Could attempts to scale back the Columbia River Crossing and Hayden Island's Safeway end up creating a new local or arterial bridge -– one connecting the island directly with North Portland's Expo Center and Kenton neighborhood? Since the Sentinel first reported the proposed 22 lanes of freeway spaghetti [pictured below] that the CRC would build on Hayden Island, a storm of controversy has arisen over the proposal.  [The Sentinel's consistent editorial position on the CRC has been to build a bridge of grander design and more modest scale.]

A CRC meeting on Monday night, two proposals surfaced that would greatly reduce the number of traffic lanes crossing the island. At least one proposed redesign would move a massive tangle of freeway interchanges off the island and create a local traffic bridge for Hayden Island. The local bridge would create a street grid for the largely suburban pod-style street system west of I-5 and allow Islanders and North Portlanders to get in and out of the community without having getting on the freeway.

Jantzen Beach Supercenter more or less hates the idea. So does Diversified Marine, a sizeable tug-and-barge service company that says a new bridge might wipe out precious deepwater harbor along Marine Drive.

On the table Monday: two new concepts to shrink the great gray wall of highway on- and off-lanes that would slice through the island and likely wipe out Safeway. (See pages 6-8 for maps of this PDF of the various plans, or here for the biggest plan, known as the "locally preferred alternative.")

The following is the latest update from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. There are two briefs here. The first one details a new fund established with Bank of America to accept donations to the search efforts.  A drop site has been established at the Wapato Jail in St Johns. The second is from Captain Monte Reiser updating the media on the general state of search efforts to date.

Law enforcement and rescue officials are stepping up their efforts to find a boy who disappeared yesterday from Skyline Elementary School. Seven-year-old Kyron Horman (photo from yesterday on the right) was last seen at 9 a.m. at his school science fair. Residents of Forest Park, Linnton and St Johns have been involved in the search for a boy that one resident described as "part of the community." Please read the following article for more information. If you have details about Hornman's whereabouts call 503-261-2847. 

The Columbia River Crossing’s Independent Review Panel faced harsh testimony Wednesday night at the Expo Center in North Portland from residents, environmental groups, and anti-toll critics.

A few voices expressed support of the $3.6 billion mega-project, but the panel, made up of freeway and bridge engineers from around the country, faced overwhelming discontent with the project from the small crowd of die-hard citizens in attendence.

“Welcome to Oregon,” Ron Buel said to Chairman Thomas Warne and the rest of the panel in perhaps the evenings most biting testimony. “Now please take your rubber stamps and go home!”

Buel’s testimony echoed that of Stop the CRC Coalition member David Osborn, who also labeled the experts as a “rubber stamp panel” while protesting the first meeting of the IRP earlier that day. But Osborn also accused the panel of deliberately keeping a low profile on the public’s opportunity to provide testimony.

“No one in this region knows this meeting is happening,” he testified, pointing out the meeting was announced only 48 hours prior. “How is that increasing public engagement?”

Margaret “Peg” Johnson, president of Jantzen Beach Moorage, Inc., defended the public outreach of the project and urged the planners to continue their work. “We welcome any alternatives that lessen any impact on Hayden Island, but we’ve got to move forward.”

Johnson added that the current air quality from the existing clogged freeway is causing some of the worst in the city to linger in North Portland. She reasons a larger bridge would prevent cars from idling and keep them moving.

 
Protesters picketed the first meeting of the Independent Review Panel of the Columbia River Crossing project (CRC) this morning outside the Expo Center.

About a dozen members of the grassroots organization Stop the CRC Coalition held up signs and banners denouncing what they call a “rubber stamp panel” of experts appointed by the governors of Oregon and Washington to assess the fundamentals of the $3.6 billion project.

“This is a 1950s approach," said David Osborn, holding a sign that read, “Mobility for People Not Cars! No CRC!” Osborn believes the process has been flawed from the beginning, by what he says included limited outreach to the public and a refusal to hear alternative designs.

“12 lanes gives us increased capacity at an incredible cost,” he said. “This moves us away from our sustainability goals and doesn’t strive to create livability.”

Osborn and his coalition denounce the panel of experts, that consist primarily of bridge and freeway engineers, because they are not evaluating the planning process itself.

The latest CRC project update says the panel will “assess the implementation plan for the CRC project, review the financial plan for the project [and] review and evaluate post-construction performance measures.”

Let's hope this won't turn out to be "the nightmare scenario"...
FROM THE OREGONIAN

By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
May 14, 2010, 6:59PM
Portland police officers gather at the scene of Wednesday night's shooting in the Lloyd District. A police officer was wounded and the young man who shot him was killed.

Friends of Keaton Dupree Otis expressed shock and dismay on Friday that the quiet, mild-mannered man they remembered was the same 25-year-old who was killed in a shootout with Portland police.

"He was a wonderful man," said Chalise Lewis, 24, a childhood friend. "He's not the type of person to have guns or harm anybody."

Two members of the Hotspot Enforcement Action Team, which focuses on preventing gang violence, tried to pull Otis over near Northeast Grand Avenue and Holladay Street for traffic infractions. Instead of stopping, Otis kept driving, police say. They trailed him, with their siren and lights on while blasting the air horn, in a pursuit that ended at Northeast Sixth Avenue near Halsey Street.

READ THE ARTICLE

- A Public Safety Activist with over 20 years experience in NoPo gives her views on Rosie “The Down” Sizer

- Is the PPB Chief’s office cursed?

- What are folks in NoPo more concerned about: police misconduct or lack of cops? 

- Is Adams up for running the Police Bureau?

Chris Duffy is a native Portlander who’s lived in NoPo for over 20 years. She’s been Chair of the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association since 2006. She is currently involved with North Portland’s ‘go to’ gathering for all things community policing, the Peninsula’s Public Safety Action Committee or (PSAC). I called her to find out what she thought of the Mayor’s swift toppling of the Police Bureau Leadership this morning.

Do you think it was a good idea to fire Rosie Sizer?

Yes, I do.

Why?

She’s had four years. She’s had a tough time with threats of precinct closures from the very beginning, then budget crisis in recent years, along with continued problems between citizens and police. Now she’s been dealing with rising crime rates along with complaints with how police handled situations...Perhaps it’s time for someone with a different perspective to pick up the challenge.

FROM THE OREGONIAN

Two days after police Chief Rosie Sizer blasted the mayor's proposed police budget, Mayor Sam Adams fired her and replaced her with Mike Reese, who recently served as East Precinct commander.

Adams also took control of the Portland Police Bureau from Commissioner Dan Saltzman. The mayor said he wants to take the Portland Police Bureau in "a new and different direction."

He said the relationship between the police and the city of Portland "is not what it should be."

Today's announcement follows a tumultuous week, with the mayor and the chief publicly quarreling over the bureau's budget on Monday followed the next day by an announcement that the city had agreed to pay James Chasse's family a record $1.6 million to settle their wrongful death suit against Portland police.

SEE THE ARTICLE

VIDEO BELOW THE CUT 

As reported by the Sentinel March, the Portland Police Bureau has been wrestling with overspending. Promised savings from last year's closure of North and Southeast Precincts have not stemmed the bureau's financial woes. Yesterday, Police Chief Rosie Sizer announced that budget cuts suggested by the Mayor's Office would mean cutting 25 officers from the police force.  The mayor reacted with incredulity. Mayor Adams stated did not understand why his cuts would result in layoffs. The public sparring may reflect growing frustration between the Mayor's office and the Chief's office. In recent months, the besieged Police Bureau has had to battle misconduct charges, no confidence accusations and flagging support at City Hall. 

PHOTO BY JASON E. KAPLAN FROM JANUARY PSAC MEETING REGARDING THE AFFECTS OF NORTH PRECINCT CLOSURE

FROM THE OREGONIAN

Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer went on the offensive Monday, questioning Mayor Sam Adams' pledge that "no one will be walking out the door at the Police Bureau" under his proposed budget.

Actually, Sizer said, his proposal would result in layoffs of 25 sworn officers and 12 nonsworn bureau staff; reduced public access to two precincts at night; the scrapping of the Cold Case Homicide Unit, Mounted Patrol and Portland's regional narcotics investigators; and four fewer neighborhood response officers.

Sizer, surrounded by her command staff at a news conference, expressed frustration that now that the Police Bureau has hired up to full strength, at the council's direction, it's being asked to cut street officers.

MAYOR WEIGHS IN
Adams, the first mayor in a generation not to serve as police commissioner, appeared blindsided by what he called Sizer's "staged" news conference, saying he crafted his budget under the impression that the Police Bureau cuts would be reached by not filling vacancies. 

READ THE ARTICLE 

Last Tuesday evening, The Urban League of Portland held two separate candidate forums, one for City candidates and one for County. Entitled “Accountability and Equity,” the questions asked tried to draw out substantive answers aimed at the concerns of activists and leaders in communities served by the Urban League. It was a nice thought, but electoral politics frequently leads to disappointment.

Because of the large number of candidates in both forums — eight in each — I won’t cover the Q&A in detail. Here are some high points and points of interest. No one forum can determine who is the best fit for an office, but, near the end of the campaign, the Urban League event was informative — if not as substantial as organizers might have hoped.

Standouts: Maria Rubio, Jeff Cogen

Maria Rubio, seeking the Multnomah County seat previously held by Jeff Cogen, came across as the most energetic, informed and thoughtful of the candidates of the evening. She is also the candidate who has grown most during the campaign: Her answers are more direct and informed than when I first interviewed her two months ago. She spoke of the fear that occurs when communities change, as is happening in East County, with its in-migration of impoverished people of color. The County, she said, needs to take the lead in establishing a dialog that would remove the barriers between neighbors. When County government works with members of the community, it needs to be on an on-going basis, not through ad hoc committees, stated Rubio. She wants the community involved in making the decisions about the difficult budget cuts ahead — not just advising on these.

“They have the knowledge and experience,” she said, “to make difficult decisions.”

On a cloudy, gray afternoon, Amy Baker sits in her North Portland home, surrounded by an immense collection of vibrant, colorful Latin American art. Her street is quiet,  as she prepares hot water for tea, a lop-eared bunny named Lulu hops from room to room.

By all rights, Amy Baker could be an angry and bitter about the past two years of her life. But amazingly, she’s not.

Baker is facing the challenge of paying down her tax and credit card debts. But the path that lead her to that  challenge is a harrowing tale of her year-long fight to clean up a meth lab next to her home. Taxes seem like a relatively easy challenge in comparison.

It’s tax day! Conservatives hate taxes and liberals love them, or so the stereotypes go.

Activists in the Tea Party movement are launching a national day of protest and rallies, including one here in North Portland [see Breaking News] to kick up dust and take your mind off that pesky Schedule E.  

Meanwhile, here in liberal Oregon, folks cast a historic vote in January to raise their own – or maybe someone else’s – taxes. Some viewed both the Tea Party movement and the Oregon tax vote as campaigns that were less about “right” and “left” and more about  populism.

That’s nice.

But whether you think you get taxed too much, not enough, or just want to tell them all to kiss off, here’s what can happen if you don’t pay up:

“The Oregon Department of Revenue used to be heartless, irrational and even sadistic,” says Michael Redden, a Northeast Portland tax attorney with 30 years experience in local and federal tax law.

The ODR proved so difficult, in fact, that Redden will no longer take on clients with state income tax problems. Part of the reason is that he and others claim the IRS is easier to deal with than the state of Oregon.

As April 15 rolls around again, Oregonians who can't pay their taxes are facing an agency that's more feared than the IRS. Unlike it's federal counterpart, Oregon uses private collection agencies, does not forgive debt and can send a distraint warrant (see sidebar story Distraining to Pay your Taxes) and a sheriff to your house when you owe big bucks.

FROM PRESS RELEASE- [ED NOTE: edited for length, snark added. Rubio (here for TA Barnarts profile of the candidate) is best known in North Portland for being on Mayor Tom Potter's staff and for being one of the members of the Chavez Blvd renaming committee]

PORTLAND, OR - *Maria Rubio’s* campaign for Multnomah County Commissioner – District 2 announced their *Campaign Kick-off* to take place *Monday, April 19th* at *Echo Restaurant* (2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland).

Several community members and campaign supporters are expected to attend.  The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and runs until 7:00 p.m.  The candidate will be available for media interviews beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The event kicks-off Rubio’s grassroots effort to make public safety more efficient and more community-oriented, improve health, economic and environmental equity and work towards more collaborative governance to tackle issues like job creation, mental health services and education.

Rubio will also be attending a public *campaign fundraiser* co-hosted by *Gale Castillo*, *Bertha Ferran*, *Cecily Quintana and La Bonita Catering* on *Thursday, April 15th* from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at *Quintana Galleries* (120 NW 9thAve., Portland).

Media [ED NOTE: that means you too internets!] is invited to attend to hear why Maria is the best candidate for

Multnomah County Commissioner in District 2. “Maria brings public service experience and personal commitment to serving our county and our state,” said business and civic leader Gale Castillo.

[ED NOTE: Her Campaign Endorsements include]

Portland Public Schools Board Member *Martin Gonzales*,

Former Portland Mayor *Tom Potter, *

Former Multnomah County Commission from District 2 *Serena Cruz Walsh*,

Former Multnomah County Commissioner *Maria Rojo de Steffey, *

Former Multnomah County Commissioner - District 2 Candidate *Linda Castillo*,

 

Kevin Easton

(503) 320-0191

www.RubioForCounty.com

 

The Trail Blazers still hold the operating agreement to run Memorial Coliseum.  But as City Council prepares for a hearing on the Coliseum renovation project Wednesday afternoon, one rival in the race says there are other hurdles to clear before a development deal is struck:

Matt Miller, principal architect of the Veterans Memorial Arts and Athletic Center concept (pictured above), says there are other fish to fry -- namely, the city’s commitment to ownership of the 50-year-old landmark, and the  condition of the building itself.

The Council will open the Pandora’s Box of Coliseum issues on Wednesday, when a Stakeholder Advisory Committee studying Coliseum proposals makes its recommendations.  The Committee, appointed by Portland Mayor Sam Adams, plans to issue formal Requests For Proposals to three potential developers – Miller’s group, the Trail Blazers, and a group headed by Portlander Doug Obletz.

The North Portland non-profit music school Ethos has confirmed that they are interested in occupying the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.

According to a release, “ the Board of Directors of Ethos Music Center have voted unanimously to submit a proposal to Portland Parks and Recreation to operate the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) in North Portland.” The press releases continues, “Ethos’ board believes that it has the unparalleled programmatic, organizational and financial ability to operate this building for use as a self-sustaining, thriving arts incubator for the benefit of Portland residents in North Portland and beyond."

(above, Ethos founder Charles Lewis)

Paul Wolfowitz, former Deputy Defense secretary and chief architect of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, spoke Monday evening at the 48th annual International Affairs Symposium at Lewis & Clark College.

Wolfowitz was there to debate Gen. Merrill McPeak, a former Air Force Chief of Staff, on the wisdom and profitability of foreign wars, and whether or not those wars have any moral underpinnings in the promotion of the global democracy.

Wolfowitz, a household name in political circles, rarely travels to speaking engagements outside the Washington, D.C. Beltway.  But Monday, he was met by the more formidable arguments of Gen. McPeak, who lives in Southwest Portland -- apparently close enough to have walked to Lewis & Clark campus that evening.

The idealistic architect of a fiasco?

Wolfowitz, a renowned neoconservative,  cast himself as a moralist and idealist who believed that the United States should promote democracy around the world, no matter the cost of invasions of countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Does the police bureau's Community Oversite Committee have bark, bite, or is it a wet cat? Anyway you skin this dog/cat, there's a meeting on April 14th.  It's important stuff, but if you can even read this entire agenda without falling asleep- it will be a miracle:

CITIZEN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING

Community Oversight of Portland Police Bureau

AGENDA

5:30 pm-5:35 pm          Introductions and Welcome (CRC Chair Bigham)

                                     Approval of March 10 and 16, 2010 - CRC Meeting Minutes

5:35 pm-5:55 pm          Conference Meeting on #2009-X-0005 / IPR case #2006-C-0475

                                     Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Brian Martinek

5:55 pm-6:25 pm          Investigative case review #2009-X-0007 / IPR case #2009-C-0125

6:25 pm-6:45 pm         Discussion of Policy and Training Issues regarding appealed cases

2009-X-0005 / 2006-C-0475 and 2009X-0005 / 2006-C-0475

Using old timetables provided by TriMet, we calculated her trip in early September 2009, when TriMet service levels were at their peak. Then we ran the same trip one year later, using TriMet's projected service levels for September 2010, after two seemingly small cuts to each route. 

In 2009, her trip took 36 minutes, only a bit slower than driving and parking. This fall, it'll take a full hour. 

Here's what her trip looked like in 2009: 

TriMet is preparing bus service cuts this September that will affect North/Northeast Portland residents, and some of the poorest residents citywide. 

According to TriMet's latest proposal, the transit agency will reduce service this September on the 4, 6, 8, 9, 16, 17, 24, 44, 73, 75 and 85 bus lines -- every line serving North and inner Northeast except the No. 72 Killingsworth/82nd. (The 35 Macadam/Greeley is due for a cut in June.) 

The changes will vary from two to 10-minute cuts during the day to six-minute cuts on weekends. Arrival intervals for the No. 24 Fremont bus will increase the most dramatically, by 10 minutes or more. 

Portland's other quadrants will be equally affected. 

It'll be the third service cut in a year for the local transit agency, which is funded mostly by payroll taxes. Only 20 percent of its operating budget comes from fares.