Street Roots weighs in on day-access center

Day-access center could be a galvanizing project

Portland’s struggle to locate a permanent day-access center for the homeless has proven harder than expected. The city of Portland, and City Commissioner Erik Sten’s office, are in the process of spearheading a $30 million state-of-the-art day-access center in Old Town/Chinatown.

If the goal is to create a better quality of life for the neighborhood and downtown, then improving the quality of life for people experiencing homelessness and poverty is a step in the right direction.

From Street Roots’ perspective, the idea of a day access center for the homeless is a win-win, not just for people forced to live exposed to the elements, but also for the health of the community as a whole.

Off the top of our heads we can think of several components of the day access center that would improve Old Town/Chinatown, including offering a visually appealing piece of architecture with green standards, community gardens and creative microenterprises, to name a few.

For better or worse, downtown is evolving. Specifically, Old Town/Chinatown is evolving. Beyond having the Portland Development Commission and NW Natural headquartered in the ’hood, we soon will be welcoming the University of Oregon and Mercy Corps. We have heard rumors of Uwajimaya, an Asian specialty supermarket, which we would welcome with open arms.

The conflicting reality for many businesses downtown is that poverty is real. And it’s not showing any signs of decline. Like it or not, Old Town/Chinatown is home to a web of services working with poor people, including Central City Concern, Sisters Of The Road, Transition Projects, Union Gospel and Street Roots, to name a few.

None of this even starts to address the value of building affordable housing — a dwindling resource — for Portland’s residents. The affordable mixed-income housing units proposed atop the day-access center could be for the very people living and working in the neighborhood. Currently, someone working as a barista or in a convenience store downtown can’t even afford to live in the area. That’s absurd. Part of coupling a day access center with affordable housing is to offer those very workers and people living on little income the opportunity to live downtown and to be contributing members of our community.

Some have said the process is flawed, broken. Perhaps it is, but more importantly, the system is broken, and people continue to flock to Old Town/Chinatown for services. That’s not going to change anytime soon. But what can change is the way people are treated. For some, that may mean offering people dignity and respect; for others, that may mean getting people out of sight and out of mind, and some may be somewhere in between. Regardless, the day-access center is a way to bridge all of these differing points of view by offering something special, something that we as a community not only have the responsibility to do, but the responsibility to do right. We can do this together.

New Street Roots on the beat

This week's lead stories explore the final stages of the North American Free Trade Agreement pact going into effect in January, and how it will effect immigration and labor locally and in Mexico.

We have Q & A's with the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charlie Savage on the Bush-Cheney administration's power grabs, and city council candidate Amanda Fritz.

This issue of Street Roots also brings you columns from attorney Brandon Mayfield, the Raging Grannies, Alejandro Queral with the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center, and Jay Thiemeyer speaks his truth about life on the road.

You can help us reach our goal!

Dear Street Roots supporter,

Street Roots readers have donated nearly $15,000 for the Winter Fund Drive. That means we still need to raise $10,000 to lower the cost of newspaper to vendors in 2008. You can help!

Street Roots is on the verge of celebrating its ninth year in existence. During that time period Street Roots has put more than $1 million directly into the hands of people experiencing homelessness and poverty, helped launch Dignity Village, published nine books from people on the streets and maintained a balance of professional news and advocacy, along with bringing you the voices from the streets.

During that same time period we have been a part of housing scores of vendors and creating an atmosphere of hope and dignity. The relationships built between vendors and community members, along with helping educate a broader base about issues of homelessness and poverty, have led us to where we are today.

Much like the little train that could, Street Roots continues to chug away. We’ve set goals in 2008 to redesign the newspaper in a way that improves curb appeal for vendors and will allow us to explore the options of going full color and eventually weekly. With your help we can reach these goals. Improving the newspaper increases sales for vendors, and increasing sales for vendors allows individuals to maintain their own lives in a way that offers dignity and respect. Not to mention that it allows you, the readers, to be better informed on a variety of issues that are often swept under the rug by the mainstream media. By supporting the organization, you are not only supporting a human being’s livelihood, you are supporting grassroots media.

We believe the newspaper brings Portlanders not only voices from the streets, but unique perspectives from community organizers, authors, policy wonks, candidates, and a range of alternative voices that are helping shape the environment we all call home. That home takes many shapes and forms, from a doorway in front of a business to a camp on the edge of town. Maybe home is a loft in the Pearl, or a small house in a quiet neighborhood — regardless, there’s one thing that helps us connect the two very different worlds, and that’s Street Roots. Help us continue to deliver that connection between people in a changing world of isolationism. Help us be the change we seek. Help us reach our $25,000 goal.

Thank you for you consideration.


Donate now:

Donate today!

Or you can mail a check to Street Roots, 211 NW Davis, PDX, Oregon 97209 at the address below...

Happy holidays! And thank you for your support!

Housing and homeless advocates call to action

From the New York Times, "After protesters clashed violently with the police inside and outside the New Orleans City Council chambers on Thursday, the council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects in the city."

Read more...

New Orleans advocates raise hell

Portland's sister paper in Seattle, Real Change, spearheaded an all night protest at City Hall over camp sweeps.

Seattle advocates raise hell

San Fran looks to Portland for creative ways to clear sidewalks

The San Francisco Chronicle ran an interesting piece this weekend on Portland's role in clearing the streets of individuals experiencing homelessness coupled with services through the Safe Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee.

Mike Kuykendall says the criticism never seemed to let up.

"We were barraged with people complaining about conditions downtown," he said. "There were people sitting on the sidewalk, there were guys with sleeping bags and pit bulls, and there was aggressive panhandling. We had visitors and conventioneers saying they didn't want to come back."

Sound familiar?

No, it isn't downtown San Francisco.

Kuykendall is the head of the Business Alliance of Portland, Ore. Last week, he led a group that came to town to pitch San Francisco officials on Portland's downtown plan, called "Street Access for Everyone."

Read more...

S.F. leaders hear about Portland's approach to homelessness

You can help us reach our goal

Street Roots readers have donated nearly $12,000 for the Winter Fund Drive. We very much appreciate all of your support. We still need your help!

Street Roots is on the verge of celebrating its ninth year in existence. During that time period Street Roots has put more than $1 million directly into the hands of people experiencing homelessness and poverty, helped launch Dignity Village, published nine books from people on the streets and maintained a balance of professional news and advocacy, along with bringing you the voices from the streets.

During that same time period we have been a part of housing scores of vendors and creating an atmosphere of hope and dignity. The relationships built between vendors and community members, along with helping educate a broader base about issues of homelessness and poverty, have led us to where we are today.

Much like the little train that could, Street Roots continues to chug away. We’ve set goals in 2008 to redesign the newspaper in a way that improves curb appeal for vendors and will allow us to explore the options of going full color and eventually weekly. With your help we can reach these goals. Improving the newspaper increases sales for vendors, and increasing sales for vendors allows individuals to maintain their own lives in a way that offers dignity and respect. Not to mention that it allows you, the readers, to be better informed on a variety of issues that are often swept under the rug by the mainstream media. By supporting the organization, you are not only supporting a human being’s livelihood, you are supporting grassroots media.

We believe the newspaper brings Portlanders not only voices from the streets, but unique perspectives from community organizers, authors, policy wonks, candidates, and a range of alternative voices that are helping shape the environment we all call home. That home takes many shapes and forms, from a doorway in front of a business to a camp on the edge of town. Maybe home is a loft in the Pearl, or a small house in a quiet neighborhood — regardless, there’s one thing that helps us connect the two very different worlds, and that’s Street Roots. Help us continue to deliver that connection between people in a changing world of isolationism. Help us be the change we seek. Help us reach our $25,000 goal.

Thank you for you consideration.

Sincerely,

Street Roots crew

Donate on-line

or you can send a donation to Street Roots, 211 NW Davis, Portland, Oregon 97209

TriMet proposes a false sense of security

Reeling from the bad press around two highly publicized attacks on TriMet riders, TriMet general manager Fred Hansen wants do away with fareless square during the evening, and possibly forever.

The reason? Because “Fareless Square provides a free ride for panhandlers, who go back and forth between downtown and the Lloyd Center, and drug dealers and rowdy gangs of young people, homeless people and drunks who are using the train as a shelter and a place to do their business,” Hansen told an audience at the City Club of Portland.

But the attacks occurred at stations, not aboard the Max. Other security proposals can address that concern. The reason for doing away with Fareless Square, even in increments, is money. The disgust at panhandlers and homeless people, even drunks for that matter, is something else. It’s scapegoating the popular punching bags to present another regressive attitude in the guise of a positive outcome. The goal: To have private security guards asking for proof of fares to initiate conversation among those who “raise suspicions.” You don’t even have to lift a finger to cause a problem for the courtesy interrogation. We already know that if you look homeless – especially if you’re seeking shelter from the cold and rain — according to Hansen’s own words, you’re in their sights.

Since when did suspicion of a fare violation trump the suspicion of drug dealing?

On the other hand, there are definitely positives in Hansen’s plans for security, which everyone can support, and for ensuring that fares are paid – which they should be. Fixing the faulty vending machines seems a no-brainer, but it will go a long way toward easing the minds of people who are forced to choose between risking riding without fare or walking miles home alone in the dark. Now that’s where TriMet can actually improve security.

And security on board the trains would be a benefit, provided they answer to TriMet, not private security interests. According to The Oregonian, Hansen says he would negotiate with TriMet's union to allow Wackenhut contract security officers to write tickets and exclude “unruly people” from the system. Any actions against citizens that exclude them from public transportation need to be conducted in a transparent accountability system. We don’t need any more guards enforcing public policies under the cloak of private business, particularly when a business contract and job security relies on a steady flow of people deemed “unruly.”

Fareless Square is a 30-year institution and a hallmark of our great city. It ferries people from the Southside into Old Town for a Chinese lunch, and back again within the hour. It is a conveyor for tourists who want to enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment and the sites in our bustling downtown. It sends people for a quick shop at Lloyd Center and back downtown for the evening meeting. It is lauded by environmentalists as a progressive alternative to the growing glut of polluting engines. It is a treasure to the poor, who often travel its width and breadth to reach services and needs, and yes, find shelter, as they should and have every right to. Its preservation should be at the forefront of everyone, from business owners to social advocates to consumers. But it doesn’t seem so important to TriMet.

Which brings us back to the money. TriMet has been crying for the end of Fareless Square for years to (end car prowls, stop drug dealing, protect against terrorism?) bring in more revenue. If TriMet wants to end the free rides on paid routes, put in a better system. The proposed gated entry points, fixing antiquated ticket dispensers, are all on the right track. But go further: Consider the Seattle model – where a much larger downtown is fareless — of having people pay as the leave through the front and only the front door.

We were innovative and progressive 32 years ago with the advent of Fareless Square. We shouldn’t be so shortsighted as to scrap such an asset for quick cash.

New Street Roots tomorrow will knock your socks off

Street Roots lead story is a fantastic interview by Martha Gies with local author Jules Boykoff exploring how government and media play a role in suppressing dissent.

Other stories include a look at why housing advocates are clamoring for the city to step up its efforts to make affordable housing a priority for two Army centers slated for closure, and why the Department of Defense is standing in the way and the Portland Development Commission may be dropping the ball.

Portland Patrol Inc., a private security group downtown hands out a record number of park exclusions this year, police target people experiencing homelessness through the sidewalk obstruction ordinance and the ACLU brokers a deal with the city to prohibit the police bureau from working with the DEA on medical marijuana and assisted suicide investigations.

Jo Ann Bowman gives Portland her holiday wish for next year's mayoral elections, Howard Weiner talks public safety and homelessness on the campaign trail and Soup Can Sam is on fire in this Friday's issue of Street Roots.

All of this and much more in tomorrow's edition of Street Roots!

Only homeless individuals receive sidewalk obstruction warnings

Thirteen written sidewalk obstruction warnings and one citation have been doled out by the Portland Police Bureau between August 30, and October 30, according to documents obtained by Street Roots.

All of the individuals receiving warnings were listed as homeless or transient, according to police reports.

The most recent revision of the sidewalk obstruction ordinance bans individuals from sitting or lying on public sidewalks from 7AM to 9PM. The maximum penalty for violation of the ordinance is $250.

The new ordinance was crafted by the Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee, made up of homeless advocates, law enforcement, City Hall, and the business community agreed to allow such an ordinance in exchange for park benches, public restrooms and a homeless day access center – all of which have not been fully implemented.

“The information suggests that the intent of the law’s backers and the intent of the law’s enforcers is to target homeless people,” says Adam Arms, a Portland attorney who successfully represented a case that found a similar law unconstitutional in 2004.

“The information could signify that homeless people happen to be on the receiving end of enforcement because homeless folks are forced to live outside, many on sidewalks,” Arms goes on to say. “In any event, the numbers are disturbing because they seem to confirm the “sit-lie” ordinance critics’ prediction – that the law will be unjustly used to single out homeless people for criminalization.”

Street Roots along with several other organizations opposed the committee’s recommendations to create such an ordinance on the grounds that it would specifically target people on the streets who otherwise do not have a place to sleep, or rest.

The full report on sidewalk obstruction warnings will be presented to the SAFE committee this Thursday morning at City Hall at 9:30AM.

Read the full story on the sidewalk obstruction warnings this Friday in Street Roots.

Private security hand out 2,274 park exclusion over a one-year period

During a one-year period between November of 2006 and November of 2007 the Portland Patrol Inc., a private security agency issued 2,274 park exclusions in downtown, according to the latest Portland Patrol Parks Report.

The Portland Patrol Inc. is primarily funded by the Portland Business Alliance to assist law enforcement with security downtown. The private agency has the capacity to enforce public policy in parks, and has come under scrutiny from homeless and civil rights activists for the lack of public oversight.

More than half of the exclusions handed out by PPI occurred in Waterfront Park with 1, 385. PPI handed out 286 exclusions in the North Park Blocks, while the private group doled out 132 exclusions in both the South Park Blocks and Obryant Square.

Merkley/Novick interview in Street Roots

Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley are the top Democratic contenders for taking Gordon Smith’s Senate seat this fall. Street Roots, along with Oregon Action, Jobs with Justice, the ACLU of Oregon, the Rural Organizing Project and Affordable Housing Now, asked the candidates about affordable housing, immigrant issues and civil rights. Read the article…

Merkley/Novick interview

The current interview with the candidates is out on the streets. Please support a local vendor by buying a copy today!

Street Roots needs your help!

Street Roots has raised nearly $9,400 in the first month of the organizations Winter Fund Drive. We’ve set a goal of 25K. We can’t do it without you!

This year Street Roots is working towards empowering vendors by lowering the costs of the newspaper for vendors from 30 cents to 25 cents, that’s a 75 percent profit off of each paper sold.

We are also developing a sales training video for vendors, as well as providing fresh water, coffee and a warm and safe place for vendors and people on the streets to congregate in the office 365 days a year.

The relationship built between readers and vendors is an amazing thing in itself. The self-confidence and self-worth individuals experience is immeasurable. The income individuals are able to gain through the sale of the newspaper is life changing.

As one vendor recently put it. “I sell these newspapers to keep me alive, so you better keep producing them. Without it (newspaper), I’m as good as gone. Things are turning around, and for the first time in a long while, I have reason to believe in something.”

The content delivered to readers through the newspaper is irreplaceable. In 2007, Street Roots published in-depth features on privatization of police, immigrant rights, gentrification, rural poverty, affordable housing and homelessness, and environmental justice. We produced two special editions, one on individuals displaced from New Orleans, the other on food, poverty and social justice.

And if that’s not enough, each issue has been jammed packed with commentaries by community organizers, people experiencing homelessness and poverty, policy wonks, media hounds, and an assorted mix of muckrakers, do-gooders, hellraisers and individuals who above all else, care about the people and the city and world we live.

Please help us reach our goal this winter of 25K!

From all of us at Street Roots, we thank you!

Donate on-line today:

Donate today!

or you can send a donation to Street Roots, 211 NW Davis, Portland, Oregon 97209