4
street roots
April 1, 2011
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ROUND-UP
The Oregonian is planning to go to an
all online format in 2012 — abandoning the
print edition — as soon as it figures out
how to actually create an online
newspaper.
“We’re still trying to figure out what kind
of ink we’re going to be using on the Web
site,” says someone close to the deal.
“We’re figuring it out, though.”
The one-time Pacific Northwest media
giant has seen its readership decline in
droves after realizing that journalism was
actually key in making the newspaper
successful in the 21st century.
The Willamette Week editorial team,
known for its “gotcha” journalism, did not
come after Street Roots for the first time in
years. SR was expecting a round-house
around February after the SR managing
editor was caught drunk and full of pills in a
panda outfit sending e-mails to SR staff at
a local bar.
The shrinking weekly publication still
continues to supply SR with freelance
journalists through its internship program,
SR’s publisher told supporters that he
thanked both the University of Oregon’s
Journalism Department and the WW for
having the internship program and
partnering with the local community.
‘Bath’n’slide’ eases stink of water rate hike
BY W INONA CHICKENSWORTH
STAFF W R IT E R
I
i
*
The Portland Mercury is thought to
have abondoned news coverage on
important issues save for press releases
from City Hall and bike groups — after
realizing that no one actually cared about
- what the Portland Mercury was reporting
on — unless they worked at City Hall, or
rode a bike, or both.
Blue Oregon, once a respected news
source for liberal Oregonians changed ifs
format this year so that people commenting
on articles had to be logged into Facebook.
The change was meant to weed out
anonymous people whose rants and raves
had become a distraction to the sites
managers and readers.
Meanwhile, the number of rants and
raves from Blue Oregon columnists has
increased, while the number of comments
has plummeted. It’s thought that readers
got tired of “liberal speak” about beer, and
completely ignored the fact that Democrats
were getting their asses handed to them in
the mid-term elections while supporting
wars in 12; different regions of the w orld..
ENZYME PDX, billing itself as an online
publication dedicated to preserving the
best practices of American journalism in a
sustainable form for the digital age, closed
its doors two months after having a grand
opening.
Preserving American journalism is
thought to have been short-lived after the
news outlet could not find sustainability in
reporting on the same events that 15 other
media outlets had already covered.
“We’re not exactly sure why the online
news format through ENZYME PDX didn’t
take off,” says the founder. “We had a
really great gardening section. It’s
puzzling.”
Television news stations throughout
the region were given awards for producing
a series of absolutely meaningless drivel
about snow forecasts six days before the
snow never arrived. One local weather
person told SR that they were proud of the
acknowledgements but were suprised
knowing that their rain coverage had been
far more superior this year.
everal Portlanders have voiced
concern about being able to afford the
increase in water rates, but were
happy to be able to take new bike paths to
social-service agencies offering assistance
for their water bills.’
~n-|TT^ &-a.rniypd hle^siag,” W s Tlehhie a
mother of two. “We have had to move some
things around and my two kids aren’t going
to have access to things like food or running
water all the time, but we’re willing to risk
those things for a healthier city.”
City officials say that a $3.18 increase for
water and sewer rates will go a long way;
One official says, “More trees and bioswáles
mean a healthier planet for people of;means
who can afford to be green.”
S
Asked if officials were concerned about
the projected increase in assistance
requests by poor and working families, one
insider at City Hall said, “Look, we can’t be
all things to all people, and if families are '
preoccupied with how their kids are going
to bathe and use the restroom, than I would
have to question their commitment to a
the new ‘Water House’ from the Water
Bureau will have a long-lasting impact It’s
; nice.”
Asked if the water bureau would be
increasing their energy assistance pool to
help the growing number of people needing
help, a spokesperson said, “Yes, in the
place like Portlandia. We have set up a
summer weite-going to work in partnership
special bike path with hioswales that will
allow people to. ride safely to energy
assistance locations and unemployment
service. We’re a city that values treating
people fairly.”
SR asked City Commissioner Randy
Leonard to comment on the increase in
water rates.;
> “I’m not going to answer that question,”
says Leonard. “I will say that I really think
with the Parks Bureau and offer a “Bath’n’
Slide” for kids 16 and under. We’re calling it
the “Suihmer of Hygiene and Savings.”
We’re not about to turn our faucets off to
those in need.”
Cycling and environmental programs
funded by the increase water rates will be
tabling and offering free bike safety classes
during the summer “Bath’n’Slide” events.
Southwest renewal comes not a moment too late
BY URA BASTAGE
< S T A F F W R IT E R ,
so-called Innovative District (aka;
Urban Renewal Area) could possibly
land downtown after Southwest |
Portland is thought to be on the verge of
collapse. About 130 acres on the southern
edge of downtown, bordered by Southwest
Jefferson and Columbia streets on the
north, Park and 13th avenùes on the west,
interstate-405 on the south and First
Avenue on the e ast—are being primed for
redevelopment through a complex tax-
increment finance system that would spur
growth in the area.
Urban renewal is a state-authorized
program designed to help communities
improve and redevelop areas that are
physically deteriorated, suffering economic
stagnation, unsafe or poorly planned.
The area around Portland State
University (PSU) has been devastated oyer
the past decade — seeing á decline in crime
District, and area so obviously blighted,
along with the constant growth óf Portland
entire blocks appear as black voids and
State University.
rubble.
One of the rougher neighborhoods in
Portland also connects with the area — the
infamous South Waterfront neighborhood
blight
where Oregon Health and Science
“I can’t even bring my kids down here
University (OHSU) is housed.
anymore,” says one tourist
It’s also thought that the Portland Art
A resident that lives in the blighted area
Museum, along the Oregon Historical
says that it’s hard to imagine it getting any
Society — which passed a $12 million life
worse.
saving levy this year, is being overrun with
The City of Portland, the Portland
«
Development Commission and other
business leaders are thought to have chosen
the location that will receive millions of
dollars, because the rest of the city is
holding its own.
Meanwhile, residents in East Portland are
saying that they are hoping to be annexed in
the near future, and to have their name
changed to East Berlin after getting screwed
over every year since 1851.
Not to be outdone,. Gresham is asking the
county to rename its city - “East of Eden.”
The City of Portland is hoping that by
■ offering the assistance to the area that
people will one day be able to enjoy the area,
without feeling overwhelmed with blight and
urban decay.
“I’m just hoping that one day the Art
Musuem actually creates a world-class venue
that doesn t charge an arm and a leg for its
blighted art collection,” says one resident.
A spokesperson for the PDC says it has
three decades worth of history that shows
how much it has helped poor communities
throughout the city, and is excited to get to
work on the new project.
“We’re just chomping at the bit,” says
officials with PSU and OHSU. “We can
hardly breathe down here. Maybe after all
this is said and done, the business
community and the universities can stop
saying Portland is anti-business. It’s a
stretch, but anything is possible. We’re
hoping for the best.’”