Henry Brannan joins Street Roots as new investigative reporter
I could not be more honored and excited to be joining Street Roots. No institution has shaped my life more. The opportunity to repay some of the personal debts I owe the paper is truly a blessing. I’ll share a little bit below about how I ended up here and what I plan to do.…
Opinion
EPA, DEQ promise much, deliver little protection for river
In a March meeting hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer an update on the imminent Proposed Plan for the Willamette River Superfund, the word “cost” came up numerous times. In fact, it was the only criteria cited by EPA as DEQ officials sat quietly and approvingly. The once-in-a-lifetime cleanup proposal for 11…
Integrated city, county effort best approach to homelessness
An accident brought Sara to a homeless shelter last year. Hit by a car and left unable to work, she quickly discovered that disability benefits were too little to cover rent and expenses, and too much to qualify for additional assistance. She and her teenage daughter stayed with family for a time but eventually landed…
Director’s Desk: The storm is raging, but community is stronger
The gun violence that occurred on the streets last week was a tragic affair. A homeless man was shot March 31 near a preschool in Southeast Portland, presumably by another person on the streets. The investigation is ongoing. More than a week later, that person continues to fight for his life in a local hospital. …
Letter: Measure 11 story sheds light on terrifying tactic
Thanks Emily Green and Street Roots for a well-researched cover story about Measure 11 and its terrible impact on kids of color. Measure 11 gives the prosecution a claw hammer with which to bludgeon young defendants, by charging them with a more serious crime than was committed, then using the threat of mandatory sentencing to…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile: Helping herself so she can help others
Sophia Xavier is learning to be responsible again. She was born in Yale, Mich., and learned about responsibility by mowing lawns for neighbors. “I started cutting grass when I was about 13 years old,” Sophia said. “My mom realized whenever something went wrong (with the mower), I put it in the repair shop. I paid…
News
Street Roots pop quiz: Ted Wheeler
Ted Wheeler is Oregon’s state treasurer. He is a former chairman of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. Wheeler is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.) QUESTION 1 You only have $10 million…
Street Roots pop quiz: Jessie Sponberg
Jessie Sponberg, a Portland native, is a grass-roots activist and an “ally and accomplice for marginalized communities.” On his candidacy of filing, he listed his occupation as community organizer. Sponberg is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions.…
Street Roots pop quiz: David Schor
David Schor is an assistant attorney general for the Oregon Department of Justice. He works seasonally as a communication specialist for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort and plays electric bass with the Portland-based rock quartet Babel. Schor is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix…
Street Roots pop quiz: Sarah Iannarone
Sarah Iannarone is an inter-national planning expert and a small-business owner in Outer Southeast Portland. She serves on many nonprofit boards, advised Portland’s Comprehensive Plan update, and helped guide the city’s five-year economic strategic plan. She is also a member of ELEEP, an international think tank on clean energy policy. Iannarone is running for mayor of…
Street Roots pop quiz: Deborah Harris
Deborah Harris is a business employment specialist. She has also been a diversity consultant and a writer. Harris is running for mayor of Portland. Here are her responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.) QUESTION 1 You only have $10 million to spend. The…
Street Roots pop quiz: Bim Ditson
Bim Ditson, an entrepreneur who makes and sells chain-mail jewelry, is a drummer in the Portland band And And And. Ditson is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.) QUESTION 1 You only have $10…
Street Roots pop quiz: Sean Davis
Sean Davis is a Purple Heart recipient from the Iraq War. His experience with disaster and crisis response includes work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and wildland firefighting. He is a community organizer at the American Legion Post 134 and a college professor. Davis is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to…
Street Roots pop quiz: Patty Burkett
Patty Burkett is running for Portland mayor. Burkett is a “consummate self-indulgent student of multiple disciplines,” according to her filing of candidacy. Here are her responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.) QUESTION 1 You only have $10 million to spend. The fire…
Street Roots pop quiz: Jules Bailey
Jules Bailey is a Multnomah County commissioner and a former state representative. He earned dual master’s degrees in public policy and economics and in urban and regional planning. He is a former economist and small-business owner. Bailey is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and…
Portland’s mayoral candidates take Street Roots’ pop quiz
Street Roots asked Portland’s 2016 mayoral candidates 13 questions — a mix of short answer, yes or no, and multiple choice. The following nine mayoral candidates participated in Street Roots’ pop quiz: Jules BaileyPatty BurkettSean DavisBim DitsonDeborah HarrisSarah IannaroneDavid SchorJessie Sponberg Ted Wheeler Steve Entwisle Sr., Lew Humble, Trevor Manning, David “The Ack” Ackerman, Eric Alexander…
Lead poisoning has one culprit, advocate says: the lead industry
Five years ago, Tamara Rubin founded Lead Safe America Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers education, support and advocacy for families of poisoned children. In those few years, Rubin would never have guessed how her work, spurred by the poisoning of three of her children, would become so important to tens of thousands of people…
Portland police event criticized for excluding marginalized groups
Attendees to a fundraiser at the Portland Police Training Center in Northeast Portland the morning of Friday, April 1, were greeted by a group of protesters opposed to what they saw as an exclusionary event insensitive to Portland’s low-income, minority and mental health communities. The event, called “Meet the Heat," was a fundraiser for the…
