September 16, 2015
The
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INSIDE
Week in Review
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This page
Sponsored by:
L ocal N ews
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O pinion
S ports
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photo by S herri K aven
Regional finalists from the August Wilson Monologue Competition pose for a photo before taking to
the stage.
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August in September
M etro
Local students
explore black
experience
With a trip to New York, cash
prizes, and scholarship opportuni-
ties on the line, the August Wilson
Monologue Competition could
be the launching pad for Port-
land’s next great thespian. This
year, in addition to presentations
at schools and nonprofit organi-
pages
10-14
ENTERTAINMENT
F ood
and perform monologues from
Wilson’s plays with the hopes of
competing in the finals at the Au-
gust Wilson Theatre in New York
City. Throughout the process,
these students receive guidance
from professional actors and men-
tor directors.
Beyond cash prizes and the
chance to perform on Broadway,
the competition gives all partici-
pating students invaluable experi-
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Renter Emergency Declared
Arts &
C lassifieds
C alendar
zations, the August Wilson Red
Door Project has teamed up with
Multnomah County Library for a
series of September events.
Called “August in Septem-
ber,” this series of interactive
workshops will give students
the opportunity to meet local ac-
tors, learn about August Wilson,
and get more information on the
life-changing competition that
honors the great African-Ameri-
can playwright.
Competition participants study
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Group protests
evictions and
rising rents
O livia O livia
T he P ortland O bserver
Citing the twin impacts of no-
cause evictions this summer that
impacted entire apartment com-
plexes and big rent increases at
other rentals that are forcing more
residents into the streets or caus-
ing them to move out of the area
to find something affordable, the
Community Alliance of Tenants
has declared a Renter State of
Emergency.
by
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The Alliance says it has re-
sponded to more no-cause
evictions than ever before, in-
cluding north Portland’s Brent-
wood-Pinecrest Apartments where
all the residents were issued no-
cause evictions earlier this sum-
mer and cleared out in droves.
Oregon and Washington have
statewide bans on rent control
and allow for no-cause evictions,
meaning that tenants can be hand-
ed eviction notices without a rea-
son.
The result is that low-income
residents, especially people of col-
or, can be pushed out without rea-
son – and with rental prices soar-
ing, it is harder than ever to find
housing that will fit in a budget.
One tenant, Jose Bailey, shared
his story of being forced out.
“We are a household of five on
a fixed income. Any money we
spend on application fees, which
are about $50 per person, is mon-
ey taken away from our food, gas,
bills, etc. We’re Native American
and Celt, disabled, veterans. My
father was black ops in Vietnam
and was also a teacher for over 25
years,” Bailey said. “We should
never have to face homelessness
again.”
According to a study released
this year by the National Low In-
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