Bridge over Burnside: Campaign to fund walking span halfway to goal
A fund drive to underwrite a pedestrian bridge connecting the Wildwood Trail above West Burnside Street is halfway to its $2.5 million goal. Charlie Swindells, chair of the capital campaign for the Portland Parks Foundation, says the 180-foot-span with decorative … Continue reading Bridge over Burnside: Campaign to fund walking span halfway to goal
Through the ‘Eviction Mill’
WHEN ELENORE WILLIAMS’ family of seven moved into a new apartment in 2013 and found it infested with fleas, she says, management’s response was to give her a bottle of Hot Shot insect killer spray. “The landlord did not … Continue reading Through the ‘Eviction Mill’
The Big Plan: Williams Takes Case for Terminal 1 to Public
Can the community rally behind a big tent vision uniting the private and public sectors, faith community, social service sector and philanthropists? That’s the question posed by Homer Williams, the developer proposing a mammoth homeless shelter at Terminal 1 on … Continue reading The Big Plan: Williams Takes Case for Terminal 1 to Public
Tinkers, barterers, dealing & disability
My latest blog post on Medium.com/@poorforaminute looks at the underground economy in the largest homeless camp in the nation: A man on dialysis, sucking ice in his tent on a 93-degree day, survives on “food stamps and God.” As he … Continue reading Tinkers, barterers, dealing & disability
‘Double dutching,’ cats and PTSD: Black & Blue at the July 15 North Precinct Gang Task Force meeting
Coming on the heels of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police, and the shooting of 14 police officers in Dallas, the July 15 North Precinct Gang Task Force meeting was emotionally charged and intense. The meeting, … Continue reading ‘Double dutching,’ cats and PTSD: Black & Blue at the July 15 North Precinct Gang Task Force meeting
Some Homeless Campers Have Lived Along the Springwater Corridor for a Decade
On July 15, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales gave an eviction notice to the largest homeless camp in the Pacific Northwest. The mayor announced that, starting Aug. 1, Portland police would sweep homeless people living along the Springwater Corridor bike trail. … Continue reading Some Homeless Campers Have Lived Along the Springwater Corridor for a Decade
Springwater camps may be the largest in the U.S.
Willamette Week just put a story on their website which grew from my first blog post on Poor for a Minute. I cowrote the WW story with Rachel Monahan; it says the Springwater homeless camps may now be the largest … Continue reading Springwater camps may be the largest in the U.S.
‘Strange Sale’ – old grocery sells; the working homeless
By Thacher Schmid The old Northrup Food Center—vacant and rotting for 15 years despite occupying a coveted parcel—has finally sold. Its walls could tell a story of colorful characters, contrasting cultures and economic transition as New Portland uproots the old … Continue reading ‘Strange Sale’ – old grocery sells; the working homeless
Authenticity, ‘Emerging’ Bands and Possibly the Most Dynamic Fest in the NW
A variety of acts, both new and established, dominated the Treefort Music Fest in downtown Boise. by Thacher Schmid Rocking at El Korah: Photo by Christina Birkinbine In its literature, Treefort Music Fest describes its bands as “emerging,” which seems … Continue reading Authenticity, ‘Emerging’ Bands and Possibly the Most Dynamic Fest in the NW
Thachmo Portflolio
“Thachmo Portflolio” – Here’s an Emancipator-produced mashup of my recordings on violin, viola, Fender Mandocaster and acoustic mandolin, mostly plugged into effects pedals and Fender Twin Custom 64-15 amp, occasionally acoustic. Thanks to Emancipator for mashing this up. Gratitude to … Continue reading Thachmo Portflolio
City rolls out plan to stabilize homeless
Formerly illegal camping is now tolerated by the city if it involves no more than six people and tents are removed by 7 a.m. This photo was taken under the I-405 freewayat 9:15 a.m., March 2. Wesley Mahan photo By … Continue reading City rolls out plan to stabilize homeless
Ominous message in truck-train fire
Eight rail cars holding liquid asphalt sustained heavy fire damage but did not rupture. Had they been carrying oil, the director of Portland Emergency Management, said, “It would have been a different story.” Photo by Thacher Schmid By Thacher Schmid … Continue reading Ominous message in truck-train fire
Tualatin Mountains wildlife may soon have company
Metro plan calls for 500 acres for recreation, including mountain bike trails By Thacher Schmid Though dotted with logging roads and other reminders of people, the second growth Douglas fir forests, creeks and meadows in the North Tualatin Mountains are … Continue reading Tualatin Mountains wildlife may soon have company
Falling Apart
For a half-century, the Linnton Plywood Association mill was a model of worker ownership and democratic control of the workplace. Everyone, from the general manager to the guy who ran the Raimann patcher machine—what one former worker called “a … Continue reading Falling Apart
Emancipator’s “Seven Seas” hits #2 iTunes electronic
Emancipator’s “Seven Seas” hit #2 on the iTunes electronic music chart upon its release in late September 2015. I play on four of the twelve songs on the album: 1993 (violin); Vision Quest (mandocaster); Delta Trance (violin, mandocaster, viola); and … Continue reading Emancipator’s “Seven Seas” hits #2 iTunes electronic
Songs & Stories 