This week, the future of east Burnside will be decided. For the past year, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) has been considering overhauling a five-block site of crumbling buildings and underused space near the Burnside Bridge. Although the geographic spread of the site is relatively small, its significance for the future of the city’s eastside […]
Phil Busse
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What Was Left Out
A Few Things the Community Policing Report Forgot
This past summer, for the first time in a decade, city council requested a report on what the force is doing to invigorate community policing. Last Wednesday, nearly two months after its due date, police chief Derrick Foxworth returned to council chambers and presented the 2004-2006 Community Policing Strategic Plan. The plan talks about better […]
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Keep Portland Our Home!
Home Depot Inches Toward Downtown
Although the changes won’t be noticeable any time in the near future, over the next few weeks the fate of the Burnside Bridgehead will be determined. On Monday, Portland Development Commission released three proposals for commercial and residential development adjacent to the east end of the Burnside Bridge. Whichever report is accepted will dramatically change […]
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What’s In a Name?
Foxworth Challenged to Define Community Policing
Back in August, police chief Derrick Foxworth sat in front of city council and talked about the much-ballyhooed concept of community policing. He spoke of better police training and diversifying the work force. But it was especially noteworthy that Foxworth was the first police chief in a decade to testify to city council about community […]
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Vera’s Anti-Legacy
City Loses Kroc’s Money and Community Center
Looks like Vera Katz will be leaving cityhall with a whimper, rather than a bang. After 12 years as the city’s mayor, Katz has yet to secure a signature project for the city. PGE Park? Not terribly impressive. A major league baseball team and stadium? Don’t think so. And does anyone even remember the proposed […]
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Where Do We Go Now?
Looking for Leadership in the Democratic Party
The finger pointing began immediately. Standing outside her opulent home in San Francisco on Wednesday, just hours after John Kerry conceded the election, Senator Dianne Feinstein accused the city’s liberal mayor of helping George W. Bush win. She was referring to last Valentine’s Day, when San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom began handing out marriage licenses […]
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Welcome Back, Adams
In a Surprise Victory, Sam Returns To City Hall
We can only assume it was the Mercury‘s endorsement that gave Sam Adams the boost he sorely needed. After decisively losing the primaries to challenger Nick Fish, Adams stormed back on Tuesday night to win the general election in an extremely tight race. During Portland’s recent political history, there have only been a handful of […]
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Potter Pooper
New Mayor-Elect Has a Lot to Live Up To
Even before it began, the honeymoon’s over for new mayor-elect Tom Potter. On Tuesday night, as expected, Potter was elected as Portland’s new mayor, and will be sworn in on January 3. While Potter may have crushed opponent Jim Francesconi by twice as many votes, the final weeks of the campaign revealed a decrease in […]
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Brainstorm!
Election Brings Out Host of Bright Ideas
Election cycles are kind of like a natural disaster–when a glacier or flood retreats, they reshape the political landscape. This election cycle is no different: In the next year, it’s likely that city hall will be faced with a boatful of issues and ideas cooked up by local campaigns. Move Primaries to September! “I’ve become […]
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Sloooow Going
Police Accountability: Like Watching Paint Dry
After years of constant demands for more police accountability, it appears as if city leaders are finally–if not lethargically–responding. Every year, city council must decide on whether to reauthorize the Joint Terrorism Task Force–an agreement between federal agents and local police officers to work together. In years past, it’s been a controversial issue, with activists […]
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Down in the Mud
Last-Minute Wrestling For Votes Gets Ugly
Loaves & Fishes is a local charity organization that hands out or delivers meals to homeless and low-income elderly people, hosting 14 cafeteria-style soup kitchens around the county. On their website, they proudly proclaim that “no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation.” They also profess their values to be “respect,” “inclusion,” and “compassion.” […]
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Get Your Vote On!
The Mercury‘s Campaign Pre-Endorsement Report
As the rest of the nation continues its countdown to Election Day, Portland entered its peculiar final stretch–a 16-day period during which we can already cast a vote. That’s right: You Type-A’s can send in your vote even before the last-minute pleas for your support and any final-moment campaign developments (Will Tom Potter finally release […]