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giordani» (Observer
Higher Tuition
lune 22, 2011
SCRAP Summer Camp Be si
The State Higher Education Board this month
SCRAP’S annual summer camp is a place where
approved a 7.2 percent increase in average tuition
fees for Oregon public universities after reviewing children’s imaginations are encouraged to run wild.
In five one-week sessions, children ages six through
tuition proposals, discussing budget allocations ap­
12 learn about creative reuse while creating many
proaches and hearing a research report from the
different scrappy works of art, such as a tie-dyed towel,
Coalition of Communities of Color.
Portland State University will raise their tuition unique yard art, sewing projects, redecorating bags,
prices by 9 percent, which increased the annual art for local community gardens, and much more.
Campers participate in group challenges, science
tuition tor resident undergraduate students taking 15
experiments, read-alouds and open-ended play with
credit hours from $5,648 to $6,156.
Before the board approved the tuition rate in­ re-purposed materials. Also included are lunch trips to
crease, Katie Markey, PSU’s former student body nearby Irving Park, mini-trips to local places of interest,
president, explained students understand the need guest artist talks, and a healthy snack option each
for tuition increase, and they were included in the afternoon.
Camps are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
decision-making process.
PSU, Oregon Institute of Technology, and the at SCRAP, located at 2915 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr.
Blvd. Register online scrapaction.org.
University of Oregon had the highest increase.
Camp SCRAP helps local kids make works o f art and learn how to
protect the environment.
PDC Executive
funded improvements, while creat­
ing some prosperity in poor commu­
be an expectation,” Quinton says. nities, directly or indirectly caused
"With a scarcity of dollars we have social and economic displacement.
to make choices, and we have to
"We have to recognize the mis­
emphasize job creation impact.”
steps of the past, particularly in
Quinton is uniquely qualified for north and northeast Portland,”
his mission. A PDC employee since Quinton says.
2008, he took over the agency’s
Some criticism s are more re­
business and industrial develop­ cent. PDC utilizes Urban Renewal
ment section the following year. He Advisory Com m ittees to help pro­
wrote the city’s first Economic De­ vide com m unity input into local
velopment Strategy in 15 years, and policies and program s. However,
he was the chief author to a Neigh­ at its June meeting, advisory m em ­
borhood Economic Development bers accused PDC o f sim ply pre­
Strategy recently adopted by city senting them with decisions al­
council.
ready made, rather than engaging
He said the neighborhood docu­ in a collaborative process.
ment was “meant to articulate our
Quinton calls this an unwarranted
plans for neighborhoods outside “generalization.
downtown, and outside urban re­
“Our process isn’t perfect and
newal districts as well. We need to things come up,” he said. “Some­
create jobs close to where people times we have the time to talk about
live.”
it, and sometimes things have to be
Some critics have said that PDC acted upon immediately. People tend
subsidies have become so critical to to focus on the exceptions. During
econom ic developm ent projects our budget process people have
that such ventures are unlikely to plenty of time and advance notice to
occur without taxpayer money, or be involved.”
outside the urban renewal districts
How do ordinary people know
where such subsidies are available. what is happening so they can be­
"All real estate dealings have come involved?
become challenging,” Quinton says.
“W e’re trying to provide infor­
“The financing that was available a mation through a variety o f media,”
few years ago was an aberration. Quinton says.
We need to adapt to the new reality.
In addition to notices in publica­
We also need to be concerned about tions such as the Portland Observer,
tilting the market in certain direc­ he says, information is available on
tions, about unintended conse­ Twitter and other social media, and
quences.”
the agency is revamping its web site
T he a g e n c y ’s actio n s have to make it more “user-friendly.”
earned it opponents over the years.
If you have a specific question,
Older residents still remember the he says, “You can start by contact­
wholesale removal o f communities ing our staff. There is at least one
in downtown’s South Auditorium person who can fill people in on
area, the Emanuel Hospital campus what’s happening in a given area.
and the Rose Quarter.
You shouldn’t have to work hard to
O thers com plain that PDC- find out.”
continued
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