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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2012)
2 street roots June 22, 2012 EDITORIAL Making change, every day P Goodbye free rail zone, and everything you stood fo r he free rail zone, once known as Fareless Square is gone. T In a city that prides itself on being green, innovative and equity driven, it seems odd that besides a few organizations and voices in the wilderness, losing the free-rail zone didn’t seem to matter much. It sure wasn’t all that important to Tri-Met. Didn’t hear much from the city, or other government institutions on the issue. The business community didn’t seem to mind, and why would they. Most out-of-town visitors, especially those attending conventions, will have It is one more component their ride subsidized in a long line of missteps with revenue from a over the past two decades visitors tax. that have tilted Portland's When Fareless Square urban core further away began in 1975, and from being a diverse and throughout the years, it innovative downtown for was held up as a beacon the future. in the movement of progressive economic development, helping curb air pollution and encouraging people not to drive. Fareless Square helped divert car congestion, gave people an opportunity to ride freely to sporting and other cultural events downtown. And it allowed people to travel from one part of the city’s concentrated core to another - to shop, enjoy lunch and generate a vibrant commercial center — unencumbered by additional charges. In neighborhoods like Old Town, it allowed downtown citizens, many elderly and low-income to travel outside of its food desert to buy groceries and other goods. It allowed service workers who can’t afford to live or park downtown to travel freely to their jobs from outside the downtown core. It’s all gone. The reality is that new charges applied to rail service downtown — on lines that already cut through the heart of the city - will nickel and dime the students, the elderly, and the service class who rely on the zone to enable their already limited livelihood. Of course, time will pass and the city will adjust. Gentrification will continue and Portland’s downtown demographics will continue to trend toward wealthy, white individuals and families, while middle-class and poor people will be pushed toward the city’s outer rings. That’s not to say that abandoning the free rail zone is at fault for this sweeping reality. But it is one more component in a long line of missteps over the past two decades that have tilted Portland’s urban core further away from being a diverse and innovative downtown for the future. We get it: Times are tough and revenues are down. Portland is still thriving, compared to many cities. We are one of the leading cities for alternative transportation modes in the country, and banking our investments on streetcars and cycling programs will lead us into the future. That’s not enough. Having a free rail zone coupled with these investments would uphold true innovation, ensuring a hub for commerce, entertainment and an equity in mobility that will never return. TriMet, its union, local government, and the business community could have saved the free-rail zone. They didn’t. We will all pay the price, literally, and Portland will suffer for it. Once a vendor goes through orientation, eople tell me all the time how great we ask that they abide by some simple rules the vendors are in the community when out on turf. Beyond the basics, like and what a community asset they are for local neighborhoods. They also tell me, not smoking or being intoxicated, we ask vendors to not be aggressive in any way. It’s often with pretty simple. Does it always work? Of bewilderment, that course not, but for the vast majority of the the vast amount of vendors represent people selling SR and the community IRECTOB'S the at-large, it’s a great fit. themselves very well. DESK Part of what makes SR great is allowing Yes, people people to find their own voice, either experiencing poverty By Israel Bayer through the sales of the newspaper or being do have manners. published. Making money is the goal, but We also take our allowing for people to build self-confidence fair share of incident and community is something that makes reports on vendor altercations and other the vendor program special. random inquiries about individuals and We work hard so that vendors can thrive families selling the newspaper. We want to make sure that readers know that we have a in different environments. Mostly though, Vendor Incident and Feedback form on the it’s readers like you that make it possible. SR website at www.streetroots.org. Being able to create community on street Individuals go through an hour corners and in front of businesses orientation before becoming a vendor that throughout the Portland area is something includes a 35-minute video about SR and that we can all appreciate. selling the newspaper, along with a time for One vendor recently told me that she questions and answers. Vendors receive 10 enjoys the conversation that naturally free papers, tips on turf, and are out the unfolds with readers as much as making door. It’s no easy task to sell a newspaper. money when selling Street Roots. Thank It’s even harder when faced with the needs you, Portland, for taking the time and of survival and being constantly exposed to helping change people’s lives, one the elements. conversation and one newspaper at a time. Israel Bayer is the executive director o f Street Roots. You can reach him a t israel@ streetroots.org City Scape by Ed Gould Executive Director Israel Bayer members of the North American Street Newspaper Association and the international Network of Street Papers. Street Roots 211 NW Davis St. Portland, OR 97209 503-228-5657 Fax: 503-227-3117 www.streetroots.org www.streetroots.wordpress.com israel@stfeetroots,org Managing Editor Joanne Zuhl joanne@streetroots.org Operations Birector Sarah Beecroft Program Assistant Cole Merkel, Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps Member cole@streetroots.org Grant Writer Sarah Cloud Accountant Heather Stadick Reporters Amanda Waldroupe, Jake Thomas, Devan Schwartz, Robert Britt, Sue Zalokar Photographers Leah Nash, Ken Hawkins, Kristina Wright Valunteers Mary Pacios, Leo Rhodes, Jan Bayer, Eliese Baker, Sue Zalokar, Michael Moore, Robert Britt, Cynthia Kiehl, Hannah Schultz, Robyn Wirkes, Shannon Lattin our vendors, we receive additional support from donations and in-kind contributions. •nui ( Street Roots Rose City Resource 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. Vendor orientations are at 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Street Roots office.
