street roots
5
UIS2©
April 1, 2011
State connects youth with elders
A new state program unveiled this week will
connect high-school kids living in local hotels after
becoming homeless with elderly people who lived
through the Depression.
The new program will concentrate on developing
relationships with younger people and elders through
projects like, "How to do your homework by
candlelight," "Going to sleep on an empty stomach,"
ana "Robbing Peter to pay Paul economics."
"We feel like a lot of people can learn from past
generations," says the Director of the non-profit set
to get the state contract. "It's about understanding
that we've all been through rough times before; and
passing these important lessons on to the next
generation.".
One of the programs, "What to do when M om .
and Dad breakdown," will focus on bringing
together families over Kraft Macaroni and Cheese to '
discuss ways to plan for the future.
For example, one option in the new program is
for the oldest sibling to quit school, and to find work.
Another is for how to lie to peers about your family
living out of their van and using the Wal-Mart
bathroom to wash before school.
The new program is being praised around the
country from places like Florida, Arkansas and Ohio.
It's thought that some of the program curriculum
could be used in Michelle Obama's war on obesity as
well, and introduced into schools in every state a^
soon as next year.
New tax-credits available fo r
working Oregonians
Tax-credit legislation in Salem is expected to pass ?
next week that will.affect.more than one. million. -
working Oregonians. Those affected will not realize,..
or understand the legislation until Jong after the '
deadline to receive the tax-credits has passed.
"It's important legislation affecting all
Oregonians.lt's bills like this that will keep our
economy going/ says b'rie Oregon Congresswomen ■
representing from Eugene. "We don't necessarily
expect to be able to explain what exactly the new
law will mean in layman's terms, nor do we expect
people who will qualify for the new program to
totally grasp the complexities of it all, but we're sure
happy it passed."
Attorney General puts out more
press releases than ever before
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger put out a
press release saying that six more press releases
would follow this afternoon - tackling everything
from non-profits who don't know how to put
together an annual report tq defending the rights of
all Oregonians to create^ many press releases as
possible.
Kroger said in one press release that non-profits
who have not created spreadsheets that show they
are spending more thaii 70 percent of money raised
through the non-profit on services - would be
required to take Excel and Quickbooks workshops
currently offered in local correctional facilities.
Kroger denies another press release, released
early in the week, that says Kroger will run for
Governor. <
.
State Treasurer Ted Wheeler followed suit by
releasing a press release with a headline that says,
"I'm not scared."
The press release went on to say that he was not
commenting on a potential run for governor jn the
future.
r
’ Another press release from Governor John ,
Kitzhaber says, "He isn't scared either, and that he is
governor, so there/'
Kroger had no comment on the latest
developments and said more press releases in the
future would clarify the matter.
If you’ve missed a copy of Street
Roots, check with your local
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Roots office at 211 NW Davis St.
Or read up on past stories and
comments at
www.streetrooots.wordpress.
Wufang
clan?
Rep. D avid W u’s tendency
toward fu zzy outfits dates
back fu rth e r than previously
suspected
STA FF REPO R TS
eP- David Wu’s
unusual behavior
JL X d a te s back further
than previously thought,
according to new .
information uncovered by
the Willamette Week;
Earlier this year, the WW
wrote about the
Congressman’s reportedly
unusual behavior prior to
the election in November,
followed by several of his
staffers resigning following
allegations that they were
intending to shut down his
campaign.
Included in the evidence
of erratic behavior was a r
photo of Wit in a “plush
tiger” Halloween costum e,
sent to staffers’ e-mails.
: N ow it’s b ee n le arn ed
th a t Wu’s p ro p en sity for
d ressin g ups as anim als
began long before last year.
These photos, recently
uncovered by WW, indicate that year after year, a young
Wu dressed up as animals just before November
elections. Among the menagerie is a muskrat, teddy bear
and an adorable lil’ lobster.
Wu, 55, has been elected eight times, serving since
1999. What this may mean for Wu’s future in politics
remains to be seen, however, there is speculation that if
he continues to dress up in furry outfits in the future,
particularly as the father of two young children, his
career could be compromised.
“Clearly this shows a pattern of behavior unacceptable
to the American people who have come to expect more
from theireiected officials,” said Sarah Palin,former yice
presidential candidate who spent $150,000 on outfits
prior to the 2008 November elections.
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J r
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8 r
Mime freed from glass box, tragedy ensues
noticed Willy was in trouble, fellow
performer Twisty the Flexible said. “Then
the police and fire department began to
ortland Police Department and rescue
focus on talking Willy down from Skidmore
crews were dispatched Saturday
afternoon to Portland Saturday Market Fountain.” When asked if he thought the
in response to a 911 call for help in an effort
mime might have actually jumped off the
to rescue one of Portland’s most renowned fountain, officer Jordan responded, “That
street performers.
was our gut feeling.”
. It seems that Willy the Mime found /
Willy was unresponsive to Project
himself in quite the pickle when he was in
Respbnd’s request for a commitment to a
the middle of his world famous performance
safety plan. “We really need to have a verbal
in which he locks himself into a glass box.
commitment of that he will avoid glass boxes
When interviewed by Street Roots, Officer
for at least 24 hours,” outreach worker
Heinz of the Portland Police Department
Anitta Hand told SR. “Even after the officers
stated, “We were out of options. It came ,
Tazed Willy, he still was unresponsive.”
down to the Jaws of Life” Officer Heinz also
According to police reports, Hobble leg
told SR, “We really did not expect it to end c
restraints, approved for use when officers
this way.”
feel that the offender is experiencing excited
Witness One Man Band, one of the few
delirium, were eventually used to subdue
Portland-native street performers, a guitar
playing musician on roller skates, told Street Willy.
Portland Police Department has refused
Roots “The rescuers seemed confused at
to give an official statement regarding Willy’s
first,” he said. “It was as if they thought that
injuries sustained when police officers used
the mime was on fire and tried to put him
the Jaws of Life, but an unidentified officer
o u t” Harry followed, saying, “Then they
at the scene Said, “We were shocked to see
were playing tug-o-war for sometime before
all the glass break so easily, we did not
Willy just gave up.”
expect him to lose an eye.”
“I was on my way back from lunch when I
BY JUNIOR BOUFFON
S T A F F W R IT E R
j
■
Willy the M im e in happier times, before his
rescue an d the loss o f his right eye. Here he
demonstrates his silen t scream, once a crowd
pleaser outside P ion eer Square M all, now
an eerie rem inder o f his last performance.