May 2, 2018
Page 3
INSIDE
The
Week in Review
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This page
Sponsored by:
Support for Housing, Police
Mayor sets priorities with new budget
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
pages 7-10
Mayor Ted Wheeler announced his proposed
general fund budget of $553 million Monday, which
included increased monies for homeless services,
affordable housing, police officers, and new small
business support.
With the backing of Portland Business Alliance,
Wheeler has proposed an increase in the city’s Busi-
ness License Tax rate from 2.2 percent to 2.6 per-
cent, which would add an estimated $15.3 million to
the annual budget. Also proposed was an expanded
tax exemption for small business owners to lighten
their tax obligation.
The proposed budget includes $31.2 million to
the Joint Office Homelessness services, a record
breaking amount and 10 percent increase from last
year, as well as funding for current and future af-
fordable housing units being constructed.
“We understand that together we can do more
to help people experiencing homelessness fund the
shelter and services they need to get off the street,
and that the ultimate goal is to move people out of
shelters and into housing,” Wheeler said in a press
release Monday.
The proposed budget would authorize the Port-
land Police Bureau to hire 52 additional officers and
enhance the Behavioral Health Unit of the bureau,
among other measures.
Wheeler cited a need for public safety officers
to shorten response times for 911 calls, decrease an
over reliance on police overtime, police officer fa-
tigue, and a need to pivot to a more community-cen-
tered policing model.
Adding more revenue to the police budget was
praised Monday by Portland Police Association
Mayor Ted Wheeler
President Daryl Turner, who called it a “move in the
right direction.” But the activist group Critical Resis-
tance rejected the plan, saying it would be better to
“divert funding away from policing and into commu-
nity resources,” like mental health and housing.
In a statement released Tuesday, Critical Re-
sistance said it will convene with other advocacy
groups, like Care Not Cops and Don’t Shoot Port-
land Saturday at Hughes Memorial United Methodist
Church in northeast Portland to discuss community
safety needs.
The proposed city budget will be decided later this
spring after a public comment period and consider-
ation and approval by the entire city council.
Hip Hop Day Founder Dies
M ETRO
O PINION
C LASSIFIEDS
C ALENDAR
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pages 11-12
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Idris ‘Starchile’ O’Ferrall
was visionary rapper
Beloved hip-hop performer, promoter, and one
of the founding planners of Portland’s Hip-Hop
Day, Idris O’Ferrall, who went by the stage name
“Starchile,” died Thursday at the age of 42 from
complications of central nervous system lymphoma,
a cancer that was diagnosed last month, O’Ferrall’s
father said on a Facebook post.
Born and raised in Portland, O’Ferrall began rap-
ping in the 90s as a Wilson High School student and
went on to run his record label, host TV and radio
shows, and then became a concert promoter and em-
cee.
Hel teamed up with the Trail Blazers’ DJ O.G.
One to organize Portland’s first Hip Hop day at City
Hall in 2015 to build bridges between musicians,
fans, and community leaders in a city that has faced
criticism for excessive police presence at hip-hop
concerts in years past, according to an independent
police review from 2014..
In the past two years, O’Farrell was also known
to help keep the culture of hip-hop alive by hosting a
long-running showcase of talented local performers
in the genre, Mic Check at White Eagle Saloon in
north Portland, an area hit especially hard by gen-
Idris “Starchile” O’Ferrall
trification.
The Twitter account @MicCheck_PDX found
many members of the hip-hop community mourning
O’Farrell’s passing.
“Today we mourn the loss of our friend @
StarChile The visionary mind behind Mic Check.
We are so grateful for the time we’ve had together
& look forward to celebrating your life and legacy.
Rest In Peace.”
A Go Fund Me crowdfunding campaign, “Medical
Support For Starchile” was started to help his family
deal with the high medical costs his illness has ac-
crued.