In 2003, local news began with a bang and ended with a whimper. For example, in early March 30,000 Portlanders gathered at Waterfront Park. For hours, the anti-war march snaked through the downtown blocks. There were signs reading, “How did our oil get under their sand?” and “I asked for universal health care and all […]
Phil Busse
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Local Artists: Worth $750 Each
Mayor Katz Fails To Creatively Fund City’s Creative Class
Three years ago, Julie moved from Maryland to Portland. She didn’t know anyone here, but she did know Portland’s reputation as a young, hip, artsy city. She wanted to be a painter. But three years later, that dream remains on the shelf as Julie (who asked that her real name not be used) serves coffee […]
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Sign Language
City’s Murals Remain Tangled in Legalese
In July, two popular stores along SE Division–Portico and Mirador–were told they would be fined $50 a day if the murals decorating their buildings were not removed within a week. Although the murals were innocent enough–one has a dancing blue water sprite in the foreground; the other shows colorful ribbons–they run afoul of strict city […]
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Hail to the Cabby!
After Contentious Debates, Cabbies Agree To City’s Regulations
It started last February, when a 31-year old cab driver was murdered. Randy Leonard, a newly elected city commissioner at the time, went to the funeral. While he was there, he saw something he couldn’t quite stomach: The cab driver’s young son crying and tugging at the casket. “I’m not going to another funeral, and […]
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This Will Not Be Televised
Dennis Kucinich Scolds ABC For Pulling Reporters
Supporters for presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich are wondering whether national news reporters are actually becoming newsmakers. Last week, after a brisk exchange between Congressman Kucinich and ABC anchorman Ted Koppel during a Democratic Presidential debate, ABC pulled reporters from the Kucinich campaign, as well as those of both African American candidates, Rev. Al Sharpton and […]
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Who’s Naughty?
The Police Are Checking Their Exclusion List Twice!
The police never intended for the list to become public. Created by officer Jeff Myers several months ago, the list contains the names of dozens of people whom the police are putting extra effort into clearing out of Old Town and downtown. Like a “wanted” poster from the Wild West, the list identifies suspected criminals […]
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Now Whose Downtown Is It?
Controversial Business Alliance Prez Gets the Boot!
On Friday, the Portland Business Alliance (PBA) made a surprise announcement: Their controversial president, Franklin “Kim” Kimbrough, was resigning. Since arriving in Portland three years ago, Kimbrough has been an unwelcome force in city politics. In the short span of three years, he managed to strain and scar relationships between city hall, the business community, […]
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Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em
Judge Unravels City’s Drug Free Zones
For the past decade, defense attorneys have banged their heads against the Drug Free Zones (DFZ), four territories in the city from which police can kick out suspected drug users and sellers. Under the rule, a police officer can boot a person from these zones for 90 days based on the mere suspicion that he […]
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Sweeping Up the Problem
Holiday Solution For Homelessness: Move ‘Em Out!
A month ago, the police hacked down a community garden near First Presbyterian Church, which had apparently become a haven for homeless men and women. At the time, homeless advocates warned that cutting down the flowers and clearing out the homeless was not an isolated event, but a pilot project to sweep the entire I-405 […]
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Is Anyone Listening?
Protester Found Guilty Of Free Speech
It’s not a trial to change the course of history and it won’t set any precedents demanding better police behavior. But the case of Mark Wilson is a reminder that activists in town are not simply rolling over for the police. Five months ago, Wilson was standing along Belmont Avenue during a Critical Mass ride. […]
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Goldschmidt’s Shell Game
PUD Opponent Buys PGE for Himself!
With more plot twists than a John Grisham novel, the continuing drama surrounding PGE’s ownership became even stranger this week. Early Tuesday morning, Enron, the parent corporation of the utility company, announced they would sell PGE to an investment group headed by none other than Neil Goldschmidt–former Portland mayor, Oregon governor and, most recently, the […]
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Council Member Leonard: Our Hero
Tow Truck Companies Forced to Tow the Line
Randy Leonard is poised to become the city’s most popular council member–and all it took was standing up to the towing companies. For the past several months, the newest member of city council has been hammering together a plan to curb fees and practices for local tow truck operators. Under the new rules, those companies […]