News
Street Roots’ Pouncey speaks with Sen. Wyden about Griner, WNBA in PDX
The WNBA postseason is currently in effect, and the Phoenix Mercury were quickly eliminated, losing both its first-round games in a best-of-three series against the Las Vegas Aces, who’ve now advanced to the semifinal round. It seems easy to imagine the Mercury would have greatly benefitted from the services of their 6’9” center and arguably…
PPB and Fire Bureau have one of the most expensive pensions in the country
Nearly half of all property taxes paid by Portlanders go to an unusual — and costly — pension program for police and fire personnel. For those who pay property taxes in Portland, their tax bill has a line item reading "PORTLAND FIRE/POLICE PENSION." Let’s say, for example, the assessed property value was in the ballpark of…
Guaranteed basic income program promotes healing, resilience among Black Portlanders
The local nonprofit that distributed millions of dollars to Black Portlanders throughout the pandemic is launching a new program to further support Black Portlanders — three years of sustained, guaranteed income. Starting Aug. 15, the Black Resilience Fund will award about 50 Black Portlanders up to $2,000 a month for the next three years. The…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile | ‘We always appreciate feeling human’
Robert has been working with Street Roots for six years, and he adores it. “I knew a couple people who sold the paper, and one day I came in the office, and they just happened to be doing orientation that day, and I joined in,” Robert said. Robert’s favorite part about Street Roots is the…
Opinion
Kaia Sand | Oregon Health Authority reports deaths of unhoused Oregonians in 2022
The Little Match Girl had no good options. She contended with poverty and freezing cold, Hans Christian Andersen writes in his 19th-century tale. Her one means of survival was selling matches, but ultimately, she chose the bigger reprieve from suffering: hallucinations. She’d strike a match and see a fantasy: a fancy brass stove; a goose…
Environment
Opinion | As Healthy Businesses permit program enters phase two, business owners envision a new Portland
Building a sense of community? Making it harder for cars to blaze through the neighborhood? Creating an almost-European vibe? As the Healthy Businesses permit enters its second phase on its way to becoming permanent, many of the people involved continue to sing its praises. A periodic column about new approaches to transportation, land use and systems…
