Water Regs on the Rise

Original story.

Current Events
How Will Oregon’s New River Rules Affect Portland?

While Portland officials  spar over costly federal rules for the city’s drinking water, another widespread and potentially expensive water issue has silently crossed the finish line.

As of last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed Oregon to set some of the nation’s strictest water quality rules for rivers. And while the new rules are a victory for Native American tribes that depend on healthy fish supplies, financial and technological challenges loom for city treatment plants, agricultural facilities, and other industries.

Runoff from pollutants ranging from arsenic to mercury will now face increased restrictions based on new statistics that show tribe members eat far more river-caught fish than previously thought. The new standards could take as long as five years to fully take effect.

Kim Cox of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services says she is unsure how long it will take to get the city up to speed or how much money compliance will cost.

“We know we’ll have to make some significant technological changes, I just hope it’s a minimal effect,” Cox says. “Anything that needs to meet water-quality standards could be affected.”

Suicide Rates Spike in Mutnomah County

Yikes — a suicide story is never a fun one to tackle. Nonetheless, the message is in need of a platform. I’m tired of the stigma around mental health issues. Time to make it a public issue. Original article.

A Call for Help
What’s Behind the Recent Rise in Suicide Rates?

In just the past month, Multnomah County has seen more than five public suicide attempts. That’s an unusually high number, and each drew uncomfortable attention to an often-avoided topic.

But while public suicides catch more notice, officials across the county say the problem—an increase in suicide rates overall—goes far beyond what we can easily see.

“It’s the white elephant in the middle of the living room that no one wants to talk about,” said Portland Fire and Rescue’s Paul Corah at an October 13 press conference. “But it’s crucial we do.”

The Portland Police Bureau has responded to 214 suicides and attempts already this year—an uptick from 198 for all of last year. Additionally, officers have received 916 suicide-related calls, 65 more than in all of 2010. While it’s impossible to pinpoint a single cause, says Leslie Storm of Oregon Partnership, a nonprofit suicide and substance abuse prevention group, it’s easy to key in on an at least one overarching issue: the unstable economy.

“We know the rise is due to a combination of stresses, but the underlying stress is the economy,” she says. “And it doesn’t seem like it’s going to get better soon.”

Storm, who operates Oregon Partnership’s 24-hour suicide hotline, says she’s seen the suicide rate slowly rise over the five years she’s worked there. “A lot of people are unemployed and don’t have the right insurance for serious illnesses,” Storm says. “Mental health budget cuts don’t help.”

In tandem with the increase, Storm has watched fellow nonprofit mental health facilities close because of major state and county budget cuts. Last month, Multnomah County commissioners voted to cut $5.56 million from county mental health services. While the state returned $4.7 million, the cut still left a mark. The county’s Mental Health and Addiction Services Division (MHASD) crisis line remains intact, but the cuts have left those without insurance on thin ice.

Portland Bans Plastic Bags

The Ban’s in the Bag

It has been four years since Mayor Sam Adams brought up the idea of a citywide plastic bag ban. Come Saturday, October 15, a city council resolution will finally cement the long-awaited plan.

“I think everyone’s been thinking, ‘Come on, get on with it!’ for some time now,” says Lisa Libby, the mayor’s planning and sustainability director. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise. People are on board.”

The ban targets grocery stores and general merchandise stores that gross more than $2 million annually. Wrapping up major corporations like Target and Walgreens, the ban’s breadth is wide. ["Plastic Problems" News, July 22, 2010] But the city isn’t stopping there.

“We’re really trying to move the discussion from banning the bag to bringing your own bag,” Libby says.

To drive home the point, the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability launched bringyourbagpdx.com to act as a guide during the upcoming transition. The website also includes a form for low-income shoppers to fill out so they can receive a free reusable bag.

The Mercury’s 24-Hour Coverage of Occupy Portland

So the news team at the Portland Mercury tackled a 24-hour stint at the first day of Occupy Portland. Madness ensued. Fortunately, I got the afternoon shift.

Check out our blog for ongoing OPDX coverage.

OPAL’s Fight for TriMet Transfer Extentions

Fighting for a Fair Fare
Can TriMet Afford Longer Transfers?

TriMet’s self-described “antiquated” transfer ticket system—allowing riders up to an hour to take another bus or turn around for home without paying—has never faced criticism. Until now.

Over the past year, members of Organizing People Activating Leaders (OPAL), an advocacy group for the low-income and people of color, have managed to assemble a 6,000-signature petition in hopes of pushing the transfer time to three hours and allowing any ticket purchased after 7 pm to be valid for the rest of the day.

They presented that petition to TriMet’s board last month. And now, because of that effort, TriMet’s board says it will at least consider the idea.

Greg Bigoni

“It’s not only about transfer times,” says Joseph Santos-Lyons, OPAL co-director. “It’s about equality. People’s simple needs are not being met with the current bus system.”

Santos-Lyons says changing the transfer rules may not cost TriMet a nickel because of increased ridership. But TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch says that’s not true: OPAL’s dual request could cost as much as $1.8 million to $3.2 million.

TriMet’s system is already inconsistent. The torn-off transfer pass a rider receives when boarding a bus provides just one hour of transfer time—two on the weekend. But purchase that ticket at a ticket machine, no matter when, and the transfer time is a constant two hours. For a one-way trip home or to the airport, that’s probably plenty of time. But many low-income riders who rely solely on transit to run errands say they are left rushed and ultimately frustrated by the small transfer window.

That’s where OPAL comes in. On September 28, the group and its supporters packed TriMet’s monthly board meeting. Not only did the speakers target transfer times, but they also emphasized the idea of TriMet becoming more transparent.

“It’s about accountability,” said Marisa Espinoza, an OPAL volunteer. “Having an open dialogue with TriMet is so important.”

Espinoza, who has a long-term illness, testified that the truncated transfer times threaten her access to medical services. “But you don’t need to know each of our stories. It’s beyond that,” Espinoza said. “The transfer policy just doesn’t work, plain and simple.”

Her testimony was followed by a homeless Portlander who couldn’t afford a return pass to a shelter and a night-shift janitor who felt her ability to get to work was threatened by the transfer costs.

TriMet Board President Rick Van Beveren was torn by the cry for help. “If we were in a different environment financially, we would be all over this,” said Van Beveren. “If we knew that this could be economically neutral, it would help.”

Despite the concerns, TriMet agreed to work with OPAL and transportation experts over the next few months to study whether an extension is financially feasible. The decision, however, left board member Steve Clark questioning whether TriMet should look even more deeply at how it promotes equity. Said Clark: “This conversation extends beyond the idea of ‘transfer.”

Outside In’s Push Towards Funding

On Pins and Needles
Can Outside In’s Needle Exchange Keep Its Crucial Cash Flow?

In 1989, Portland nonprofit Outside In introduced a revolutionary and controversial form of community-funded medical care: a needle exchange. One of the first of its kind in the country, the idea quickly gained support as a way to cut new HIV infections among drug users. Now, 20 years later, Outside In’s exchange is still combating HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases—but is also having to fight to keep its annual funding.

In the city budget officially adopted this July, the Portland Housing Bureau had to cut needle exchange’s typical $63,000 in funding thanks to a citywide budget crunch. Outside In employees requested special one-time funding from the mayor’s office to keep the program afloat for a year. Luckily, Mayor Sam Adams saw the program as a staple in Portland’s health and safety systems and fulfilled their plea with $65,000 in one-time cash from the mayor’s office.

Outside In’s program allows anyone to drop off used syringes at their headquarters on SW 13th and receive sterile new syringes in return. Needle-exchange clients are also encouraged to use the site’s free clinic for medical exams and treatment.

“We can use the syringe program as a bridge to treatment for those who generally don’t go to other clinics,” says Outside In Executive Director Kathy Oliver.

Portland Streetcar: An Analysis

So here’s something I knew very little about before writing this article: the Portland Streetcar. Writing this piece tested my information gathering skills (no thanks to you, Info Hell) and investigative tendencies. Success! Original article.

Sizing up the Streetcar
Is the 10-Year-Old Development Tool on the Right Track?

When Greg Hermens sees the streetcar ease to a stop outside Nob Hill Bar and Grill—his business of 25 years—he couldn’t be happier. Every 15 minutes, the car unloads waves of curious tourists, many of which walk in his door.

Portland Streetcar, Inc., the nonprofit that owns the streetcars and works under contract with the City of Portland, celebrated its 10th birthday on August 12. In the next decade, its sights are set on expansion. Along with completing a $148 million citywide loop, Portland Streetcar is adding five locally produced streetcars to its Czech-made fleet of 10. But, with a price tag of $45 million per mile, it’s one of the pricier transportation projects around. Looking toward the future, streetcar enthusiasts and critics alike consider one critical question: Is it worth it?

To Hermens, the Nob Hill Bar and Grill owner, the streetcar means business.

“We definitely have seen a spike in customers since it was put in,” Hermens says. “It’s a no-brainer, really.”

And that’s exactly what Portland Streetcar wants to hear. While it is built with cash from transportation funds, the streetcar is intended, above all else, to be a development tool. Sure, it gets Portland State University students and Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center workers from point A to point B, but it also aims to establish multi-use communities in between.

Michelle Mitchell

The streetcar’s $5.7 million budget comes from a combination of ticket sales, urban renewal money generated by development along the streetcar line, and city, state, and federal transportation funds. Even with the diverse funding sources, the new Eastside Loop that stretches from the Broadway Bridge to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is $5 million short for their 2011 budget, as that money is being put toward building a soaring new rail/bike/ped bridge over the Willamette River. The Eastside Loop is also five months behind schedule.

In 2009, a city-sanctioned public input group on the streetcar plan polled Portlanders and revealed that though 83 percent of Portlanders were in favor of the streetcar, 72 percent thought it shouldn’t be paid for from city funds.

Update: Gay Marriage in Oregon

Stories that revolve around the possibility of something getting written into law are usually iffy, but this one is entirely possible! How exciting. Original article.

Gay by Gay
The Constitution push for Same-Sex Marriage in Oregon is Hedging its Bets

Although the 2012 election is over a year away, Oregon is already facing a decision point on a major measure: legalizing same-sex marriage. The numbers show support for gay marriage is increasing in Oregon, but LGBT campaigners aren’t sure whether the tables will have tipped enough by 2012.

According to a 2011 poll by political group Public Policy Polling, 48 percent of Oregonians are in support of gay marriage. That’s a massive turnaround from 2004, when 57 percent of Oregonians voted in support of Measure 36, a state constitutional amendment cementing marriage as “a union only between one man and one woman.” Additionally, 2010 Census numbers crunched last week by think tank the Williams Institute show that Oregon is the fifth gayest state in America, based on our per capita number of same-sex partnerships.

“My gut tells me that this is absolutely the right time to bring the issue to the table,” says State Representative Jules Bailey (D-Portland).

A New Take on Portland Pavement

So I’ve never seen anyone tear out pavement. I mean, it’s a rarity. This story opened my eyes to the possibility of reclaiming cemented areas and the personpower required to take it over. Impressive, to say the least. Also I almost fainted while at Frazer Park — still unsure why — so I clearly was blown over. Original article.

Repaving the Way
Out with Old Pavement, In with Public Spaces

Pavement has lost to Portland this summer. The past months have welcomed a variety of pavement repurposing projects across the city, bringing new uses to parking lots and alleyways. Local concrete-busting nonprofit Depave has been working in Portland since 2008 to transform patches of pavement, and it looks like their ideas are catching on. Here’s a look at three projects that have repurposed Portland pavement this summer.

Public Art Space

North Portland contemporary art venue Disjecta took a destructive approach to their 8,000-square-foot parking lot last Friday, August 19.. While Disjecta has renovated the inside of their warehouse since taking it over in 2008, the parking lot surrounding the art space was left untouched.

“Once you look at the sea of asphalt, it makes sense. Something had to be done,” says Disjecta Director Bryan Suereth. In collaboration with Depave, Disjecta is turning their lot into an “outdoor performance and gathering space” with an amphitheater, water-permeable sidewalk paths, and trees that will serve as rainwater diverters. This is the first time an artistic venue in the city has torn up part of their private property to make a public park.

“I hope this provides Portland with something very distinct,” Suereth says.

Oregon’s First Twitter Defamation Case

This was a tricky/exciting/dramatic story to write. And then edit. And re-edit. Turns out lawyers REALLY want you to get it straight (more on that here). Long story short, this investigative piece was a great way to jump into the state lawyersphere and caseworld. Also, plastic surgery always makes things sexier/skeevier. Original article.

The $1 Million Twitter Fight
The State’s First “Twitter Defamation” Suit

An online clash this summer between a Lake Oswego plastic surgeon and a Portland blogger has led to a unique legal case: Oregon’s first Twitter-based defamation lawsuit.

While the suit revolves around the details of one blog post and an irate doctor, Oregon and the nation are likely to see more legal battles over fighting words posted on social media as the technology spreads.

This case began with a post on 31-year-old Tiffany Craig’s blog, Criminallyvulgar. A self-labeled “on again, off again” blog, reaching an average of one comment per post, Criminallyvulgar rants on topics ranging from the Manchester riots to Craig’s growing shoe collection.

In a post on June 30, Craig posted a TV commercial—now removed from the internet—for the Tigard nip-and-tuck clinic of Lake Oswego plastic surgeon Dr. Jerry Darm.

BT Livermore

“What he should have added with his Results May Vary disclaimer is Dr. Darm Handed over His Medical License Due to Disciplinary Action,” wrote Craig, linking to public medical licensing documents that showed Darm’s was reprimanded by the Oregon Medical Examiner’s Board 2001 after making “intimate physical contact” with a female patient and suggesting that his actions could stand in for payment. Craig added that California revoked the surgeon’s license in 2003 without renewal, but didn’t note that Darm’s license is now renewed in Oregon. [Darm voluntarily surrendered his California license —Editor] Craig then updated her Twitter account, linking to her post, and signed off for the night.

Eleven days later, Craig answered a knock on her door, expecting a friend for dinner. Instead, a court employee served her with a $1 million lawsuit from Darm’s lawyer. The suit quotes her June 30 blog and twitter posts and seeks damages for making “false, defamatory, and malicious statements.”

“It was terrifying to see that many zeroes,” Craig says, laughing. “I had no idea what it was about.”