Street roots
15
May 13, 2011
T Ö
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I M
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Share your view on th 5 larger vision
In October 2010 Street Roots began to
notice an increase in paper sales from
between 7,000 and 9,000 papers being sold
every two weeks to 11,000 and 12,000. The
increase in newspaper
sales has remained
Proactive housing
strategies c a n t w ait
ome disturbing trends surrounding housing have
come to light in the past two weeks. Trends that
unfortunately have been known on the ground
for years, and many people have experienced
throughout Portland’s troubled history concerning
race and housing.
A U.S. Census report and the Oregonian recently
revealed that more than 10,000 people of color, mostly
African-Americans left Portland’s urban core between
2000 and 2010.
Another report compiled by the National Low
Income Housing Coalition (see pg 13) shews that
_ _ rents have continued to
rise regionally and
What's the point In
around the state despite
having money go
high
unemployment,
toward blighted areas
foreclosures
and the
if the neighborhoods
downed economy. The
we create don't
actually hire people of report reveals that to
color and support poor afford a two-bedroom
and working people to apartment and utilities
on the private market a
rent and own a home
person
would have to
in the urban core?
make $15.81, 40 hours a
week, 52 weeks a year —
nearly double Oregon’s minimum wage.
Couple these reports with a recent study by the
Oregon Fair Housing Council that found that 32 out of
50 tests based upon race and national origin revealed
different treatment by area landlords for people who
were African-American and Latino, and one is left
shaking his or her head in disgust.
DIRECTOR'S “
^°rnearly
DESK
Being a small non
S
Israel B ayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots. You. can
reach him a t
streetroots@ hotm ail.com .
LETTERS
Threats to TANF will lead to desperate measures
I really feel strongly and oppose-the cuts
to TANF. (“Multnomah County
Commissioners vote to oppose TANF cuts,”
Street Roots, April 29) The cuts would
cause more children to enter the foster care
system. The TANF program prevents
families from becoming homeless and in
many cases living back with an abusive
partner. What are the single parents, mostly
m others to dp to support their families if
they have little skills and support? One can
only guess, and these guesses aren’t
positive such as get involved with selling
drugs, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. I have
worked with many families and I think the
governor is very uninformed! The TANF
program is a safety net program to provide
support and structure to families that have
nowhere to turn! Please think about the
prevention of child abuse when thinking of
the TANF program: It will make families
desperate to hold onto their jobs including
using unqualified childcare providers, many
parents are desperate enough to go on
TANF, I don’t believe this is the answer to a
more efficient future for these families!
__ It would be easy to chastise local government for its
lack of vision through urban development concerning
working with people of all colors, We could point out
any number of flaws concerning systems and
institutions locally, andr conservative business •
strategies that have been more concerned at times
with sidewalk laws and panhandling than with smart
and creative economic development for all.
The city of Portland and its business leaders need to
take bold leadership concerning a number of issues
outlined above.
We can start by having thè city and thé Portland
Development Commission be more proactive to
promote the hiring of minorities at the businesses that
benefit from urban renewal areas. What’s the point in
having money go towar^blighted areas if the
neighborhoods we c re a tidon’t actually hire people of
color and support poor and working people to rent and
own a home in the urban core? The city must contiftue
to dedicate 30 percent of urban renewal revenues
toward affordable housing, and ensure that people of
color living in the urban core are being hired by local
businesses, making it a true neighborhood renewal.
The mayor needs to fund the Portland Housing
Bureau’s request to develop a region-wide housing
strategy, and fully fund the rent assistance pool,
We won’t be able to solve thehousing crisis without
a clear vision and strategy, We can start by prioritizing
getting people inside. *
The Portland Housing Bureau, and Commissioner
Nick Fish say they are exploring options education and
enforcement against landlords who discriminate
against renters based on race or national origin. It s
the right move, and will send a,clear message, to
institutions that discrimination around housing will
simply not be tolerated under any circumstance.
We believe Portland’s leaders do care deeply about
people of color, and housing and employment and how
it relates to creating an urban core that is vibrant for
everyone. In fact, we know they do. If they choose to
lead on the issue, Portlanders will follow.
STREET ROOTS’ EDITORIAL BOARD
members of the editorial board and contributing volunteers
profit, it’s hard to be
able to understand
—
the increase in sales.
We know that SR
vendors are doing an
amazing job at creating community
relationships on street comers throughout
the city We also know SR has some very,
loyal readers and supporters. These
relationships coupled with quality content
and solution-based advpcacy is paying off in
a multitude of ways. From in-depth
investigative reporting to highlighting
. different community voices and those o.n
the streets, the newspaper is becoming a
vehicle for education and real change in the
community.
On the advocacy front SR has led efforts
By Israel Bayer
to work with government and the medical
examiners office to better understand how
and why people experiencing homelessness
are dying on the streets. We have also led
efforts to push government to think about a
housing levy or bond — which we continue
to do. We are currently involved with a
campaign to assure that Oregon families are
able to maintain stable housing through the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,
orTANF.
SR believes that by making calculated
decisions about what advocacy efforts to
apply and when, we can build a real
movement that will push a housing agenda
forward in the region. This, along with the
newspaper, the vendor program and the
Rose City Resource guide, has led us in a
direction that involves a larger vision about
movement building and how we play a role.
We believe we are on the right .track, but.
always value input from readers and
supporters a like. If you have thoughts
about the direction you see SR going, we
would love to hear from you. Feelfree to
drop me a line at streetroots@hotmail.com.
Thanks friends, and we appreciate the read.
KIM DUNN
Portland
We need more forum s fo r
people to connect
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
StreetRoots
encourages readers
to submit letters and
columns for
publication. Send '
letters to the editor
to the1 Street Roots
office, 211 NW Davis
St.,'Portland, OR
97209,or e-mailed
to streetrootsnews®
gmail.com.
As a long time réader of Streét Roots I
really enjoy this paper. It has news that
doesn’t get printed in the rest of the local
media outlets ori the real struggles people
are dealing with and how they organize.
I was moved to respond to the editorial
for the April 29th issue of Street Roots
“Lose the Rhetoric, and Gain a Movement”.
I disagree that we should shy áway from
using the terms “socialism” and
“capitalism” with the masses. There’s an
assumption that people have made up their
minds about these words. Is this also saying
that the masses are too stupid to have their
minds open to the idea of socialism or a
world beyond capitalism and what that can
look like? How do wé work for á sóciety
where there’s a permanent end to
homelessness? How do we talk about
people’s struggles without a context of what
this for profit system is doing to make us all
disposable? ,
I do agree that we need to go beyond
rhetoric. People need to talk to each Other
about their lives and struggles which can
lead to a broader discussion on the crimes
of poverty t allowed under capitalism. The
left needs to use less academic language
and find ways to relate' to people and where
they’re a t It’s not hard to make the
connections. Those discussions shouldn’t
exclude class, sex, race, and sexual
orientation because the most likely to be
poor in this society are women, people of
color, and as the cover article explains
members of the LGBTQ community.
There does need to be more forums for
people of the underclass and homeless
I p o p u lation Jxi ta lk a b o u t t h e i r issu es and
what should be done.
EMMA ALLEN
Radical Women, Portland
The movement has to work
with us, not without us
Yes! It is time for progressives to
recognize that elite, highly educated, white
men are missing the mark and losing
ground and time. (“Lose the rhetoric, gain a
movement,” Street Roots, April 29) They
cannot “will” change to occur, they have to
take to the streets, maybe get dirty
(literally, suffer a little) and realize that they
cannot make it without us, and without
working for and with us.
KERRY BASSETT
Portland
Ahlondi column inspires
reader to make a difference
I want to let you know how much I loved
the column by Sam Al-Jondi, “Make your
impact happen.” (Street Roots, April 29) I
was moved and inspired by his words and
sweet stories about some of his
experiences with individuals who touched
his life and made a difference that helped
him feel better about himself. It is so true
that it is those little moments of connecting
and really seeing each other are valuable
treasures. We have the ability to give those
treasures to each other every day helping
us: all feel better about ourselves and
making the world a better place. Thank you,
Sam, for your well written reminders and
your expression of appreciation.
I moved to Portland a year ago from
California and during that year I’ve been
buying Street Roots biweekly. I appreciate
your paper and the people who distribute it
so much! It contains real stories about real
people which have given me a better
understanding of homelessness and the
challenges sam any of us face on a daily
basis. Keep up the amazing work!
PATRICE HANSON
Portland