starts early because it has to. She needs to avoid the police, who, she says,…
Comics and causes collide in foreclosure resistance poster
Know Your City is a civic engagement group that wants you to — well — know your city. But not in the conventional, boring pamphlet sort of way. Formerly the Dill Pickle Club, the nonprofit seeks to educate the public through tours, colorful lectures, publications and other programs. Now it has a message for distressed…
Rhythm national
The popular adage says it takes a village to raise a child. Local percussionist, educator and producer Chaz Mortimer will tell you it also takes a village to raise a musician. Mortimer has roots that tap deep into the music community around the world and here in Portland. He mentors youth throughout the city and…
Street homelessness on the rise in Multnomah County
A new report released today by the City of Portland and Multnomah County shows a 10 percent increase in street homelessness since 2011. The latest 2013 Point-in-time count conducted by the city and county showed 2,869 individuals who were homeless — meaning sleeping in emergency shelter, vouchered into motels or sleeping outdoors. Of those literally…
African immigrants develop leadership, voice at Africa House
The African Leadership Development Project at IRCOs Africa House began in 2012 as a result of a generous contribution by the Meyer Memorial Trust. The project was started as a means of developing strong African community leaders and empowering African immigrant and refugee communities to represent themselves in the public arena and advocate for social…
Housing advocates, landlords go to the wire on Section 8 bill
Progress of a bill that would prohibit discrimination against Section 8 tenants has slowed due to last minute intense, delicate negotiations between landlord and tenant advocacy groups. But it is still expected to pass the Oregon Legislature, largely due to the political clout wielded by its chief sponsor, Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland). House…
Vendor Profiles
Vendor Profile: Rick and Randy share smiles with readers
Rick Phillips is a Gemini and while he doesn’t go so far as to read his daily horoscope, he does believe in the duality of his personality. “There are two sides to me,” says Rick. “It’s weird that I can look back on my life and see the Gemini in me.” But upon first meeting,…
Opinion
Kids deserve better than to be denied a second chance
Regular readers of our column will know that Partnership for Safety and Justice and our members worked very hard to help shape the recommendations that the Governor’s Commission on Public Safety made to the Oregon Legislature. The result was House Bill 3194, which contained 19 recommendations. It looks like two recommendations, the ones that would…
Housing crisis still roiling for poorest residents in county
An affordable rental housing crisis is taking place. More than 1,700 men, women, and children are sleeping outside every night. Another 1,000 people are sleeping in emergency shelters and temporary motel rooms. People with modest income continue to be homeless while waiting for an affordable apartment to become available. Families are doubled up with friends…
Bureau change-up must be more than change
Mayor Charlie Hales has shuffled the deck at the city by reassigning bureaus to each commissioner saying, “This will allow commissioners to interact, and to share their passion and knowledge for the various bureaus.” From the outside looking in, it’s too early to determine what the implications might be for the city and its residents.…
Time to step out of the sidewalk quagmire
A bill that would essentially revive Portland’s sit-lie law died in an Oregon Senate committee last week. That’s good news for people experiencing homelessness and free speech advocates around the state. In Portland, it’s far more complex. The Portland Business Alliance was hoping the bill would clear the way to create stricter guidelines in Portland’s…
Poetry & Art
Soup Can Sam: June 7-20, 2013
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Yes, the trees talk to each other, in chemicals not words. (It’s good for the neighborhood watch, actually, since fewer crimes are reported in more heavily wooded neighborhoods.) Try it sometime and see what conversations you can spark. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Shut out about 80 percent of the crap people…
