City Commissioner Randy Leonard has compromised in the fight to filter Portland’s water today—offering an amendment to build a cheaper $100million Ultra Violet filtration system for the city, rather than a more expensive $385million standard sand-filter system, in order to comply with federal environmental “LT2” laws. Leonard has been pushing for the more expensive sand-filtration […]
Matt Davis
Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.
Posted inNews
Today In Recall Land: Leonard’s “Forgiveness”
Recall spokesman Jasun Wurster addressed council in a shirt and tie (YES!) this morning, asking for Mayor Sam Adams’ assurance that city employees will not face political retaliation for signing the recall petition. “Of course,” Adams responded. Wurster said he was “deeply concerned that signing sites in small businesses across our city are reporting that […]
Posted inNews
Private Security Still Enforcing Sit/Lie?
Some private security guards in Portland still don’t appear to have heard that the controversial sit/lie ordinance has been revoked. SECURITAS RENT-A-COP: ALLEGEDLY ASKED MAN SITTING ON SIDEWALK TO MOVE… Soapbox Under The Bridge activist Dale Hardway—who is always out and about, looking out for discrimination against homelessness by the police and private security—says he […]
Posted inTech
IT Support Staff: Geniuses
Yesterday we got a little preoccupied with the discussion of whether or not all IT support staff are assholes. This morning, this happened. I’m on Patrick’s computer. I would like to clarify that my feelings on the IT support staff at the Mercury could not be further from asshole-dom. Our IT support staff are Gods. […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!!
WHO’D YOU RATHER HAVE A BEER WITH??? Sergeant James Crowley will drink Blue Moon, the president will drink Budweiser, and Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. will drink Red Stripe or Beck’s. The three men will be discussing Gates’ arrest by Crowley last week. BLUE M&MS MEND SPINAL INJURIES!!! On the downside, the treatment causes the […]
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State of Black Oregon: No Better After 17 Years
I saw a middle aged African American man talking to himself outside the window of a ground floor office on my way back from the press conference on the state of Black Oregon at the World Trade Center this morning. The man, who was obviously mentally ill, paused very close to the window of the […]
Posted inPolitics
Letting Health Care Stories Speak For Themselves
If you, like me, gave some of your scant, I mean, ample paycheck to President Obama to run for election you will doubtless have been receiving his updates on the push for national health care reform over recent weeks. I gave $25 more to Obama last month when he asked for it to support the […]
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Today In Recall Land
Former state senator Avel Gordly joins former mayor Tom Potter in signing the recall petition. From Mark Larabee at the Oregonian: Gordly said she was troubled by the circumstances of the Adams scandal, especially about how it affected Breedlove. “I kept thinking about that young man and I was troubled that Sam was a corrupting […]
Posted inNews
Is Portland’s Economic Emperor Naked?
PDC economic development director Erin Flynn presented the city’s economic development strategy to a skeptical audience at city club today. Flynn last presented the strategy to council two weeks ago, and aside from a few new phrases (“here’s the thing, we have to want it…”; “we do have a brand, but I think it’s a […]
Posted inSports
Council Votes Yes On Big Soccer At PGE
Council made a 4-1 “yes” vote to renovate PGE park for Major League Soccer this afternoon, following an agreement by Timbers owner Merritt Paulson to stump up the majority of the cash. Paulson will contribute $54million to the deal overall, including the $35million purchase of the Major League Soccer franchise. The city will contribute just […]
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Awkward Cuddle of the Week
Former Willamette Week staffer Byron Beck took this photo at the paper’s “best of” party last night. It shows the WW‘s editor Mark Zusman, and Mayor Sam Adams in what can only be termed as “an awkward cuddle.” Earlier yesterday, Zusman published a page-and-a-half-long editorial endorsing Sam’s recall. ZUSMAN AND ADAMS: SITTING IN A TREE… […]
Posted inNews
The Last Word On Chavez Boulevard
Someone in Portland has waaaaay too much time on their hands.