Singleton is among five candidates running to serve the rest of Susheela Jayapal’s unexpired term on the Board of Commissioners, which is up in 2026. That means voters will have to elect someone to this seat again in two years. Singleton, whose background is rooted in social work (she has a masters degree in this […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Mercury Endorsement: Elect Susheela Jayapal for US Representative, 3rd District!
Jayapal will be a voice for forward movement—not murky centrist stagnation.
The current US rep in the 3rd District, Earl Blumenauer, is Portland’s staple politician, having served in the role since 1996. And he’s going to be a tough act to follow—I mean, we named a bike and pedestrian bridge after the guy. But with Blumenauer retiring, a lot of local Democrats are vying for his […]
Posted inOpinion
Mercury Endorsement: Re-Elect Mike Schmidt for Multnomah County District Attorney
Don’t believe the conservative cynics who blame Schmidt for Portland’s problems.
Since taking the reins at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in 2020, Mike Schmidt has faced a deluge of crises, and criticism. Schmidt took office in August 2020 amid a global pandemic and nationwide racial justice reckoning that spurred prolonged protests in Portland. Those external factors, coupled with a nationwide rise in crime during […]
Posted inOpinion
STREET VIEW: Paying for the Pavement
Portland’s gas tax is a cheap price to pay for all the costs of driving a car.
There’s been some anxious energy surrounding Portland’s 10-cent gas tax, which is on the ballot for renewal in the upcoming primary election. The tax funds the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Fixing Our Streets maintenance program, going toward street paving and safety projects like traffic signals, sidewalk installation and repair, and street lighting. And given […]
Posted inStreet View
STREET VIEW: Public Transit Safety Concerns Deserve a Thoughtful Response
We can’t just sweep violence under the rug. But a punitive approach to public safety isn’t the way, either.
Last Friday evening, Michael Brady boarded an eastbound MAX train downtown. Tragically, he wouldn’t make it off the train alive. After being stabbed on the train near the 82nd Avenue station, Brady succumbed to his injuries. The suspected killer, Shondel Larkin, told police he had been hearing voices and was apparently afraid that Brady was […]
Posted inOpinion
STREET VIEW: Soho House and Portland’s Disappearing Public Spaces
The meaning of public space is being tarnished and sanitized for the rich.
Need a new place to hang out? Look no further than Soho House, which just opened in Portland’s Central Eastside: A combination community workspace, gym, restaurant, social club, and solution to any isolation you may feel. We all know about the demise of American public gathering places—what could be better than a local Soho House […]
Posted inStreet View
STREET VIEW: “The Bike Lanes That Drive Everybody Crazy”
Portland needs a more clear-eyed vision for transportation.
People who advocate for bike transportation improvements are very familiar with the tactical deployment of the phrase “avid cyclist” by someone on a crusade against bike infrastructure. “I’m an avid cyclist,” the person will say, “but taking away space from cars is ridiculous. People need to drive. You crazy bike people are never going to […]
Posted inOpinion
Dear Ancestry.com, Black People Shouldn’t Have to Pay to Learn Our Heritage
The world’s largest genetic bank charges a small fortune to uncover stolen histories — but should they?
“I think it’s fucked up to live in America, where they stole you from your homeland then sell your ancestry back to you. Like yeah, you know for $100 I’ll show you where we stole you from!” – DL Hughley, Contrarian (2018). “We’re going to do a family crest exploration project,” Ms. Womack shared with […]
Posted inTimbers
With Phil Neville, Timbers Make Controversial Pick for New Manager
The choice of Neville as the Timbers’ newest head coach is another finger in the eye for fans.
The Portland Timbers announced Monday they have hired Phil Neville as their new manager, despite the outcry of supporters who have objected to his history of sexist tweets and lack of managerial success. It’s a decision that is at once shocking and not surprising. Of all the candidates the Timbers could have chosen for their […]
Posted inOpinion
The Problem with Proving, Again and Again, That Portland and Seattle Are Not Dying
Debates continue while the real causes of the homeless crisis are never addressed.
[While we are deathly allergic to out-of-town hot takes on Portland’s current troubles—special “hello” to Nicholas Kristof and his weirdly obsessive pals at the New York Times—this piece published by our sister paper, The Stranger, hits the nail on the head and is definitely worth your time.—eds] The story has been this: Portland’s downtown is […]
Posted inOpinion
City Council Is Trying to Sabotage Charter Reform—Which Is Exactly Why We Need Charter Reform
The Council’s latest attempt to sow distrust in the voter-approved charter reform process reveals who they’re really working for. (Hint: It’s not you.)
Portlanders have had enough of our city’s clearly dysfunctional form of government, which is why they voted by a large margin (nearly 60 percent) to reform the city’s charter. So why is the current City Council so intent on trying to sabotage charter reform? Deep behind the scenes, city commissioners (particularly Gonzalez and Ryan, and […]
Posted inOpinion
Guest Editorial: Oregon Is at a Crossroads for Trans Rights
Why it’s important to be an active, vocal supporter of trans rights and gender-affirming care in Oregon.
I can tell you this firsthand: Gender-affirming care changes lives. Since going through puberty, I’ve always felt weird about my chest. Seeing photos or studying myself in the mirror, I would zero in on that area, trying to reconcile it with the version of myself I innately had in my head. During the height of […]