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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2012)
2 street roots Feb. 17, 2012 E D I T O R I « . Filling a small void in a very big way F TriMet cuts short-sighted compared to the impact ive-dollar fares. No free rail zone. Reduced lift services for people living with disabilities. Less frequent services for specific bus and train lines. TriMet and the region are in a world of hurt. It’s hard to believe that it has come to this, after knowing for years that without major overhauls the system would be overwhelmed. According to OPAL, a grassroots nonprofit advocating for environmental and social justice, “Faulty analysis is now being used to justify the current proposal to eliminate round-trip transfers, all to save at most $3 million dollars.” In addition, TriMet is proposing to eliminate the Free Rail Zone to save $2.7 million, and cut back on the lift service to save $400,000. Combined, these cuts equal less than 2 percent of TriMet’s TriMet must find a way to annual budget. leverage its current and What isn’t reflected in future projects with these numbers is the government and private negative impact ending the partners in a way that doesn't ride on the backs of Free Rail Zone will have on business and tourism by the people who require not offering visitors and access to public consumers the ability to transportation. travel unencumbered in the downtown zone. There is a free flow of personal commerce coarsing through the Free Rail Zone that will be stifled by new charges for access to the restaurants and shopping in the city’s core. An extra $5 to go to lunch in Chinatown? No thanks. And compared to the savings, these cuts will disproportionately hurt people experiencing poverty, whose budgets are not expanding with the times but actually contracting. There is no spare change among these riders, for whom public transit isn’t a “choice”, but the only way to reach their job, their family and their basic needs. Cutting back on the lift service for people living with a disability in a time when services are being cut both locally and nationally shouldn’t even be on the table. In fact, none of these cuts should be on the table. They’re short-sighted, and cut the cord for many riders who are making the choice to ride rather than drive, only now the financial benefit is reaching a tipping point. TriMet must find a way to leverage its current and future projects with government and private partners in a way that doesn’t ride on the backs of the people who require access to public transportation. Having the union be so stubborn concerning their health care benefit package and costs doesn’t help either. Don’t get us wrong, we’re as pro-labor as it gets, but people without any income, insurance or living with a disability shouldn’t be on the hook to pay for anyone’s co-payments. It may not be the popular thing to say, but it’s true and something has to give. This isn’t scapegoating the union, or giving a free pass to TriMet officials to blame workers’ requests when the going gets tough. The emphasis is on working together, and finding a balance. We’re proud of Portland’s transportation system. We’re proud of the many different modes of transportation that are offered. We believe in creating new projects like the new orange line being built that will create jobs, spur new small businesses and offer riders a new mode of transportation. But we have to strike a balance that doesn’t pit services against the very people who rely on them and want to support them. We’re here for TriMet, but it has to be there for us, too more than a decade, I can honestly say that or those of you new to Street Roots, the biggest win I’ve witnessed over the years welcome. The newspaper and vendor is the self-worth people get from selling the program are an essential part of newspaper. We all need love. Portland culture, not to mention a lifeline for Instead of being the nameless figure on a more than 75 street corner asking for money, people in the individuals at any one community begin to know vendors by name. time. Individuals Individuals selling the newspaper are selling the newspaper DIRECTOR'! removed from the skids, if only for a few brief purchase it for 25 DESK hours, to become part of the community in a cents and sell the healthy way. publication for $1 in B y Israel Bayer Readers begin to recognize that Joe or the community. Mary love to fish or knit, maybe they can “I can’t tell you how swing a hammer; possibly they love baseball important being able or literature. People selling the newspaper to sell the newspaper begin to understand that there’s a world is,” Jeffrey McCall, a vendor who sells on SE outside of the grind of surviving every day on 39th and Belmont told me this week. “I use the streets. Hope, love and community are all the money to literally survive day-in and day- built. Plus, readers are then rewarded with a out while I get on my feet. Without the love publication that is real, relevant and and support from my customers and being constantly working to provide Portland with a able to be engaged, I don’t know what I community newspaper that is informative and would do.” Jeffrey’s story isn’t a new story. Thousands has heart. We see these transformations each day, of people live and survive outside in Portland and week at Street Roots, and we sincerely each day. Street Roots fills a small void in thank you for your support of the newspaper people’s lives, both economically and and organization. Without your readership, emotionally and Street Roots offers a none of this is possible. If you’re just coming dignified arena for people who have nowhere on board as a new reader and supporter, else to turn. It gives people the opportunity again, welcome. If you’re a long-time to build community and to make money — supporter, thank you and keep coming back! something each of us can appreciate. Working with people on the streets for F Israel Bayer is the executive director o f Street Roots. You can reach him a t israel@ streetroots.org Suicide a public health issue, not a police issue t’s not a crime to be sad, fearful, frightened or depressed. It’s not a crime to have suicidal thoughts, actually it’s quite common for persons with active mental illness. But when the response to 1,200-plus persons who call for help with suicidal thoughts is to send the police, that is effectively criminalizing mental illness. Mental illness is a public health issue, not a public safety issue. The police want to be part of the solution, but they are not suited to be an entire response to the problem. What is missing are robust, welcoming and engaging community mental health and addiction services. They’re missing because leadership from the state legislature, from cities and counties all over the state don’t demand them, and they’re missing from decades of financial cuts. That a large number of people are both ill and estranged from services is no surprise — it is the default plan. Our suggestion for persons with mental illness, and friends and family members, is to prepare for crisis by getting the best help I WHAT DO YOU THINK? available, follow a plan of recovery, and only call the police when a person is dangerous to others. Note: research shows very few suicidal persons harm othersr Our suggestion for the city is to divert calls from persons who are actively suicidal to the Multnomah County Crisis Line, 503- 988-5464. Again, suicide is a public health issue not a police issue. Our suggestion for the county is it should do a better job of promoting its crisis hot line telephone number, and to fund and build robust, welcoming and engaging community mental health and addiction services. That would make the difference. Our comment for the police: thank you for acknowledging this problem and stepping forward as part of the solution, but you need the missing parts of the mental health system to be funded, led and managed by others. Our comment for the general public is that if you want this to change, demand it from your political leadership. MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Portland Send letters to the editor to the Street Roots office, 211 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 97209, or e-mail to joanne@streetroots.org. Ken Hawkins, Nora Coon. Volunteers donations and in-kind contributions. Christine Gadeholt, Mary Pacios, Leo Rhodes, Jan Bayer, Eliese Baker, Sue Zalokar, Tave Drake, Michael Moore, Malka Davis, Robert Britt, Una Zakas Street Roots Rose City Resource Street Roots 211 NW Davis St. Portland, OR 97209 503-228-5657 Fax: 503-227-3117 www.streetroots.org www.streetroots.wordpress.com Street Roots publishes the Rose City Resource, a comprehensive booklet of services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. To inquire about getting an order of the Rose City Resource for distribution, please write to pdxrosecityresource@gmail.com. Resources are also available online at www.rosecityresource.org. goes directly to the vendor who sold you the paper Vendor orientations are at 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Street Roots office
