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EarthTalk: Are there ways to make colleges more eco- friendly? – Page 7 Holiday Gala in Multnomah Village – Page 5 Sellwood Bridge construction workers lay track for the trolley line – Page 3 The Southwest Portland Post Volume No. 25 Issue No. 2 www.swportlandpost.com Portland, Oregon Complimentary December 2016 Voters by slim margin agree to support extending light rail to Tigard SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post Southwest Corridor Steering Committee members listen to project staff and citizens at a Nov. 14 meeting at Metro headquarters. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) Washington County has officially certified all ballots from the city of Tigard’s Measure 34-255 which asked voters whether or not the city should support extending future light rail service from Portland to Tigard. A c c o rd i n g t o M i c k i e K a w a i , Washington County elections manager, the “Yes” votes were 12,683 and the “No” votes were 12,534, a difference of 149 votes in favor of light rail. No funds were authorized by the measure’s passage. Oregon law requires an automatic recount when elections of candidates or ballot measures are within one fifth of one percent. “There will be no recount since the vote clearly has a large enough spread,” Kenny Asher, director of community development explained. “The ballot measure won’t obligate residents to a new tax. A new vote needs to take place on another measure authorizing funding of the line,” said Asher. W h i l e t h e F e d e r a l Tr a n s i t Administration is expected to pay half of the total cost, the final project would require several additional steps including an anticipated regional vote for funding the other half, or local share. On Nov. 14, the Southwest Corridor Steering Committee held a meeting where Metro project staff released their recommendations based on additional analysis and public input during the scoping period. The recommendations include a definition of the initial set of investments proposed to be studied in the draft environmental impact statement which will take place in 2017. Metro staff included proposed revisions to the light rail project, a subset of the Southwest Corridor Plan (Continued on Page 6) Families respond to election protests with candlelight peace vigil By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post On Nov. 11, a few days after the general election, a group of local mothers organized an impromptu candlelight peace vigil in Multnomah Village in response to reactions surrounding the presidential vote. Erin Gallivan, one of the members of the group Hillsdale-Multnomah Village Moms, posted a Facebook invitation to come together for community support. “This week has been one that’s left many of us feeling divided, marginalized, and, quite honestly, sad,” Gallivan said. Held on the sidewalk outside the Multnomah Arts Center, the group numbered around three dozen and was made up mostly of parents and their children. “We wanted to keep it positive,” Gallivan told The Post. “There has been a lot of online discussion and social media about the election. However, we felt a need to see one another. We support equality, inclusion, and love.” Following the election of Donald Trump, the Republican nominee many did not think would win, citizens around Portland and other major cities, took to the streets to express their First Amendment rights. At the candlelight vigil, children and their parents painted posters with words like “Love”, “Practice Kindness”, and “Empathy,” and then held them up with a look of peaceful resolve. With her tiny toddler strapped to her front, Gallivan waved to cars passing by slowly. Some honked their horns in response. Gallivan said she had never done anything like this before. Some turned on green “glow sticks.” Candles were lit. Singing erupted. Some had safety pins clipped to their coats and sweaters. “These pins are both as a way to protest the vote,” explained Kalin Lehner, one of the organizers, “and subtly announces ourselves as allies to minorities who feel threatened by the election results.” Harassment of certain minority groups has been on the increase since the election, sending fear throughout immigrant communities. The safety pin movement began following the Brexit vote, a referendum held in the United Kingdom in which 52 percent of votes were cast in favor of leaving the European Union. “We didn’t want the vigil to be political,” Lehner said. She said she was surprised by the hate speech coming from both major parties. Lehner stated that a “Million Woman March” is planned for the day after the presidential inauguration on Saturday, Jan. 21, from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House. According to the website, many women who can’t make it to Washington, D.C., will be holding local marches and include their family members. When asked if this group would have more vigils, Lehner said that they’re just taking one day at a time. “We’re just here tonight,” she said. Members then began singing the traditional song, “This Little Light of Mine (I’m Gonna Let it Shine)” and started marching towards the heart of Multnomah Village holding their children, posters and candles. Community members gathered outside the Multnomah Arts Center on Nov. 11 to share a peaceful message in response to the presidential election. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2. The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206
