The resignation of Oregon’s first public-records advocate is a wake-up call. We need transparency. When Ginger McCall took the position as Oregon’s first public-records advocate, she was asked why public records were important. “They are the best chance t ...
13 Sep 2019 - SR editorial board
4,015 are experiencing homelessness, according to the 2019 Point In Time count; how are we going to fix this? Local officials counted 4,015 people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County in January. And while that number is slightly lower than just ...
2 Aug 2019 - SR editorial board
This behavior – treating others as outcasts – happens in the White House, and it happens in our own community “What really makes me an addict is that I use drugs against my will, even when I don’t want to, and it is clear that drugs are making my life unm ...
19 Jul 2019 - SR editorial board
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
In line with Street Roots' campaign, Wheeler earmarks $500,000 in contingency funds for an alternative first response to crises on the streets Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler recommended $500,000 for Portland Street Response in his proposed city budget re ...
1 May 2019 - SR editorial board
Commonly accepted practices are preventing good renters from getting into housing in Portland Across our city, too many people are homeless or unstably housed. What we don’t need are insurmountable barriers to housing that target people of color and those ...
19 Apr 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
A better response to people on Portland's streets might be the linchpin to creating the space for more effective policing Without the political will to comprehensively address Portland’s houseless crisis, the Portland Police Bureau will continue to s ...
22 Mar 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