Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile | In Portland, Kae is her true self
Although she is only 21 years old, Kae Wren has lived a long life. She was born in Belarus and immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old. She was adopted by a Southern Baptist family in Tennessee, where, as Kae noted, “blood ran thicker than water.” Despite this, Kae has always…
Opinion
Kaia Sand | Regard people not by their worst moment but by their best future
An elderly man pumped his fists to “Back in Black” by AC/DC, his wheelchair pivoting beneath his animated body. Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. This column represents her views. Others strummed air guitars, beat air drums and pounded their feet. It was catharsis in the form of a memorial, a love…
Opinion | Eviction representation for all is essential
Eviction is far too common, on the rise and incredibly destructive for families and the community. Experience in other cities shows providing legal representation to renters in eviction court will dramatically reduce evictions in Multnomah County — and that this investment will pay for itself several times over. Mary C. King is a professor emerita…
News
TriMet poised to increase fares, despite cold reception
TriMet’s Board of Directors will vote on a proposed fare increase at its May 24 meeting. If the board votes in favor, a fare increase will take effect Jan. 1, 2024. Yet, an online survey TriMet released in December shows more than half of respondents said they would use TriMet less if it increases fares.…
All things Oregon labor in January
The Bureau of Labor Statistics dropped its 2022 union membership report this month, and Oregon bucked a nationwide historic low in union membership. The union membership rate fell to approximately 10% of all workers across the United States, but not for a lack of union membership growth. Union membership grew by 273,000, but the wage…
Environment
Unnatural conflict in Klamath Basin
In 2023, the Klamath Basin enters a new era as the long-awaited removal of several hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River begins. As dam removal begins, the region faces a years-long drought exacerbating declining native fish populations. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, or BOR, which allocates Klamath Basin water, must again try meeting regional stakeholders’…
Housing
Housing issues promise to dominate legislative session
Norman Lee LeDuff lives less than a mile from the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, where legislators are discussing the issue of homelessness. Homelessness is not an issue of discussion for LeDuff. It is the daily uncertainty of not knowing where he is going to find food to eat or a place to sleep.…
