The people hoping to put Portland’s water and sewer services in the hands of a new elected board have spurned a City Club of Portland invitation to assist in a study of the proposal. In a letter sent this morning to City Club Executive Director Sam Adams, the folks floating the new Portland Public Water […]
Dirk VanderHart
I'm a news reporter for the Mercury. I've spent a lot of the last decade in journalism — covering tragedy and chicanery in the hills of southwest Missouri, politics in Washington, D.C., and other matters elsewhere.
I've been in Portland three years, love it and want to help make it better. Let's keep it amicable!
Posted inNews
Fingers Crossed
The County Knew the Morrison’s Decking Had Problems, Used It Anyway
Officials have known for a long time something was wrong with the Morrison Bridge—even if you’re just finding out.
Posted inNews
Memo Shows County Staff Favored Settling Morrison Bridge Dispute Over "Intractable" Negotiations
Angered by months of delays, the construction company that installed problematic decking on the Morrison Bridge last year demanded nearly $2 million above its initial price when the project was completed. According to documents obtained by the Mercury in a public records request, Conway Construction Company claimed Multnomah County was responsible for the lengthy hold-ups—officials […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
I don’t know if it’s rare for House Republicans to open their meetings with a hymn—part of me suspects it’s not—but you don’t much hear about it. This morning, as they prepare to put forward a package they like better than Senate Republicans’ more-moderate proposal to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling, the […]
Posted inBikes
Fixed-Gear Catharsis
Sometimes I think we all want to talk about fixed-gear bicycles here on Blogtown, but we’re too ashamed or afraid to admit it. Well I’m breaking the silence. Here’s a sentimental video about a scrappy group of guys with the baffling willingness gumption to pilot their fixies from Portland to San Francisco. Four dudes, 800 […]
Posted inNews
Controversial Mayoral Aide Baruti Artharee is Resigning This Week
Naim Hasan Baruti Artharee, the mayoral aide who earned reprimand earlier this year over comments about a Multnomah County commissioner, is resigning. Mayor Charlie Hales’ office announced this afternoon Artharee, a police department liaison for the mayor, will quit public service on Thursday. “We are sorry to see someone with Baruti’s skills and passion for […]
Posted inNews
Coming Next to the Enervated Morrison Bridge: Closures
Amid all the speculation about who’s to blame for the degraded new Morrison Bridge deck and which entity should pay for fixes, there is a stolid certainty: Repairs must be made. And since lawsuits drag on—a trial for claims in this case isn’t scheduled for almost a year—and the county says the Morrison is getting […]
Posted inNews
New Ballot Language for a Proposed Water District Calls Out Its Ambiguities
The official face of a measure that would take sewer and water bureaus away from Portland City Council got a hefty dose of Botox today. After hearing arguments from three attorneys last week, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Leslie Roberts this morning released final ballot language for a proposal to put the Portland Water Bureau […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
Bizarre and suspicious tidings, everybody! Yes, the government’s still shut down, with not much progress in sight on that front, but there are at least glimmers of reason popping and sparking in the GOP ranks. They’ve decided that maybe it’s not a good idea for the US to default on its loans. The new, earth-shattering […]
Posted inNews
Multnomah County is About to Pay Out More for the Crumbling Morrison Bridge Deck
Looks like Multnomah County is planning to dole out more money for a new, deteriorating deck on the Morrison Bridge. County commissioners tomorrow morning will vote on a settlement with Conway Construction, the Ridgefield, Washington company responsible for installing polymer decking that has shown worrying wear in a year-and-a-half of use. Bizarrely, the settlement comes […]
Posted inNews
Out of the Frying Pan…
Prison Reform Might Increase Jail Demand
Oregon’s prison reform has Multnomah County mulling its first jail expansion in years.
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
A fight on the debt limit—and a potential default on the country’s sundry obligations—looms, but Wall Street ain’t sweating it. Well, it sort of is, but not as much as it might. But there’s still time for panic. Don’t you worry. Senate Democrats are thinking of floating a “test vote” on a bill that would […]