…with a celebrity presidential ad of her own: “I’m Paris Hilton and I approve this message, because I think it’s totally hot.”
Politics
Posted inPortland
What Does Sam Adams Think About Peterson’s?
Sam Adams has the power to save Peterson’s convenience store, but he’s not going to do it. Commissioner Dan Saltzman, as you may be aware, is trying to save Peterson’s convenience store from eviction. But it appears he’s getting the cold shoulder from our “business friendly” mayor-elect, Sam Adams. Commissioner Saltzman is understood to be […]
Posted inPolitics
Anti-Columbia River Crossing Protest on the Waterfront
I’m on the scene, keep checking back for updates! 1:17 pm. I’m huddled with a few reporters at Waterfront Park, waiting for the crew from Convergence for Climate Action to set up some street theater–something involving long bamboo poles, cutouts of cars, and lots of anti-bridge posters–and to pull the trigger on a bigger act […]
Posted inPolitics
Sit-Lie Ordinance: Totally Not Targeting the Homeless (NOT!)
From Street Roots’ blog: August 1, 2008 On Tuesday July 27, Street Roots interviewed 27 individuals experiencing homelessness and two canvassers on Portland street corners. Fifteen of the 27 individuals had been given verbal or written warnings or citations for the sidewalk obstruction ordinance. Twelve of those interviewed say they have also been warned by […]
Posted inHomo
Is Restore America in Financial Trouble?
I know something’s up when I only get one email from Restore America–the right wing, conservative Christian, anti-gay group who’s head, David Crowe, currently resides in Tennessee. They’re the folks behind the failed (and currently on appeal in federal court) effort to shove the domestic partnership and non-discrimination laws to the ballot. See, Crowe apparently […]
Posted inNews
BREWHAHA! Tonight…
With me, your loving host, and some all star panelists. Edge of Belmont. 7pm. More here.
Posted inPolitics
Oh, Right. There’s Still an Election…
I caught two city council candidates–yep, people are still running for city council–at this weekend’s Division/Clinton Street Fair and parade. I tagged along with Amanda Fritz, hoping to catch a glimpse of candidate-voter interactions. But in a parade setting, not surprisingly, those are limited mostly to Fritz waving and shouting “hello!” “good morning!” and “I’m […]
Posted inPolitics
BREAKING: Safe, Sound and Green Streets Proposal Currently Dead
Commissioner Sam Adams’ Safe, Sound and Green Streets Executive Committee just wrapped up, and were nice enough to brief me as a committee. A press conference for one, as Adams put it. (Though the Oregonian’s city hall reporter did pop in later.) Long story short: Thanks to the economy, the proposal is currently dead. A […]
Posted inMedia
John Edwards Mistress/Love Child Scandal
Back in December, yours truly was somewhat overcome with rumors of John Edwards’ infidelity as reported by the National Enquirer. At the time, there was much “tosh, tosh”-ing from the skeptics in the peanut gallery. Now, it turns out, the whole thing may have been very very true. And more importantly, I may have been […]
Posted inPolitics
City’s Transportation Department Has Another $1 Million Shortfall
(UPDATE @ 4:45: Comment from Sam Adams at the bottom…) Back in May, Commissioner Sam Adams called a last minute press conference to break some bad news: Thanks to the rising cost of oil (then at a record $120 a barrel), people were buying less gas, and paying less gas tax, which meant the city’s […]
Posted inPolitics
My TV Debut
Check it out: I co-hosted Outlook Portland this past Sunday morning, with David Bragdon. We quizzed Steve Novick on his recent Senate bid, and he quizzed us on the Columbia River Crossing. In between, Bragdon and Novick talked about paradigm shifts in D.C., and whether a President Obama would usher in another one, a la […]
Posted inNews
Making Progress, or Being “Whitewashed?”: Racial Profiing Committee Stumbles On
The mayor’s racial profiling committee was thin on the ground yesterday following last month’s supposedly energizing retreat at the Doubletree hotel, leaving its members to ponder the committee’s long-term viability. “I was quite disappointed with the end result [of the retreat], quite frankly,” said the committee’s co-chair, Jo Ann Bowman of Oregon Action. “If we […]