PORTLAND... IN THE YEAR 2035

RE: "Portland Finally Just Passed the Massive Plan That Will Steer Its Growth for Two Decades" [Blogtown, June 15], Dirk VanderHart's story about Portland's 2035 Comprehensive Plan, which will go into effect in 2018. "A central utility of the Portland plan is to guide zoning decisions," VanderHart wrote. "That's particularly important as the city grapples with an unprecedented growth spurt. Portland's expected to take on something like 260,000 new residents in the next two decades."

"What do we want?"
"AFFORDABLE HOUSING!"
"When do we want it?"
"NOW!"
"Where do we want it?" "Um... not here near my house." "Me either." "Somewhere else, please." "I'm suing!"

FlavioSuave

I wonder if anyone bothered to rationalize the 1980 comprehensive plan against what actually happened to determine the extent to which the plan actually guided the city's evolution.

Those who lament a lack of time for public input must not realize the city solicited input for at least six months through a variety of platforms. Were they effective? They were if your neighborhood association let you know about the plan. If you didn't know you have a neighborhood association, they weren't.

jonesrich


DIABOLICAL YELLOW JOURNALISM

RE: "Step Aside, Lord of the Rings. Vaxxed Is the Fantasy Epic of Our Age" [Film, June 15], in which Erik Henriksen reviewed Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, comparing the anti-vaccination film to other fantasy sagas like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. "Vaxxed is the kind of fantasy in which absolutely anything—no matter how magical or imaginary, or no matter how exploitative, backward, dangerous, or dehumanizing—is allowed," Henriksen wrote. "At least Warcraft has orcs."

This is the most insensitive, inaccurate, diabolical piece of yellow journalism I've ever encountered. The Portland Mercury and Erik Henriksen have reached an all-time low. There is no possible way either of you have an empathy gene. Quite simply put, this article is pure sociopathy. God help us all.

ioneskye

This is by far the worst review I have read on Vaxxed. I am very surprised this is coming from the Portland Mercury. I will always remember that you are now part of the problem. You are calling the thousands of parents with vaccine-injured children liars. That is disgusting! The truth is coming out and when it does this review will make your paper look very bad.

realfoodinspiredme

"Journalism" like this is the reason the USA needs a constitutional amendment like Canada has, that requires truth in reporting. This is an opinion piece and it isn't even accurate nor has the author done any real digging for the truth. Everything cited has been retracted or explained by the aforementioned parties the author cites as his sources. Sorry sources and lazy writers make for this brand of sad "journalism."

Openminded

How much money does the Portland Mercury make in pharmaceutical advertising every year?

no flu shot

As a chiropractor who is anti-vaccination, I understand the science and have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of vaccination on children whose nervous systems couldn't stand the assault, which consequently left them with life-long disabilities.

Obviously, the staff at the Mercury has been ingesting the Kool-Aid from the pro-vaxxers, not realizing it was laced with fluoride and they are now being controlled! By the way, more and more, real science is demonstrating what residents of Portland already knew—fluoride in drinking water and from your dentist is bad for you!

Dr. Brian Duby, DC

Mercury, I really appreciate the stands you have taken against anti-vaxxers and fluoride-phobes. They have no right to foment their dangerous and antisocial views in your newspaper.

I was just remembering how recently it was that nearly all coverage of gay rights issues had a he-said/she-said format, where homophobes were put on equal footing with gays asking for their civil rights. It was appalling. Some stories don't have two legitimate sides, and pretending otherwise is extremely misleading and sometimes very harmful.

Michael Burdick

This week we're giving the Mercury's letter of the week to Michael—partly because he was nice to us, but mostly because he makes a great point. Michael, enjoy your prize of two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater, where the only debate you'll have to consider is whether to sit on the left or the right of the aisle.