News
Tawna Sanchez to bring a new perspective to Salem
Portland has often been described as a “white city.” Just this summer, a lengthy article in The Atlantic actually branded Portland “the Whitest City in America” and detailed the ugly history of anti-black discrimination from 1859 to the present. Usually missing from these summaries is the fact that Portland also has the ninth-largest urban Native…
The making of an American family
Steve Sieg, a middle school science teacher, looked down at his mobile phone. It was Thanksgiving 2009, and it was late. “What is Black Friday? Explain this,” he remembered the text message reading. The message was from a member of the Chhetri family (pronounced “Cheh-tree”). They had been guests at his Northeast Portland home earlier…
The soulful, searching simplicity of Keith Urban
People, especially women, talk about being thick-skinned, and I want to say, ‘I’m so sorry. What happened?,’” Keith Urban said, discussing the undercurrent of humanism in his songs. “To be raw and vulnerable, that’s the beauty of it. “I love Joseph Campbell,” he added. “He talks a lot about the women power movement, how the…
Portland’s hot spots: Urban heat islands pose threat to lower-income residents
Portland, unlike the rest of the nation, has had a relatively cool summer this year. Even so, 2016 has so far been the hottest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The past three years rank among the five hottest years since 1880, when data collection started. As climate change quickens…
Vendor Profiles
Vendor profile: ‘Something to look forward to’
When it comes to jobs, Mark Soine is a quick study. To earn a living, he has played keyboards, worked in accounting and counseled clients. “I’m adaptable,” Mark said. Mark began his education as a music major at Linfield College in McMinnville. In his sophomore year, Mark hit the road as half of a musical…
Opinion
Low-income fare equality a must for Portland’s public transit
A new report details how TriMet can reduce fares for low-income transit riders without cutting service, raising fares or slashing employee wages and benefits. It includes analysis of similar programs across the country, estimates of costs for the program and potential methods of funding. The report, released Aug. 31, 2016, is the work of Bus Riders Unite,…
Director’s Desk: Real solutions to improving housed, homeless relations
The frustration and conflict between neighbors and people experiencing homelessness has always existed. Saying that, in the past few months it has reached an all-time high – not just in Portland, but also up and down the West Coast. San Francisco will be voting in November to ban people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in tents. In…
