This week, all candidates running for local office must reveal their “Contribution and Expenditures” (C&E) reports. These public records document every penny gathered and spent by the candidates, and to a large extent, the C&E tells the most honest story of how each person is running his or her campaign. But even before city council […]
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History Today
The Dust Has Yet To Settle on Gay Marriages
Barely a month has passed since Multnomah County offered its groundbreaking decision to offer marriage licenses to same-sex couples–and already the novelty seems to be wearing thin. Over the past few weeks, much of the progress on the issue has been rolled back. Massachusetts, which had been viewed as a frontrunner for constitutional rights, recently […]
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On My Soapbox
LOOKING FOR HEROES
More than two weeks have passed since an officer shot and killed James Jahar Perez. Since then, many people have remarked on the similarities between this police shooting and the death of Kendra James nearly a year ago. Both victims were black. Both were stopped for minor traffic violations. Both raise troubling questions about racism. […]
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Pleading Poverty
Can Portland’s Voters Be Bought?
On Wednesday, council member Erik Sten will introduce an idea that could radically reshape the politics of Portland. Under the ordinance, campaigns will be publicly financed–that is, if a candidate gathers 1,000 $5 donations from registered voters, he or she will receive $150,000 to pay for a campaign. The money would be supplied by a […]
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Not Again!
Police Kill Another Unarmed Black Motorist
Not even a year after a rookie police officer fatally shot a 21-year-old black woman at a routine traffic stop, this week, Portland police shot and killed a 28-year-old black man. Jahar Perez was driving through North Portland on Sunday evening when police pulled him over for failure to signal within 100 feet of making […]
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Pick Me! Pick Me!
Craig Gier Mayoral Candidate Occupation? Hardware. What is your top environmental priority? It’s a tie between air pollution and noise pollution–well, cars in Portland. I’d like more people to quit driving around Portland. We have the public transportation. If people rode the buses more there would be lower fares. What is your campaign finance plan? […]
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War Protests Redux
Demonstrators Reconvene to Protest Iraq Invasion
by Anna Simon and Jon Sullivan A strong sense of déjà vu infiltrated the event on Saturday as 6000 anti-war demonstrators poured into downtown. There was an anxious but friendly sense of anticipation. Like last Spring, thousands of residents, from all walks of life, looped through the downtown blocks to protest the Bush administration and […]
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Giving ‘Em the Boot
City Continues Crusade Against Homeless
Less than a month ago, city council hosted a virtual love-in for the homeless. Voting 4-1 to accommodate Dignity Village, city council expressed their support and concern for men and women living on the street. But last Wednesday, those good vibes were decidedly missing. Council member Jim Francesconi, the only one to vote against Dignity […]
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Pick Me! Pick Me!
The May primaries are just around the corner. Who you gonna vote for? Decide with these helpful Mercury mini-profiles!
Nick Fish City Council Tell us one way you’d create more jobs in Portland. Our elected officials can do better at supporting homegrown businesses and nonprofits by creating an environment for success and offering incentives to companies that do good work. Countless opportunities exist in Portland to create new jobs–the growing “sustainable development” industry is […]
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A Failure To Communicate
Police Mum and Dumb At Community Dialogue
by Phil Busse and Erin Ergenbright “I didn’t want to talk because there are a lot of police officers here.” The young man was standing along with 100 or so other black teenagers under the arched ceiling at Irvington Church. About 20 police officers, dressed in full blues, were sprinkled throughout the crowd. For the […]
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Gay and Staying that Way
County Stands Firm While Governor Cowers
“The verdict is in,” said Multnomah County Commissioner Lisa Naito. She was facing several TV cameras and explaining that the county will continue to grant same-sex marriage licenses. That decision came a few days after Governor Ted Kulongoski gave an ambiguous ruling, which said that handing out those licenses may not be legal–but then again, […]
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Wedding Bells Keep On Ringing
Same-Sex Opponents Lose First Round
Commissioner Serena Cruz leaves her sixth floor office to take a look at the commotion that she, in part, has created. Only five days earlier, four out of the five commissioners hosted a press conference to announce the surprising news that the county would begin to hand out marriage licenses to same-sex couples. At the […]