News
The otherworldly and utterly Portland Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin started writing when she was five and has been publishing her work since the 1960s. Throughout her career, she has delved into some of the most insightful, political, ecological and socially important topics of our time. She has created utopian worlds and utopian societies. She boldly challenged gender barriers by simply…
Metro renews focus on creating affordable housing
The greater-Portland area is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Not only does need drastically outweigh availability — with some waiting years to access housing within their financial means — those who do obtain affordable homes often find themselves living in substandard neighborhoods amid high crime rates and underfunded schools. Because of this,…
Bust to boon: City Hall sees green in legalized marijuana
For decades, cities have spent untold sums of money trying to prevent people from possessing and consuming drugs. With Oregon potentially poised to legalize marijuana, the state’s largest city is already taking steps to benefit financially from pot being freely sold. However, there are concerns from Portland officials that legal weed still won’t pay off.…
Blame it on Rio: Journalist Dave Zirin on the consequences of “celebration capitalism”
Millions of Americans witnessed Brazil’s $11 billion World Cup party on television. But few will see the hangover. In his new book, “Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, the Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy,” sports journalist Dave Zirin reveals the country outside the ESPN camera frame — its growing wealth disparity, neighborhoods…
Report on violence against the homeless draws star power before Congress
Oscar award-winner Susan Sarandon may be most famous for her roles in “Thelma & Louise,” “Dead Man Walking,” and, of course, the cult-classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” However, her work and commitment extend far beyond her achievements on the silver screen. She’s also a strong activist for numerous causes, including homelessness. “I have always been…
Legal limbo: Safety Net of Oregon’s payee trials continue
It’s been four months and John Munro still doesn’t know where his money is or when he’ll see it. Munro entrusted a $130,000 inheritance to Safety Net of Oregon, a now shuttered Portland nonprofit that was tasked with administering the federal disability and veterans’ benefits for individuals who need help managing their money. Some of…
For the Record Aug 1-Aug 14, 2014
-Acres of land in the Oregon State Forest system: 821,000 -Percent of Oregon forestland owned by the state: 3 -Percent of Oregon forestland owned by the federal government: 59 -Dollars budgeted for firefighting by the U.S. Forest Service: 1 billion -Square miles burned by wildfires in the U.S. in 2014, as of July 23: 2,471…
Help SR nominate the 2014 Vendor of the Year
We appreciate your participation and support of the vendor program! The nomination form for 2014 Vendor of the Year is now closed. The Street Roots Vendor of the Year program seeks to recognize one vendor for his or her outstanding contributions as an ambassador to the Street Roots community. We’re asking for the input of…
Vendor Profiles
Getting back in stride, pen in hand
Tim Brennan’s short stories blend fantasy and fact: In one, the scene is the greenery of Washington Park. He’s watching a Shakespeare in the Park performance in the hottest part of the summer. It’s less than two years since the car crash that broke a long list of bones on the right side of his…
Opinion
Let’s focus on solutions to tackle housing challenges
The Oregonian recently reported that apartment rentals in Portland shot up 6.1 percent last year according to Axiometrics, a rental industry data firm. The average rent for an apartment in Portland is $1,160. You know what? They’re going to increase even more this year. The report shows that an estimated 4,000 rental units will be…
The feds are redefining homelessness to make it disappear
What kind of a cold, mean, and even sadistic homeless service provider would you need to be to tell a family of three, four or five people living in a single room occupancy hotel or “illegally” sleeping on the floor of a friend’s apartment that is desperately asking for emergency shelter “No, you ain’t homeless…
From strong women come strong families, strong Oregon
Women are the fastest growing inmate population in Oregon. Locking up women brings a unique set of issues to our families and our communities. A system built on an assumption that a one-size-fits-all approach works for everyone has clearly failed, most notably women. With a better approach to addressing mental health, addiction issues, and other…
Portland police, DOJ settlement fails on multiple fronts
The Mental Health Association of Portland remains firm on Department of Justice v. City of Portland. The position elucidated in this column has been our unvarying stance since the outset of the lawsuit, and, barring sudden, cataclysmic changes descending from the sky, it’s the same we’ll hold tomorrow and the day after. The suit is…
