Though their scheduled big release meeting on December 17 was iced
out, city planners finally wrapped up a final draft of the East
Portland Action Plan last week. City council assigned the planning
bureau $500,000 to figure out how to improve livability in the
swath of neighborhoods historically neglected by the city—areas
east of 82nd. After nine months of meetings with neighborhood groups
and residents, the team proposed seven major actions the city should
fund. Topping the list are earmarking funds for storefront improvement
grants, building bike routes and safer routes to schools, expanding
green space, and exploring the idea of rezoning areas for higher
density. SM
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The district attorney’s office is pushing to re-try Steven Lee
Johnson for allegedly assaulting a rent-a-cop in Waterfront
Park, after a jury failed to reach a verdict in Johnson’s trial earlier
in December on four charges following an altercation with Portland
Patrol, Inc. Officer Ron Cash in May 2007. Cash broke Johnson’s
finger and pepper sprayed him in the face during the altercation, in
violation of PPI’s stated “hands-off” policy for rent-a-cops [“Hands
Off,” News, Dec 4].
Johnson was found guilty only of failure to obey a parks
officer, but Deputy District Attorney Arusi Loprinzi is reported to
have told Johnson’s attorney, Matthew Donohue, that the state wants a
retrial on the other charges, last Friday, December 19, at the time set
for a continuation hearing in the case. Donohue and Loprinzi are now in
negotiations over a possible settlement. Loprinzi did not return a call
seeking comment. MD
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It is with heavy heart that we announce the departure of
Mercury news editor Amy J. Ruiz from our news team. While
we’re sure she’ll regret this decision for the rest of her life, she’s
moving on to a pretty cool job: Amy will be joining the new
Mayor Sam Adams administration as a “Strategic Planning and
Sustainability Policy Advisor.” We have no idea what it means
either—but apparently it’s a wonkalicious position where Amy will
geek out over green building and neighborhood plans, and make Portland
a far better place to live. So congratulations to Amy! We’ll miss
you terribly! And if you’re a hot-poop city politics reporter, a
position just opened up at the Mercury.