Admittedly, arrest data can be skewed due to the fact that police are the ones that are doing the arresting, However, if you look at treatment data in Oregon, there may be some help in explaining why the numbers are the way that they are. The percentage of African Americans that are receiving substance abuse treatment whose primary substance of abuse is cocaine/crack is 15.9%, approximately twenty (20) times the rate of Caucasians in Oregon with the same primary substance of abuse, at about 0.8%. While this is not definitive evidence, treatment numbers are likely much more objective, and at least gives a starting place for a reasonable discussion. There are, of course, still questions about why the DIAs were placed where they were, whether cocaine/crack is more dangerous than other drugs, and WHY do African Americans abuse this drug at such a higher rate, but again, a place to start, without throwing up the immediate race card.

Ahhh, RACISM. Keep it "weird", Portland!

It's not enough to just tell us that a group is being arrested without telling us whether drug crimes are mostly occurring in these areas or whether instances of drug use for the types of drugs covered are more common with these minorities. They might very well not be, and that would strengthen your argument here. This is not a Sociology class from the 90s; it is not enough to simply point out "oppression" and call it good. This is journalism, and we're missing part of a story.

The title got it right. Nothing's changed here. Nope.

-Denis-

As much as I appreciate the attention given to this important issue, I can't help but feel it's a bit disingenuous considering you were just touting the DIA as one of Sam's achievements several issues back (aka How to get shit done). Given the Mercury's soiled reputation (don't get a hard-on Humpy) and closeness to the former mayor, as a reader I can't help but be skeptical whether or not your description about how these statistics were withheld until Sam's final days is true or not. I realize this soiled breach of the public's trust happened before you came along, but you're a player in it none the less. Forgive me, but I can't help question your sincerity here.

@zipitup: Fair or not (and good or not), the DIAs are significant—in terms of money spent and the city council's decision to wade into a racially charged criminal justice issue—and deserve a spot on the list of major programs Sam Adams got passed.

As for the insinuation you close with, I'm not a player in anything. It's beyond time for everyone to let that bit of pre-history go. Check the story for the links to our past coverage. It's always been skeptical. Y'all saw these stats as soon as I did and because I asked. The "disingenuous" move, to borrow your word, would have involved scrubbing any and all mention of the long, frustrating delay.

The police bureau, even under Mayor Hales, still hasn't posted these numbers publicly. http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/56404

Let's not beat around the bush:

White people like meth. Black people like crack. Mostly white people like heroin, but it's a mixed bag.

Old Town and Lloyd Center (Holladay Park) are particularly known for dealing crack in the open. You can get heroin and meth all over the city, but not necessarily crack, and not necessarily in the OPEN.

The exclusions zones overlap two known open-air drug markets where crack dealing is prevalent in town. Wow I just cracked the case. Pun intended.

Why must we always insist it's racism? It's like we have to PROVE we're a progressive city by injecting injustice hysteria into every story. Christ, spare me.

In the name of equity, I'd be more than willing to make the entire city a drug exclusion zone. Get caught dealing meth, you have to move to Vancouver. Problem solved.

What would the black people of Portland do without their great white savior Dennis Theriault typing away on his MacBook Pro in his cozy SE bungalow?

While he can write about numbers, but it is obvious that he knows nothing about statistics or data analysis. Percentages of entire populations versus arrest rates mean nothing. I suggest Mr. Theriault do some basic research into data analysis before putting together a poor infographic. At a minimum, read the first couple chapters of Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. It even discusses crime rates.

Basically, that high percentage of black arrests could be due to 10 people being arrested over and over, and have nothing to do with racial profiling. A couple of journalists from the Portland Tribune wrote a few articles on this last year. I suggest Dennis and everyone else read them.

Denis,

If I were to accept your reasoning as to why the DIA should be promoted as one of Sam's achievements, then I would have to ask why you chose to not list the Sit/Lie ordinance as another "notch in the ol' belt?" Is there not enough racial/minority/justice/money spent significance in that issue to make the cut? BTW - I never said the DIA issue isn't significant.

And who the hell are you to tell your readers to "let that bit of pre-history go?" If anything, your coverage of this latest mayoral election only confirmed those doubts. That's part of the legacy Denis, whether you like it or not, you've got a hell of road to climb before you can assume otherwise. As for your frustrations, well son, that's what I'd call fluff!

i dont get it. Were the black people arrested not committing crimes?

oh they were? Then they should be arrested. End of story. Nothing racist about it.

You want to commit a crime you throw your race out the door. Being a criminal trumps all you scumbag of indeterminate color.

^^^ That's asinine. Hypothetically, if 95% of murder convictions were minorities, then you'd say, fine, they're criminals, and race obviously doesn't enter into it? Because you say so?
"You want to commit a crime you throw your race out the door." That means nothing. Profiling and institutional racism exist, with disproportionate arrests, prosecution, and sentencing, so of course we should pay attention to. The difference in prosecution and sentencing for crack cocaine (mostly poor/black offenders) and powder cocaine (mostly wealthier/white offenders) is one of the most obvious and well-documented cases of this.
"Being a criminal trumps all you scumbag of indeterminate color." You want to try writing that again in intelligible English?

So genius what is the problem here? Innocent people being arrested? guess not.
Not enough white people being arrested?

Well is that the problem or isnt it?

so then arresting more whiteys would solve your problem. And that makes your problem of a moron. Because you are ASKING for the exact thing you are crying wah wah about.
Tool.

Maybe it's not racist but merely coincidental that most drug dealers just so happen to be black? The problem isn't profiling so much as it is the stupidity of the so-called, "War on Drugs".