This Week in the Mercury
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Friday, November 6, 2009
News / Cops Cop Union Boss: "Our Low Emotional Condition"
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Portland Police Association President Scott Westerman has a doozy of an editorial in this month's Rap Sheet, entitled Our Low Emotional Condition. The text is as follows:
Morale is defined by Merriam-Webster as the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand; a sense of common purpose with respect to a group; the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future.Many believe that a positive morale is something the PPA membership has been lacking for a while. While we have made strides in some areas, morale is clearly down in many other areas.
In recent months and weeks, more and more PPA members have expressed concern about the continued decline of morale in the bureau. In years past, low morale could typically be attributed to a single event or individual, and how we are affected by the negative impact of that event or individual. This time, it seems different. When talking with the membership, the reasons given for why they believe morale is low isn't focused on any one thing or person, but rather, a totality of circumstances.
Skipping to the more interesting paragraphs:
Negative publicity from recent, and not so recent, events has also taken its toll on morale. The fact that we are still dealing with the Chasse case three years later has clearly impacted how we feel about the job we do. The media has painted our members in a very negative light while the facts of the case show they were within policy.For now, I think one of the biggest things missing from the Chasse case is the overwhelming lack of public support these officers have received. Sure, they've gotten private phone calls expressing concern and support from friends, family and members of the Bureau, but very little in the form of public support.
To give some perspective, let's look at the recent e-mail sent by Chief Sizer to the entire Police Bureau regarding an article written about Captain Mark Kruger. She said, "I'd like to clear the record internally, especially if you get asked questions by community members." She went on to say, "I would not have promoted Mark to Captain if I felt at any time the allegations were true. I supported him then and I support him now." Any time any member of the Portland Police Bureau is unfairly targeted by the media, this is the type of response we should get from the Chief. But one can't help but wonder, where was her public support for Officer Chris Humphreys, Officer Bret Burton and Sergeant Kyle Nice? Where is the email expressing her confidence in their ability to perform the jobs they have dedicated their lives to? They have been attacked and slandered in the media in not just one article, but countless dozens. Clearly, this has had a huge impact on morale from the rank and file.
Read the whole thing after the jump.
News / Politics Bill Bradbury Sets His Big Brother On You
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Bradbury has been fighting underdog perceptions ever since rival John Kitzhaber came out with an impressive set of endorsements at the end of September. Well, he now appears to have adopted the oldest playground trick in the book, which is, if your opponent is looking intimidating, set your big brother on him. Used to work for me. Might work, with a moderation from "big brother" to "Al Gore," for Bradbury, whose website is all a-flutter this morning with details of a fundraiser on the 19th, the morning after Gore's appearance at the Keller Auditorium, to promote his new book:
That's right! The country's former elected President is going to be rinsing it up with Bradbury here in Portland 13 days, hence! Here's a preview of the conversation:
BRADBURY: So, Al, buddy, tell me again, why am I so awesome?
THE ONE AND ONLY AL GORE(TM): Because you've got a thirty inch penis, Bill, or at least, so I've heard. Also, you're a man who knows life. A man the people can trust. A man anyone could give their heart to, without worry about it being stomped on like a piece of cheap crockery.
BRADBURY: I don't stomp on anybody's heart like cheap crockery, Al. It's true. And I don't wear those ridiculous cowboy boots, like my rival. You're a big deal, right?
THE ONE AND ONLY AL GORE(TM): Right. I'm a BIG DEAL. But not as big as you. You're a massive deal. Practically the only deal there is. There's no room in the deal house for more than your deal. If you were a deal wagon, you would break the tracks. If you were a deal truck, you would be so heavily laden with your bigness, that frankly, I don't think there's a highway you could drive down. You're that big of a deal.
BRADBURY: I am. I am. It's true. Now, about this global warming nonsense...
Etcetera. Gore's endorsement has got to sting a bit for Kitzhaber. Derek Humphrey with Kitzhaber's campaign team says "we don't comment on the events run by other campaigns," but that just sounds like sour grapes. Has Kitzhaber got plans to be endorsed by Bill Clinton or the ghost of Mother Theresa? "We're going to have lots of interesting events as the campaign moves forward," says Humphrey. Find out more at Notinteresting.com.
Meanwhile Blue Oregon's Les AuCoin speculates about reasons for the conspicuous endorsement this morning:
Gore’s move is the continuation of a decades long feud with Oregon ex-governor Kitzhaber, Bradbury’s leading primary opponent, dating back to Gore’s bitter battle against Kitz’ innovative Oregon Health Plan when Gore was a U.S. Senate.John K. won that fight, but he never forgot his nemesis from Tennessee; when Gore ran as the presumptive favorite for president in 2000, Kitz backed Bill Bradley early and conspicuously. Twisting the knife, the Guv criticized the Clinton Administration — and implicitly Gore, the “green” VP — for inept handling of the NW salmon crisis. I'm not saying it was Kitz's sole rationale, but it was one.
After 20 years, the Bradbury candidacy gave Gore the opening to stick the knife back. Here, too, it may not be Gore's only rationale, but it is one.
"Gore and Kitzhaber can barely stand each other," AuCoin concludes. So maybe it's not so much about Bradbury, after all. Either way I just asked for press access to the fundraiser. Let's hope they read this, first.
$$$ / News Fandango Can Suck It
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:53 AM
We've been using Fandango to reserve movie tickets for a couple of years, and every now and then after I've bought the ticket, this woman's voice will come up and say "click yes to claim your free ticket." So I'd click yes. It turns out I wasn't clicking "yes" to Fandango, but to sign up to a program called "Webloyalty," which has been dinging our debit card $12 every month for the last six months. We only discovered the scam yesterday, after reading about it online.
They must do research to figure out the maximum amount they can charge that people won't notice or care about for at least six months. The guy on the phone actually had the nerve to say that if we quit we would no longer be a member of "reservation rewards" and would lose access to all the benefits. What benefits? NONE! They refunded the six months of charges and said "sorry."
Webloyalty told CBS it's operating within the scope of the law, but I'm never using Fandango again. I don't need an explanation, I don't need an apology, I don't need to call their press person and have them how sorry they are, in fact, fuck it, Fandango, you've got a problem? You call me.
Suck it.
So, to recap: I just want you all to know that Fandango is working with a company that scams people out of their cash. Check your bank statements. See anything weird on there? Fandango can suck it. They've earned the opposite of customer loyalty from me. It would really help me if you would tell ten people to tell ten people about this, too. I want thousands of people walking around by the end of today saying how much Fandango sucks balls. In a bad way. Fandango sucks balls in a bad way!
Fandango can suck it.
News Good Morning News!
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Army Killing Spree: The final body count in the shooting spree at Ft. Hood army base is 13 dead, 30 wounded.
Shooter Wanted Out: The Washington Post has a complicated portrait of the shooter, a Muslim army psychologist terrified of being redeployed.
"All American Muslims Taking The Blame." An interesting British editorial on the Ft. Hood massacre.
The Recession is Over! Uh... not quite. National unemployment is at its highest rate in 26 years.
Jobs? Fuzzy Animals? Oil? Environmentalists are split on the best angle to sell landmark climate change legislation in the Senate.
Healthcare Reform: ...so.... close... Feministing has a primer on how to get involved to support its passage.
Restart the CRC Process! Demands a coalition of five big-name groups who want a $4 million independent analysis of how to fix the I-5 corridor, looking also at "non-road solutions." Just for thought, here's a picture of all the roads in the world:
- via Socio Images
Grisly Homicide-Suicide in SE Portland: A terrible-sounding person is suspected of killing himself, his girlfriend and her 4-year-old son in house on SE 132nd.
Sorry today is full of awful news. To make up for that, here's a clip of John Stewart making fun of Glenn Beck during last night's Daily Show.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
News / Tech Tweeting The Massacre
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 3:16 PM
So here's an odd combination of Twitter posts:
Thanks to erstwhile Mercury freelancer Kiala Kazebee for the link. The author appears to be an insider at Fort Hood in Texas, where twelve are dead and 31 wounded in a shooting spree so far this afternoon.
Nice reasoned reaction from Business Insider:
There are unconfirmed reports that Major Hasan was a convert to Islam and originally from Virginia. He was reportedly scheduled to deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan and was unhappy about it.It goes without saying that the fact that the shooter was a Muslim will turn this into a gigantic story.
Stepping back for a moment from the horror of the incident, and it is horrible, and I'm horrified...this reminds me of the Footnotes of Madmen post this week, that talked about how 500 people first heard about the Kennedy Assassination: 136 people heard the news face to face, 97 from the radio, 72 from the tv, 37 over the telephone. In this case, I first heard about the massacre from a Twitter feed by "Misstearah." Her perspective is hardly CNN, either:
I know this wins the prize for most morbid/sickest Twitter story of the month, but it's striking to me, so I thought I'd take note.
News BREAKING: Five Groups Demand "Restart" of CRC Bridge Process
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Five local advocacy groups issued a joint announcement today calling on the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project team to effectively restart its planning process.
The Coalition for a Livable Future, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Environment Oregon, Environment Washington and Upstream Public Health want the CRC project to allocate $4 million for an independent analysis of how to fix the clogged I-5 bridge. The plans drawn up for the Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation became a 12-lane bridge with a $4.2 billion pricetag.
"This is 1/1000 of the project's cost," says Coalition for a Livable Future policy director Mara Gross. "To spend $4 million to see if we can do better doesn't seem like that crazy of an idea... Departments of transportations build roads. It's what they do. There may be solutions that aren't just about roads." Gross explains that a "not just roads" solution to the problem could focus on better land use planning and the fact that the majority of I-5 bridge users are commuters heading from Vancouver to Portland. "Maybe economic development in Vancouver is part of it. Maybe freight-only lanes are part of it," says Gross.
The groups also want the CRC to do a new environmental impact statement on whatever bridge comes out of their planning process. Numerous politicians and advocates have suggested the design of the bridge must change to fit within a smaller budget. Gross believes that a new design should equal a new environmental analysis.
“It is unacceptable in 2009 to continue to pretend it’s OK to spend billions of dollars on a project that increases global warming pollution by 32%,” says Heather Shute, Policy Advocate for Environment Washington, in the groups' press release.
As for whether "restarting" means disbanding groups that have been working for years developing the current plans for the bridge, Gross says she wants to "flesh out the idea for a little while" before going down that road.
In the current campaign for Metro Council President, Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder said that going back to the drawing board on the process would be wasteful. "That would mean throwing away $80 million of work. That's stupid," said Burkholder in October.
News / Politics Fish Steps In To Leonard's Beef With Saltzman
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 1:53 PM
City Commissioner Nick Fish stepped into the beef between his fellow commissioners Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman about arming water bureau security earlier this week, the Mercury has learned.
Saltzman, the city's former parks commissioner, invited himself to a meeting on Wednesday morning of the city's Parks Board—a monthly group that oversees the management and development of parks in the city, with the idea of giving them his opinions on Leonard's idea.
Fish, who took over as parks commissioner from Saltzman last year, emailed Saltzman uninviting him from the meeting, and saying he did not feel it was appropriate for Saltzman to pull the parks board into the political dispute between he and Leonard.
Saltzman responded by email, telling Fish he planned to show up at the Parks Board, anyway, and he did.
"As a general policy the commissioner does not comment on conversations with his colleagues," said Fish's chief of staff, Betsy Ames, yesterday.
"He explained his concerns with what might be brought forward, which very much mimicked what he had put in his memo," says Saltzman's chief of staff, Brendan Finn, about the commissioner's talk to the Parks Board. "He wanted to talk specifically to the parks board about how the idea would affect parks users and advocates."
Finn refused to confirm or deny the existence of the email exchange with Fish, and Saltzman has refused comment. The Mercury has made a public records request for the exchange, in the mean time.
Leonard wants to give water bureau security guards training through the Department of Security Standards and Training in Salem, a story first picked up some weeks ago by Beth Slovic at Willamette Week. Saltzman issued a response to Leonard's proposal last week, in the form of an eight-page memo, listing alternatives. Broadly, he's against Leonard's move for a variety of reasons. "The creation of a second, standalone 'law enforcement unit' in the WB poses significant liabilities and costs and has the potential for confusion among the public and our police," he wrote.
Meanwhile, Leonard says Saltzman is trying to "personalize" the issue.
More—including video—after the jump.
News Read The Goddamn News
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 11:44 AM
BLACK AND BLUE Gresham's only African American cop alleges discrimination.
PORTLAND'S NEWEST JOINT Smoke weed at Rumpspankers!*
*with a prescription
SAM ADAMS—DRINK THE MINIBAR Why we should be pleased the mayor is into international travel.
TESTING CRAIGSLIST Undercover with Portland's housing discrimination police.
SHOW ME THE MONEY! Will the City Pay for 600 New Miles of Bike Lanes?
Read the goddamn news.
Also, read the goddamn feature: THE SECRETS BEHIND THE SECRET LIST. In addition to meeting folks who have been through the program, I found out the city has spent $4.8million on it in the last two years, and has no way to measure its success, despite having been advised during the program's inception that it might be a good idea. Meanwhile, the county can't afford to keep its existing drug court going.
Read the goddamn feature.
News / Politics Oregon Conservatives Closing In On Recall 2?
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 11:14 AM
The second recall effort has asked for an estimate to gather signatures from the same right-wing firm that used convicted sex offenders to gather signatures for 14 conservative initiatives this summer.
"We were contacted by somebody representing themselves as from the second recall campaign," says Ross Day, with Voice of the Electorate (VOTE), the signature gathering firm. "We sent them a contract about three weeks ago, but we haven't heard back yet," Day continues.
Day says VOTE's bill for gathering the 50,000 signatures required to put another Sam Adams recall on the ballot "could be anywhere between $150,000 and $300,000." "There's a lot of variables, the weather, the availability of circulators, and so on," he continues.
- KEVIN MANNIX (LEFT)
Day established VOTE earlier this year along with two other nonprofits operating under the shared name of Common Sense for Oregon, with his ally, former right-wing gubernatorial candidate Kevin Mannix. Mannix's long-term adviser Jack Kane was also linked to the second recall campaign by the Tribune earlier this morning.
Mannix's statewide political efforts have run the gamut from "anti-obscenity" measures, to killing taxes on the rich and corporations, to mandatory minimum sentences for drug addicts without the option of treatment.
Mannix has one major patron, Nevada-based businessman Loren Parks, who has contributed over $4million to his political efforts since 1994. Parks, an eccentric, also offers sex therapy on his Youtube channel.
Day and Mannix told the Oregonian in August that they wanted to restore people's trust in the initiative system, following documented cases of signature fraud, and the jailing of Oregon's best-known initiative racketeer, Bill Sizemore.
- SIZEMORE (LEFT)
Nevertheless, VOTE is a force to be reckoned with. Their signature gatherers successfully referred tax hikes to the ballot this summer, and have forced Our Oregon to go out talking to Oregonians about why the tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations are vital to pay for basic services.
If conservatives are indeed closing in on the second recall effort, they will encounter an unlikely ally in former State Senator Avel Gordly, a Democrat turned Independent, who recently took over from Jasun Wurster as spokesperson for the campaign. Gordly is yet to return a call for comment.
News Cannabis Cafe on Think Out Loud
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 9:11 AM
OPB is picking up the topic this morning of the new pot cafe opening on Northeast Dekum. The cafe, organized by marijuana advocacy group Oregon NORML, plans to open its doors at 4:20 pm on November 13th and will be only open to medical marijuana cardholders who also pay a club membership fee. Organizers say the cafe will give cardholders somewhere "safe and sane to medicate" out of public view.
Check out my article about the cafe in this week's news section before tuning in to the discussion.
Update: Okay, this show is getting sort of hilarious. Oregon NORML executive director Madeline Martinez is sparring with anti-pot activist and Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin. Martinez is rambling a bit and just described her daily routine—wake up at 5:30, make a cup of coffee, vaporize marijuana for the first of four or five times during the day. "Sounds like it's more like six or seven," remarked Bergin, snidely.
It's clear that Bergin is desperately on the losing side of a culture shift, though. When he mentioned the Obama administration's recent directive for federal agents to deprioritize pot busts in states that have medical marijuana laws, his voice sounded defeated. Bergin is hoping to repeal Oregon's 10-year-old medical marijuana law with a statewide referendum. Good luck with that one.
News Mannix Advisor Linked To Recall Recall
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 8:34 AM
The Tribune has this interesting tidbit on the recall 2 this morning, linking a long-term advisor to former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Mannix to the effort:
Although organizers of the new Mayor Sam Adams recall campaign have yet to announce who will run it, at least one experienced campaign consultant has been offering advice. He is Jack Kane, founder and president of Creative Services, a local communications strategy firm.Kane is also a longtime adviser to Kevin Mannix, the former legislator who has run unsuccessfully as a Republican for Oregon governor and the 5th Congressional District.
Although Kane did not return repeated calls for comment, several sources said he has been involved in numerous meetings and conference calls with other recall supporters.
Sleazy? Yes. More dangerous than Jasun Wurster? Also, yes.
News Good Morning, News!
Posted by Sean Breslin on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Oh, hey. The Yankees won the Series. Moving on...
Republicans have a lot of issues to sort out between now and 2010!
Afghanistan violence forces U.N. to relocate staff.
Uber-nutjob Glenn Beck could be a boon for thriller writers. C'mon! Really?
Rihanna speaks frankly about her relationship with Chris Brown. Glad she's able to talk to us like we're adults.
Evangelical mega-church preacher Ted Haggard, who had a soft spot for male hookers and meth, is back at the pulpit!
Cats can catch the swine flu, too! So catowners: your pets would appreciate it if you left the house while you're feeling sick. Just don't bring your germs to work, either.
We'll end on this ridiculous note: Disney is trying to recast Mickey as the next American badass. This picture, from the upcoming video game "Epic Mickey," totally made my morning:
- Oh, boy!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News Saltzman Proposes 2 Weeks Off For Chasse Cops: Leonard Calls Saltzman "Parrot" For Police Chief
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Update, 4:21pm This originally appeared at 15:29, but I'm moving it up with all the new information. Original post:
Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman has upped Chief Sizer's recommended discipline in the Chasse case, proposing two weeks off for Sergeant Kyle Nice and Officer Christopher Humphreys, instead of Sizer's recommended week off for Nice, on September 23.
The Oregonian had the story an hour ago, with Portland Police Association boss Scott Westerman seeming to be the source. Westerman is yet to return a call for comment, but told O reporter Maxine Bernstein he was "absolutely disgusted" with the recommendation.
Nice and Humphreys have the opportunity to appeal the discipline.
"I'm disgusted as well," says Jason Renaud, with the Mental Health Association of Portland—a friend of Chasse's and advocate for people in similar situations, who has called on Saltzman and the city council to do seven actions to repair damage associated with the death.
"This shows a basic lack of courage," says Renaud. "And maybe a lack of the tools needed to discipline officers. This is the lightest possible discipline imaginable. This doesn't make us safer, this doesn't protect us better. James Chasse is still dead."
"We need the tools to discipline officers more readily, instead of waiting three years," Renaud continues. "The commissioner seems to be rather powerless at this point."
Renaud says he has offered Saltzman and Sizer the opportunity to speak publicly to the community about the incident, and they have refused. "Their actions and decisions need explaining," he says.
Saltzman is yet to return a call for comment on the news.
Speaking earlier, before the discipline was recommended, city commissioner Randy Leonard spoke out about Saltzman's relationship with Police Chief Rosie Sizer, describing him as "a parrot" for the chief.
"He is a captive of the culture as much as anybody else is, on the 15th floor of the police bureau," Leonard said, referring to the chief's office. "The place needs a house cleaning."
Leonard spoke out two weeks ago on the Chasse incident, describing it as "unjustifiable and inexcusable," and said the city should move quickly to settle its lawsuit with Chasse's family.
"This isn't just about Chief Sizer," Leonard continued. "I had the same issues with Chief Kroeker and Chief Foxworth, when it came to defensive hostility."
Leonard would not specify a preference for an alternative chief, but did say Central Commander Mike Reese is "one of the most thoughtful human beings I've ever known in my life and an outstanding public servant."
Update, 4:05: Westerman is giving a news conference, apparently only for TV, at city hall right now, telling them this is "a political move" by Saltzman, and that he "is expecting things from officers that they can't give." We never got the invite to the news conference, although Westerman recently hired Galatin public affairs for PR advice. So perhaps they told him we would ask difficult questions. Update 2, 4:12, Westerman says he sent a fax invite. "I was wondering why there were so few people there," he says. "We're switching to email for these things, from now on."
Original update, 4:05
"The death of James Chasse is a tragedy," he said. "The discipline recommendation issued by Commissioner Dan Saltzman is nothing more than a politician playing politics with the lives of Officers Chris Humphreys, Kyle Nice and their families. I know sergeant Nice and Officer Chris Humphreys personally. They are honorable men. They are fathers, husbands, and members of this community, and they are devestated members of this bureau. The recommendation issued today has nothing to do with the use of force. Commissioner Saltzman wants to discipline these officers for following the medical advice of paramedics and nurses. In other words, these officers are being disciplined for not being medics. Commissioner Saltzman is seeking to discipline officer Humphreys in part because an ambulance did not transport Chasse from the jail to hospital. Saltzman knows that the jail nurse never evaluated James Chasse. She never checked his vitals, she never checked his pulse. She only looked at Mr.Chasse through a window, she gave no advice to transport by an ambulance. Officer Chris Humphreys are being unfairly disciplined for purely political reasons. Commissioner Saltzman was not able to discipline medical crews or jail nurses, so he is taking aim at these officers for political posturing. The citizens and police officers of Portland deserve better than this from our elected officials. The Portland Police Association will vigorously defend Kyle Nice and Chris Humphreys as this issue moves forward in the discipline process."
Update 2, 4:12pm: Saltzman has issued a written statement.
"Mr.Chasse had been in a foot pursuit, taken to the ground, involved in a prolonged struggle, tasered, and at one point appeared to have lost consciousness," Saltzman writes. "Although it is not clear this information would have made a difference in the assessment by medical personnel or in the ultimate death of Mr.Chasse, I believe the officers should have made sure [the ambulance company] was well aware of all of these facts."
Saltzman thinks the officers should have had Chasse taken to hospital in an ambulance, rather than their patrol car. And he thinks they should have called for an ambulance at the jail when Chasse lost consciousness a second time, instead of trying to drive him to hospital in their patrol car.
News / Cops / Crime Cops and Robbers!
Posted by Sean Breslin on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Traffic was snarled Wednesday at the intersection of NE Sandy and East Burnside when Portland police nabbed an alleged bank robber after he robbed the HomeStreet Bank at NW 23rd and Burnside.
Sgt. Mike Marshman says the male suspect went to the Albina Community Bank at NE 56th and Sandy after the earlier HomeStreet robbery. Something spooked the suspect, and he left the Albina Bank without attempting a robbery. Staff at the bank called police, and a squad car already in the area pursued the suspect's blue Hyundai down Sandy before he was trapped by waiting officers at the Sandy-Burnside intersection.
The suspect's name was not immediately available, but Marshman says this arrest may be connected to a string of about 10 other robberies in the area. No one was hurt in the chase.
Homo / News Maine Vote Underscores Need For Conversations
Posted by Sean Breslin on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 11:05 AM
As mentioned earlier, Maine voters overturned a state law in Tuesday’s election that granted the right to marry to same-sex couples. Meanwhile across the Columbia, Washington voters took up Referendum 71—an ‘anything-but-marriage’ law that would grant civil unions to gay and lesbian couples. The referendum looks like it will pass by a narrow margin of victory.
What does this mean for same-sex marriage organizers in Oregon? According to Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), support must be built for marriage equality long before a measure appears on the ballot.
“Our community cannot afford to rush to the ballot and fight this out in a screaming match,” says Jeana Frazzini, executive director of BRO. Frazzini adds that political campaigns rarely offer the opportunity for thoughtful conversations.
This wasn’t entirely unforeseen. At a speech Monday night rallying the advocacy foot soldiers, Freedom To Marry executive director Evan Wolfson warned BRO and other same-sex marriage supporters that the Maine vote could be a disappointment. Wolfson said BRO’s public education plan — which encourages supporters to have one-on-one conversations with friends and loved ones about why marriage is important for the LGBT community — is essential to building the support necessary for a vote down the road.
But in telling people to have conversations about same-sex marriage and not push for legal rights, BRO also may face resistance from couples who are tired of wading through mud of “civil unions” or “domestic partnerships.” As the Mercury reported last month, many want to be married. Now.
“I totally relate,” Frazzini says, adding that she and her partner of 12 years want to be married, too. “It’s painful stuff and it can be scary stuff at times.” But she also says putting measures on the ballot without taking the time to build community support will only lead to disheartening defeats.
“We will actually do more to change the fabric of our communities in having these calm, heartfelt conversations,” Frazzini says.
News / Politics / Green Plant A Tree, Get A Treebate
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Portlanders can get a rebate on their utility bills to plant a tree, as of this morning. And a gentleman named Bryan showed up with to council what looked like a violin case to testify about it. "You showed up in Chicago with one of those, and we'd be nervous," said City Commissioner Randy Leonard. But it turned out, Bryan just wanted to sing a song about the trees:
Wild.
"A single mature tree with a 30 foot crown can intercept up to 700 gallons of water annually," said City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, introducing the resolution. "The program will provide a small incentive for Portlanders to plant trees in their yards," he continued. "This is an emergency ordinance because the best time to plant trees is in the fall, winter, and early spring."
Here's how it works:
1.Buy a tree
2.Plant it
3.Submit a treebate application form with a proof of purchase to the city.
4.Receive up to $50, as a utility bill credit.
The city is hoping to manage 10-15 million gallons of stormwater a year, with the program, to prevent sewer backups. And there's a limit of ten trees per residence, before you get carried away.
"Our tag line is plant a tree, increase livability," said Jennifer Karps, who'll be running the program at the city.
"When I bought my house I saw it had a big leaf maple, and shortly after we closed, it collapsed on my house," said City Commissioner Nick Fish. "Shortly afterward I got an $800 bill from the city to chop it up into firewood. I'd been thinking about replacing that tree, and now I have a financial incentive."
"This is a win win win for everyone," said Saltzman.
News Good Morning, News!
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 9:51 AM
As Matt mentioned earlier, homophobes ruled the day in Maine—but everyone else knows that same-sex marriage is all but a done deal.
Or maybe I'm speaking too soon?
Republicans win two key governor seats in New Jersey and Virginia in a desperate bid to claw their way back to relevance.
Get ready, the House could be voting on the health care overhaul as soon as this weekend—and unsurprisingly, abortion is the current sticking point.
Forbes has put out a list of the Most Toxic Cities in America—and guess who came in at #10? (In our defense, they lumped in Vancouver and Beaverton as well. Thanks a pantload, suburbs!)
Okay, this is disturbing.
A Louisiana judge resigns after refusing to officiate the weddings of interracial couples.
In related hillbilly news, a South Carolina man gets three years in prison for having sex with a horse. People from the South are funny!
And finally, Jon Stewart deftly reminds us why cable news networks (and their election coverage) should be smothered in its sleep.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Indecision 2009 - Reindecision 2008 And Beyond | ||||
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News / Politics Washington Is Better Than Maine
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 8:20 AM
I enjoyed reading the Stranger's election coverage last night, immensely. From great photos of the "yes on 71" party, to great photos of the "no on 71" party:
And guess what? The Stranger's endorsee for mayor, Mike McGinn, came out on top, too!
There's links to all the coverage here. Meanwhile, Maine voters surprised and disappointed by voting to repeal the state's gay marriage law. We'll have reaction here from Basic Rights Oregon—which is aiming for 2012, possibly, as a date to put marriage equality on the ballot here—shortly.
Boycott lobster!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
News It's Election Day!
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 10:56 AM
...except in Oregon. We don't have our election until January and then there will be only two things on the ballot: the tax the rich ballot measures passed by the legislature last year. For nerds who care, the Oregon Center of Public Policy released some sexy flowcharts today visually detailing how the new taxes will raise $733 million for the state by taxing corporations and the top 1.7 percent of Oregon's wealthiest individuals.
So all eyes are on Washington today, as the state faces a couple tight mayoral races and a big referendum threatening to repeal same-sex couples' domestic partnership rights. Despite a strong campaign to approve the law and keep domestic partnership rights intact, polling has shown a thin margin of possible victory for the LGBT advocates.
Election returns aren't posted until 8PM on the Washington elections website but until then you can keep up with all the gossip on The Stranger's Slog.
Just over the river from us in Vancouver, Mayor Royce Pollard and challenger Tim Leavitt are fighting it out in a too-close to call election that hinges on the issues surrounding the Columbia River Crossing (CRC). In public debates I wrote about in September, Leavitt proclaimed that he would fight for no tolls the new CRC bridge, a position that other officials involved in the CRC process say is impossible as well as a being a terrible idea both environmentally and economically.
But Vancouverites hate paying tolls and Leavitt is a charming guy—he embarrassed Pollard when he came in first place during the city's primary and a poll his campaign conducted yesterday gave him 49.5 percent of votes to Pollard's 47.9 percent (with a three percent margin of error). Gah! The suspense! Pollard's campaign is optimistic, though. "That's a snapshot of the moment, it doesn't mean anything," says Pollard's campaign manager Marsha Manning of the poll. "Royce is gonna get this bridge built, the other guy has just been using it as a political football."
Update: Leavitt's campaign clarifies that they did not conduct the poll but instead it was done by "a local organization that has an interest" in the race by does not want to identify itself. So... that's bizarre. Way to sound like the poll was conducted by a cabal of imaginary shadow puppets...
- to the political football field!
News Good Morning, News!!
Posted by Matt Davis on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 9:48 AM
MAINE!!! Maine votes today on whether to reject a law legalizing same-sex partnerships. To our North, in Washington, they're voting on Referendum 71, which would uphold the state's domestic partnership bill. Here's hoping. And to following the trending topic on Twitter.
ELECTION DAY!!! Kari Chisholm rounds up what to look for today. Democrats in general are nervous that the sucky economy could mean the beginning of Republican gains. Never mind that it's the Republicans who got us into this mess in the first place. Here at the Mercury, we're particularly interested in how the Vancouver mayor's race shakes out...we'll keep you posted.
BARACK'N'BONES!!! Breaking: The President got thin:
RUNAWAY TOYOTAS!!! Safety analysts have found 2000 of the company's cars speeding off at up to 100mph without warning. Awkward.
CALIFORNIA AG'S SPOKESMAN QUITS AFTER SECRETLY TAPING REPORTER!!! He didn't do it "to play gotcha," he says.
I JUST BOUGHT A RAILROAD!!! Celebrity investor Warren Buffet makes an "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States." Funny. I said the same thing when we bought our condo.
KARZAI: "I'LL CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT" Just as soon as all these CNN reporters leave Afghanistan. Honest.
KATE WINSLET!!! Accepts $40,000 from the Daily Mail in libel damages after the paper falsely asserted she lied about her exercise regime.
PHILLIES BEAT YANKEES!!! In game five.
MUHAMMAD, THE BIOPIC!!! Just don't expect to see the Islamic prophet onscreen.
BRAWL AT THE WA-PO!!! 68-year-old editor punches young "cocksucker" upstart in the face. He tells Politico:
"Back when I got into journalism, the idea that a fistfight in a newsroom would turn into a news story was unthinkable," Allen said when reached Monday evening. "The guys in the sports department at the New York Daily News, they had so many, you wouldn’t even look up."
THE ONION IS WRITTEN BY WHITE MEN!!! Ah, but how do they come up with those headlines?
Good day.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Events / News / Politics Spud Guns (And Amazing Panellists) Confirmed For Next Brewhaha
Posted by Matt Davis on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
So, you're coming to the next Brewhaha put on in association with the Bus Project next Tuesday. That's a given. But who are you going to witness, talking? Well, I'll be MC'ing the event, of course. So you get to "witness" me. But there's actually some other people, too, who are even more fascinating. Serious.
We'll have City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who won election last year using Portland's controversial Voter Owned Elections system. Fritz has been an outspoken advocate for more public involvement in city politics, and has been able to take frank, gutsy stands against issues like Major League Soccer and the sit/lie ordinance because she's not in anyone's pocket. We'll be interested to hear what she has to say. Let's hope some of her council colleagues also decide to attend and heckle from the audience...
We'll have former Democratic Representative Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause—fun fact, Edgar lost to Arlen Specter in the race for Pennsylvania senate, back in 1986. Still, Specter is a Democrat, now, so there's probably no hard feelings. And the guy has a TON to say about the role of big money in politics. Remember Billionaires For Wealthcare? Think about it.
We'll also have Oregon's very own Frank Sobotka, Joe Baessler from Oregon AFSCME. His organization has been funneling money to pro-union candidates for years. Ill-gotten money, probably, from human trafficking and the like. Best thing about Baessler? He's funny. And he totally won't phone the Mercury in a minute to protest about being compared to Frank Sobotka, because he can take a joke, just like his union. Which along with other unions, is totally running not only human trafficking in Portland, but Oregon politics in general, according to Bill Sizemore and the conservative ballot measure-teers. Right, Joe? [Ducks backlash]. [For clarification: AFSCME is totally not affiliated with any human trafficking. Or bribery. Or any Sobotka-like activities. As far as this reporter is aware.]
Lastly, State Representative Jefferson Smith, founder of the Bus Project, who's aiming to use grassroots organizing skills to defeat special interests across the state and country. The lobbyists may not like him, but Smith doesn't really give a damn, which is refreshing. Hear him roarrrrrr.
Oregon campaign financing? It's like the wil' wil' west. And as such, the theme of the evening, both costume-wise, and general attitude-wise, is as follows:
Brewhaha: Democracy and Drinks. Oh, shoot, I forgot, there'll also be spud guns. For you. To fire. No joke:
I'm off to meet with our insurance people.
Media / News Portland Observer Joins 21st Century, Yay!!
Posted by Matt Davis on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 12:46 PM
The Portland Observer has a new website. The paper has been a voice in Portland's African American community for a long time, but has only just stepped into serious online content, and I'm thrilled to see the development.
"We had a website in the past, but it wasn't working so well, and we've updated it with a whole load of new features," says Jake Thomas, the paper's new online editor—Thomas has freelanced for the Mercury in the past. "We're going to have new content up every day," Thomas continues.
I'm particularly interested in a story online this morning about former State Senator Margaret Carter's appointment to the Department of Human Services, for example.
The paper is already on Facebook and plans a Twitter presence imminently, says Thomas. Go over there and tell him what you think.
Homo / News Same-Sex Marriage Advocate Speaks Tonight
Posted by Sean Breslin on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 12:17 PM
- freedomtomarry.org
- Evan Wolfson
Evan Wolfson, the executive director of the nationwide organization Freedom To Marry, will speak tonight at Portland State University about the evolving nation-wide attitudes about same-sex couples.
Time Magazine named Wolfson "one of the 100 most influential people in the world" in 2004. He is the author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry. His appearance is in conjunction with the start of Basic Rights Oregon's education campaign on marriage equality. BRO hopes to start a public conversation on marriage values to build support for a marriage equality ballot measure in time for the 2012 election.
Wolfson's speech will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2, at the Smith Memorial Student Union, Vanport Room (#338), Portland State University. No cost! For a map of the campus, click here.
Homo / News New Head of HRC Opposes Interracial Marriage, Affirmative Action, Voting Rights Act
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I'm trying to imagine a large and historically significant gay civil rights group appointing an avowed racist as its director. I'm trying to imagine the board of HRC or GLAAD or NGLTF or GLSEN or Lambda Legal appointing a director who opposed interracial marriage or was against the renewal of the Voting Rights Act or was critical of affirmative action. But it's impossible to imagine a gay rights group appointing a racist bigot as its executive director. It couldn't happen—it shouldn't happen—not a million years.
The reverse however—a large African American civil rights group appointing an anti-gay bigot—just happened. Noted anti-gay bigot Bernice King was appointed to head the Southern Christian Leadership Conference last week. Thankfully she's being called out on her bigotry by the Daily Voice, "Black America's Daily News Source":
Bernice King can make history in two ways. She made it first by becoming the first woman in the 52 year history of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to take the organization's reins. Now she can make history in another way. She should renounce the anti-gay bigotry of her recent past. That bigotry was on shameful and insulting display in December 2004 when she and thousands of marchers stood at the gravesite of her father, Martin Luther King, Jr., and denounced gay marriage. The implication was that King might well have stood with her and them in their protest against gay rights.Nothing could be further from the truth. King's fight against bigotry and discrimination, all bigotry and discrimination, was relentless and uncompromising. If anything that day, King would have been across the street from his gravesite with the hundred or so other counter-demonstrators. They loudly shouted that what Bernice and the marchers were doing at her father's gravesite and in his name, was a travesty and a disgrace. King sullied her father's name to show her enmity to gay marriage. She also sullied her mother's too. A few years before Bernice's gravesite antic, Coretta Scott King issued a public statement forcefully denouncing anti-gay bigotry and made it perfectly clear that her husband would be a champion of gay rights if he were alive.
Via JoeMyGod.
News Good Morning, News!
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Ford motor company makes an unexpected profit of $997 million. [Dumb nonsensical joke deleted for being dumb and nonsensical.]
Creepy cheater/Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has been re-elected (thanks in no small part to him being THE ONLY PERSON LEFT IN THE RACE).
Republicans continue to bellyache about Obama, accusing his stimulus package of being a failure. Here's why their accusations are bullshit.
During military exercises, Russia simulates a nuclear attack on Poland. Poland responds by simulating outrage.
Elton John catches the flu and postpones his Seattle and Portland gigs! (Please god, tell me he didn't give it to Billy Joel!)
Here's that "most depressing story of the day" story you were asking for.
After steel rods and a crossbeam fell six days ago causing traffic nightmares, the San Francisco Bay Bridge is finally back up and running. Naturally, no one cares about this information except Kiala, but I thought I'd give her a shout out. Hi Kiala! Liked your Halloween costume!
Jay Leno says that he'd take his old job back at the Tonight Show (replacing Conan O'Brien) if he were offered it. I'd like to offer Jay a different position, in which he should go eff himself.
Basic Rights Oregon kicks off their drive to eventually overturn the homophobic "marriage = one man, one woman" bullshit with a rally tonight in Portland.
And finally... HEY GUYS! Thanks to everyone who showed up for our super fun and ka-raxy Halloween party at the Doug Fir (and especially those brave and funny souls who competed in our Costume Stripping contest)! Next year I'm dressing up as Christopher Walken reading the lyrics to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."
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