Oregon Street Talk

Updates

2012-01-20T08:45:00.001-08:00

Much of the actions are now happening on the Cascadian Journal of Occupology.

TriMet's war on the people begins

2011-07-20T01:14:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipediahttp://peevesandcheerspdx.blogspot.com/2011/07/trimet-fare-inspectors.html

A letter to Rex Burkholder on regional illegal dump enforcement

2011-06-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaThe following letter has been sent to Metro Councillor Rex Burkholder as well as to Tigard Police Chief Alan Orr, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Portland City Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish, as well as to Metro Chief Operating Officer Dan Cooper and Rex Burkholder's policy coordinator Kathryn Sofich.

See http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17666-trash_cop.html for the article.

June 29, 2011

Rex Burkholder
Metro
600 NE Grand Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232

Dear Councillor Rex Burkholder,

I have just read the featured article in today's Willamette Week, "Trash Cop," and would like to express how I was greatly disturbed by this overzealous and crusader-like approach to illegal dumping enforcement by Tigard detective Bobby He'aukulani while on the official functions of Metro (the article does not articulate the relationship between Metro and this detective, as to whether he is acting as a Metro policeman or simply as an employee of the City of Tigard).

I am a long-time human rights and economic justice advocate for the immigrants, low-income people, and those who are experiencing homelessness. Presently affiliated with Portland's community organization Sisters Of The Road, I have in the past worked with a number of organizations such as Street Roots and the Julia West House. I have also appeared in many occasions to testify in various public venues, including the Oregon Senate committees and TriMet, in advocacy of matters of grave importance for the above-named communities and populations.

In "Trash Cop," reporter James Pitkin outlines He'aukulani's investigative methods that heavily focus on the finding of artifacts such as "unopened mail, unpaid bills, catalogs with a street address or prescription pill bottles" to locate alleged perpetrators and suspects of illegal dumping in the region. The article notes, "They often blame a third party they say either stole their garbage or was paid to haul it to a landfill... And regardless of excuse, the citations usually go to the trash's original owners. They get three weeks to make a payment or schedule an administrative hearing." (p. 23.)

Having an extensive connection and cultural competency in the homeless community, and having myself also a long experience of homelessness, I know this to be not a mere "excuse" but a rather common occurrence. Every day, I either hear or notice that someone's personal belongings are either stolen (usually by other people on the street, or by low-level criminals who know that often people who experience homelessness possess valuables as they have nowhere to securely store them) or disposed of (by property owners, managers, businesses, and even by police and other government employees) and items of no or little resale values often get dumped or scattered on public and private lands alike -- often in parks, highway perimeters, and sidewalks. That includes their mail, which may have their old address, sometimes hard-to-replace documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and identifications, prescriptions, and other items with names and addresses. Establishing whether this is a victim of a theft is not always easy, and they may not have been reported as stolen items with local police departments, given the deep mutual distrust that exists between the street community and the police. Likewise, it is difficult for most middle-class people to distinguish between what is "dumped" (permanently disposed of, or abandoned, with no intention for future retrieval) and temporarily "stored" (as many homeless people are forced to do on abandoned lands and public rights-of-way). A recently passed Oregon legislation directs the Oregon Department of Transportation to retain found objects from campsites on ODOT right-of-way for 30 days and provide for storage and retrieval of such items. The City of Portland also has maintained a similar program for some time. Despite its look, they are most likely not dumped objects.

This method is also greatly disturbing, as in this economy many people are forced to relocate due to diminished income, evictions, or foreclosures. If the detective relies on street addresses found on artifacts, by the time the address is located, it may be the case that someone else may be residing at that place and wrong people may be punished.

The article gives me an impression that Detective He'aukulani and Metro are extremely eager to go after the low-income people, who could not afford garbage service or hauling service to begin with, and slap them with exorbitant, excessive and unreasonable fines, while serious large-scale violators (which are most likely to be unscruplous businesses bent on maximizing profits by cutting corners and forcing taxpayers to deal with their trash) who pollute our environment and ecosystem are simply dismissed as "hard cases." In other words, He'aukulani can pretend that he is working hard and making a difference by merely going after lowest hanging trees, and collect his salary. Since as the article notes, about half of such citations directed mostly toward lower-middle-class and low-income people are sent to collection agencies, this will lead to a negative credit history that would adversely affect one's ability to find housing, jobs, and credit needed to better themselves.

Metro needs a better safeguard to ensure that constitutional due process is followed (although, finding such items on public properties does indeed give much more leeway, and so does the fact that it is not generally prosecuted as a crime but as a civil violation) and sufficient evidentiary standards are observed to establish probable cause. The current system sounds like it relies almost entirely on hearsay and anecdotal and unreliable evidences. Metro also must conduct a thorough review to evaluate the effectiveness of the Regional Illegal Dumping program in promoting Metro's core missions to protect the environment and create sustainability. Likewise it is important to shift the enforcement priorities away from low-income individuals and to corporate offenders (such as the likely suspect for the Marine Drive tire dump spree). Additionally, Metro needs to create a safe, legal dumping site or places where common household items such as used furniture and tires could be dropped off, perhaps in partnership with a variety of local non-profit organizations that promote sustainability, reuse, and job creations (another option is to provide grants for organizations that already operate a pick-up service such as the Salvation Army, the Arc of Multnomah County, and the Goodwill Industries, provided that they will not refuse any item).

With great respect,

Sarah Morrigan

Oregon Street Talk to make a come back?

2011-06-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaEven to this day, this site receives many hits, even though no new article has been posted for years. Many of what I have written back then no longer reflects my opinions -- informed and made wiser by my experiences and realities, like everyone else, I have grown out of much of the extremism and (became old!) started to appreciate many different views and positions.

This year I have joined Sisters Of The Road's Dorothy Day Community School to train to be a more effective activist and advocate. It is kind of ironic since at one point I had quite a bit of misgiving about this organization.

I am therefore thinking of resurrecting this blog, mostly focused on local (Portland, Multnomah County, Metro and Oregon) issues -- for issues of a more global and regional concerns will be handled elsewhere. Also I will be reporting on my advocacy activities in Portland and Salem as it occurs (it is nice that the Oregon State Capitol has free wi-fi!).

Cheers,

Sarah

Quick updates for our readers!

2010-09-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

The time has flown and it is almost the end of 2010; and it feels like a summer has just started! I have preserved the old articles of Oregon Street Talk intact as a public service, and it looks like this blog is still getting quite a few hits every single day, despite no new posts for over two years.

Things have changed quite a bit for me, and opinions I once expressed are no longer something I can agree with or support. On the other hand, I am still passionate about empowerment, opportunity creation and social justice for the marginalized. It is just that I no longer believe the old, tired methodology.

I have gained a lot of insight, as a chronic vagrant, as a political activist, as a direct service provider, and as a business owner and artist. I continue to gain more insight as my newfound career as an academic also takes shape. I do not think there are many people who have seen what I have seen and experienced from all these angles. I have been working on a book, but it is delayed quite a bit. I am taking five classes at a post-graduate level this fall, and I have at least two art shows upcoming, so this is a matter of my ability to better focus and manage time.

I will let everyone here know when my book is ready.

In the mean time, for those who are interested in TriMet issues should get involved with the new TriMet Riders Union, headed by Lew Church (I think) who used to organize the PSU Green Party, Coke/Odwalla boycott, etc. many years ago.

As for many organizations that I used to support, both in the political advocacy and also in social services, I feel that they have been doing nothing more than perpetuating poverty by further marginalizing and isolating the so-called homeless population, and enabling the worst of the worst cases of chronic vagrancy through their misguided charities and/or activism. Ultimately, the social services, their executives and employees benefit from the continuation of the status quo (and worsening of urban poverty). They behave under one big unspoken code of "ethics": bums are security risks. Their efforts thus are directed almost entirely toward controlling, enforcing and supervising. It is the classic colonial case of "us versus them," the humans versus bums, a battle of the species. At the end of their work shift they go home to the comfort of a middle class life, then snicker at the miserable bums while making money off them. No wonder why very few vagrants regain their human status and rise above poverty.

Coldest winter since 1978?

2008-10-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

This article was originally written for Street Roots.

Nice, warmer autumn; extreme winter:
Oregon meteorologists look to oscillating, often unpredictable, weather pattern

By Sarah Morrigan

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 24 – Four prominent Oregon weather experts presented their predictions for this fall and winter weathers in the annual “What Will Winter Be Like” event this morning at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Southeast Portland.

Good news: The meteorologists believe that it will be warmer November and December, with below-average precipitations.

Bad news: They predict heavy snows and a very cold winter, starting late December through March.

The presenters, representing local meteorological and climatological agencies, agreed that the shifting patterns in oceanic temperatures lead to a “neutral” year with somewhat La Niña-like conditions at times. Using statistics from “analog, or surrogate, years,” in which the patterns of oceanic temperature changes, observed weathers and sunspot counts are similar to the upcoming season, they concluded that this year’s climates in Portland area will resemble those in 1955, 1974, 1985 and 1989.

“I don’t expect a constant theme, but rather a roller-coaster ride of oscillating weather,” said Pete Parsons of Oregon Department of Agriculture. “In January, it will be either extremely mild or extremely cold; it may even be like 1930, when the Columbia River froze over.” Parsons likened 2008 also to 1978, calling for a 30 to 50 percent possibility of a major arctic outbreak. It is defined as an episode of more than seven days of continuous below-freezing temperature. To dramatize this point, Parsons showed a mock tabloid front page screaming: “Coldest winter since 1978!”

Former Oregon State University meteorologist George Taylor pointed out that in December 1955 there was a major flood in Portland under a climatic pattern similar to this year. According to his analysis of Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Taylor believes that there will be a considerable cooling in global atmosphere during the coming 15 or more years. “Though urban effects are reducing snowfalls in Portland, but it’s not necessarily so in Corvallis or rural areas in this region,” said Taylor, also calling this winter a neutral one. “It’s very tough predicting La Niña or El Niño, meteorologists may as well get away with tossing a coin.”

Sidebar: Winter emergency shelters in Portland
Between Nov. 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008, the City of Portland contracted with the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter to open three emergency warming centers (EWC) during extreme winter conditions. EWC were activated when it was below 35 degrees and there was snow or sleet, or over an inch of rain in a 12-hour period; or in a dry weather, when it was below 25 degrees. “City and the Chapter are still working on an agreement to cover the EWC for the coming winter, so specific details are not yet available,” according to the Red Cross. It is also reviewing the EWC activation requirements. EWC opened for 11 nights as early as Nov. 30 and until March 27.

Does Bill Sizemore help reduce homelessness and create affordable housing?

2008-10-30T15:28:00.001-07:00

Yes, if the Ballot Measure 63 passes.

Oregon Ballot Measure 63 (IRR 21) is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Oregon. It allows homeowners to make improvements costing less than $35,000 to their home/real estate without first obtaining a building permit.
Specific provisions

The exemption would apply for changes to existing residential or farm structures and for building new farm structures that will not be lived in by people.
Changes would not be exempt if the total value of changes in a year to a given structure exceeded $35,000.
The addition of a story to an existing residential structure would not be exempt from building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permit requirements.
Measure 63 would not allow an addition that violates uniformly applied requirements for property line setbacks or that violates regulations establishing reasonable, uniformly applied limitations on the height of a building.
Electrical wiring work would not be exempt unless performed or inspected by a licensed electrical contractor.
A property owner could not accept an offer-to-purchase the property without giving the purchaser a detailed description of changes made to the property.

Rents are already high in Oregon, often beyond the reach of low-income and working-class Oregonians. Many are now forced to choose between paying the rent and paying for gas and food. Numerous government red tapes, zoning regulations and building codes work to reduce the availability of affordable housing. When landlords are required to obtain expensive inspection and permit every time when they need to fix their apartments or rental houses those costs are naturally passed down to tenants.

Opponents of the M63 cite concerns about homebuyers; pre-transfer inspection is done exactly for that reason. With or without the permits M63 are about to eliminate, houses will still be inspected when they are sold to new owners.

Measure 63 will let property owners upgrade and improve their own homes while helping lower the skyrocketing cost of housing.

That is much more humane than forcing more people onto freeway underpass, bridges, doorways and sidewalks.

Vote yes on Measure 63 if you care about freedom and human rights.

For the sake of fairness: Opposing views here: http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2008/10/no-on-measures-58-60-and-64.html

Vote YES on Measure 58

2008-10-30T15:01:00.001-07:00

Oregon Ballot Measure 58 (IRR 19) is a citizen initiative sponsored by Bill Sizemore that will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Oregon. The goal of the initiative is to create a new Oregon state statute (not a constitutional amendment) to require "English immersion" in Oregon's public schools.

Specific provisions

The measure would limit the use of foreign language instruction in public schools to:
1 year for students in kindergarten to 4th grade.
1.5 years for 5th grade through 8th grade.
2 years for high school students.
It would also prohibit ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching programs for longer than the mandated time.

This is a pro-immigrant, multicultural ethnic unity measure!!

1. This is not a racist proposal. Those who play the "racist" defense on this are mistaken. Being mostly Spanish speakers, they fail to acknowledge the painful truth that even Spanish is a language of their European colonizers. Why not refusing to speak Spanish, while they are at it? Why not make the kids speak Mayan, or Aztec, or Olmecan, or any number of indigenous languages instead? For that matter, is it fair to non-Spanish-speaking immigrants when the bulk of public school resources are put to create Spanish-medium programs when there are also immigrants who only speak Laotian, Hmong, Korean, kiSwahili, isiXhosa, etc. and there is really nothing for them? I am all for making Spanish an official language of Oregon (whether as a co-equal official language or a secondary official language), but until that is done through a constitutional amendment, let's be fair to all immigrants.

2. This is not about freedom of speech or academic freedom. Rather, this is about using wisely limited state funds on public schools that receive quite a lot of state tax revenues. Foreign language education will still be permitted at all private and parochial schools throughout Oregon.

3. This is about American unity among all ethnicities, and about desegregating our schools. In the 1980s Singapore instituted a mandatory English-medium public education for all children even though a minority of them spoke any English at all at home. In so doing Singapore eliminated its ethnically segregated schools (those for Chinese-speakers, Malay-speakers, Tamil-speakers, and so on) and fostered national unity and social harmony. A positive by-product of this scheme was to elevate Singapore into a world-class cosmopolis in which everyone under the 30s now speak good English and be an active part in global commerce and international academics, as English is the de facto language of the world today. In fact, even North Koreans today acknowledge this reality (in the documentary "Crossing the Line" the head of the engineering department at the Kim Il Sung University concedes, "90 percent of all literatures available on the topic of electronics is written in English; thus it's important to study English if we were to stay on top of the latest technological development.") and thus English is taught in their schools and colleges.

4. This is about upholding America's promise and American dream while educating world-class citizens. When I see an immigrant parent speaking to his or her U.S.-born, U.S. citizen children in a foreign language, I must wonder if that should constitute a form of child abuse. After all, the parents are depriving their children of being able to compete in America on an equal footing with other, English-speaking, American children. Unless they are planning on returning to their home countries in a year or so, in which case they should not be using public school systems, they ought to be required to speak English at home and at school.

Vote Yes on Measure 58. Children deserve better than ghettoized classrooms and dumbed down curriculum. Children deserve a school that is not divided along ethnic or linguistic line. Bill Sizemore may be a "racketeer" but this time he's right on this issue.

For the sake of fairness: Opposing views here: http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2008/10/no-on-measures-58-60-and-64.html

a change is in the air

2008-10-15T20:01:00.001-07:00

The Oregon Street Talk will soon re-emerge from a hiatus, and it will be all new. Stay tuned.

Oregon Street Talk on indefinite hiatus

2008-09-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been posting here a lot lately.

Like many others I've lost the steam which everyone seems to have had back in the heady days of mass protests. I am moving on and trying to do some other things, including dealing with some serious personal issues.

My political views have undergone some shifts over recent months, largely informed by my own life experiences and the realities on the streets.

I feel that it is more worthwhile to actually do something than unleashing my venom here on Oregon Street Talk.

In the mean time see http://streetroots.wordpress.com and http://causaoregon.blogspot.com for contents similar to OST.

Also: no more war on TriMet for now. I've ditched TriMet in favor of bicycling. I suggest others to do the same, at least it will minimize your spending on shorter-haul trips. (Well, I'm realistic: I'm not going to ride my bike from Troutdale to Forest Grove.)

beautiful, peaceful borders...

2008-09-09T12:56:00.001-07:00

Visualize serenity.

Impending immigration raid in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

2008-08-25T07:57:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: acpollack2@juno.com <acpollack2@juno.com>
Date: 2008/8/22
Subject: [isn] day of/after protests if Hattiesburg raid occurs?
To: solidaritymira@bellsouth.net
Cc: nnirr@nnirr.org, agarcia@nnirr.org

I just saw the press release below, and had earlier seen a warning from Bill Quigley (without any details available at that point) about a possible Hattiesburg raid.
I think folks around the country are still mad enough and conscious enough after the Postville raid to be ready for a coordinated national response to this one, perhaps including (but not limited to):
1) A phone/fax/email campaign now to ICE and the media demanding no raid at Hattiesburg;
2) Plans for immediate day of and/or after a raid pickets at ICE offices all around the country;
3) Plans for continual protests after that (round the clock vigils at ICE offices?) until all Hattiesburg detainess are released (and the mothers in Postville under house detention are freed?)
In solidarity,
Andy Pollack
Brooklyn, NY

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights <agarcia@nnirr.org>
Date: Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Subject: For Immediate Release: ICE Preparing Ominous Raid in Mississippi

You're receiving this email because of your relationship with National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us.

You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 22, 2008

TO: Editor/News Director

Contact:
Patricia Ice-office 601-354-9355
Bill Chandler-office 601-968-5182

JACKSON, MS - A series of preparations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the Gulf Coast has local advocates on edge about the possibility of yet another worksite raid, and yet another devastating blow to businesses, families and communities in the name of immigration enforcement.

"The preparations we are seeing ICE make are alarmingly similar to what occurred immediately prior to the raid on the Agriprocessors, Inc. Kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, a few months ago, " said Patricia Ice, an immigration attorney and spokesperson for MIRA. ICE has reportedly booked dozens of rooms in hotels on the Gulf Coast. They may be checking in as early as tonight.

Perhaps even more worrisome are the reports that the federal court in Hattiesburg is being readied for a response similar to the response to the raid in Postville, when nearly 400 plant workers were arrested on trumped up identity theft charges, and slammed through criminal prosecution and judicial removal (being forced to waive all their criminal defense and immigration claims) within just days of the raid.

"What happened in Postville was an absolute travesty of justice that must never happen again," said Ms. Ice. "ICE must assure that any future enforcement actions are conducted in a humane manner and that detainees are permitted their constitutional rights to due process and to legal counsel."

With all the signs pointing to an impending raid, Ms Ice, other staff and local leaders are working quickly to identify possible targets, educate workers and assemble a team of attorneys to offset the burden on public defenders and provide immigration advice.

The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA) is a membership-based alliance which guarantees the human rights of immigrants and all workers in Mississippi. MIRA works to support immigrants in the exercise of their rights through providing services, organizing, advocacy and public education.

www.yourmira.org

# # #
_____________________________________________________________

For additional stories of abuse and background information on ICE raids and enforcement abuses, please contact the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR).

Please see NNIRR's human rights report, Over-Raided, Under Siege: U.S. Immigration Laws and Enforcement Destroy the Rights of Immigrants, where NNIRR documented over 100 stories of immigration law enforcement abuse and some 200 ICE raids during 2006-2007.

NNIRR's new initiative, Hurricane: the Human Rights Immigrant Community Action Network, continues tracking and reporting human rights violations perpetrated against immigrant and refugee members of our communities, including over 80 ICE raids to date.

Please call:
Arnoldo Garcia, (510) 465-1984 ext. 305 or (510) 928-0685 Cell.
Catherine Tactaquin, (510) 465-1984 ext. 302

Join HURRICANE: The Human Rights Immigrant Community Action Network -- help build community power for justice & human rights!
Unete al HURACAN: la Red de Accion de Comunidades Inmigrantes para los Derechos Humanos -- construyendo el poder de las comunidades por la justicia y los derechos humanos!

Click here for Hurricane/Haga click para info sobre el Huracan:
http://www.nnirr.org/resources/docs/NNIRRHurricaneInitiative2.pdf

Click here to get a copy of Over-Raided, Under Siege, NNIRR's new human rights report! http://www.nnirr.org/resources/docs/UnderSiege_web2.pdf

Haga clic aqui para el resumen ejecutivo del informe en
http://www.nnirr.org/resources/docs/ResumenRedadasDesmedidasOver-RaidedUnderSiege3.pdf

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Red Nacional Pro Derechos Inmigrantes y Refugiados
310 8th Street Suite 303 Oakland, CA 94607 | Tel (610) 465-1984 | Fax (510) 465-1885
www.nnirr.org

e

The sweet, tempting trap of advocacy journalism

2008-08-20T14:25:00.001-07:00

As someone who once worked as the editor of a small weekly newspaper, and presently as an on-and-off news reporter for Street Roots, I must say that it is a constant challenge to have a fair and balanced news coverage when the publication is understaffed and is on very tight deadlines. It is always tempting to seek resources and information only from those whom one knows and feels familiar with, because it is easy and fast.

In newspaper business, there is no such thing as a fully unbiased newspaper. And there is a place and need in society to have the media outlets that truly advocate for those whose voices are unheard. But that must be done in a way that does not silence the opposing views, in a way that gives a fair and good-faith chance for the "antagonists" to tell their sides of the story, and in a way that allows readers to make a well-informed decision on the matter. This is also a matter of promoting media literacy.

This is why traditionally the media make clear distinctions between news coverage and editorial (unsigned editorials, op-ed, columns, analysis).

We can have a good, solid advocacy in media and still uphold a good journalistic standard. Many newspapers were founded and are operated on certain political or ideological views. For example, the Christian Science Monitor was originally founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1908 as a way to counter the sensationalistic and hostile tones of the newspapers in reporting the Christian Scientists (thus an advocacy for a marginalized religious sect; and even to this day the Monitor stays away from topics such as death and medicine), nevertheless, it has always insisted on journalistic integrity. In fact, the Christian Science Monitor has won several Pulitzer prizes and is among some of the most respected newspapers in the world.

First there was hype, now there is reality

2008-08-18T12:54:00.001-07:00

In some ways, starting up a "competition" against a well-established and trusted paper is kind of like being a Ralph Nader, a Bob Barr, or a Ross Perot running against the two major party candidates. Perhaps "winning" is not even the real objectives, but the idea is to inspire the major party candidates to shape their campaigns in such a way that the concerns of these minor-party candidates would be addressed in the major race.

Of course, there is always an accusation that these candidates "steal votes away" from the major candidates. But in reality they are of little consequence to the presidential campaign itself.

If anything goes well, the first "official" roll-out of the Bridgetown Ambassador will be not be until the spring of 2009 at the earliest. I am envisioning several "pre-launch" guerilla issues in the mean time, but such issues would be mostly to drum up readership, build an advertiser base, and to get some hype going.

This is not a war on Street Roots. I repeat. NOT A WAR ON STREET ROOTS.

I hope Israel Bayer is not freaking out (he left a little message on my phone this past weekend). If so, he sure sounds like Barack Obama [or John McCain] freaking out at the specter of Ralph Nader [or Bob Barr, or Ron Paul]. Big fish and small fish.

In any case I'd like to learn a lot more from the workings of Street Roots and its fine organization. And I think Street Roots is a great cause to support and participate.

In reality I'm going through quite a lot in my own life, and with two other big things that I am instigating, the Bridgetown Ambassador will only happen if it will be a team effort, with a good mix of talented, motivated and productive people who are willing and able to work together. I often have a load of "good ideas" and I instigate a few of them, but not very many actually materialize -- hence lies my problem that I must overcome. I can no longer afford to be complacent with being a loser. I can no longer afford to be a failure in life -- indeed, "failure is not an option."

Stay tuned for the Bridgetown Ambassador, but don't let the hype blind you from the reality.

The Oregonian: Our myth of diversity

2008-08-14T14:22:00.001-07:00

Portlanders live in a like-minded bubble, making it easier to get things done, harder for dissenting voices to be heard

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2008/08/our_diversity_myth_portlanders.html

Will a street paper stop being a propaganda machine (or a panhandling machine)?

2008-08-14T13:41:00.001-07:00

Portland prides in one of the best-rated street newspapers in the world. Since 10 years ago (not counting its previous incarnations The Homeless Times and the Burnside Cadillac) Street Roots literally brought over a million dollars to vendors, creating a viable and flexible income source. At the same time Street Roots has earned a great respect in the community and even become a fairly recognized brand name in this city.

As someone who has lived in the City of Roses for over 11 years, I have seen how far Street Roots has come in terms of quality.

But there are a couple of questions about the publication and its business model that beg for an answer.

Yes, Street Roots is indeed "the most improved" street paper, and circulation (according to SR's own figures) is on the rise (this is solely based on the number of copies sold wholesale to the increasing number of vendors; it does not account for unsold papers, and thus lost money some vendors may have gambled on a sizzle offered by SR's recruitment fliers).

But are people really buying the newspaper to read, or is the perception of the public still in the area of SR being a glorified panhandling? Is the newspaper delivering the value for that dollar? Is SR something that has contents that one wants to pay $1 for?

In this state of economy, extra disposable incomes are shrinking for many, and frivolous spending such as newspapers and magazines is among the first to be cut. There needs to be therefore more reasons to buy papers, and that is not just appealing to people's pity. To some extent, at least certain portions of the publications need to appeal to the lowest common denominator of humanity.

Perhaps the newspaper could have taken the approach of the Big Issue, with a wider audience appeal and entertaining yet informative content. Instead, SR has become a propaganda apparatus that pits the people whom it purports to represent, against the very people who are buying the papers. Rather than building bridges between the social and economic gaps, SR advocates class war -- with little room for dissenting opinions or the opposing views. Some may call this approach an "advocacy journalism," but is it any different from the Pravda, the People's Daily, or the Granma, or the Rodong Sinmun?

This in no way implies that I am attacking the fine publication or any of the people who are behind it--certainly not Joanne Zuhl or Israel Bayer--and of course not the vendors. But in recent issues of the Street Roots articles published are beginning to look more like doom-and-gloom stories from some apocalyptic sect. In many cases, stories presented are one-sided and no one appears to be making a good-faith effort to present different points of view. For example, what about the local independent businesses such as the Peterson's, or the SaySay Boutique, or whatever, that have been affected adversely by the recent upsurge of the street-homeless population (especially the former, who is at the brink of losing its flagship store)? What about their sides of the stories -- of trashed doorways, used hypodermic needles in mailslot (this actually happened at a certain business on Southwest 12th Avenue)? With its one-sided advocacy for one's right to sleep on sidewalks and under the bridge (what about one's right to the American dream? The pursuit of happiness? Upward mobility?), the "homeless advocates" of today in Portland are creating a further disconnect and creating a bigger resentment.

Sometimes, poverty pimps exist in both social service sector and in the political activist sector.

Last week's so-called "truth commission" put together by Sisters Of The Road, for example, presented only one side of the story -- and for that matter, "the other side" seems to be not even invited. Where was Jeff Myers, or Mike Kuykendall in that meeting?

Perhaps Portland needs the second street publication. Initially not as a competition but as a means to complement where Street Roots leaves out, but eventually as a formidable rival to be reckoned with--with a healthy competition in the free market of both ideas and economy, inspiring to raise the standard of street papers and to improve the quality of the life for those involved.

Enter the Bridgetown Ambassador.

The main difference between Street Roots and the Bridgetown Ambassador is that we do not seek to become a political propaganda piece for one segment of our society. Instead, we attempt to bring together different fragments of what makes Portland such a fantastic place. While the Bridgetown Ambassador maintains its focus on social justice we are also for creating economic opportunities through free enterprise and individual initiatives. The BA's strength is its emphasis on human interest, arts and culture, as well as thought-provoking news coverage and social commentaries that inspire dialogues.

Bridging the communities, from the streets…to the streets.

This is just starting. There exists a ground-floor opportunity.

Find out what is new at http://www.b-ambassador.info.ms/

Portland Coalition Against Poverty Housing Forum

2008-08-13T07:46:00.001-07:00

On the Streets? Poor? Sick of Broken Promises?

Housing Forum

August 15 at 7pm

Under the East Side of Hawthorne Bridge

Power lives on the streets. We believe in working together to figure out what we need and how we can get it. The forum is the first step in that process. By joining together to listen to each other, we can figure out what needs we share. By learning to work together and offer support, everyone becomes stronger and safer.

Come make solutions from the bottom up. Chat about your experiences nad learn the needs of others at the Portland Coalition Against Poverty Housing Forum.

Then get started building campaigns that meet your needs.

A few things to think about:

There are enough empty buildings in Portland to house everyone who sleeps outside.
There is enough vacant land in Portland to feed everyone who is hungry.
Rights are not given or taken away. They are used, or they don't exist.
Know your rights.

All are welcome

Power is the ability to enact change.
All Power to the Poor!

Portland Coalition Against Poverty

Poverty Pimps!

2008-08-12T13:30:00.001-07:00

http://www.infoshop.org/breakingglasspress/poverty_pimps.pdf

THE POVERTY PIMPS' POEM
Let us celebrate the poor,
Let us hawk them door to door.
There's a market for their pain,
Votes and glory and money to gain.
Let us celebrate the poor.
Their ills, their sins, their faulty diction
Flavor our songs and spice our fiction.
Their hopes and struggles and agonies
Get us grants and consulting fees.
Celebrate thugs and clowns,
Give their ignorance all renown.
Celebrate what holds them down,
In our academic gowns.
Let us celebrate the poor!

Sullivan's Gulch/Irvington: caution on inebriate sexual predator!

2008-08-11T13:16:00.001-07:00

In general, according to city crime statistics, Sullivan's Gulch and
Irvington are two of the safest neighborhoods in Portland.
Unfortunately I have been pretty oblivious and naive, however.

Early Sunday morning, Aug. 10 (around 12:30 a.m.) I was attacked by an
apparently drunk white male in his 40s (not sure, he is not a very
remarkably notable man) wearing a University of Oregon baseball cap
(not sure the color, the "O" logo is the only thing I could make of)
and a U of O "OREGON" hoodie. (This is, admittedly such a vague
description, it can mean anything.) He was being an exhibitionist and
apparently looking for oral sex. This was on Northeast 24th Avenue at
the intersection with Broadway.

Very fortunately I was able to chase him off, but not without a bit of
struggle. It could have been much worse.

The problem is the current state of so-called criminal justice system
is that this would most likely be classified as a low-priority case,
especially in the absence of injury and without any material evidence
aside from what I say. I do not trust the police or the district
attorney for catching him, and even if they even bother to take up a
case like this, it would take months of delay and then I'd go through
all the ordeal of providing the justice system with a
"beyond-reasonable-doubts" testimony in a grinding court system if
any.

So all what I say now is that be very aware of the dangers even in the
Gulch. There are three drinking establishments in the area, with one
of them seemingly attracting a noticeable share of undesirables. I
hope the drinking establishment will rein in the inebriate
troublemakers in its surroundings, and perhaps even provide a security
guard to monitor the parking lot and the intersection.

The other problem is the recent removal of many payphones. It turns
out that the closest functioning payphone is at the Plaid Pantry on
16th Avenue. This is not acceptable.

The embargoed article originally written for Street Roots issue today

2008-08-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

The following article was originally written for today's Street Roots, but was killed (it's a natural part of being a newspaper reporter; it's the third article they killed so far!) and thus does not appear in the latest issue:

Who owns the sidewalks, anyway?
Recent conflict between local newspaper, property management bring attention to age-old questions about legal twilight zone

By Sarah Morrigan

The July 18 issue of Portland newspaper Just Out ("Like a good neighbor," page 3) reported that the management of a certain apartment complex unilaterally removed the sidewalk distribution boxes of all newspapers except for those of The Oregonian and The Wall Street Journal.

On a related topic, Allan Classen of the local neighborhood monthly Northwest Examiner ("Sidewalk cafes: No permit, no problem," August issue, page 1) reported that some residents of the Northwest and Pearl districts complained that some of the local restaurants are obstructing the passage on sidewalks by placing chairs and tables in front of the businesses in spite of the "required 6 feet of unobstructed space for pedestrians to pass" in compliance with the city regulations. Classen notes that, while the city hall has received only "three citizen complaints for the entire west side in the past two years," some people experience difficulties walking on the sidewalks cluttered with signs, dining tables and bicycles. According to the article while many restaurants hold a city "sidewalk café license" several others don't. The regulations appear to be rarely enforced against restaurants.

These recent conflicts bring up several interesting questions at the nexus of the freedom of the press, the concept of a common space, property rights and public safety.

The questions of how much control the owner of an abutting property has over the adjoining sidewalk, and what rights the public has on the city sidewalks, are of special interest to both this newspaper (which is distributed by a team of street vendors) and the community for whom it speaks.

When I set out to investigate this matter, I have contacted a number of city agencies, state officials, other newspapers, as well as the local office of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center. As of this writing, one week has elapsed and I have received only two responses: a very vague, "form-letter" referral email from David Muir, the information and referral clerk at the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement; and a response from a street newspaper in Denver. Other agencies, including the Portland Police Bureau and the Portland Office of Transportation, did not respond to the queries by the press time.

While the city of Portland requires a permit for sidewalk vendors, it is issued only to food carts and flower vendors. Though the City Code 17.26.010 prohibits "conducting business on sidewalk," it is not clear if the ubiquitous newspaper vending machines in Portland are subject to a similar type of permit. According to Muir, the Street Systems Investigation division of the transportation bureau normally regulates the use of sidewalks. It did not respond by the press time to provide an explanation.

According to Amelia Patterson, managing editor of Denver Voice, newspapers have a "right to distribute the paper in parks and sidewalks which are the broadest public fora." Although upon finding out that the city of Denver does not issue permits to newspaper vendors, Denver Voice has obtained a special permit as a precaution, Patterson says "I don't think a business can remove them the sidewalks especially are the most protected."

Historically, sidewalks and roadsides have been considered public spaces. Prevailing legal opinions in the U.S. broadly interpret the people’s rights to sidewalk use. In State v. Cargill (100 Or App 336, 786 P2d 28 [1990]), the Oregon court upheld the rights of petitioners on a private sidewalk adjoining a Fred Meyer store. Further, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in Lloyd Corp. v. Whiffen (307 Or. 674, 773 P.2d 1293 [1989]) that even owners of private sidewalks can only implement reasonable, content-neutral limits on First Amendment activities on their properties.

But what if newspapers are sold, and what about street artists and musicians? The constitutional guarantee of the freedom of speech does not differentiate between various media formats or based on whether it is sold for profit. In Bery v. City of New York (97 F.3d 689 [2d Cir. 1996]), the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the argument by the New York City government that required a "general vendor" license from an artist who sold his T-shirt but not from newspapers, stating that "the visual art, whether sold for profit or given away, is as much speech as written work for purposes of the First Amendment." Portland's Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee appears to uphold this principle by stating in its December 2006 "Recommendations of the SAFE workgroup" that "exceptions [to the no-sit, no-lie ordinance] will include free speech assembly (lawful demonstration, parade, etc.); and a person who is covered by, and complying with, the Street Musician Partnership Agreement."

In the end, Just Out and other community publications won in this round. After KOIN-TV news covered the newspaper boxes incident and Just Out’s blog calling it a “theft and destruction,” the management invited back the paper vending racks to the sidewalk. “We welcome you back, and we want to be part of the local community and offer your publication. Again, we’re sorry,” said Starbucks district manager Tiffany Bruderson as quoted by Just Out, who initially asked the building management to rid the sidewalks of the boxes.
###

Congressmen renew calls for comprehensive immigration reform

2008-08-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Joe Baca:
As members of Congress, we have traveled to remote corners of the
world and had our eyes opened to some of the worst human suffering
imaginable—abject poverty, meager wages, poor working conditions,
paltry access to legal counsel and a jarring lack of fairness in the
courts.

We never imagined that we would witness the same injustices in a small
American town just a five-hour drive from Chicago.

During a visit to Postville, Iowa, last weekend, site of the May 12
Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid of the Agriprocessors
meatpacking plant, we saw firsthand how a broken Immigration system
devastates a small town.

Mothers bound to electronic bracelets were allowed neither to work nor
to return to their home countries, leaving them without recourse to
pay rent or feed their children. Wives and children—many of them U.S.
citizens—were left to wonder where their husbands and fathers had been
taken, or where they would go next. To this day, more than half of the
wives do not know where their husbands are.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy spoke of working 17-hour shifts, six days
a week, without overtime on the kill floor of a meatpacking plant.
Women from the slaughterhouse spoke of male supervisors demanding sex
in return for decent hours, decent pay and decent treatment on the
job. These workers were victimized, only to be herded like animals
when ICE swept the plant and left their employers without punishment.

There is no mistaking that these men and women are suffering at the
hands of the U.S. government and our president. Our broken Immigration
system has paved a way to the objectification of human beings at the
expense of our labor laws, U.S. workers' safety and basic family
values.

Instead of taking a stand against the outright victimization of
workers—many of them minors, and all of them legally entitled to labor
protections—the Bush administration decided that meatpackers posed a
greater threat to our security than suspected terrorists or physically
abusive employers.

Almost two years to the day before the administration sent 900 ICE
agents to storm Agriprocessors, President George W. Bush appeared
before the American people and declared: "We're a nation of laws, and
we must enforce our laws. We're also a nation of immigrants, and we
must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so
many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful
society and a welcoming society at the same time."

Postville has plainly shown that we are neither of those things. We
are not "lawful" when we interrupt investigations spearheaded by our
own Department of Labor. We are not lawful when we implement fear
tactics and deportation-only policies simply to score cheap political
points with conservative pundits. We are not lawful when we railroad
men and women through the judicial process, without adequate
representation or a full understanding of their rights.

We are certainly not "welcoming" when hardworking mothers and fathers
are prohibited from raising their U.S. citizen children in the country
of their birth, or when those who work the longest hours at the most
undesirable jobs are treated like terrorists, simply for waking up and
going to work.

There is no other reasonable response than to demand that Bush
remember his words of welcome and his commitment to law, by placing a
moratorium on Immigration raids until we have passed effective,
comprehensive reform. The nation that we love, respect and serve is
better than this. Bush stood before the American people and
proclaimed:

"An Immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all
elements of this problem must be addressed together, or none of them
will be solved at all."

But headline-grabbing tactics like the Postville raid had nothing to
do with comprehensive reform. Bush has forgotten his promise.

No one benefits when taxpayers pay $590,000 a month to jail
Postville's detainees. As a society, we fail when our factories are
less safe, when the perpetrators go uncharged or when our laws remove
infants from nursing mothers and create broken homes for U.S. citizen
children.

We can all agree that we need Immigration reform that is tough on
enforcement. However, any system which fails to respect the enormous
contributions immigrants make to our workforce, that fails to reflect
our proud history of welcoming those who seek a better life and that
fails to protect all U.S. workers and our homeland, fails the American
people.

The Postville raid failed our nation on all three of those levels. Any
future raid would be equally and profoundly inexcusable and cause yet
another avoidable blight on our history.

Iowa Teacher Describes Horror of Immigration Raid + Free Gas USA

2008-07-28T07:54:00.001-07:00

Iowa Teacher Describes Horror of Immigration Raid

ICE officials line up detainees by the white van before heading into
Electric Park for court on the National Cattle Congress grounds in
Waterloo, Iowa Thursday, May 15, 2008.

Yesterday, our town was raided by 400 FBI agents, ICE agents (formerly
known as INS), state troopers, and a variety of other agencies. We had
helicopters flying overhead for hours, all roads were blocked coming
into and going out of Postville,…Ironically, as this all transpired, I
was at the county courthouse with my Government class, so that they
could see first hand how our judicial system works…

I received calls from the school not to come back to school because I
have students they were concerned about. (Yes, they are undocumented
students who have been in this district since they were in fourth
grade…)

…We made it back into Postville,...We have 150 students with no
parents to go home to. We are told that we need to stay with them
until we find out where their parents are or a relative that will care
for them until their parents are found. Many of these kids lost both
parents due to the raid…

…as a human being and as a parent, I find it disturbing to see little
elementary kids crying for their parents and asking you to take them
home, and all one can say is, I am sorry, or we are looking for them.
By the way, we got no information from ICE as to who they arrested,
and whether or not their parents were being detained. At this point, I
just wanted to go home and hug my own kids...

Today, I am missing about half of my students. Some have taken off for
Chicago, others are hiding in town, some were arrested, and others are
at the Catholic Church…

Interestingly enough, my US History students made a direct correlation
between what we all witnessed yesterday to our history lesson three
weeks ago. We have been studying W.W.II and the Holocaust. I had them
view the movie 'Schindler's List' and the things that happened in the
movie, with the Nazis rounding up the Jews, having them report
their names and families' names, transporting them to unknown places,
keeping them in substandard holding areas, and then getting rid of
them, was very much like what happened yesterday, with one exception,
the US has not practiced the use of genocide.

ICE is today doing house to house searches of every home and apartment
that has a Hispanic name attached to it. It is rather scary to see
search teams go from place to place, looking for immigrants. We had
agencies at the school a month ago with a subpoena to seize all
student and employee files. Any name that sounded remotely Hispanic
was flagged. I find this to be a form of racial profiling,…

How quickly we forget our own histories. Many of our ancestors came
here with nothing to their names and very little
to survive on…Why not go after the people who really are doing
something illegal and wrong? Like drug dealers or child molesters? If
we spent as much money on those items as we are currently spending on
the War in Iraq…or on building a 700 mile long wall on the Mexican
border which is actually 2300 miles long, we would maybe live in a
better economy that was safe for our families.

________________________________
FREE GAS, USA

Photo donated by flickr.com

By Pastor Mary Gault

The hottest topic of conversation these days appears to be the price
of gasoline. Fingers of blame point to dwindling oil reserves, other
countries consumption, speculators, oil guzzling vehicles, and the
falling value of the U.S. dollar. Businesses are raising their prices
to cover the extra cost for transportation of their goods. The higher
prices impact all of us to varying degrees. In order to get your
business, gas stations, grocery stores, car dealerships, and even
realtors, are offering the public free gasoline.

But the most affected are those whose income falls at or below the
poverty level. They are the ones who have no cushion to cover any
higher prices. Food, clothing, medicine and gasoline to name a few
living expenses, all are increasing with no promise of relief. Getting
to work now becomes problematic in areas without adequate public
transportation.

Therefore, to help those in need a new 501(c)(3) charity has been
formed. It is called Free Gas USA, Inc. and is based in Kalamazoo.
Michigan. (Visit our website at: http://www.freegasusa.org/. It's
mission states: Recognizing the importance of gasoline as a means to
sustain our nation's economy, Free Gas USA, Inc. is dedicated to
provide advocacy and financial grant assistance for needy Americans.
In order to facilitate this goal we partner with public, private,
philanthropic and religious organizations to maintain and/or enhance
the dignity and overall quality of life of our clients.

This article originated in the People's Tribune
PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654, 773-486-3551, info@peoplestribune.org.
Feel free to reproduce unless marked as copyrighted.
Please include this message with reproductions of the article.

Oregonian: DMV applications down

2008-07-28T07:51:00.001-07:00

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/dmv_reports_license_applicatio.html

Who are these immigrant-bashers?

2008-07-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

TriMet must abandon biodiesel now

2008-07-20T12:29:00.001-07:00

Eugene's Lane Transit District (LTD) found that biodiesel costs up to 16 percent more than already expensive real diesel. Thus LTD has discontinued all biodiesel buses. TriMet should follow Eugene in halting this expensive experiment in pseudo-hippie social engineering before implementing any future fare increase under the pretext of rising fuel costs.

Bye bye Starbucks

2008-07-18T19:11:00.001-07:00

All things considered, it's not bad at all to see only nine Starbucks locations in the whole state of Oregon and one in Vancouver, Wash. are closing. The two Portland locations demised are--sigh, where else--Ladd's Addition and Seven Corners (my, the latter didn't last very long, and it was even firebombed the day it opened...but the Red & Black Cafe had to move out, so I guess the damage to the community was already done.).

Big brother alert in Seattle!

2008-07-16T21:02:00.001-07:00

Washington State Ferries, the second busiest ferry lines in America, has installed license plate recognition cameras in Seattle, Bremervon and Bainbridge. The cameras will be used by the state police to find stolen cars and check for warrants. Next time you get on a ferry, at the other end the po-faces will arrest you if you've got an overdue speeding ticket, or ahem, if they think you're a terrorist! What's next? Is this really the USA? http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/25516234.html

Community happenings of interest

2008-07-16T15:20:00.001-07:00

***So as we all know not everyone is able to access the internet for information sharing. We encourage those of you with printers and connections to pass out copies, or post updates in conspicuous places so that all houseless comrades and allies are in the loop. Maybe if we're near TPI, Julia West House, Street Roots, Sisters' or other hot spots, we can ask to post updates on bulletin boards or windows, and of course there's nothing better than word of mouth. Thanks!

Happenings!
Portland City Council
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Coordinating Committee
Proposal meeting to discuss Camp Opportunity and Green Zone
Portland Plan Open House and Workshop
Human Rights Commission to End Discrimination is taking applications!
Portland City Hall Art Show
Commissioner Nick Fish Report Back from meeting
Hands Off the Poor Emergency Demonstration Report Back
We've been looking for a place to meet...
Get Involved!

PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL, Wednesday 16 July 2008, 9:30am, Portland City Hall
A friend and veteran will be speaking about the sit/lie laws in Council
Chambers. Come show your support and let the Commissioners' know we're still
here.

TEN YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS COORDINATING COMMITTEE, Wednesday 16 July
2008, 3-5pm, Multnomah County Lincoln Building, 421 Southwest Oak, Columbia/
Willamette Rooms. This is a nice group of people with many good intentions,
and they run meetings well, however, it is mostly made up of service providers
and has historically had very few representatives from the houseless community.
Many of us from the City Hall protest have started attending these meetings
and we are encouraging others to as well to see what Mayor Potter is up to and
why exactly he is so bound and determined to see this through even though the
Ten Year Plan is not looking optimistic at all. Come listen, ask questions,
and challenge what's not working. Come hold this committee accountable for
doing the work they've been commissioned to do, and help them see the immediacy
of the crisis as something that cannot be ignored in light of their current
agendas and long term goals. Link:
http://www.portlandonline.com/ bhcd/index.cfm?c=30140

PROPOSAL MEETING with Coordinating Committee to End Homelessness facilitator
Sally Erickson on Monday, 21 July 2008. A few representatives will meet to
discuss and present proposals for Camp Opportunity and a Green Zone.

PORTLAND PLAN Open House and Workshop--Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 4:30pm, Portland
Building, 1120 SW Fifth Ave. Second Floor Rooms B and C. We get to help plan
Portland's future, and to make sure the interests of those of us who are living
outside are not left behind, we must represent our community with a strong and
unified voice. Bring your ideas and suggestions to help shape the future of
Downtown Portland. The focus will be on the City Center itself,
transportation, and streetcar development. Let's make sure that our
community's voices are not left out of the conversation, and focus on
challenging people's assumptions about homelessness. When our city's leaders
and developers get the opportunity to meet and know us as people, we hope they
will see the importance of including compassion and justice in this planning
process. Link: http://www.portlandonline.com/ shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=201650

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO END DISCRIMINATION. In March, Mayor Potter formed
the Human Rights Commission to End Discrimination. The committee is taking
applications for new members to be a part of ensuring that all Portland
citizens are treated with honor, dignity, and respect without discrimination.
We could bring some good ideas and perspective to this group, and challenge
Mayor Potter to see the importance of including ALL Portland neighbors in this
commission, regardless of economic status. Potter has touted his involvement
in bringing the new Day Labor Center to Portland as an act of Civil
Disobedience against the feds, while at the same time turning his back on his
houseless neighbors by continuing to allow the illegal and heavy-handed
enforcement of the unconstitutional sit/lie and anti-camping ordinances. Want
to inspire and challenge our so-called leaders? Then do it! Application
deadline: 18 July 2008 at 4:30pm. Link:
http://www.portlandonline.com/ index.cfm?c=26361&a=201819

PORTLAND CITY HALL ART SHOW, Mon-Fri. 9-5, Sam Adams Office, 2nd floor
Portland State students contacted us and wanted to offer their art space at
City Hall to install works by those affected by the crisis of homelessness and
poverty and involved in Portland's recent City Hall Protest. The opening was
on the first Thursday of July and it can be found in future Mayor Sam Adams'
office for the duration of the month. Check it out, and if you have a wild
hair, make an appointment with Sam to discuss any concerns you might have since
so far he's shown no interest in repealing the unconstitutional sit/lie and
anti-camping ordinances.

COMMISSIONER NICK FISH invited a couple folks to discuss solutions and talk
housing shop at City Hall. He's educating himself for the moment since he's
fresh in the door, and though he hasn't made a commitment one way or the other
regarding the sit/lie law, he confirmed that he would continue to support the
anti-camping ordinance. It was a fairly lengthy discussion, and he mentioned
that he is currently developing a commission to look at alternative community
solutions that have been offered in response to the current housing crisis.

HANDS OFF THE POOR Emergency Demo Report Back and Follow-up. Saturday 19 July
2008, 12pm, PCAP (Portland Coalition Against Poverty) Office, 917 Southwest Oak
St. Suite 413. Those who showed up to participate, speak, chant, fly signs
and march, Thanks for your support and for helping educate the community! The
march brought up to 120 people, and the forum included 75 folks discussing
community solutions to houselessness and poverty. This Saturday PCAP will
help facilitate a discussion about the demo, as well as their Trimet Campaign
for a rider's union, and Camp Opportunity.

Also, save the date for a Hands Off the Poor follow-up forum, Saturday, 16
August 2008, under the East side of the Hawthorne Bridge. Food provided, and
more details to follow.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO MEET...
For now, Street Roots has kindly offered their space one day a week from 3-5pm
so we can meet inside, focus and strategize next steps, goals, and community
engagement. We've talked about this before. Is Tuesday a good day? It
would be temporary for now, but it would be a stable place to meet up and get
some good work done until we establish something more sustainable. Any
feedback? Also, ideas or options for a long-term meeting space would be
greatly welcomed. We're looking for something in Fareless Square that has
room enough for a good crowd of Social Artists.

GET INVOLVED! in issues that affect us all, housed and houseless in Portland.
Show up to some of these meetings or events to learn more, talk about what's
happening in your workplace, place of worship, over dinner, on the bus or in
the streets with strangers. When we don't stand up for what is right, who
will? and if we wait for others to lead, nothing will ever change. Other ways
to get involved are to call future Mayor Sam Adams, as well as Commissioners'
Saltzman, Fish, and Leonard and share your concerns, 503-823-4000, or stop by
the City Auditors Office and sign up to speak in City Council regarding the
continued enforcement of the sit/lie and anti-camping laws that make it
impossible for people without homes to stop, sit, rest, or sleep in our great
City. With our current economic crisis, many of us could just as easily be
without a place to go. As the current law is now, we would be treated no
differently.

>>>If you know others who would be interested in receiving this update please
send it along to them and/or have them go to riseup.net, go to lists, look up
portlandisourhome, then subscribe; you can do the same to unsubscribe as well.
We will do our best not to bombard your mailbox more than once a week, and if
anyone knows of applicable meetings or events coming in the near or distant
future please send them our way for posting<<<

Loss of undocumented workers=$17.7bil loss to Oregon economy

2008-07-11T12:51:00.001-07:00

Loss of undocumented workers could cost Oregon $17.7B

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/07/daily26.html

Study shows big impact if 'No Match' rule flies

Federal rule could cause thousands of Hispanic workers in Oregon to lose jobs
Medford Mail-Tribune

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/BIZ/807100316

Hands off the poor!

2008-07-10T12:40:00.001-07:00

Portland Coalition Against Poverty stages protest downtown

By Sarah Morrigan

Street Roots

PORTLAND, Ore., July 9 -- Braving the 89 degree temperature, over 70 people representing student, veteran and activist organizations marched through downtown Portland Wednesday evening, holding short rallies at several locations in protest of the recent police sweeps of encampments under Portland's bridges.

Newly organized Portland Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) formed by college students and other allies of the unhoused people led this protest, while contingents from the Portland Veterans for Peace, Sisters Of The Road's Civic Action Group and the United Poor People also joined in. One of the PCAP organizers, named Marco, addressed the crowd saying that the purpose of PCAP is to "eradicate poverty through community action. and to hold the Portland Police Bureau and private security companies accountable for their harassment and abuse of the houseless people."

The demonstrators marched from the North Park Blocks to the Portland State University campus through Old Town/Chinatown and downtown for a length of three hours, with stops in front of the Northwest Natural Building, the Portland Patrol Services headquarters, the Justice Center and the Standard Insurance Building. They chanted slogans along the way such as "Stop the sweeps," "End police harassment," and "All power to the poor."

At the corner of Northwest First Avenue and Davis Street a few Portland Police Bureau officers stopped a protester and gave out a citation for jaywalking. The incident was videotaped by the legal observers from the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center. In response to the police action the demonstrators yelled, "The rich will never help the poor, the only solution is class war." A unmarked police squad car followed the protest for several blocks.

At the Portland Center for Performing Arts on Southwest Broadway, the chanting of the demonstrators briefly held up an outdoor music performance.

PCAP held the first of its "monthly public forum" at the end of the march in front of the Smith Memorial Student Union at Portland State University. The forum is being held in response to the recent meeting of the city-endorsed Coordinating Committee to End Homelessness, in which organizers from the United Poor People were denied a time for speaking. A Food Not Bombs group provided free meal for participants.

###

Also: (More detailed coverage by Matt Davis here)
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/gyrobase/Blog?blog=41935&oid=837703#more

King County launches its own ferry system!

2008-07-10T12:34:00.001-07:00

http://www.kingcountyferries.org/

This weekend the new King County Ferry District will start its service. This is in addition to the existing Washington State Ferries services to Bremerton and Bainbridge Island (from Colman Dock downtown Seattle), as well as to Vashon and Southworth (from Lincoln Park/Fauntleroy in West Seattle). The KCFD is a separate entity from Metro.

Internal checkpoint alert: WSF Anacortes, possibly another

2008-07-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-checkpoint30-2008jun30,0,1022388,full.story

Potential other locations could include Port Townsend and Keystone, or Mukilteo and Clinton. Last year the same U.S. Border Patrol set up a checkpoint on U.S. Highway 101 in western Clallam County. The federal law permits such checkpoints within 100 miles of the borders.

Free Guide to Portland

2008-07-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

http://portlandfreesource.pbwiki.com/

Checkpoints in the District of Columbia--Is this America?!?

2008-07-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

JusticeOnline.org

Subscribe

Partnership for Civil Justice Sues to Strike Down DC's Checkpoint Program
Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Stops and Data Collection

Court Hearing set for Wednesday, July 9, 2pm
(public is welcome to attend)

The Partnership for Civil Justice filed a major class action lawsuit on June 20 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking an injunction against the Metropolitan Police Department's "Neighborhood Safety Zone" checkpoint program.

A hearing on the lawsuit has been set for Wednesday, July 9, at 2pm in Courtroom 18 of Judge Richard J. Leon, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

In early June, 2008, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they were establishing a police checkpoint program in which they would seal off neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The first checkpoints were immediately set up in the predominantly African American community in the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast DC. Under the program, the police stop and interrogate drivers about their activities and associations, requiring motorists to provide identification and a "legitimate" reason for driving on the public roadways, including giving the identity and phone numbers of friends and family.

The lawsuit asserts that the roadblock program is an unconstitutional suspicionless seizure of persons traveling on public roadways in the District of Columbia. The lawsuit also challenges the District's use of these mass civil rights violations to collect and aggregate data on the movements, activities and associations of law abiding residents and visitors to the District and seeks expungement of this information.

The checkpoints are an extraordinary expansion of police power to stop, seize and interrogate individuals without any probable cause or suspicion of illegal activity. They are also ineffective at stopping crime.

"People want their children to be able to walk the streets in their neighborhood in a safe and secure environment. The District's military-style roadblock system was deployed, in part, to give the appearance that the government is addressing this deeply felt need. But it is neither constitutional, nor effective. There is an urgent need to tackle the problems of violence, street crime, unemployment and education. This roadblock does not address any of them," states the Class Action Complaint.

Copies of the Class Action Complaint, Mills v. District of Columbia can be read by clicking here, and the Memorandum of Law in Support of a Preliminary Injunction can be read by clicking here.

The attorneys on the lawsuit are Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo, co-founders of the Partnership for Civil Justice.

To learn more about the lawsuit, the media coverage, and the growing opposition to the checkpoints from within the Washington, DC community, see the following links:

Associated Press Article, "Group Files Lawsuit Against DC Vehicle Checkpoints"

Washington Post Article, "Class Action Filed Over Checkpoints: Rights Group Calls Police Activity in Trinidad Neighborhood Unconstitutional"

Read the Complaint

Read the Memo of Law in Support of a Preliminary Injunction

Please make a donation

Your urgently needed donation will help support the ongoing efforts to defend the Constitution which is under assault from federal, state and local government. We can't do it without your help. Please make your generous contribution by clicking this link.

Dangerous Votes Pending

2008-07-08T12:17:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Downsizer Dispatch <downsizer-dispatch@downsizedc.org>

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h

Quote of the Day:

HEDRICK SMITH: A more fundamental question confronts all of us. The 4th Amendment protects us against unreasonable search and seizure without probable cause. So does the strategy of (terrorist) prevention collide with the Constitution? When the government is doing this kind of data mining, has it moved from individualized suspicion, getting an individual warrant, to generalized suspicion, to check everybody to find out who are the bad guys?

PETER SWIRE (White House Privacy Counsel, 1999-01): Yeah. Check everybody. Everybody's a suspect. Everybody's phone records, everybody's email is subject to government scrutiny. And if you're good, we won't bother you, and if you look a little strange, then you might get on a watch list.

HEDRICK SMITH: Isn't that a huge change in Anglo-Saxon law? I mean, Anglo-Saxon law is based on "Get a warrant." The 4th Amendment is based on individual suspicion.

PETER SWIRE: Right. General warrants was part of the reason for the American Revolution. It was that the king's agent could go in and search a house everywhere, search a whole neighborhood with one warrant. And the Boston people said, "We don't like that. We'll have a tea party. We'll fight you." We said no.
-- from FRONTLINE

Subject: Dangerous votes pending

Two dangerous votes are pending this week. You know about the "FISA Amendments Act." We've been hammering on it for weeks now, and you've been hammering Congress. The other dangerous pending vote is a resolution that's a virtual declaration of war on Iran.

House Concurrent Resolution 362 urges the President to blockade Iran, stopping all sea traffic in and out of the country. It has 220 co-sponsors. The Senate version is Senate Resolution 580. It has 32 co-sponsors.

In the space of a week we're facing the virtual repeal of the 4th Amendment and a major step toward a major new war.

* If you think your gasoline prices are high now and the economy is in trouble, just imagine what will happen if a U.S. blockade removes Iranian oil from the world market.
* Just imagine how the rest of the world will react to that.
* Imagine how many Muslims will be radicalized by this action.
* Imagine how many new recruits there will be for terrorist cells.
* And imagine what will happen to the last shreds of your rights in the face of an escalated terrorist threat.

Is all of this what Americans thought they were asking for when they went to the polls in 2006 to repudiate the Bush administration? Meanwhile . . .

The non-elected branch of government, the U.S. courts, has handed down a ruling in favor of the 4th Amendment protections that Congress seems intent on repealing. Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the Northern District of California has just issued a key ruling in Al Haramain v. Bush, one of the cases challenging the NSA's warrantless spying program. There are a lot of details to this decision, but what you need to know is this . . .

Those challenging the government and the telecoms over the warrantless spying program have a case, and would be allowed to present their evidence in court, in spite of the state secrets privilege, IF ONLY Congress would allow them to do so by NOT passing the "FISA Amendments Act."

We are deep in the grip of a reckless Congress and lawless White House, with only the courts as our only option to get it right. It's up to us, as individuals, to make sure that the politicians understand that they do NOT have the consent of the governed in these matters.

Please send Congress a message asking them to prevent an attack on Iran. Use your personal comments to tell them you also oppose House Concurrent Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580. You can do so here.

Please also send another message asking your Senators to support a filibuster of the "FISA Amendments Act." Use your personal comments to mention Judge Walker's ruling and that you want the cases against the telecoms to be able to move forward. You can send that message here, using our old campaign against the "Protect America Act."

When you've done that, please also call your Senators. Ask them to support a filibuster and to vote against the "FISA Amendments Act."

Congress must know that they do NOT have your consent on either of these issues.

Please also make a contribution to further our work. You can do so here.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
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Upcoming demonstrations to show support and solidarity! Wednesday!

2008-07-07T19:09:00.001-07:00

City Council, Wednesday 9 July 2008, Portland City Hall, 9:30am

Come support two friends as they testify about their experiences concerning the
affects of the unconstitutional sit/lie and anti-camping laws and gender
discrimination on Portland citizens living outside. Also please feel free to
stop by the City Auditors Office any time and sign up to speak at City Council
about how these unjust ordinances affect our entire community

"Hands Off the Poor!" Wednesday 9 July 2008, North Park Blocks Elephant, 5pm

Emergency demonstration and march organized by the Portland Coalition Against
Poverty in response to the recent illegal bridge sweeps of our houseless
neighbors by Portland Police. Bring signs, rage, hope, and friends. Plan to
build community while holding our community accountable

S. Renee Mitchell: Free youth TriMet pass = class war

2008-07-07T17:55:00.001-07:00

In today's Oregonian, columnist S. Renee Mitchell wrote calling for a
free youth all-zone TriMet pass for high school students, saying "So,
why are we letting TriMet shortchange us on a widely endorsed proposal
to give free public bus rides to Portland-area students?"

Remember the recent teenage gang attacks on MAX passengers at two
Yellow Line stations?

If I borrow Fred Hansen's nefarious argument, giving those teens a
pass to free ride will encourage mobility among the criminal elements
to fine places such as Forest Grove, Troutdale and Oregon City...and
even Hazel Dell. Maybe that's why Hansen & Co. isn't really into this.

But somehow, there are lots of people with influence who promote this
idea of handing out free TriMet passes to all high school students:
including gangsters and spoiled brats of a super-wealthy parent alike.

Yet they are not necessarily advocating a regional reduced fare permit
for low-income persons (such as those in Washington State, including
in Sound Transit, METRO, Pierce Transit, C-TRAN, etc.) or a
system-wide fareless square. In essence, any argument for continued
fare increase or an elimination of Fareless Square is nothing short of
a full-scale class war and social cleansing attempt upon the growing
class of the poor and/or unhoused people. This is even more crucial
today because the availability of affordable housing is limited in the
inner city -- and the people are being pushed out to the outskirts
such as Parkrose, Rockwood, Milwaukie and Gresham.

Fareless Square is not merely an issue of TriMet policymaking; it is
an integral part of a holistic urban planning and transportation
policies of Portland, Metro, Multnomah County, ODOT as well as TriMet.
The unelected body known as TriMet should not be able to unilaterally
make such decisions that would cause a major impact on the dynamics of
this city.

You Can't Steal Pioneer Square Electricity (by Matt Davis)

2008-07-07T17:01:00.001-07:00

Greed!

Actually Portland Parks and Recreation has a number of parks with electrical outlets so people can use them for picnics and such...

But remember the PPSI is a private business doing the dirty job on behalf of the Portland Business Alliance. Neither PPSI nor PBA suffers from this alleged "theft."

Disgusting, indeed.

Sent to you by Miss Iris via Google Reader:

You Can't Steal Pioneer Square Electricity

via Portland Mercury: Blogtown, PDX by Matt Davis on 7/7/08

I was in Pioneer Square just now, interviewing someone for an unrelated story, when a Portland Patrol Services guard, or rent-a-cop, walked up, and told a street kid he could not plug his cell phone into the square's electricity outlets...

ENFORCING THE RULES, OR HARRASSING THE KIDS, OR BOTH? OR NEITHER?

The guard, right, told Kaleb, left, that by charging his phone in one of the Pioneer Square outlets, he was "stealing electricity from the city," and faced being "written up for theft."

"I just see an open outlet, somewhere I can plug my phone in," said the kid. "It's not posted anywhere that I can't plug my phone in here."

"Well, it's posted somewhere," said the guard. "It's just not posted here."

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Portland Mercury: Blogtown, PDX using Google Reader
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Portland Coalition Against Poverty news

2008-06-27T21:56:00.001-07:00

---------- forwarded message ----------
From: Portland Coalition Against Poverty <pdxcap@gmail.com>
Date: 27 Jun 2008 14:18
Subject: Copy of Press Release
To: "undisclosed-re." <undisclosed-recipients>

This is a copy of a press release sent out by the Portland Coalition
Against Poverty yesterday. Thought you might be interested. If you
could forward it to other UPP etc. affiliated folks, it would be
greatly appreciated. I don't have contact info for some of them.

Thanks much,
Patrick Lamson

----For Immediate Release----

Police Sweep Bridges – Demonstration Called for July 9th

Contact:

Portland Coalition Against Poverty

PDXCAP@gmail.com

On Tuesday June 24th, following the regular meal service under the
Burnside Bridge, Portland Police awakened and dispersed over 50 people
from above and beneath the Bridge. On Wednesday June 25th, the police
and Clean and Safe awakened and dispersed 16-20 people from the East
side of the Morrison Bridge and 10-14 people from the East side of the
Hawthorne Bridge. The people were removed with no alternative sleeping
locations given. Alan Pyrah, who was sleeping on the Burnside bridge
at the time of the sweep, asked an officer where he was expected to
go. The unnamed officer replied, "Go across the river." Pyrah went to
sleep under the Morrison Bridge, and was disturbed again the following
evening. These aggressive acts on the part of the Portland Police
highlight the continued contempt of the Portland Police bureau for the
houseless and impoverished.

The police awakened the sleeping citizens using foghorns and boots,
and gave them two minutes to collect their possessions. Clean and
Safe, the security branch of the Portland Business Alliance, had
brought large dumpsters with them, and all possessions not collected
within the two minute limit were thrown into the dumpsters. A Portland
Police officer stood by with a timer.

This method of dispersal is a break from standard Portland Police
policy: Ordinarily, possessions are seized and taken to a central
storage facility, where they can be claimed the next day.
Additionally, city policy requires the police to give 24 hour posted
notice before enforcing the no-camping law.

These dispersals are in accordance with the regular pattern of
ticketing and harassment during the summer festival season. Interviews
conducted at several nightly feeds immediately following the raids
confirmed the worst suspicions of houseless advocates.

Larry Reynolds, a disabled veteran who sleeps outdoors, said, "They're
targeting homeless people...taking people's gear and throwing it away.
They're not posting notices or inviting social service agencies [as
specified under the no-camping law] as they do it."

Two weeks before the Waterfront Blues Festival, the city has begun to
increase pressure on people sleeping outdoors. It began with verbal
warnings, and has been followed by ticketing and dispersal on a
nightly or bi-nightly basis. This police aggression is intended to
insure that attendees of the Blues Festival will not be confronted by
the City's issues of poverty. Cheyenne, a houseless person affected by
the dispersals, said, "It's the rich and the middle class stealing
[sleep] from the poor."

In response to the targeting of poor and houseless people in the
community, a demonstration is planned for Wednesday, July 9th. It will
start in the North Park Blocks at 5pm. "Hands Off the Poor," a
demonstration organized by the Portland Coalition Against Poverty
demands an immediate end to police harassment and arrest of poor and
houseless people in the community.

Re: New comment on On recent crime wave on TriMet's Yellow Line MAX.

2008-06-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

1. ALL public/mass transportation system is designed to LOSE money.
Any profitable operations (as such in major Japanese cities like
Tokyo) come from ancillary businesses such as real estate development.
The only reason why the airlines can turn up profits is that the
governments build, fund and manage airports as a money-losing
operation for public benefit. TriMet is a public agency for public
benefit. It is not a money-making venture.

2. Fares account for only about 16 percent of the total annual income
of TriMet. Portland Streetcar, Inc. is not part of TriMet.

3. Higher ridership justifies new taxes on cars and fuels and
increases on payroll taxes. One of the main taxpayer complaints today
is that why should they pay for something they never use.

4. Perhaps one should consider an equitable measure that would exact
more from the rich. Why are the freeways in Oregon entirely free,
unlike in California or New York where there are toll gates? Why does
ODOT allow those with means to buy an SUV let enjoy their freedom of
movement free of charge, while TriMet fare inspectors hunt down the
homeless population and low-income persons like greedy bloodhounds?
This is really immoral, and the latest fare increase by the unelected
and unaccountable TriMet Board of Directors (all but ONE member
representing the Big Business and Developer special interests) just
confirms their lack of morality, integrity and commitment for public
service.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Christian from TriMetiquette
Date: 2008/6/27
Subject: [Oregon Street Talk] New comment on On recent crime wave on
TriMet's Yellow Line MAX.

Christian from TriMetiquette has left a new comment on your post "On
recent crime wave on TriMet's Yellow Line MAX":

How would they make money then? I mean, you would be essentially
slicing out 1 / 2 of their revenue stream (I would lump the streetcar
& bus as the other half) if you were to make the MAX fareless.

On recent crime wave on TriMet's Yellow Line MAX

2008-06-24T13:51:00.001-07:00

Here's something those higher-ups at TriMet, including Fred Hansen, probably need to know. It is difficult to commit crimes in a broad daylight when lots of people are watching, many of them with cell phones with cameras or camcorders.

I feel safe riding the MAX within the Fareless Square (as well as the Portland Streetcar) precisely because there are a lot of people on board -- and also because there is relatively a short interval between stops. I do not ride the MAX outside the Fareless Square -- rather take buses such as 20, 54, 58, etc. to Washington County, 4, 6 or 44 to North Portland, and 15, 19, 20 or 77 to Eastside.

The recent attacks by teens occurred at the two deserted MAX stations of Overlook Park and Prescott (which the TriMet code do not designate as a "fare-paid zone" unlike a few Blue Line stations such as Sunset, Washington Park and the three Banfield stations). Security cameras do not preemptively prevent crimes -- all what they do is to assist in investigation and prosecution after all the damage is done.

TriMet should really consider making the entirety of its MAX system fare-free and heavily encourage a high-density ridership. This is probably the least-expensive option to prevent undesirable and criminal behaviors.

Inside Bush's Billion-Dollar Immigration Gulag

2008-06-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

ICE has created a multi-billion dollar industry for holding immigrants deemed "removable" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The next administration will face an out-of-control immigration enforcement regime that consigns immigrants to a labyrinth of unregulated detention centers, jails, and prisons throughout the country.

While the scope of the detention and imprisonment of immigrants has been greatly expanded by the Bush administration, the problem of unregulated immigrant detention is not new. In the 1990s, increased immigrant detention and federal prison overcrowding led to an outsourcing boom. Instead of being held in federal prisons and detention centers, arrested immigrants increasingly were held in local, state, and privately owned jails and prisons.

But the boom in contracted detention beds for federal detainees produced a series of scandals that alarmed many in Congress. Gross human rights abuses and millions of dollars in overcharges persuaded Congress...

Read more at http://www.alternet.org/rights/89102/?ses=6b9aa407e1e51ca25cbb30963c0bfbf4

Related articles

When Riding the Bus Turns into a Ticket to Jail

http://www.alternet.org/story/89021/

Anti-ESL Instruction Measure Qualifies for November Ballot

2008-06-18T12:07:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Erik Sorensen, CAUSA Communications <erik@causaoregon.org>
Date: 2008/6/17
Subject: [CAUSA ActionAlert] Anti-ESL Instruction Measure Qualifies for November Ballot
To: actionalerts@causaoregon.org

Dear Immigrant Rights Supporter,

Today, the Oregon Secretary of State's office announced that Initiative Petition #19 has qualified for the upcoming ballot. The unfunded mandate termed "English Language Instruction" would prohibit teaching a public school student in a language other than English for more than two years. This November, Oregonians will have the choice to reject or pass a law which will take control away from local school boards, families and educators and place it in the hands of convicted racketeer Bill Sizemore.

Similar measures that have been passed in other states have been shown to hinder the ability of children to learn English. In California, a recent study revealed that after six years since an anti-bilingual education measure's passage just one-quarter of Hispanic pupils could expect to be reclassified as fluent in English.

This staggering revelation shows that students have been prevented from making the most of their education thereby having a negative impact on their economic future and the future of the communities they live in. The fact remains, children learn English more quickly, along with math and science and other academic subjects, when at least some of their instruction is in their native language. Last year, there were 62,084 students enrolled in English Language Development programs in Oregon school districts.

A broad coalition of immigrant, refugee, educators and ally organizations are set to fight the ill-conceived measure by educating Oregonians about the additional costs the measure will create, the fact that it will take federal money away from Oregon's General Fund Budget, the harm it will do to children and the control it will take away from local school boards, families and educators, those whom know best about educate our children.

To read the full press release from the coalition with statements from Kayse Jama of the Center for Intercultural Organizing and Aeryca Steinbauer, please visit our blog at www.causaoregon.blogspot.com

In Solidarity,

Erik Sorensen
CAUSA Communications

Tuesday Food Not Bombs news

2008-06-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Tuesday FNB in the Pearl District (the one at the North Park Blocks) will be taking a two-week break, and will return on Thursday after the beginning of July.

This does not affect the other FNB on that day at the Colonel Summers Park in Southeast Portland.

This means as of July there will be FNB all days of the week except for Sunday and Monday.

City-Wide Solidarity Action to Support the Repeal of No-Camping Ordinance

2008-06-18T10:52:00.001-07:00

City-Wide Solidarity Action to Support the Repeal of No-Camping Ordinance

author: UPPity

The eve of the Summer Solstice, hundreds of Portlanders throughout the City of Roses will hold block parties and camp out on their front yards or sidewalks to visibly demonstrate their solidarity with the un-housed people of Portland!

Saturday night, June 21, 2008

This is a decentralized campaign of solidarity actions. Get your tents, sleeping bags, etc. and celebrate the shortest night of the year and start of the summer (and the eve of Portland's first "Sunday Parkways" event -- http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46103 ) and show solidarity with those who must camp and sleep outside year-round.

homepage: http://unitedpoorpeople.googlepages.com/

TriMet: do the most obvious, not boondoggles!

2008-06-13T15:15:00.001-07:00

Stop wasting money on fare inspectors on MAX. Indefinitely suspend all Yellow Line and east of Gateway services until making all stations staffed by stationmasters and clerks. In the mean time why not lease the LRVs to Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit and earn some money off dormant trains... Portland's sister city built its imitation of MAX sans thugs and gangsters.

From Gay Pride to Gay Humility

2008-06-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

As we once again witness yet another annual orgy of commercialism and GLBT cultural elite propaganda this weekend, I would like to once again write on this subject.

Mr. Byron Beck of Willamette Week mentioned again in his column that the parade features a nauseatingly long entourage of churches (http://wweek.com/editorial/3431/11092/). Speaking of churches, I have wondered for a long time why they ought to participate in an event that touts "pride" when their own Scriptures discourage pride and encourage humility.

There are many things for the so-called GLBT community in America, especially the ones who purport to be Christians or other people of faith, to be humble about.

The economic and social privileges they have, for instance. At the very least, one needs to be humble in its true sense of the word. Humility, as the Rev. Matthew+ Fox writes in his books, comes from the word for soil (as in ground). Hence being humble is to be down-to-earth, or "earthy."

We may even want to look at the consumerist excess and capitalist exploitation of the so-called GLBT culture. On a related note, at how classist and middle-class based Portland's "GLBT" community is; and how it is exclusionary rather than inclusive of anyone who do not nicely fit into the white, middle-class idea of "gayness."

We also need to look at the gay community and its advocacy groups' silence on real oppressions, such as the U.S. repression on immigrants at home, torture and murder of "enemies" abroad, and lack of meaningful actions on genocides in Africa. Here in Portland, the top echelons of GLBT political machines, including the ones who elected Sam Adams over Sho Dozono, are at best eerily silent on the issues in their own hometown. What about the failing Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare (which, by the way, owns SMYRC among others), insanity of skyrocketing housing prices and displacement of lower-income residents, ever-increasing "homelessness" in Portland and its suburbs and organized police repressions on their camps and persons, the state legislature's failure to prevent nativist xenophobes such as Jim Ludwick from pushing S.B. 1080 (was S.B. 424), which is nothing other than a targeted scapegoating and attack on Oregon's immigrant foreigner populations.

As for the faith communities in Portland area that claim to be "open and welcome and affirming", they are almost invariably of white, middle-class stock and they display (both knowingly and out of ignorance and fear, at the same time) such a contempt at and disrespect for the low-income, mentally ill, and/or not-housed or inadequately-housed populations. While they beam at the notion of welcoming and accepting gays and lesbians, they simultaneously form "safety committee" and craft "security protocols" to keep the homeless persons from even entering their church buildings.

The reality is, today in America, the "homeless" is the "niggers" and "faggots" of the early 21st century. What was once acceptable to be done to the people of color and homosexuals is now illegal under federal and Oregon laws, but to this day, the homeless and many low-income persons can be discriminated against and treated like "niggers" and "faggots" of bygone eras -- without any consequence on the side of those who mistreat them.

The gay subculture, specifically those who purport to be religious, that tolerates all this evil and fails to speak out, must be condemned just as they themselves condemn the likes of Fred Phelps, James Dobson or Jerry Falwell.

It is time for a bit of Gay Shame and some serious Gay Humility, folks.

City Hall protesters reorganize, form coalitions

2008-06-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Morrigan
Originally appeared in Street Roots, May 30, 2008, p. 4

If the first 15 days of the City Hall protest by displaced urban campers and their allies characterized people's activist potentials, the next two weeks represented a material lesson in the development and evolution of a nascent social movement.

The movement is at a crossroads. Its future and outcomes hang on a delicate balance. It is easy for the masses to join when the movement is visible and full of energy; it is yet altogether another challenge to stay involved and keep the movement alive for a greater victory beyond the initial excitement.

By the time my previous article went to press (“Protest was a growing, authentically human, community,” Street Roots, May 16) the protesters had left City Hall. They were largely dispersed and smaller crowds gathered in three nearby parks. Even as Arthur Rios, one of the original organizers, held a press conference in front of City Hall on May 13 announcing that they will dismantle the encampment at 9 p.m., a splinter group was already forming and vowed to remain there and go to jail in solidarity.

While many sought a peaceful resolution by respecting the city-imposed limits on their demonstration, others felt that the decision to end the camp did not reflect their voices. A few even argued that the emerging movement has been taken over by those without experiences of “homelessness,” left-wing activists and organizations such as Sisters Of The Road.

Early Thursday, May 15, Portland Police Bureau evicted the demonstrators under the pretext of allowing the Portland Downtown Services Incorporated crew to clean up the sidewalk. As of 5:30 a.m. there were about 25 people remaining, a contrast from the peak figure of 152 only two days ago. According to Portland Business Alliance spokesperson Megan Doern, the work crew “used to be homeless” and was sent there through Central City Concern's “Homeless-to-Work” program.

Soon afterward, remaining protesters formed a new coalition, United Poor People (UPP). It designated Chapman Square next to the Portland Building as its “convergence point” to hold twice-daily meetings for “regrouping and strategizing.” UPP made an arrangement with St. Michael the Archangel Parish to use its parking lot as a temporary campsite and resolved to rest and reenergize for a weekend. Other protesters went back to their former camps or were forced to find a new location, often four or five miles away from downtown due to police actions.

Many signs of a backlash were shared among UPP and Homeless Liberation Front (HLF) supporters during the latter half of May: they said the police intensified frequency and geographical scope of campsite sweeps since May 13.

UPP's strategies also shifted from on-street pickets to more targeted actions such as letter-writing, leafleting, presenting testimonies at the city council meetings and public hearings, a “theater of the absurd,” and a mock funeral procession to honor people died due to lack of housing. Simultaneously the movement must contend with the reality and necessity of life: some forfeited two weeks of their income protesting rather than working. Many protesters have to adjust their involvement around feed schedules, appointments and shelter rules. During meetings at the park many creative ideas are exchanged, strategies debated, and support activities organized to meet the everyday needs of the UPP activists (laundry days, for example).

On May 22 a delegation from UPP and HLF attended the Coordinating Committee to End Homelessness meeting at First United Methodist Church. Of 25 attendees 12 UPP-HLF activists comprised nearly a half of the group, with the rest representing city agencies and local non-profits.

People from UPP and HLF voiced a need for immediate and innovative solutions. “The problem is all this [10-year Plan to End Homelessness] takes time,” said Larry Reynolds of HLF. “The reality is that there is no time.” Reynolds called for an establishment of a “green zone,” use of dormant properties for Dignity Village-style communities, and reshuffling of police force to focus on genuine crime-fighting instead of camps.

“Non-profits control this,” Reynolds expressed his frustration. “They've been doing this 20 years and the number of the poor people are growing.”
“I'm Wesley Flowers, and I'm a free-range human,” said a UPP activist. “The 10-year Plan worked well when the economy was better. Now reprioritize the focus on those entering homelessness.”

Flowers proposed a 350-bed “mass sheltering system” that costs less than $15,000. Others voiced more pressing needs.

“Last two weeks I've been homeless, all what I can think is where I go potty,” said Lynne Walker, a citizen activist. “It's absurd when there is no safe and legal way to urinate. Dogs are treated better than homeless humans.”

While the city officials touted the partnership with mass-evangelist Luis Palau's Portland Cityfest in hosting a Project Homeless Connect on Aug. 22, others asked for year-round improvements such as a centralized shelter vacancy hotline and services for those “aging out” of youth services. Some questioned why “mats on floor” the city recently funded are “so expensive,” and accused agencies of diverting government funds to other projects.

“A focused communication with goal on reconciliation needs to happen,” UPP organizer Katie Nilson said.

Protest was a growing, authentically human, community

2008-06-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Morrigan
Originally appeared in Street Roots, May 16, 2008, p. 14

In olden days it was said that a City Hall is the people's house. In French, “city hall” is l'hôtel de ville. Last Wednesday, I took up my temporary abode in front of the Portland City Hall to witness history in the making and to be part of it.

At City Hall I saw a convergence of the people, growing from about 10 half a month ago to more than 100 by Friday, May 9. There is a sense of power in this reclaiming of the commons and sharing the living together: like Gandhi who made a defiant statement through spinning yarns and making salt. The people ate, slept and lived here to show the world that they are humans and they won't be pushed around and marginalized any more.

At 1221 SW Fourth Ave. the crowd came from all walks of life and encamped all around the City Hall block. Outdoor urban dwellers with shopping carts and dogs lived side by side with a political candidate, students, left-radical activists and others — even one supporter from Seattle, who took up a temp job in Portland by day and camped here by night. Evangelical Christians from Father's House Church, Food Not Bombs volunteers, Yellow Brick Road workers and concerned neighbors frequently stopped by with support and donations. Soon this protest showcased the best of Portland: a strong sense of community and respect for each other, a healthy balance between individualism and communitarianism.

By the second week the protestors were well organized, and on May 10 they began a nightly meeting. The group adhered to six, self-imposed rules of conduct and overall it was peaceful. A City Hall security guard commented, “They're amazingly nice people.” Early Thursday morning, though, an alleged drug dealer attempted to attack protestors and incite fights. He was swiftly removed by a group of protesters patrolling the ground. Next night three police cars arrive at 1:30 a.m. and dropped off many boxes of pizza.

At 2 a.m. Saturday, May 10 they came again, and at 10:45 a.m. served a notice to vacate the “illegal encampment” by May 13. Seven people were arrested and jailed. The police also ordered the “camp” to move off the building walls to the curb. Someone later commented that a sweeper truck can cause injuries and property damages if people were forced to camp so close to the roadway.

Mayor Tom Potter made a statement that Saturday that the growing protest, now consisting “mostly of transient youth” (I must ask: are they any less valuable than the stereotypical “homeless” Potter wants to “help”?) was becoming unsafe. The organizers invited Potter to continue the dialogue but by then he refused to talk any further to the protestors. A sign went up with a line-by-line estimate of economic damage to a person if officials “remove the camp.” The total came to $475. Someone said, “When I became homeless the cops broke my laptop because they thought I stole it. That was my work laptop.” In conversations, people told me in many ways that the existing social-service systems deliberately create a permanently dependent underclass that is a ward of charities, while preventing true self-sufficiency and independence.

That same Saturday, the crowd appeared smaller. The Oregonian interpreted this as a sign of the growing rift between politicized organizers and “some homeless people” just looking for a place to sleep. That night, protesters debated whether going to jail in civil disobedience was a constructive next step. Many expressed support, but others argued that it would divide and weaken the movement while generating negative publicity and alienating potential supporters in the greater community.

I woke up early Sunday and saw the people peacefully sleeping. This was a growing, authentically human, community; neither a hyped-up political rally, nor a dehumanizing emergency shelter. The silent consensus was “we're all in this together” — not just those driven out of doorways and bridges, but Portlanders as a whole. This was what Washington State University professor Susan Finley calls “praxis of liberation,” (“The faces of dignity: rethinking the politics of homelessness and poverty in America,” in the July-August 2003 issue of Qualitative Studies in Education, p. 510) and the authorities were with no doubt alarmed by the visibility, strength and resilience of the community.

Tacoma: Activist Being Held By ICE

2008-06-13T13:39:00.001-07:00

From the open publishing newswire: Jonah has been in Northwest Detention Center for about a week and a half now. During this time, he has been buying overpriced ramen noodles and trading meat for small cups full of green beans at meals. He has sent in requests for vegan food several times and they have all been denied. Today he's starting hunger strike. He's already feeling weak from lack of nutrition, so please help by calling GEO at 253 396 1611 and telling them to feed him good food!! You'll need his A# - 88737285 and his full name - Jose Alberto Larrama Portillo.

Also, he needs supporters from all over to write letters - On a computer or typewriter, not hand written - to the judge. In these letters you should include who you are, what your citizenship status is, your contact info, how long you have known Jonah and how much he rules.. Include things about how he feeds the hungry and teaches you new tricks and is ridiculously helpful and selfless with everyone. You need to write them to "Honorary Immigration Judge." Sounds silly, I know. "Dear Honorary Immigration Judge," And send them to him. Three copies.

And please keep sending letters of support.

Jose Alberto Larrama Portillo
A#88737285
1623 East J St, Suite 5
Tacoma, WA 98421

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/06/376684.shtml

Operation Nightwatch Propaganda!

2008-06-13T13:29:00.001-07:00

Obama and immigration reform: Can he win the Latino bloc?

2008-06-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/06/obama-and-the-l.html

"But Obama had some appeal: he won Latinos in Virginia; he supported
drivers licenses for illegal immigrants; he said those who blame
immigrants for job losses were scapegoating (Clinton wouldn't go far).
And there was his well-pronounced Spanish in an ad in Puerto Rico.

"So the decisive lead Gallup shows speaks well of Obama's chances,
given that Latino voters could make the difference in big swing states
like Florida. But how important is the bloc? It's said Latinos
propelled Bush to victory, and could play a bigger role in 2008 [pdf],
since more Latinos are registering to vote. But some have argued that
their numbers are still too small to play a decisive role."

http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/06/obama-and-the-l.html

Oil price skyrocket, speculators suspected; unemployment biggest in two decades

2008-06-06T16:53:00.001-07:00

Oil Prices Skyrocket, Taking Biggest Jump Ever
By JAD MOUAWAD
Oil futures surged more than $10 a barrel, or almost 8 percent, to
$138, fueling suspicions that commodities might be caught in a
speculative bubble.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/07oil.html?8au&emc=au

..................

Unemployment Rate Hits 5.5% as 49,000 Jobs Lost
By PETER S. GOODMAN and MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
The jobless rate surged to 5.5 percent last month, the government said
on Friday, the biggest increase in more than two decades.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/07jobs.html?8au&emc=au

..................

Dow Plunges 300 Points
By ABHA BHATTARAI
Bleak unemployment data and the unprecedented spike in crude oil
prices spurred new concerns about the economy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/07stox.html?8au&emc=au

Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade and urban camping

2008-06-06T14:12:00.002-07:00

Tonight is one only night when camping on downtown Portland's sidewalks is tolerated (i.e. no ordinance will be enforced so long as there is no duct tape, etc.). Four years ago in 2004 Sisters Of The Road's Crossroads People's Organization (now called Civic Action Group) staged a demonstration with mock citation tickets educating the public about and rallied support for a repeal of the no-sit/no-lie and no-camping ordinances.

Tonight the demonstration will return -- as part of the ongoing effort by the United Poor People (UPP), Homeless Liberation Front (HLF), Civic Action Group and others.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/06/376480.shtml

Start: Jun 6 2008 - 10:00am
End: Jun 7 2008 - 10:00am

SUPPORT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN PORTLAND!

United Poor People is planning a large action starting on Friday, June 6th at 10am, and ending on Saturday at 10am. During this period, the no-camping ban will be lifted to allow folks to camp out for the rose parade. Our plan is to camp across the street from Nordstroms, which is where the media will be setting up. As the parade goes by, we hope to be a visible presence, with signs. We will also be handing out flyers during the parade. Any support on this would be really helpful. Food and friendly conversation are the biggest needs. Also anyone wanting to camp out with us is more than welcome.

On a smaller scale, we've been running a protest at City Hall every Wednesday, with picketing and flyering. This is a sustained action, usually starting at 9 AM and running 'til our daily meeting at 6.

These actions are in protest of the City's "no sit/lie" and anti camping laws. The enforcement of these laws is not only inhumane and immoral, it is unconstitutional. It is unfair to punish those who have no safe place to sleep. There are thousands of people who sleep on the streets of Portland every night. There is not enough room in the shelters for everyone and many have pets who are not welcome in the shelters. Where are they supposed to go?

For more information on the situation: visit the Sisters of the Road website.
http://www.sistersoftheroad.org/

Read about an additional solidarity action.

Get Active !!
SHOW SOLIDARITY !!

See also: http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/06/camp_out_on_the_rose_parade_ro.php

New rules about Grand Floral Parade
http://www.portlandonline.com/index.cfm?c=26361&a=198720

North Portland's First Ever REALLY REALLY FREEMARKET tomorrow

2008-06-06T14:12:00.001-07:00

North Portland's First Ever REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET

> LOCATION: Peninsula Park
> TIME: Saturday, June 7, NOON - 4 PM
>
The residents of North and Northeast Portland would like to invite you and everyone you know to the area's first ever REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET. Feel free to bring something you'd like to share with other members of your community, or just show up to meet new friends and neighbors and partake in the festivities.

WHAT IS A REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET?
A Really Really Free Market is exactly what it sounds like. It's a place where people can get together and give each other gifts. For free. Absolutely no strings attached. The idea is to foster a sense of community, and to also make it clear that as compassionate human beings, we can survive by looking out for each other. No money is exchanged at a Really Really Free Market, only gifts.

WHAT DO I BRING TO A REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET?
You can bring anything or nothing at all, but it works best if you bring something to share with others. Some examples of things people have brought in the past are: FOOD (cookies, pasta, vegetables, etc.), CLOTHING (anything you might need to get rid of that others might need), MUSIC (if you play an instrument, then bring it with you and play for your
neighbors, or, bring a radio with you to play.), TALENTS (knitting, cooking, bike repair, playing music, magic tricks, etc.), and much, much more.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO SEE AT THE REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET?
Expect to see people playing music, tables set up with free food on them, tables with free toys for children, an arts and crafts area, puppet shows, DJ's playing their favorite songs, people smiling and talking to each other, and more.

We'll look forward to seeing you there - let's make our community a place where sharing and friendship can thrive!

The Senate read the bill!

2008-06-05T11:05:00.001-07:00

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h

Change the political environment. Recruit more DC Downsizers. Share this message with others.

Quote of the Day:

Remember, it used to be global cooling they worried about . . .

"The continued rapid cooling of the earth since WWII is in accord with the increase in global air pollution associated with industrialization, mechanization, urbanization and exploding population."
—Reid Bryson, "Global Ecology; Readings towards a rational strategy for Man", (1971)

Subject: The Senate read the bill!

Something incredible happened last night. The U.S. Senate actually read the so-called "Climate Security Act" and a substitute amendment -- out loud, word for word.

500+ pages. 10 hours to read!

This legislation, which would impose a huge tax and regulatory system on all carbon emissions, is about 300 pages long. Congress constantly passes bills this large, or larger, without reading them. If it took 10 hours to read this one bill, just imagine what would happen if they had to read ALL their bills.

The pace of legislation, and the growth of government, would slow down. It might even be possible for a citizen group (like DownsizeDC.org), or a reporter, or a talk-show host, or even just an ordinary citizen, to keep up with all the things Congress is doing.

For the very few people who oppose DownsizeDC.org's "Read the Bills Act" (in our experience, that's not even one out of every ten people who hear about it) this would be a bad thing. These people think we need more government, even if it must come at the cost of passing legislation that the members of Congress haven't read, let alone understood.

We think this is irresponsible. Remember, Congress may not have to read a bill, or really understand it. But YOU will have to bear the burden of obeying every word of it!

In the case of the "cap and trade" bill, U.S. companies will have to hire thousands of lawyers to do their own 100-hour (or more) readings of this legislation (because unlike Congress, they will actually have to understand how to obey it). Compliance will cost billions of dollars. That cost will be passed on to you, the consumer, as will the tax that companies must pay to buy their carbon emission permits.

But it doesn't end there.

The way the government works today legislation is just the starting point for the creation of rules. Once something like the "cap and trade" bill is passed the federal bureaucracy then goes to work creating specific regulations to execute the legislation.

This means billions more will be spent on more lawyers to read, understand, and comply with these regulations. And you will pay for all of this too. Unelected bureaucrats shouldn't be able to burden the public with more laws. That's why we also need to pass the Write the Laws Act.

Some people say it's unreasonable to expect Congress to read all of its legislation, but . . .

Could YOU get away with violating a law because you felt it was unreasonable for the government to expect you to read, understand, and comply with all their huge legislation and bureaucratic rules?

Of course not. If you must bear the burden (in time and higher prices and worry that you're not running afoul of some crazy rule) THEN SO SHOULD THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS!

One Congressman has called the "Read the Bills Act" a gimmick. But the real gimmick was what happened in the Senate last night. The "cap and trade" bill was read out loud NOT so that the members of Congress could know what they were being asked to pass, but because the Republicans wanted to slow things down to make a point about how judicial nominations are being handled by the Democrats.

ALMOST NO SENATORS WERE IN THE ROOM TO HEAR THE BILL BEING READ!

For us, the "Read the Bills Act" is NOT a gimmick. It's an essential requirement for responsible representative government. For us, the very most important feature of the "Read the Bills Act" is NOT . . .

* The 7-day waiting period before a vote can be held. Yes, it's a great idea. It gives citizen-action groups time to organize opposition at the moment of highest public interest in a bill. But the "cap and trade" bill will be just as bad if they pass it 7 days from now.
* The requirement that members of Congress sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that they have read a bill. That is also important, but secondary.

Both of these features are valuable and helpful. They make the bill complete. But they are not the true key to bringing about responsible government. Instead, the most important aspect of the "Read the Bills Act" is forcing the members of each chamber of Congress to SIT through and LISTEN to a full reading of each bill before a vote can be held.

This, and only this, can bring about real change in how our government operates, because this is the ONLY feature of the "Read the Bills Act" that compels the politicians to pay a PERSONAL PRICE for the burdens they seek to impose on the American people. This feature, and only this feature, will . . .

* Make sure that most members of Congress have an informed idea of what it is they are passing.
* Make Congress prioritize, instead of simply enacting every wild idea that strikes their collective fancy (and that's what they do now because they don't have to pause and read the bill out loud, word for word, on the floor, before voting).
* Make bills shorter, and more understandable, so that Congress can endure the fatigue of hearing them read.

The "Read the Bills Act," as we have constructed it, would bring about real, meaningful reform. It would go a long way toward protecting us from 300-page monstrosities like the so-called "Climate Security Act." But . . .

Until the "Read the Bills Act" passes the only protection we have is YOU, and the work you do through DownsizeDC.org. DC Downsizers have bombarded Congress with more than 5,000 messages opposing the "Climate Security Act." But more is needed. If you haven't yet sent a message on this issue, please do so now. You can do so here.

Or, if you have sent a message, please send another one in support of the "Read the Bills Act." Use your personal comments to take note of the 10-hour reading that took place last night. Tell them you oppose the "Climate Security Act," and support the "Read the Bills Act" as a way to protect the American people against irresponsible legislation. You can send that message here.

Please also help us grow larger and stronger, so that we can eventually force Congress to pass the "Read the Bills Act." Generous DC Downsizers have pledged to give $3,600 if others will join together to donate an equal amount. This means every dollar you give up to $3,600 will be worth two.

You can contribute by starting a monthly credit card pledge. It could be a micro-pledge of $3, $5 or $8, or a larger pledge of $15 or $25 per month. One-time donations would also help us to earn that $3,600 matching pledge. You can contribute here.

NOTE: If you want to forward this message to others (we hope you do!), or post it on your blog, it's okay to cut out the funding portion. In addition, this message is also posted on our blog, and you can leave comments there if you so desire.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
is the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation

CONTRIBUTE to the Electronic Lobbyist project

Let My People Stay: Week of Action & Prayer to Remember Del Monte Raid

2008-06-04T12:49:00.001-07:00

From CAUSA Oregon

Dear Immigrant Rights Supporter,

Next week marks the one year anniversary of the ICE raid on the Fresh Del Monte fruit and vegetable processing plant in North Portland. Please join CAUSA and our allies for Week of Action & Prayer to remember the 167 immigrant workers who were torn from their livelihood and their families. A calendar of events can be found below.

Donations from the events will go to benefit families affected by the raid. While many individuals were immediately deported, others are still in the process of deportation proceeding and seeking legal relief.

Organizations co-sponsoring the week of events between June 6^th and June 12^th include: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, Portland Jobs with Justice, CAUSA, Ascension Catholic Church, Justice Commission of Ainsworth United Church of Christ, Bridgeport United Church of Christ, Zion United Church of Christ, Justice Witness Team of the Central Pacific Conference of UCC, Faith-Labor Committee of Jobs with Justice, Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Friends Meeting, the Social Justice Council of the First Unitarian Church, the American Friends Service Committee, Witness for Peace NW, and the Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support.

For more information on the events for the week of action and prayer, please visit http://www.oregonsanctuary.org/ or call (503) 550-3510

Let My People Stay: Week of Action & Prayer

Calendar of Events

June 6th - 14th, 2008

June 6th - 8th: Special Prayers for Immigrants in Faith Communities

June 10th: 6 pm - One Year After Del Monte, Community Response to ICE Raids
Presented by Portland Central America Solidarity Committee (PCASC)
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, NE 9th and Alberta, Portland OR

June 11th: 10:30 am - Vigil and Press Conference
Calling attention to unfair working conditions and our broken immigration system that terrorizes innocent people.
Del Monte plant, 9243 N Rivergate Blvd, Portland OR

June 12th: 6 pm - Interfaith Service and Dinner
Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Ave. Portland OR
Bus line #8, childcare provided
Interfaith Service:
Religious leaders reflect on faith responses to ICE raids
A woman detained at the ICE raid at Del Monte tells her story
Children of immigrants read their poetry; Music
Mexican Dinner:
Prepared by immigrants. Donations gratefully accepted to support immigrants in their struggle.

June 14th: 4pm and 5:30pm - Screening of "Frozen Dreams"
A testimonial of the people detained at the ICE raid at Del Monte and how their lives have been affected. Produced by Emiliana Aguilar and the Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support (CSAM).

James John Elementary School, 7439 N Charleston Ave, Portland OR

For more information on the events for the week of action and prayer, please visit http://www.oregonsanctuary.org/ or call (503) 550-3510

Over 8000 boycott letters sent to Dunkin Donuts!

2008-06-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

From: ANSWER Coalition <www.internationalanswer.org>

**Please circulate widely**
June 2, 2008

Since the ANSWER Coalition announced a boycott of Dunkin Donuts three days ago for yielding to anti-Arab racism, over 8000 letters have been sent to the company expressing support for the boycott. The organizers state that the boycott will be in place until Dunkin Donuts offers an apology to the Arab-American community for this disgraceful surrender to racism.

The boycott is now also being supported by the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, the largest grassroots Muslim organization in the United States; the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), a nationwide group of grassroots activists, community leaders, professionals, and academics; the Palestinian-American Womens Association, a community-based organization working to support and promote the needs and leadership of Arab American Women; and the National Lawyers Guild, the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States.

The boycott has already received extensive press coverage across the country and throughout the Middle East. Click this link to read the AFP coverage of the boycott. Newsweek ran a commentary on the controversy titled, "Not So Sweet: Why Dunkin' Donuts shouldn't have caved in the controversy over Rachael Ray's 'kaffiyeh' scarf."

If you haven't yet sent your letter to Dunkin Donuts, click this link to do so right now.

For background information, we have included below our initial announcement of the boycott.

________________________________
Boycott: Don't Shop at Dunkin' Donuts!
Say No to Anti-Arab Racism

Dunkin Donuts pulled this advertisement after right-wing racists complained that the scarf in the ad was a kaffiyeh.
The ANSWER Coalition and others are calling for a worldwide boycott of Dunkin' Donuts. The boycott intends to send a powerful message to Dunkin' Donuts and other corporations that engage in racism or pandering to anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racists.

Please lend your name to the boycott by clicking this link and send a letter to Dunkin' Donuts. Be sure to circulate this call to your friends on list serves and social networking sites.

Here's the background:

Dunkin' Donuts has capitulated and withdrawn an advertisement for its products following the allegation by a right-wing hack, Michelle Malkin, that the spokeswoman in the ad was pictured wearing a kaffiyeh, a scarf which is a staple of clothing traditionally worn by Palestinian men.

The scarf pictured in the ad is not actually a kaffiyeh. But the anti-Arab racism of the right-wing, pro-Bush ideologues like Malkin is so extreme that they launched their campaign because they "thought" the scarf was this traditional Arab garment. Dunkin' Donuts pulled their ad apologizing that the scarf might even resemble a kaffiyeh.

In Malkin's twisted world anything "Arab," even a scarf, is "terrorist." This is the same line of thinking promoted by the Bush administration in the wake of 9/11, when thousands of Middle Eastern men living in the United States were rounded up and falsely imprisoned. Some were even tried on phony "terrorism" charges. It is the same line of thinking that was used to promote the racist war drive against Afghanistan and then Iraq.

The fact that a giant corporation like Dunkin' Donuts quickly pulled the advertisement is a sign that the pervasive racism, chauvinism and xenophobia peddled by right-wing bigots is a real danger. This is a classic tactic of fascist intimidation and demonization of an entire population.

We demand that Dunkin' Donuts immediately apologize to the Arab-American community for this disgraceful surrender to racism. Until that apology is issued we will refuse to shop or buy any products marketed by the Dunkin' Donuts Corporation.

Please lend your name to the boycott by clicking this link and send a letter to Dunkin' Donuts. Be sure to circulate this call to your friends on list serves and social networking sites.

Please make an urgently needed donation right now to help build this boycott and important campaign against racism.
________________________________

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.answercoalition.org/
info@internationalanswer.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-694-8720
Los Angeles: 213-251-1025
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
Chicago: 773-463-0311

Lack of Immigration Reform Causes Hike in Food Prices

2008-06-01T14:34:00.001-07:00

New America Media - Los Angeles,CA,USA
DENVER—Strict immigration laws scare agricultural workers from entering
Colorado, resulting in higher food prices, reports EFE in Univision Online.

<http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=29c21b1e3c6eadbd4269c96ba5d993de>

Injecting sanity into the yuppie biodiesel fad

2008-05-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Biodiesel is expensive, depletes food supplies and inflates food prices, less fuel-efficient, and consumes more petroleum to produce and transport it. Biodiesel does not solve energy dependence on the enemy nations, nor does it help reduce the effects of global warming (it creates as much carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides).

In the mean time, the European and North American business interests are colonizing the third-world nations and the global South into plantations again, this time for biofuel crops. This move destroys indigenous agriculture and displaces massive number of farmers and rural residents in the third world countries, condemning them to a life of poverty.

At best biodiesel has been a feel-good fad for the yuppies who can pay extra on gas that would help them fool themselves and stay in denial.

Nothing short of reducing overall energy consumption will fundamentally solve the problems we are facing.

TriMet should begin first by stopping spending on this insane fad. If fuel efficiency needs to be further improved, TriMet can reduce the number of bus stops (increase the distance between stops to reduce needs for frequent stops, which will save a lot of money on fuel).

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/005220.html
http://ithacaenvironment.blogspot.com/2005/12/environmental-case-against-biodiesel.html

Where iguanas have more rights than humans...!

2008-05-29T12:39:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Gitmo, "Honor Bound to Defend Freedom"!

Federal law protects endangered iguanas on the naval base, but the U.S. Supreme Court is struggling to determine whether it also applies to the 305 men imprisoned there.

http://blog.aclu.org/2008/05/28/at-guantnamo-iguanas-have-rights-detainees-not-so-much/

FISA "compromise", yeah right...

2008-05-29T12:38:00.001-07:00

http://blog.aclu.org/2008/05/29/fisa-compromise-is-actually-not-a-compromise-at-all-thank-you/

USCIS moving to West Linn?

2008-05-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2008/05/questions-raised-about-citizenship-and.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1211934319222590.xml&coll=7

"Fundamentally,these guys are either hostile to the people they serve or there's something else going on here, but it's not good." -- Ethan Seltzer, Portland State University professor of Urban and Public Affairs

City of Portland issues new guidelines for Grand Floral Parade audience

2008-05-29T12:27:00.001-07:00

In 2007, Portland City Council passed an ordinance to increase equal access to the Portland Rose Festival KeyBank Grand Floral Parade.

The use of duct tape, chalk, paint or unattended personal property, such as lawn chairs, to mark or reserve a spot along the parade route is prohibited.
Beginning on Friday morning, June 6th, parade attendees may reserve their spots in person along the parade route. Camping overnight along the parade route is permitted on Friday night only.

The Bureau of Development Services will staff a Parade Marking Removal Street Team to remove marking in the right of way and provide outreach to parade spectators. The Team will monitor the route traveled by the KeyBank Grand Floral Parade beginning June 3rd.

In order to provide a better access for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, the City of Portland authorized financial aid to assist the Rose Festival Foundation and promote new amenities. These amenities will also provide greater access to toilet facilities and viewing areas for families. New amenities include:

Portable Toilets

313 portable toilets provided along the parade route in 33 locations, including 275 standard units and 37 ADA units - 27 with two-station sinks. Toilets will be delivered to the eastside locations Friday evening in anticipation of parade campers in that area. Downtown locations will be delivered the morning of the parade. All toilets will be staffed with volunteers to ensure use is appropriate.

Priority seating for seniors and persons with disabilities

400 seats (triple from last year) will be available at the Oregon Convention Center. Chairs are provided at the Oregon Convention Center site.
A second location is on the east side of SW Broadway between Yamhill and Morrison (at Pioneer Courthouse Square).
A third location is at the northwest corner of SW 10^th Avenue and Yamhill. Chairs will not be provided in these areas. These areas allow priority access on a first come first served basis. The use of Tri-Met and MAX light rail for travel to and from these locations is encouraged.
Signage is being designed and produced by the Rose Festival Foundation for use in the special seating areas.

Entertainment

Professional entertainers will be located along the route in advance of the start of the parade. 19 artists and two specialty acts will entertain for two hours prior to the new Regence Grand Floral Walk which starts at the Memorial Coliseum at 9:30 a.m., June 7^th. Immediately following the walk, the KeyBank Grand Floral Parade will begin.

Rules of the Road

Duct tape, chalk, paint, or other methods of marking viewing areas is prohibited
Friday morning, June 6^th, parade attendees may reserve their spots in person along the parade route
Camping overnight along the parade route is permitted on Friday evening, June 6^th. Tents must be taken down by 6:00 a.m. the morning of the parade.

Enforcement

Personnel from the City will begin walking the Grand Floral parade route the week June 2-6 to educate those who may not be in compliance with the new rules. Parade access flyers will be provided.
Any duct tape, chalk, paint, or other markings will be removed.
A Parade Event Access Hotline is available: 503-823-1061
Chairs and personal property left unattended prior to Friday morning, June 6^th will be removed. Collected personal property can be retrieved from the Maintenance Bureau until close of business June 12^th
Laminated notices will be left on the site of any removed items notifying and educating the citizens of the new rules in place.
Rose Festival Foundation will affix laminated OFFICIAL PARADE MANAGEMENT SITE signs and mark areas designated for Press Towers, and other official areas with RED duct tape. This tape is for official only use by Rose Festival personnel.

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Parade Event Access Hotline at 503-823-1061 or visiting the Rose Festival website at http://www.rosefestival.org.

http://www.portlandonline.com/?c=26361&a=198720

Annexation of TriMet into Metro -- Statutory provisions

2008-05-28T23:14:00.001-07:00

Oregon law also provides for TriMet's merger into Metro:

ORS 267.020 Transfer of transit system to metropolitan service district; effect of transfer order. When a metropolitan service district organized under ORS chapter 268 functions in a mass transit district organized under ORS 267.010 to 267.390, the governing body of the metropolitan district may at any time order transfer of the transit system of the transit district to the metropolitan district, whereupon:

(1) The governing body of the transit district shall transfer title to, and possession of, the transit system and of all books, records, files, documents, and other property of the transit district to the metropolitan district.

(2) The metropolitan district shall be responsible for all the liabilities and obligations imposed upon or assumed by the transit district.

(3) For purposes of mass transit the metropolitan district shall have all the rights, powers, privileges and immunities, and be subject to all the duties and obligations, of a mass transit district under ORS 267.010 to 267.390, insofar as they are consistent with ORS chapter 268.

(4) The boundaries of the metropolitan district shall, for purposes of mass transit, be extended to encompass all the territory of the transit district.

(5) The transit district shall be dissolved and the offices of its directors terminated. [1969 c.643 §40; 1997 c.833 §26]

Abolish TriMet!!

2008-05-28T23:05:00.001-07:00

In addition to the continuing unholy war on the Fareless Square, the latest news is that TriMet board of directors wants a 25-cent, or 14-percent fare increase, ostensibly because of the fuel costs, and they are whining that they had to "let go of" 18 staff positions. http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/trimet_plans_fare_increase.html

Now tell me, TriMet has been hiring hundreds of new operators (seen those "FIND your calling" ads?), spending an embarrasingly colossal amount of money on expensive toys such as the MAX Green Line light rail, and even buying BIODIESEL, which everyone knows is way more expensive than the real diesel fuel. Biodiesel also contributes to world hunger and increase on food prices, which affects the poor both at home and abroad.

Here's the source of all evil that is TriMet, a now corrupt stand-alone bureaucracy that answers to no one and has a carte blanche to tax, increase fares, and spend as it sees fit.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon was chartered by the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1969 to rescue the ailing Rose City Transit Co. from collapse. Since then, this unelected special district is run by a seven-member board appointed by the Governor. The only accountability of the board rests on the Governor's ability to appoint and recall members. Nevertheless, TriMet has a power to legislate, power to police, and power to tax, just like any city or county; and is given a monopoly over public transportation in the region.

At the time there was no Metropolitan Service District (Metro), which was created eight years later in 1977. Metro, on the other hand, is an elected body.

Until recently the boundaries of Metro and TriMet were nearly identical, and Metro's duties include urban planning, such as consolidated transportation plans.

I believe that the time is ripe for an abolition of TriMet, which could take any one of these forms:

1. Complete annexation of TriMet into Metro; TriMet becomes a division of Metro; administrative functions consolidate into Metro; abolishes the TriMet BOD; TriMet general manager answers to Metro Council.
2. Semi-privatization of TriMet into a public corporation similar to SAIF Corporation or Oregon Health & Science University; removes legislative, taxation and police powers from TriMet and transfer them to Metro; Metro enters into contract with TriMet to fund the transit system; TriMet answers to Metro Council, and Metro retains rights to terminate contract or enter into contract with other corporations.
3. Re-incorporation of TriMet as an Oregon public benefit corporation, a 501(c)(3), similar to Portland Streetcar, Inc. and Portland Aerial Tram Inc.; Metro enters into contract; TriMet relinquishes all governmental powers.

The proposed fare increase is unnecessary, and we ought not to tolerate the mismanagement and irresponsible spending spree any further. TriMet has not even considered cutting down on excessive services (such as 4-Division and 8-Jackson Park running every 3-5 minutes in the morning when buses are half empty), charging premium fares (such is done by C-TRAN, King County METRO, etc.) on commuter services, requiring employers to sponsor shuttle services that primarily serve specific worksites (like Seattle's "Custom Bus" routes), or spinning off underperforming rural lines such as the Estacada or the Kelso-Boring to agencies such as the South Clackamas Transportation District or the Sandy Area Metro. TriMet continues to spend on novelties such as biodiesel and light rail even when such luxuries are financially unsustainable.

All this is perpetrated while TriMet's board of directors continue their war on the low-income, fixed-income and homeless riders.

Here's why. The unelected TriMet board of directors primarily represents the big business interest that encompasses banking, real estate, and development special interests:

SW Portland
Richard Van Beveren landlord and owner of restaurant/catering service in Hillsboro
N, NW & portions of SW Portland
Tiffany Sweitzer Hoyt Street Properties
N & NW Portland
George Passadore Wells Fargo (TriMet board president)
SE Portland
Sue Van Brocklin The Partners Group (financial advisory and insurance brokerage)
NE Portland
George Richardson NW Natural Gas
E Multnomah County
Lynn Lehrbach Teamsters Union organizer (replaced the disgraced, soon-to-be-former-sheriff Bernie Giusto on January 8)
Clackamas County
Robert Williams Oregon Department of Environmental Quality(?)

In other words there is no voice to represent the marginalized and the oppressed.

Sure, TriMet occasionally holds a road show disguising itself as a public hearing. None of these people above even show up there -- instead there is a City of Portland Hearing Officer facilitating, and a court reporter to write a transcript. It is a such a joke.

I think we've had enough of this nonsense with this overgrown bureaucracy whose culture of corruption and corporate welfare has marked the entirety of its history. Oh, by the way, there probably is something dirty going on between TriMet and Stacy & Witbeck.

Arthur Hotel's demise delayed?

2008-05-28T12:59:00.001-07:00

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/05/downtown_hotel_residents_face.php

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/05/arthur_tenants_get_stay_of_exe.php

Here goes again...

2008-05-28T12:57:00.001-07:00

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/05/homeless_protesters_take_offen.php

Tom "T.P." Potter, whose first platform was to "listen to citizens" and commit himself to a dialogue, is now shutting himself out of that primary commitment, as one saw this morning at the city hall.

UPP city hall protests now weekly on Wednesdays

2008-05-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

Every Wednesday the United Poor People (UPP) will continue the protest all day long, calling for affordable housing, repeal of no sit-lie/camping ordinances, and human rights for the unhoused residents of Portland as well as other low-income people of the city.

If they can't do in the States, let the Mexicans do the dirty job...

2008-05-27T11:38:00.001-07:00

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/kristin-bricker/2008/05/plan-mexico-passed

Recently Congress approved a Bush plan to finance the Mexican federal
government to militarize and fortify the border. Since it is cheaper
for Mexico to build the walls, with less constraints of environmental
and labor regulations, abusing the so-called Security and Prosperity
Partnership (SPP) to let Mexico take over the stalled border fences
plan seems like the next step in the Republican Party's game plan.

Debunking Anti-Immigrant Propaganda

2008-05-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

http://mediamattersaction.org/reports/fearandloathing/

"Number one, the illegal aliens shouldn't be here. And number two, the
culture from which they come is a lot more violent than the USA."
-- The O'Reilly Factor, January 15, 2007

There are many problems facing the United States today: a faltering
economy, a health-care crisis, and the continuing war in Iraq, to name
a few. But viewers of some of the most prominent cable news programs
are presented a different reality in which one issue stands above all
others: illegal immigration.

Media Matters Action Network undertook this study in order to document
how immigration is discussed and debated on cable news. When it comes
to immigration, cable news overflows not just with vitriolic rhetoric,
but also with a series of myths that feed viewers' resentment and
fears, fostering hostility toward immigrants.

Read the report at http://mediamattersaction.org/reports/fearandloathing/

NY Times: Economic Toll Mounts From High Oil Prices

2008-05-23T17:53:00.001-07:00

Economic Toll Mounts From High Oil Prices

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/business/worldbusiness/23oilweb.html?8au&emc=au

Bring Back the USPS International Surface Mail Service

2008-05-23T17:33:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

Those of us who wish to or need to send items abroad were hit with a large
postal rate increase last year, as the US Postal Service terminated surface
mail between the US and other countries. By requiring all items to be
shipped via air mail, costs to senders were tripled overnight.

This especially impacts those of us who send parcels of clothing, books,
printed material and other comparatively heavy items. At this point the cost
of sending such items is exorbitant, and probably out of reach for many
people who formerly could afford to send them via surface mail.

Please check out the petition below, sign it and distribute it to others.

Also, if you care about having a surface mail option,please contact your
Senators and House members about this issue, and push the issue with the
post office by complaining.

Please also forward any updates you find on the situation to this list.

Yours in solidarity,

Robby Barnes

+++

Bring Back the USPS International Surface Mail Service

Petition to The United States Postal Service

http://www.petitiononline.com/USPSISM/petition.html

As of May 20, 2008, we are still receiving many signatures, please continue
to sign and distribute the petition freely. Please leave your email address
when you sign the petition, we may need to contact you, no one else will see
it. We need people who are willing to send letters, post in forums, and
write articles. Please leave remember to leave your zip code or country
also.

This service elimination affects individuals, businesses, expatriates,
humanitarian aid groups, charities, religious groups, students, book
companies who provide free books to poor countries, and now have more
environmental impact. Please pass the petition around! Few people knew the
USPS was going to drop the economy mail services, so it is essential that we
spread the word to people everywhere. I appreciate your support. Please also
remember to use your first and last name when signing the petition, those
who use only first names, may be deleted from the petition. Thank you!!

To: The United States Postal Service

On May 14 2007, the United States Postal Service eliminated the
International Surface Mail service from their mailing options.

I am petitioning to let the USPS know how important the International
Surface Mail option is to businesses, customers, expatriates, and
individuals all over the world that rely on this service. (International
Surface Mail is the service provided from the USPS that normally takes 4-12
weeks for delivery and is cheaper than air mail or other services provided)

We hope that the USPS will reconsider its decision and [reimplement] this
service swiftly so that customers may again enjoy cheaper shipping rates and
avoid changes that will be made by US companies to offer this service to
their customers.

For those of you who sign the petition and want to leave a comment, please
keep your comments clean and relevant. Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Petitioners may view the news directly on the USPS website:

http://www.usps.com/mailpro/2007/janfeb/page6.htm

http://www.usps.com/mailpro/2007/marapril/page1.htm

http://www.usps.com/mailpro/2007/marapril/page12.html#ni

TriMet is secretly reducing the Fareless Square as of June 1

2008-05-23T16:22:00.001-07:00

On June 1 temporary rerouting of all Steel Bridge lines will take place. Along with it, the Fareless Square will be chopped into two, effectively making the Lloyd District free services meaningless. As of this writing there is no word from TriMet whether it will expand the Fareless Square to include the Broadway and Burnside bridges. So my assumption is that TriMet is using this chance to divide and conquer the Fareless Square in a way no one could think of in the past.

Write or call TriMet: trimet.org

Committee to End Homelessness meeting; TriMet's politicized antic

2008-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Committee to End Homelessness was well attended. About 25 came from various government, nonprofits and advocacy groups. At least 12 reps from UPP and HLF filled the room and spoke for immediate and realistic solutions. After the meeting, UPP activists argue, that TriMet field inspectors were standing by at the Goose Hollow MAX station to harass them and gave interdictions/citations for frivolous "violations." (Any information about this incident is appreciated. Use feedback form.)

Federal government taking bids on construction of concentration camps

2008-05-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.infowars.net

Under pretext of immigration control, government building "family
detention centers"

Steve Watson & Paul Watson
Infowars.net
Monday, May 19, 2008

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) plans to build
three new internment camps on both coasts and on the Southwestern
border, each of which will house up to 50 men and women in addition to
150 children involved in immigration cases.

The federal government is accepting bids on the contracts from county
governments or private companies to build and run the "family
detention centers".

The LA Times reports:

The agency calls for minimum-security residential facilities that
would provide a "least restrictive, nonsecure setting" and provide
schooling for children, recreational activities and access to
religious services.

The proposal… says the contractor should structure programs "designed
to prevent escapes" and should provide a plan that "monitors resident
movement and physically counts residents."

The ICE already runs two of the camps, one of which hit the headlines
at the end of 2006 after residents in Taylor Texas held protests
outside the facility.

The T. Don Hutto detention center, which is privately run by a company
called Corrections Corp. of America, currently interns political
asylum seekers who came to the U.S. on legal visas. Most of them are
families including pregnant women and children who have never been
accused of any wrongdoing but are forced to endure squalid conditions
inside literal internment camps.

In 2004 the facility was on the verge of being shutdown due to lack of
occupancy but new immigration policies, allied to the burgeoning
growth of the prison industry and future plans to detain American
citizens on masse, have revived the potential scope of the camp, and a
new contract to intern 600 individuals was finalized with immigration
authorities in December 2005.

Fury was sparked and charges of overcrowding and poor conditions
leveled when it was revealed that an estimated 645 people were being
held in the facility which has only 500 or so beds.

Other residents were horrified to witness children playing behind
giant mesh barbed wire fences in the camp "playground". When the
center opened, children were given hospital scrubs to wear, forced to
use communal bathrooms, forbidden to have toys and allowed only one
hour of recreation per day, attorneys involved in a legal challenge
said.

However, while some residents held vigil protests, locals said that
other residents of the town were completely oblivious to the fact that
the camp even existed, never mind its function and purpose.

The protests have since died down yet Hutto remains open. A court
settlement decreed that children be allowed to wear pajamas, move
freely around the center and bring toys into their rooms. Individual
bathrooms have also been installed and metal doors have been turned
into murals. A swathe of cosmetic alterations that do nothing to
counter the facility's status as a fully fledged internment camp in
America.

Watch the following short film on the internment center by Matt
Gossage and Lily Keber, one of the only public reports on a subject
that has otherwise been entirely censored by the corporate news media.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3907096540955731120&hl=en

"After the horrible conditions that were revealed at the Hutto
facility, it is very disappointing that the government appears to want
to produce more immigration prisons for families and children," Ahilan
Arulanantham, a staff attorney at the Southern California office of
the ACLU told the LA Times.

Suspicions will undoubtedly be cast as to whether the new facilities
are part of a wider agenda to set up a network of internment camps
that will be used to forcibly detain American citizens under emergency
provisions. The pretext for this was set in the summer of 2004, when
thousands of protesters in New York for the Republican National
Convention were forcibly detained, some for over 24 hours, without
charge in an asbestos infested disused bus facility known as Pier 57,
or "Guantanamo on the Hudson" as other labeled it.

During the Iran Contra hearings in the 80's, previously classified
information came to light about Continuity of Government (CoG)
procedures in times of national crisis. The masterminds behind these
programs were Oliver North, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney and the
Rex-84 'readiness exercise' discussed the plan to round up immigrants
and detain them in internment camps in the context of uncontrolled
population movements across the Mexican border.

The real agenda was to use the cover of rounding up immigrants and
illegal aliens as a smokescreen for targeting political dissidents and
American citizens . From 1967 to 1971 the FBI kept a list of persons
to be rounded up as subversive, dubbed the "ADEX" list.

Since 9/11 shadow government and CoG programs that were outlined in
Rex-84 have been activated, including mass warrantless wiretapping of
American citizens. The internment camp program is being readied for
execution following the announcement on January 24th that Halliburton
subsidiary KBR (formerly Brown and Root) had been awarded a $385
million contingency contract by the Department of Homeland Security to
build detention camps.

A much discussed and circulated report, the Pentagon's Civilian Inmate
Labor Program, has recently been updated and the revision details a
"template for developing agreements" between the Army and corrections
facilities for the use of civilian inmate labor on Army
installations."

The pretext given for which the camps would be used as reported by the
New York Times was stated as, "an unexpected influx of immigrants, to
house people in the event of a natural disaster or for new programs
that require additional detention space."

Following the news first given wide attention by this website, that
Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root had been awarded a $385
million dollar contract by Homeland Security to construct detention
and processing facilities in the event of a national emergency, the
Alternet website put together an alarming report that collated all the
latest information on plans to initiate internment of political
subversives and Muslims after the next major terror attack in the U.S.

The article highlighted the disturbing comments of Sen. Lindsey
Graham, who encouraged torture supporting Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales to target, "Fifth Columnists" Americans who show disloyalty
and sympathize with "the enemy," whoever that enemy may be.

Respected author Peter Dale Scott speculated that the "detention
centers could be used to detain American citizens if the Bush
administration were to declare martial law."

Daniel Ellsberg, former Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of
Defense, called the plan, "preparation for a roundup after the next
9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters. They've
already done this on a smaller scale, with the 'special registration'
detentions of immigrant men from Muslim countries, and with
Guantanamo."

George Bush has declared himself to be dictator and to have supreme
power over and above the limitations of the US Constitution. Bush
administration officials like Alberto Gonzales have declared Bush to
be "above the law." White House advisors are openly discussing the
legality of crushing a child's testicles as part of the war on terror.
Preparation for the internment of thousands of Americans who are
'disloyal' in times of emergency are afoot.

Under the enemy combatant designation anyone at the behest of the US
government, even if they are a US citizen, can be kidnapped and placed
in an internment facility forever without trial. Jose Padilla, an
American citizen, spent over four years in a Navy brig before being
brought to trial.

One of the last acts of Congress in 2006 was to send President Bush a
bill that establishes a $38 million program of National Park Service
grants to preserve Japanese POW internment camps in Hawaii,
California, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Is
this really in the name of historical interest or does it dovetail
with programs on the books to intern hundreds of thousands of
dissidents in a time of crisis?

Is someone trying to assassinate a senator-elect?

2008-05-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

The Oregonian has captured this photo of the U.S. Senate primary
winner Jeff Merkley at his campaign office as he tunes into the ballot
count last night.

Free community theatre action event, June 3, 2 p.m.

2008-05-20T22:25:00.001-07:00

Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:45:06 -0700
From: ********@pdx.edu
Subject: Free Theatre Event on Campus!

Hey everyone!

Tuesday June 3rd
2:00 PM
Food For Thought Cafe
1825 SW Broadway #026

You should be there.

In the not so distant future, we will be putting on a performance that
we have been working on since the start of the term. Out goal is help
spread awareness about sexual assault and to provoke discussion about
the infinite gray areas that don't get talked about.

We are a group of eight students here on campus involved in a Senior Capstone
Class. After acting out our performance the first time, audience
members will have the opportunity to interrupt the action during
subsequent run throughs to see how things might play out when things
are done differently.

For more information: have a website that anyone can see at
http://myspace.com/psucommunityactiontheatre . For more information,
we also have an e-mail address dedicated to the purpose of this class:
communityactiontheatre (a google email address).

We hope to see you there!

-Community Action Theatre class

UCC in Oregon, national ELCA adopt resolutions on immigrants

2008-05-20T21:57:00.001-07:00

The Central Pacific Conference of United Church of Christ, which
represents congregations in Oregon, southern Idaho and Vancouver and
White Salmon, Washington, adopted a resolution opposing two Oregon
ballot initiative petitions.
http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2008/05/oregon-church-conference-oppose-anti.html

On related notes, the national General Conference of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of America adopted a resolution calling for a
comprehensive immigration reform.
http://www.wfn.org/2008/05/msg00165.html

They join with The Episcopal Church (General Conference
http://ecusa.anglican.org/3687_74625_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=menu32080,
Diocese of Olympia
http://www.olympia.anglican.org/onlinedocuments/2005%20Journal.pdf and
Diocese of Oregon) in advocating for the human rights of immigrants.
Locally, the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon also has adopted a
resolution along this line.

Economic Impacts of Mass Deportations

2008-05-20T21:43:00.001-07:00

Economic Impacts of Mass Deportations

chron.com -

May 19, 2008, 10:40PM
Price put at $1.8 trillion
Study: That's what U.S. would lose if undocumented immigrants vanished

If the 8.1 million undocumented immigrants who cut lawns, bus tables and perform other jobs disappeared overnight, the nation's economy would lose nearly $1.8 trillion in annual spending.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5790992.html

An important meeting Wednesday

2008-05-20T21:35:00.001-07:00

A meeting on sit-lie/no camping ordinance and "homeless" issues.

Wednesday May 21, 3 p.m.
First United Methodist Church in Goose Hollow.

Speaking of a meeting, today's public forum at Sisters Of The Road was
packed. Thanks for all who attended.

Traveling undocumented

2008-05-20T21:32:00.001-07:00

Immigration Q&A: For now, OK to travel undocumented
New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
Under the REAL ID Act, state IDs must meet federal standards by Dec. 31,
2009. To get a REAL ID document, you'll need to be here legally. ...
<http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/05/20/2008-05-20_immigration_qa_for_now_ok_to_travel_undo.html>

Things to come...

2008-05-20T21:29:00.001-07:00

Come next year expect some massive defunding of social services and
affordable housing projects in favor of colossal public work projects
that favor the developers. Expect more streetcar and lightrail
constructions that is nothing more than a handout for Stacy and
Witbeck.

...and expect more city hall verspending and boondoggles.

...and you can forget affordable housing or more social services as
the new city council gentrifies the Old Town/Chinatown with the new
Burnside-Couch couplet and eastside streetcar.

...and expect an "open season" on bums as new mayor Sam Adams go
willy-nilly with the Portland Business Alliance and Portland Area
Business Association (his power base). There'll be more rent-a-pigs
(or piglets?) and real Po-Po pigs going out bum-hunting day and night
for a "livable" and "vibrant" "business-friendly" Portland!

Portland voters rejected Sho Dozono, Amanda Fritz (or Jeff Bissonette,
or John Branam) -- and instead voted for this white yuppie gay man who
lives in a gentrified Kenton house (how many poor black people did he
displace in buying his home?) and a wealthy trial lawyer. It's
politics as usual in Portland city hall again!

Sigh. We're all in trouble.

Coming soon to hospitals near you: deportation for being sick and without insurance

2008-05-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/immigration/85843/

An immigrant woman from Honduras who has very recently awakened from a coma is being threatened with what can effectively be called deportation, because she does not have the insurance needed to cover her medical bills.

UN officials condemn the United States for racism

2008-05-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2008

CONTACT: Rachel Myers, ACLU, (212) 549-2689 or 2666; media@aclu.org
Stacie Miller, Lawyers' Committee, (202) 662-8317
Ajamu Baraka, USHRN, (404) 695-0475

WASHINGTON - Several national civil liberties and human rights groups today welcomed a fact-finding mission to the U.S. by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The American Civil Liberties Union, Global Rights, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the U.S. Human Rights Network, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Rights Working Group and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty call on the U.S., state and local governments to fully cooperate with the special rapporteur.

"The visit of the special rapporteur is a critical opportunity to shed light on the pervasive and systemic problem of racism and discrimination in the United States," said Jamil Dakwar, Director of the ACLU Human Rights Program. "In this election year, the eyes of the world will be turned toward America and its longstanding promise to end racial and ethnic inequalities. "

At the invitation of the U.S. government, Special Rapporteur Doudou Di�ne is visiting the U.S. from May 18 to June 6 to examine issues of racism and racial discrimination in this country. Diene will visit Washington, New York, Chicago, Omaha, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico over the next three weeks where he will study incidents of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the governmental measures in place to address them.

Diene is scheduled to meet with federal and local government officials as well as members of diverse communities across the United States and representatives of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"The special rapporteur's visit presents a unique opportunity to give voice to those combating racism in the U.S. and will bring our concerns to the U.N. and its enforcement mechanisms," said Aubrey McCutcheon, Director of Programs at Global Rights. "I am confident Mr. Diene's visit will heighten our efforts towards eliminating racism and its vestiges."

In March 2008, the separate U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued a strongly worded critique of the United States' record on racial discrimination and urged the government to make sweeping reforms to policies affecting racial and ethnic minorities, women, immigrants and indigenous populations in the U.S. Several civil liberties and human rights organizations have urged the special rapporteur to critically examine the continuation of racism and racial discrimination in various areas identified by CERD and well documented in extensive NGO reports, including criminal justice, education, housing, juvenile justice, immigration policy, police brutality, hate crimes and racial profiling.

The mandate of the special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance was established in 1993 by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and further extended by the U.N. Human Rights Council. The special rapporteur will submit a final report on the visit to the Human Rights Council in the spring of 2009.

More information about the special rapporteur's visit is available online at: www.aclu.org/ intlhumanrights/ racialjustice/ sronracism. html and www.ushrnetwork. org/special_ rep

More information about the CERD recommendations to the U.S. is available at: www.aclu.org/ intlhumanrights/ racialjustice/ cerd.htmland and www.ushrnetwork. org/projects/ cerd

Talented student artist faces deportation

2008-05-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.miamiherald.com/519/story/538338.html#x

Last month, he won first place in the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center's student art competition, beating out 500 other nationwide contestants.

He produced intricate artwork on a poster board with an airbrush, a technique Meynardo taught himself. It depicts a somber group of Latino boys surrounded by barbed wires and includes words written in Hebrew.

''When I studied about the Holocaust, it reminded me of kids in my neighborhood,'' Meynardo said. "Those kids didn't have freedom and the kids in Mexico don't either.''

He wasn't able to claim the $250 prize because he doesn't have a social security number...

Where did all the protesters go?

2008-05-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

On the surface they have all but disappeared.

Yesterday afternoon there were five picketers in front of the Portland City Hall.

This morning (raining) there was none.

The grass-roots community organizing that began as a camp-in-cum-protest three weeks ago is now at a delicate stage. Some of the original organizers are no longer actively involved (oh Art, where art thou?) while there has been some new infusion of people into what is now called the United Poor People (UPP).

Many things are happening behind the scene. The Northwest Constitutional Rights Center has been organizing jail support and legal support for protestors. Sisters Of The Road, which recently withdrew from the Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) working group, is hosting a public forum this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. Food Not Bombs groups are still providing support for the regrouping protesters at the Chapman Square and the Keller Fountain parks.

For many protesters, two weeks of uninterrupted sit-in had taken a financial toll. Reality hits; they go back to work, though they still show solidarity and return to the organizing meetings as their schedules allow.

On Sunday a few went back to the City Hall sidewalk in defiance of the no-camping notice. Three went to jail (they are all released as of this writing).

St. Michael the Archangel parish on Southwest Fifth Avenue offered the protesters a space to camp (on the parking lot) for a few nights, only to rescind the offer on Sunday after an unsubstantiated allegation of drug dealing.

The nascent UPP designated the Chapman Square as a tentative "convergence point" and has held twice-daily meetings at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. The meetings have drawn about 20 to 30 people each day.

On Sunday 3000 fliers announcing the meeting at Sisters Of The Road were distributed at the Barack Obama rally at the Waterfront Park.

The UPP meeting also decided to hold a skill-share day in coming weeks.

There was some "incidents" involving the members of a street family at the Keller Fountain Park. This is a touchy subject and potential controversy that may divide the people of UPP, although certain issues surrounding street families may be worth discussing later down the road.

If the first two and a half weeks of this organizing was a birth of a new people's movement, the third and fourth weeks of it are a time of trial. There is much to learn from this.

Mayor Tom Potter’s successor will inherit homeless issue

2008-05-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

http://homelessliberation.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mayor-tom-potters-successor-will-inherit-homeless-issue-2/

Cult of Environmentalism: Where religious fervor tramps science and common sense

2008-05-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg20-2008may20,0,3305601.column

Did you vote? My last words on Sam Adams

2008-05-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Please turn in your ballot at a Multnomah County Library or Pioneer Courthouse Square by 8 p.m. today.

Sam Adams, in his career as a city commissioner, has developed a penchant for big-time spending for building monumental projects such as the out-of-control Portland Aerial Tram and less-than-adequate Portland Streetcar system. He has failed to rein in government spending, while proposing a new street tax. Sam Adams does not prioritize projects (except for his own pet projects to build Sam Adams monuments) and certainly do not have any regard for the low-income population of the city, as he has demonstrated while a commissioner.

It will be a bad day if Sam Adams becomes a mayor.

It will further widen the gap between the yuppie gay community and the truly oppressed.

Organize to repeal the sit-lie and anti-camping ordinances

2008-05-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Sisters Of The Road, 133 Northwest Sixth Avenue. This is an open meeting to learn about recent developments and strategy. Join a growing movement. 503-222-5694 x16 (Devin)

United Poor People Rise UPP!

2008-05-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

(This is an exact copy of the new UPP brochure.)

The UPP was founded as a people's response to the crisis of poverty and homelessness in Portland. We recognize that this is a national crisis which needs immediate, viable solutions, not promises of future recognition.
We meet in Chapman Square, across from City Hall every day at 10:00am and 6:00pm.
Our meetings are consensus based and open to the public and we encourage and request that YOU come join us and help develop solutions that will WORK.
- SOLUTIONS NOT SWEEPS
- HOMES NOT JAILS
- DIALOGUE NOT A DOG AND PONY SHOW
- CREATIVITY NOT CRIMINALIZATION

Our civil rights are being violated in that we are being asked to be on the move continuously, never being able to stop and rest (much less get a good night's sleep). This is cruel and unusual punishment for a crime never committed. Being houseless is not a crime, and Portland is our home! We are human, and we are your neighbors and we are simply trying to live our diverse lives with dignity and respect. We have nowhere to go, no houses, some of us have been living under bridges and have been swept out, others are living in ineffective marginal housing surrounded by the same social conditions that contribute to the cycle of homelessness and that is why you see us in front of City Hall and in the park across the street. We are looking for and asking for answers as to WHERE WE CAN GO.
Mayor Potter has taken it upon himself to interpret the First Amendment of the Constitution and determined our protest to be an "illegal campground" and since City Hall WAS the only safe place to sleep in Portland but we have been "swept out" of there too!
We are not allowed to camp within City limits and shelters are not an answer to our houselessness. The primarily faith-based and restrictive sheltering system in Portland, and across the United States, are only a band-aid that continues to keep us dependent on the system that needs us to survive largely at taxpayers expense.

37.5 million dollars per year on homeless service programs should be able to afford equitable solutions, but it is not. Too many people have been getting rich off the homeless for too long, and we are tired and weary. We are not looking for a hand-out. We are not looking for luxury suburban housing at taxpayer (our) expense. We are looking for creative solutions that involve and benefit the entire community. This is not just a homeless issue, this is a community issue.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
True dialogue with the Portland community where we can share and listen to each others' creative ideas and solutions for immediate terms, short term, medium term, and long term solutions.
Immediate Term: Repeal of no camping and sit/lie ordinances.
Short Term: Realistic Shelter options for those who want them which can accommodate couples, and those with pets.
Medium/Long Term: Affordable and safe housing in downtown Portland. More effective mental health services and transitional programs outside of the faith-based perspective.

Want to support us?
Housed and houseless. POOR PEOPLE UNITE!
Many have already come to sleep with us on the sidewalks; but we need more allies to spend a few hours, a day, or even a few nights with us, living in our shoes and hearing our stories and spreading the word far and wide.
TELL THE MAYORS OFFICE!
(503)823-3597
As well as your friends, family, and co-workers that we want open, participatory communication, not just forums for talking at one another, but with one another.
GO TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS!
Every citizen of Portland is allowed 3 minutes to address the Mayor and City Council. City Council meets every Wednesday from 9:00am until 12:00pm. We need more voices of Portland to express the need for immediate resolve and action on this crisis.

Wordspeak and false charges

2008-05-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/05/375813.shtml

Sono Jimusho...

2008-05-19T13:24:00.001-07:00

Is this for real, or did the Saturday Night Live fake this??

SAFE Shelter needs donations

2008-05-19T11:16:00.001-07:00

I am reposting this comment from a case manager at the SAFE shelter,
since it was attached to a very old post on this blog.

tara has left a new comment on your post "Announcement: SAFE day
access shelter now open":

I am a Case Manager here at S.A.F.E. Shelter and if anyone would like
to donate some feminine hygeine products please call and leave a voice
mail for Tara Fleming at 503.839.6939 we are always using them and
could really appreciate any supplies to keep the supply full.

Rise UPP from the ashes

2008-05-17T19:35:00.001-07:00

The newly organized United Poor People (UPP) continues to keep organizing for human rights and dignity of all people. After a few days of regrouping another large-scale, high visibility protest will return to the Portland city hall this Monday morning at 8 a.m.

Protest was a growing, authentically human, community

2008-05-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Street Roots, May 16, 2008, p. 14

By Sarah Morrigan

In olden days it was said that a city hall is the people's house. In French, "city hall" is l'hôtel de ville. Last Wednesday, I took up my temporary abode in front of the Portland city hall to witness a history in the making and to be part of it.

At the city hall I saw a convergence of the people, growing from about 10 half a month ago to over 100 by Friday. There is a sense of power in this reclaiming of the commons and sharing the living together...

Read the rest in the paper -- it's only $1 a copy.
(This is a vendor economic interest protection measure; the full text will be republished only after May 30 when the next issue is out.)

Pick up the latest Street Roots!

2008-05-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press -- Special coverage on the city hall protest, history of the people's movement against sit-lie/camping ordinances and facts on the so-called "10-year plan to end homelessness."

Plus: Is the state government in Salem secretly spying and compiling information about you through a "fusion center"? An exclusive interview with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) answers your concerns.

Pick up your copy of the May 16-29 issue of the Street Roots this weekend!

Sho vs Sam, Amanda vs Jeff

2008-05-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

(NOT AUTHORIZED OR PAID FOR BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE.)

Sho Dozono expresses keen interest in the working class and the low-income Portlanders, not just Yuppies. It is likely that under Sam Adams' reign the Portland City Hall will defund many social programs Tom Potter and Erik Sten worked hard to realize, and instead, in the name of livability he would unleash a war on "the homeless" and the poor -- all while handing out tax credits to business developers and condomaniacs. Unlike Sam Adams, he knows what is important and what matters -- rather than throwing money away on frivolous projects such as Flanders Street bike bridge and expensive eastside streetcar loop that would take an hour to get from PSU to Central Eastside (via Broadway Bridge and Lloyd District).

Dozono also calls for a consolidation of David Douglas, Parkrose and Centennial school districts into Portland Public Schools for a better city-wide planning of education and efficient funding of schools.

And most importantly, Sho Dozono is a uniter who seeks to build on the efforts Tom Potter has initiated to bring many different segments of the city's population together -- across ethnic lines, socio-economic class, and neighborhoods. His experience as a long-term Portlander, a first-generation immigrant from Fukuoka, Japan, and a successful international businessman (some of whose accomplishments include the Flights of Love to New York devastated by 9/11 and to Katrina-struck New Orleans; and bringing a major Japanese TV network to Deschutes County for a TV drama series "From Oregon with Love" back in the 1980s when Oregon was largely an unknown destination) who is an expert in marketing Portland to the world and unite people under difficult circumstances.

(This is an editorial opinion of this blog and considered to be a protected freedom of press activity. This is neither solicited by the candidate nor is paid for by anyone.)

Amanda Fritz also opposes the inefficient expansion of the Portland Streetcar system via Broadway Bridge, and calls for a better and more frequent bus service in the Central Eastside.

Both Sho Dozono and Amanda Fritz are supported by both progressives and conservatives alike, including endorsements from the Multnomah County Republican Party. As candidates for non-partisan positions, they have a better ability to represent the common interest of all Portlanders, unlike other candidates such as Sam Adams and Jeff Bissonette, whose political platforms are markedly partisan and divisive.

City Hall protest cleared out

2008-05-15T07:09:00.001-07:00

According to the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center observer and KGW report, the Portland Politburo goons descended upon the city hall sidewalk, claiming their need for "cleaning up sidewalk." While most protestors remaining are now on the federal land across the street (i.e. Terry Shrunk Plaza) it appears that the goons have kidnapped two demonstrators.