Last Wednesday, November 9, Mayor Tom Potter announced the members of the city charter commission, officially kicking off city hall’s examination of how well local government works in its current format. Portland’s version of city politics is unique among moderate and large cities—instead of having council members who represent specific districts, Portland has commissioners who […]
Scott Moore
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Courting the Right
Supreme Court Debates Oregon’s Way of Life—and Death
Considering how long Supreme Court justices tend to live, the effects of President Bush’s choices for the US Supreme Court could stretch on for decades. But it will only take Oregonians a few months to see how the conservative court weighs in on two fronts—death with dignity and reproductive rights. The Senate Judiciary Committee has […]
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Trial and Error
BRO’s M36 Legal Challenge Suffers Early Defeat
Last Friday, November 4, a Marion County court judge handed the state’s largest Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) rights organization another crushing blow in a series of crushing blows. The judge ruled to uphold Measure 36 (M36), severely wounding Basic Rights Oregon (BRO)’s claim that the same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Judge Joseph Guimond ruled […]
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Total Recall
Conservatives Go Ape Poop Over Court Ruling
Unhappy with a recent court decision striking down newly gutted land-use laws, an ultra-conservative group has thrown a hissy fit, taking the unusual step of screaming for the offending judge to be recalled. The Constitution Party (ironically titled, given its dislike for the constitutional concept of politically independent judges) kicked off its recall drive with […]
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Where Are the Activists?
More Protests Don’t Mean Better Protests
Think back to three years ago, when an estimated 30,000 residents flooded the streets downtown to protest against President George W. Bush and his planned military attack on Iraq. Today, that vision seems distant—not only because more than 2,000 Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens have died—but because the antiwar movement has scattered. […]
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Burned!
Once Again, A Grand Jury Excuses Police Shooting
This much is known: Fouad Kaady, a 27-year-old Gresham man, was involved in at least one auto accident in Sandy on September 8. That collision possibly ignited a gas can in his car, which left him badly burned and with a head injury. Shortly thereafter, the young man was found walking naked down the street. […]
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BRO and Steady Wins the Race?
Equal Rights, Tortoise Style
Since its inception, Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) has refrained from advancing any pro-GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) ballot measures, instead spending its time and resources batting down a series of annoying, costly, and discriminatory measures pushed by Oregon’s ultra-conservatives. While many observers (and supporters) were expecting that trend to change in 2006, BRO announced last […]
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In Other News
BIKE SAFE! Six years ago, a city worker began to dress up those stick figure bicyclists that adorn bike lanes around town. He painted flowing blond hair on one of the bikers, while another carries a briefcase. One holds chopsticks. For years, those icons have been a quirky reminder that the city and its residents […]
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Disappearing Dog Cops
Local Pets Suffer While Enforcement Agents are Away
Within a few days of Hurricane Katrina flooding New Orleans, animal rescue teams—including the Oregon Humane Society (OHS)—descended on the Louisiana town to try and save numerous pets left behind during the evacuation. Great for New Orleans, but for Oregon that meant that all of OHS’s animal cruelty investigators made the trip, leaving our state’s […]
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Mea Culpa!
County Admits Error and Refunds Money!
In April, Portland resident Mark Gharst filed a four-month extension on his federal and state taxes—an extension that also covers Multnomah County’s so-called ITAX, approved by voters two years ago in an effort to pull in more revenue to fund schools and county services. When that extension ran out in mid-August, Gharst went ahead and […]
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The Next Gay Battle
Civil Rights Groups Think Trench Warfare
Let’s face it, it hasn’t been a great couple of years for gay and lesbian rights. After a rapid series of crushing disappointments—from Measure 36’s victory to Senate Bill 1000’s defeat—the movement is now shifting into a period of self-reflection. Activists hope to examine what strategies worked (pretty much none) and what the future of […]