ON TUESDAY, APRIL 29, the League of American Bicyclists
finally granted one of Portland cyclists’ longtime wishes, crowning
Portland as the bike-friendliest big city in the US.
Portland is now a “Platinum”-rated Bicycle Friendly
Community—an upgrade from the gold rating earned in
2003—thanks to things like our 270 miles of bike lanes, our third
consecutive year of double-digit cycling growth, 40 bike shops,
and “more than 150 bicycle-related businesses” that have a $65 million
economic impact, according to 2005 figures.
“We are honored that the League has recognized Portland’s work to
become a better, safer place for people to bicycle,” says
Commissioner Sam Adams, who heads up transportation. AJR
***
The district attorney has decided not to prosecute a citizen
journalist nicknamed “Joe Anybody” who had his camera
confiscated by cops for videotaping an arrest downtown [“Big
Brother’s Little Brother,” News, April 3]. Nevertheless, the citizen
journalist, whose real name is Mike Tabor, plans to pursue a civil
suit for nominal damages against the police bureau, asking for an
official change of police bureau policy so officers know not to arrest
people videotaping their activities. Mayor Tom Potter already
told cops not to arrest people videotaping them in 1991, when he was
police chief, in response to a query from the National Lawyers Guild.
MD
***
The county’s mental health provider, Cascadia Behavioral
Healthcare, is in financial crisis, asking for money from the
county and the Oregon Department of Human Services to bail it out.
Cascadia’s chief executive officer, Leslie Ford, resigned last
Wednesday, April 23, and was replaced by psychologist Derald Walker,
who is now working with Cascadia’s bank to refinance a $2 million
loan.
Cascadia is still reeling from a Medicaid audit that found $2.7
million in overbilling last December. Ford had reportedly
approached Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler with a $4 million
bailout request the week before her resignation, but Wheeler turned her
down. Wheeler has requested an audit instead. MD