Being Irish American shapes my commitment to international labor solidarity
Irish Americans are descendants of an oppressed people, people once excluded from the category of “whiteness.” Now, we are beneficiaries of that same white-constructed society. This transfer of racial identity wasn’t an organic process; it was conscious. Once, there were signs across the west bearing the phrase, “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish.” We were…
Experts highlight value of local voting ahead of May elections
George Carlin summed up voting more than 20 years ago for people feeling trapped in a system that mocks freedom and breeds cynicism. “Voting is a meaningless exercise,” the late comedian wrote in 2001. “I’m not going to waste my time with it. These parties, these politicians, are given to us as a way of…
State’s Psychiatric Security Review Board stalls patient discharge, critics say
Luke Walters was playing a video game on a shared Xbox console at the Oregon State Hospital last year when his lawyer arrived for a rare visit. Walters’ lawyer told him the state appeals court ruled that he had recovered from his mental illness, ordering officials to reconsider his commitment to the psychiatric facility. The…
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Who is Nathaniel VerGow, the county’s new homeless services leader?
It’s official. Nathaniel VerGow — a senior leader at Los Angeles’ homelessness agency — will be the new director of Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 on Thursday to approve VerGow, with two commissioners expressing hesitation. “I think this is a really challenging time to appoint…
