street roots
2
Feb. 1, 2013
Hygiene items are greatly needed
We have to all stick together
during difficult times
The City has signaled that many community organizations
and others serving Portland citizens are in for some hard
times. From neighborhood groups to cycling and walking
advocates, to homeless and housing services and after
school programs - there’s an anxiety spreading through the
cities ranks knowing that there’s a $25 million dollar budget
hole.
It’s unclear what the mayor will do concerning a public
process and how new leadership at City Hall would like to
understand and determine priorities in the community. The
idea of managing 27 bureaus with 14 staff, six months before
the forthcoming budget
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a deficit of $25
Street Roots and others
are eager to find a path
forward and to be
innovative and help
m aintain the basic
safety net that makes
our city strong.
million seems more than
overwhelming to Street
Roots.
Saying all of that, it’s
important that we move
forward as a city and find
a way to stick together
and support one another
across different issues
and programs. It’s no
time to watch larger organizations simply get bigger, leaving
the smaller grassroots organizations to fend for themselves.
Sometimes it’s the larger organizations and programs in this
city that allow for a centralized infrastructure and delivery
system around a specific issue. Other times, it’s small
investments in smaller community programs that go a long
way.
Street Roots and others are eager to find a path forward
and to be innovative and help maintain the basic safety net
that makes our city strong. With the right coordination
between local government agencies and partners — we think
we can weather this storm. If we’re talking a wholesale cut
to our city’s core values and the programs that make
Portland unique — than we run the risk of having our safety
net disintegrate and all hell breaking loose.
We know how complex the issue of housing and
homelessness is. We also know that for years the city
government has held these issues harmless due hard
economic times for its citizens. The city may not have been
able to add to the ongoing revenue for housing and
homeless services, but it has held the line and in many ways
supplemented the lack of resources coming from the state
and federal government. Without strong support for these
core programs the city would be facing a much worse reality,
including an even more visible homeless population and
more people dying on the streets.
While it may be difficult, we know that a unified vision and
common cause that we can create real change in our
community, even during difficult times.
We’re looking to the mayor and city council along with the
leadership at Multnomah County to show us the way. We
also hope there’s a healthy dialogue in Street Roots and in
the public about the priorities of the city, knowing that $25
at we call the February fake-out at Street
Roots will no doubt happen again this year.
That time of year when the sun pokes
through
clouds and
you realize
that there is
actually a
blue sky.
By Israel Bayer
For a
moment, we
collectively
Israel Bayer is the
think that
executive director o f
Street Roots. You can the rainy season is almost over and
reach him at
that summer is right around the
israel@streetroots. org
pnrrwr
course, the rain and clouds return.
With the rainy season at Street Roots comes tension
and sickness. People experiencing homelessness and
poverty are relegated to a life in the cold and wet. It
means many of our folks are dealing with the flu,
sometimes walking pneumonia. It’s a hard knock life.
Let Right 2 Dream Too continue
Right 2 Dream Too is the exact same situation from
over a decade ago in Portland, in the struggle to form
and sustain Dignity Village. That experiment turned out
well, with 60 people sheltered every night that do NOT
take up city resources, because the Village exists. And
it’s not enough. Let R2D2 continue this great work to
shelter and care for those who have so little, until all of
our citizens have shelter, food, and a chance to turn
their lives around, with dignity.
WENDY KOHN
Thanks fo r making Street Roots
possible
I was very sorry to read about your loss at Street
Roots- (Ted Jack). I have read about him before over the
years; it’s a horrible shame that he passed away at such
a young age.
I subscribe to a few papers - U S A Today, Wall Street
Journal Weekend and the Oregonian, but, by far, Street
Roots is my favorite paper. I enjoy reading the vendor
profiles. I am inspired by their moving stories of
survival, of course, the best stories are those involving
success in overcoming poverty, homelessness, and basic
daily economic struggles in life. I, myself, live paycheck
to paycheck so I can relate to some degree, to the
group that struggles to stay afloat, etc.
We live in a highly unquotable society, so my prayers
will always be with the folks that are down-and-out and
struggling to survive. Once again, I’m sorry about the
million is at stake. The time is short. Let your voices be
heard.
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
Executive Director Israel Bayer
producing a (
catalysts for individual and social change.
Street Roots publishes every two weeks, launching
on Fridays, and is available exclusively through our
street vendors or by subscription. We are proud
members of the North American Street
Newspaper Association and the International
Network of Street Papers.
s \
s t' s '
\
Street Roots
211 NW Davis St.
Portland, OR 97209
503-228-5657
Fax: 503-227-3117
www.streetroots.org
www.news.streetroots.org
• ' s
'
israel@streetroots.org
Managing Editor Joanne Zuhl
joanne@streetroots.org
Vendor Coordinator Cole Merkel
cole@streetroots.org
Operations Director Sarah Beecroft
Program Assistant Kara Dimitruk, Jesuit
Volunteer AmeriCorps Member
kara@streetroots.org
Grant Writer Sarah Cloud
Development Assistant Cynthia Kieh!
Reporters Jake Thomas, Alex Zielinski, Robert
Britt, Sue Zalokar
Photographers Leah Nash, Ken Hawkins, Kristina
Wright, Christopher Onstott
Stay connected with us online
through Facebook and Twitter
What may be a passing cold to some may turn into a life
or death scenario for people sleeping outdoors. It s a
cruel reality.
Our vendors are in need of small gloves, socks,
socking caps, foot powder, cough drops and hand
warmers. A small donation could go a long way and help
keep our vendors warm and their feet strong. If you re
interested in giving any of these materials you can
e-mail me at israel@streetroots.org or come on by the
office at 211 NW Davis. We would love to see you.
In fact, anytime you are in the neighborhood we
would love to see you. We love when readers and
supporters come into the office and introduce
themsevlves. It’s a great way to meet the staff and to
check out the community space we’ve created at Street
Roots. You might even see your favorite vendor in the
office.
We appreciate all the love you show vendors week-in
and week-out. It means the world to all of us at Street
Roots. Your readership and support matters. More than
you could image.
loss of Ted and I hope that your vendors will stay safe
and secure with winter approaching.
Also, I believe that your work with Street Roots is
simply unbelievable. You’re doing an amazing job that
very few could ever wish to achieve; your commitment
to helping those in poverty is highly commendable,
altruistic and noble. You’re quite a credit to society.
Thanks again for your excellent publication.
WARREN WILSON
Thanks to special vendor
I just wanted to send a note about your vendor Skip.
He is awesome. It doesn’t matter whether it’s rain or
shine, hot or cold, he is always standing on that corner
with a smile on his face and papers in his hands. I walk
past him almost every morning on my way to work, and
I actually look forward to seeing him. In fact, there was
a period a few months ago where he had disappeared
for awhile, and I was wondering where he’d gone
because I was actually starting to miss him. Then, all of
a sudden, a couple months later, as I was making my
walk and literally just thinking about him, there he was.
Back at his post. He ended up explaining that he had a
surgery and was recovering for awhile. I was so glad to
hear he was ok and glad he was back.
NICKIE BRUDOWSKY
Send letters to the editor to the Street Roots office, 211 NW Davis St.,
Portland'
or e’ ma' ' t0 j° anne@streetroots-or9 ■
Board of Directors
Bruce Anderson (Chairman), Michael Anderson (Vice-
chairman), Heather Stadick (Treasurer), Eddy Barbosa
(Secretary), Rich Rodgers, Brad Taylor, Leo Rhodes,
Ken Hawkins, Nora Coon, Darren Alexander
Volunteers
Mary Pacios, Jan Bayer, Ann Ereline, Vinnie Kinsella,
Sharron Thompson, Ann-Derrick Gaillot, Art Garcia,
Joe Thick, Erin Fenner, Stacey Heath, Tourih Skinner-
Macginnts, Amber Bielman, Bethany Hague,
Michelle Holbert, Leah Ingram, John Lisifka
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.
^5 m : r.vi'ri;» s-r.m;*» «Mtvi-;
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.