When the Legislature turns its back on Oregonians, it tacitly approves continued hardships for our next generation Years ago – among a collage of street art and other images – Street Roots had a poster on its wall quoting a Swahili proverb. It said, “When ...
28 Jun 2019 - SR editorial board
Oregon House Bill 3145 would bring indigent defense more in balance with the prosecution “Public defense is in a crisis in Oregon.” These are the words of Eric J. Deitrick, general counsel for the Office of Public Defense Services, the very agency charge ...
31 May 2019 - SR editorial board
With Oregon’s abysmal track record for responding to records requests, legislative action is crucial From the moment a politician put pen to paper, there has been a reporter asking for a copy of the document. Transparency in government is a hallmark of d ...
5 Apr 2019 - SR editorial board
State tax policy should support real housing needs What does it say about Oregon’s priorities when in the midst of a low-income housing shortage, we, as taxpayers, subsidize people who buy second homes? That is what we do, and have done for decades, by al ...
8 Mar 2019 - SR editorial board
Limits on no-cause evictions and rent increases are a necessary first step, but there’s more to be done The Oregon Legislature is already moving on renter protections. That’s a good sign. On Feb. 4, the Senate Housing Committee, chaired by Sen. Shemia Fag ...
1 Feb 2019 - SR editorial board
We’re in a housing crisis. We need to lift the pre-emption on rent control. We cannot build our way out of our housing crisis. The free market will always cleave to profits as high as the market can bear. And in a city as desirable as Portland, regardless ...
4 Jan 2019 - SR editorial board
Perhaps it’s time Oregonians reconsider who can and cannot pay to change the state’s Constitution We encourage you to peruse Street Roots’ November 2018 election edition. As a nonprofit, we cannot endorse political candidates. But we do offer up the unva ...
19 Oct 2018 - SR editorial board
EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT | Vote 'no' on the proposed constitutional amendment In the Sept. 28-Oct. 4 edition of Street Roots, we dived into the pea soup of claims and accusations surrounding Measure 103, a proposal to change Oregon’s Constitution t ...
28 Sep 2018 - SR editorial board
Legislation that aims to encourage construction in Oregon communities squeezed by a housing shortage is an important step forward Like Portland, rural communities across Oregon are experiencing a shortage of stable, affordable housing, most notably for lo ...
2 Mar 2018 - SR editorial board
For every dollar spent on health care, there are immeasurable savings down the line First do no harm. That’s a centuries-old tenet when it comes to health care. It’s worth keeping in mind when it comes to Measure 101, which asks voters to ensure coverage ...
5 Jan 2018 - SR editorial board