AltWeeklies Wire
Changing the Cop Culture that Led to the Death of Aaron Campbellnew
Portlanders remain outraged over Aaron Campbell's death. A day after the police chief's radio appearance, a group of 50 people carpooled to Salem to meet with legislators. Reverend Renee Ward wants prevent the further "murder" of young men like Campbell, she says.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-04-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Oregon's Jails Are its Biggest Providers of Mental Health Servicesnew
The jail spends half of its annual $600,000 drug budget on psychiatric medications for the inmates who will consent to taking them. But jails can't force the inmates. Far from solving our state's mental health problems, the current situation is probably making them worse.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
01-14-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Stop Sign Law Goes Back for Amendmentsnew
Oregon's proposed Idaho Stop Sign Law got its first hearing before the House Transportation Committee in Salem last week, and appears to be becoming a political lightning rod for tension between bicyclists and car drivers.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-26-2009 |
Policy Issues
Portland's New Accounting System Costs Extra $3 Millionnew
A delay in the implementation of a new payroll system could cost the City of Portland an extra $3 million, in a year when budgets are being slashed across the board and the city is struggling to pay for even basic services.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-26-2009 |
Policy Issues
Man Registering Minority Voters Excluded from TriMetnew
"I don't want to say it's because I'm black," says David Rush, when asked why he thinks he was issued a 30-day exclusion from TriMet property while registering minority voters at the Beaverton Transit Center late last month. "But honestly--what else am I supposed to think?"
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
07-17-2008 |
Race & Class
Mental Health Services Threatened in Portland Areanew
Mental health provider Cascadia is in deep financial trouble, and patients could end up paying the price.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
06-05-2008 |
Policy Issues
Meet a Professional Rat Catchernew
Tim TenBrink has run Critter Control in Portland for 10 years. He moved here from Michigan, after deciding he didn't want to teach high school science there any more because the job wasn't as fulfilling as he'd expected. So he got a part-time job in Portland doing pest control, and stayed.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
05-29-2008 |
Business & Labor
Homeless Protest Stretches on in Portlandnew
On May 13, with the homeless protesters in front of city hall facing enforcement of the city's camping ordinance, five representatives sat down with Mayor Tom Potter. The meeting did not go so well.
The Portland Mercury |
Amy J. Ruiz and Matt Davis |
05-15-2008 |
Housing & Development
Portland to Get Pilot Mental Health Courtnew
Three qualified mental health professionals will work with a dedicated judge, with a goal of hooking mentally ill people up with medication and counseling instead of prosecuting them for low-level crimes.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
05-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Big Brother's Little Brothernew
A freelance videographer plans to challenge the Portland Police Bureau in court after a cop confiscated his camera and cited him, in apparent retaliation for videotaping the cop as he searched a suspect in the street.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
04-03-2008 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
Was a Portland Cop Fired for Snitching?new
Officer Lindsay Hunt is planning to sue the city over allegations she was effectively terminated in retaliation for "snitching" on an officer who was supposed to be training her.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-06-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Asleep on the Street in Portlandnew
Approximately 1,400 people sleep on the city's streets -- and for a night, I was one of them.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-21-2008 |
Housing & Development
Sit-Lie Ordinance Takes Aim at Street Kidsnew
Portland's controversial sit-lie ordinance appears to be targeting a distinct group of homeless youth, according to the latest enforcement statistics from the mayor's Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) committee.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-14-2008 |
Housing & Development
Tags: housing & development
Arresting Developmentnew
The manager and owner of a private security firm in SE Portland is still running his business with the blessing of the state, despite having been warned repeatedly by police for over a year for allegedly taking "pseudo police action."
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
The Blame Gamenew
The Portland city auditor needs to make changes to stop widespread public mistrust of the Independent Police Review process, according to an independent consultant's report released last week.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
