Opinion
TriMet policies shifts burden to low income, nonprofits
Before I start this column, I would like to say that I’m a huge fan of public transit. I haven’t owned or driven a car since I was 21. Without public transportation, my experience in Portland and in many other cities would have been dull and bland. Saying that, there are some unsettling trends developing…
Finding life and goodness in the shadow of death on the streets
On the Monday before Easter, a young woman walked through our door. She was on the verge of tears. Visibly falling apart in front of me, she asked for resources. She had slept on the streets the past few nights because the women’s shelter was full. The street, a doorway, outside — these were her…
Homeless students, on their own, wait for a second home
Josiah is nearly 18; he will graduate from high school in June. He is enrolled in honors level classes and is a scholar athlete. A model handsome, well-groomed young man, he appears to have the world on a string. But Josiah is homeless. When he speaks about his future it is with confidence and determination.…
What is your vision for an Oregon with affordable housing opportunities?
Halfway home. The Oregon Legislature is just about halfway through the 2015 session, and advocates are just about halfway to securing historic victories in our effort to create housing opportunity. There have been some great strides forward, toward inclusionary zoning and securing rights for people living outside. Our proposals to address immediate housing needs through…
News
Wayne from Oklahoma
Wayne Coyne’s story isn’t one of overnight fame and fortune. It isn’t one of great inheritance or unwarranted social stardom. His story paints a psychedelic picture of independence, relentless expression and American Dream-esque success. The Flaming Lips frontman sat down to discuss furry friends, selling drugs, avoiding furniture-sized apartments, and growing up in the only…
Walker’s his name. Shaft’s his game.
Portland comic writer and author David F. Walker wanted to make comics since he was a little kid watching movie trailers featuring blaxploitation-era heroes. With the end of the blaxploitation era, comics and film have seen a gaping hole where black representation used to be — a hole that Walker wants to help fill. And…
Legislating the Lottery
Rep. Kathleen Taylor (D-Southeast Portland), following in the footsteps of her predecessor and longtime Oregon Lottery adversary, Carolyn Tomei, took aim at the state’s lottery division this session with three bills she hopes will ultimately help to protect vulnerable Oregonians from problem gambling. However, the money machine that is the Oregon Lottery is proving a…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile: Dave Shoop
Dave Shoop and his brother, Daryl, are identical twins. “We’re exactly the same size, the same weight. People seem to get a kick out of it, which is something I enjoy,” says Dave. Their mother loved dressing them alike, but when they got older, he says, “if my brother came out of his room and…
