Ever wonder exactly how much city money goes into Last Thursday? Some answers at last!
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
Water/Sewer Petition Group May Have to Re-File Initiative
Dirk VanderHart Not a week into a push to snatch control of Portland’s water and sewer systems from city hall, the effort’s backers may have to call a do-over. The group, Portlanders for Water Reform, on Thursday submitted changes to Portland’s city charter they’ll try to get on the May 2014 ballot via petition. The […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
First, a warning. I’ll not be blogging about the newborn royal baby this morning. Get your newborn royal baby news elsewhere. It’s not even that I don’t care. I care too much. The important work of Good Morning, News would never get done if my heart were full-to-bursting with thoughts of an infant king, tiny […]
Posted inNews
Even Without City Money, Prosecutor Will Keep Enforcing Drug Exclusions
A cash-saving gambit that jeopardized a drug enforcement policy popular with Portland businesses has paid off for Mayor Charlie Hales. For now. Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill tells the Mercury he has decided to continue support of the city’s Drug Impact Area (DIA) program. Underhill had been weighing in recent months whether to keep […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
Detroit’s abject destitution isn’t in question, but nearly everything else about the city’s bankruptcy filing earlier this week is. A Michigan judge says the governor is violating state law by engaging in proceedings that will almost certainly slash pension benefits for retirees. But the city snuck its petition into federal bankruptcy court while a pack […]
Posted inNews
State Board Finds TriMet Violated Law in Contract Dispute
TriMet, in its ongoing dispute with a union over a now-expired contract, got some bad news today: it was found in violation of Oregon law. But the transit agency’s usually proactive communications arm hadn’t broadcast the development tonight. The Amalgamated Transit Union, TriMet’s constant foe, did—just after 8 p.m. The Oregon Employment Relations Board, considering […]
Posted inNews
The “Portland Public Water District” Isn’t Tarrying on Fundraising
You know that new effort to take water and sewer oversight away from city hall? It’s hit the ground running in the fundraising department. The strictures of this blog platform preclude us from running it at a super-legible size, but check out this solicitous email that was just brought to the Mercury’s attention. There are […]
Posted inNews
A Hiccup in Talks Over Last Thursday’s Future
Dirk VanderHart Looks like the city, once again, will spring for portable toilets, road barricades and security at Last Thursday next week. That’s despite two meetings between the mayor’s office and supporters of the event, and a tentative willingness by Friends of Last Thursday—the volunteer organization that had helmed the street fair since 2011 before […]
Posted inNews
Some New Details on the Push for a New Water/Sewer Commission
Dirk VanderHart A measure water activists and angry ratepayers want to see on next year’s May ballot would snatch control of water and sewer service from the city, creating a separate council that dictates what customers pay and how that money’s spent. But the change would have no effect on the city’s controversial decision to […]
Posted inDrunk
Joe’s Cellar Back from the Dead
Joe’s Cellar is back in business (almost). The venerable northwest Portland dive bar shut down by the city in April will reopen later this summer, according to a news release. “C.E. John Company announced today they have purchased the building on NW 21st and Pettygrove, will make the required repairs in July, and hope to […]
Posted inNews
UPDATED: Petition Planned to Snatch Water/Sewer Control from City
A coalition of groups that have long scrutinized the city’s water bureau plan to announce an initiative petition tomorrow to wrest control of Portland’s water supply from city bureaucrats. Calling itself the Portland Public Water District (PPWD), the group is apparently an amalgamation of Friends of the Reservoirs, and Citizens for Water Accountability, Trust and […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Big Pimpin’
Iceberg Slim and the American Pimping Legend
Iceberg Slim dons its rose-colored pimp glasses.