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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2013)
2 • The Southwest Portland Post EDITORIAL The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Fax: (866) 727-5336 email: editor@multnomahpost.com Critical safety improvements needed after fatal crash on Barbur Boulevard Unfortunately, there was another fatal car crash on Barbur Boulevard at Miles Place last evening [May 14]. Scant information is available online. I rode by the scene at approxi- mately 12:30 am on the way home from work, as the crash investiga- tion was ongoing. Barbur Boulevard was completely closed in both direc- tions, with vehicle traffic detoured to I-5. After a short delay, the police al- lowed me and other bicyclists to bypass the scene on the west side, as the crash scene was on the east side near the TriMet bus stop. It is ironic that this crash occurred one block from the site of the pre- vious night’s [Oregon Department of Transportation] Open House for the Barbur Bridge project. While the factors that contributed to this crash are not yet available, it is clear that the roadway design encourages speeding. The time has come for a serious and earnest discussion with the community regarding traffic safety on Barbur Boulevard, including the consideration of a lane diet, and safety improvements for all modes. While I appreciate the consid- eration of future improvements that might occur as result of high capacity transit in in the Southwest Corridor 15 to 20 years from now, this is too long to wait. Critical safety improvements that were recommendations in the 2011 High Crash Corridor Study, and in- creased law enforcement are needed now, not in 2028. Please consider this request for a meeting among ODOT, Metro, and City of Portland officials and staff; and Southwest Portland com- munity leaders, with ODOT as the lead agency, to discuss funding and implementation of safety improve- ments on Barbur Boulevard. Roger Averbeck Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. Transportation Committee Chair Editor’s Note: According to Portland Police, the man who died in the May 14 traffic crash on Southwest Barbur Bou- levard has been identified as 45-year-old Lance Marcus. Preliminary informa- tion indicates that Marcus was driving an Audi A-6 at a high rate of speed northbound on Barbur Boulevard just before striking a power pole. Toxicology tests are pending by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. This was the 15th traffic fatality of 2013. Deeper Sedation Dentistry... Dr. Little at West Hills Family Dental Center now offers DEEP SEDATION DENTISTRY. It’s MORE EFFECTIVE than just a pill. June 2013 Rep. Williamson doing outstanding work in healthcare reform RE: “Freshman legislator Jennifer Williamson reports to constituents on current session,” by Lee Perlman, The Post, May 2013 Your front page article in the May 2013 issue featured Jennifer Williamson, one of our Southwest Portland state legislators. Not mentioned in the article is the outstanding work Rep. Williamson has done in health care reform. She is the co-chief sponsor of two critical pieces of legislation. The first is HB 3260, authorizing the Oregon Health Authority to conduct a study of Oregon’s health care financing options. Successful financing is a key fea- ture of systems that currently pro- vide better care to more people for less money than Oregonians spend. This study, which would be pri- vately funded without taxpayer money, is the first step toward discovering Oregon’s best options. The second is HB 2922, the Afford- able Health Care for All Oregon Act. This revolutionary proposal would create a single, publicly funded, uni- versal health care financing system permitting all Oregonians to receive care when they need it. [HB 2922] is modeled on success- ful systems around the world and in Residential & Intermediate Alzheimer’s Care Its about what we can do, not what we can’t. the US that currently provides better care to more people for less money than Oregonians spend now. Rep. Williamson dares to tackle real health care reform while most legislators claim the Affordable Care Act renders further action un- necessary. Readers of The Post who want a health care system in Oregon that gives our families health care access when we need it, lowers our costs, and improves our health might let Rep. Williamson know how much we appreciate her courage in advo- cating for these two bills. We might also ask our other legislators to sign on and vote for them. Samuel Metz, MD Southwest Gale Avenue CITY HALL (Continued from Page 1) City Council, “Without their support, we wouldn’t be as strong as we are today.” Yet another set of cuts were to Main Street programs, including one in Hillsdale, backed by federal funds and intended to increase the eco- nomic vitality of commercial areas. The budget also called for cuts to the bureaus of Fire, Parks and Police. Representatives of all three bureaus said budget cuts would work against public safety and long-term public interest. well be … and well informed Bowman’s Hillsdale Pharmacy 6256 SW Capitol Hwy. Call and find out why West Hills Family Dental Center is different. 503-244-7582 • email: hdrx@pcez.com 503-291-0000 • www.fearfreedental.com •Walk-In Adult Immunizations (503) 292-7874 Celebrating 20 Years in Business! 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com Editor & Publisher: Don Snedecor Reporters/Writers: Lee Perlman, Erik Vidstrand Advertising Sales: Don Snedecor, Harry Blythe, Josephine Newport Graphic Design: Leslie Baird Design Printing: Oregon Lithoprint © 2013 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home, Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $14 per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted. The Post is printed on recycled newsprint using soy-based inks. 6630 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Portland, Oregon 97225 www.marquiscompanies.com •Experienced Compounding Pharmacists www.mygnp.com