Homeless nonprofit Sisters of the Road is planning to hold a "truth commission" on the controversial sit-lie ordinance on Thursday, August 7. The aim of the truth commission, which will be held at 5:30 pm at the Sisters' café (133 NW 6th), is to "provide a space where concerns and experiences related to the sit-lie law will be genuinely listened to and respected," according to a statement from Sisters.

The truth commission is meeting four days before the City of Portland's planned August 11 "community forum" to discuss the law, organized by the mayor's Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) committee.

"We lack confidence that the voices of people most affected by this law will be taken seriously during the SAFE public hearing," says Michael Buonocore, Sisters' associate director. "Therefore, we will have our own forum where people will be heard." MD

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On July 17, Portland's regional government, the Metro Council, endorsed a locally preferred option for the Columbia River Crossing by a 5-2 vote.

Metro laid out their conditions for the massive $4.2 billion I-5 bridge project in a three-page list of "concerns and considerations." For starters, Metro wants assurance that the project "is consistent with Oregon and Washington's statutory reduction goals for greenhouse gas emissions." In Oregon, that means reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

But while Metro came out swinging for light rail to be included in any new bridge project—"the Metro Council's endorsement... categorically stipulates that light rail must be included"—their demands were essentially nonexistent when it came to how big the bridge will be (or, rather, won't be). The council endorsed three "through lanes" in each direction, but left to future study a decision about how many "auxiliary lanes" the bridge should have. AJR

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Downtown convenience store owner Doug Peterson has gained the support of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) in his quest to remain at his SW 10th and Morrison location—he currently faces eviction from the city-owned parking garage structure on August 15.

DNA Chair Steve Trujillo—who also co-chairs the downtown Public Safety Action Committee—has agreed to support Peterson as long as he signs a good neighbor agreement with the city and neighboring businesses.

"We're still a long way from nowhere," says Peterson. "But it's a step in the right direction." MD