70% of Blogtown readers in our lunchtime poll say they expected more from Mayor Sam Adams on the Columbia River Crossing. Can a mayor who travels all the way to China to preach about ‘green practices’ support a 12-lane freeway in his own backyard? Can he now still be considered a “green mayor”? “Sam is […]
Sarah Shay Mirk
Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.
Posted inNews
Doctor’s Orders
Legal Change Pushes Prostitutes into Counseling
District attorney’s office pushes prostitutes into counseling.
Posted inPolitics
Jules Kopel-Bailey is a Motherfucking Genius (Episode One of 1,000)
When Jules Kopel-Bailey, State Rep for House District 42 (which is SE Portland), came in to the Mercury offices for an endorsement interview during the election, I basically stopped taking notes. This guy is so whip-smart, so intimidatingly on-the-ball that there was no question he would utilize the power and position of representing the state’s […]
Posted inBikes
Bike Budget on the Chopping Block
It’s red alert over at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance blog, where staffers just found out this week what the global economic meltdown means for Portland’s bike budget – a 40 percent cut to one of the city’s most visible programs, Safe Routes to Schools. Last year the budget for Safe Routes, which hires “bike ambassadors” […]
Posted inCity Hall
This Week in City Planning: Not Your Typical Skullduggery
City Council’s unanimous adoption of the East Portland Action Plan last week was a total love fest. The Council held a special meeting Wednesday night out at Midland Library and 125 people showed up to listen to the details of the plan, which okays $500,000 for development projects out in historically-neglected East Portland. While neighbors […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
China Takes Over World: While most other countries are doing their best lil’ Orphan Annie impression, China is investing billions worldwide — $41 billion in oil companies in the last WEEK ALONE. “Iranian terrorism is surrounding us from north and south” : The leader of the Conservative Party in Israel has six weeks to pull […]
Posted inPolitics
Jefferson Smith: Budget Cuts Will Lead to Lessons from Viet Cong Camps & “Blood on the Floor”
The charismatic East Portland State Legislator Jefferson Smith showed up at the City Council’s special session on the East Portland Action Plan last night fresh from the budgetary butcher shop in Salem. He spoke in favor of the action plan — which council unanimously adopted — saying he believes its strategies “will lower the level […]
Posted inTransportation
Fareless Square May Be on the Chopping Block
Taking a look at its annual budget, TriMet is seriously considering a controversial change: getting rid of or limiting Fareless Square. A consulting team for TriMet released a report at the end of December (read through it here) finding that TriMet has estimated lost revenue due to Fareless Square to be between $2.72 and $3.26 […]
Posted inNews
Green Jobs for Everyone!
Is City’s Economic Plan Realistic?
Draft of city’s economic plan aims for 10,000 green jobs.
Posted inNews
Chávez Rename Take Two
City Seeks to Limit Renewed Controversy
Can the city limit controversy around renewed effort to rename street
after César Chávez?
Posted inNews
Reverend Phil Gets Off
Tasered Bicyclist Beats Resisting Arrest Charge
Tasered bicyclist beats resisting arrest charge.