Street Roots • Aug. 21-27, 2015
Page 3
Editorial
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Executive Director Israel Bayer
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loanne O f r l
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Canvasser Desmond Hardison
• M a n a g in g E d ito r
In loving m em ory of old Portland
study and enjoy.
had the pleasure of being asked
According to many people that
to read a short eulogy, along
knew Portland well — Portland was
with other longtime Portlanders
this past week at a funeral for Old very passive-aggressive, very rarely
ever saying what he or she actually
Portland.
meant.
The funeral was held to pay
Somewhat judgmental, always
respects to a Portland that has been
freaky and almost always stoned
lost in the past 20-plus years. It was
Portland always walked her own
one of several events in August put
way.
together by Hand2Mouth Theatre
During downtime, Portland
and supported
enjoyed long walks in the park,
by Oregon
spray painting graffiti under the 1-5
Humanities
DIRECTOR'S looking at how viaduct, biking and self-publishing
witty, and at times, unreadable
Portland has
DESK,
zines.
changed
Unfortunately, Portland also had a
By Israel Bayer
through the
dark side.
lens of Gus Van
The medical examiner reported
Sant’s film, “My
that Portland died of greed-borne
Own Private
illness out of years of redlining,
Idaho.” The eulogy is below.
racism and the lack of political will
Portland has left us with an
to support people experiencing
amazing and troubled legacy.
Over the years, Portland captured poverty.
More so, after looking at
the hearts and minds of many
Portland’s DNA, it was determined
people, many of whom are here
that the Portland 20 years ago
with ns todav.
wasn’t aU that different than the
Prior to her death, Portland
? Portland today. Besides higher rents
influenced countless counter-
and a tech-boom, it is still a
cultural movements. Known for her
predominantly liberal, white city
support of social justice activism
with thousands of people sleeping
and the arts, she believed that
on the streets. Moderate
regardless of a particular individual
Republicans claiming to be
or group’s lot in life everyone had
Democrats continue to make money
something to contribute.
hand over fist.
She left behind hundreds, if not
Some have argued that Portland’s
thousands, of poems, books, movies
fortitude
and openness to social
and songs for future generations to
I
Israel Bayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots, You can
reach him at
israel@streetroots.org
or follow him on
Twitter @israelbayer.
change and free-market capitalism
left the city better in a better place.
Still, underneath Portland’s
success; the boutiques, the green
ways and the shine — there still lays
a layer of dirt and grime.
Portland grew up in a complicated
time.
Her father, an abusive man that
stole the Native’s land.
Her mother, a drug boss and law
enforcement official responsible for
the War on Drugs and flooding our
city with heroin and crack cocaine -
helping contribute to thousands of
deaths and thousands more going to
prison for non-violent drug offenses.
Portland left behind two children,
one that now lives in New York and
is a successful fashion designer and
another who ended up homeless
and traumatized for life after being
forced to do unimaginable things to
survive.
Portland said, days before her
death, “My life has been
. complicated, but the coffee is
brewing, the whiskey is flowing and
the music is still playing. We are a
sustainable city filled with hope,
creativity and innovation. What
more do you want from me?”
Old Portland will always remain
in the hearts and minds of the
people who lived and worked in her
green city. Loved and hated, Old
Portland will be missed by some and
remembered by many.
Board of Directors
Chairman Bruce Anderson
Vice-Chairman Brad Taylor
Treasurer Heather Stadick
Secretary Amber Bielman
Directors Rich Rodgers, Michael Anderson,
Leo Rhodes, Nora Coon, Darren Alexander,
Eddie Barbosa, Rachel Langford
Volunteers
Jan Bayer, John Barker, Stacey Heath, Brian
Ritchie, Anders Frederickson, Stephanie
Hoium, Anjali Rathore,,Sam Bouman, Joanna
Chase, Zoe Klingmann, Haven Herrin, Eliese
Baker, Dan Jones, Rob Shyrock, Tom Ray,
Doug Spangle, Susannah Kamala, Jessica
Pollard, Christine Menges, Lee Ko, James Yu,
Siri Carlson, Diana Richardson, Sarah Wise,
Cherie Manning
If you are interested in volunteering with
Street Roots, please submit a volunteer
application at streetroots.org/volunteer. Or
call our volunteer coordinator for more
Information at 503-228-5657.