OPINION | Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's decision to halt tent distribution is punitive, performative and dangerous There are details I remember — the winter rain, the distraught woman with her hands shaking and red with cold. Her husband, feverish, ly ...
22 Feb 2023 - Kaia Sand
Portland could have a transparency advocate, but City Council has to approve putting the choice in voters' hands Feb. 22 While Portland’s city government lists “transparency” among its core values, anyone tasked with filing (or fulfilling) more than ...
15 Feb 2023 - K. Rambo
OPINION | County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announces plan to begin housing homeless Multnomah County residents Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced a planned $14 million investment to begin housing homeless Multnomah County residents F ...
8 Feb 2023 - Kaia Sand
Street Smart Economics | In the US, bosses can fire workers for any or no reason — it doesn’t have to be this way The United States is an at-will employment country. Absent a union contract, a boss can fire a worker for almost any reason — or even no reas ...
8 Feb 2023 - Martin Hart-Lan...
OPINION | Late vendor Dennis Chavez taught us lessons in grace An elderly man pumped his fists to “Back in Black” by AC/DC, his wheelchair pivoting beneath his animated body. Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. This column represents her ...
1 Feb 2023 - Kaia Sand
Street Smart Economics | Legal representation for tenants facing evictions can mitigate the power imbalance between tenants and landlords in court Eviction is far too common, on the rise and incredibly destructive for families and the community. Experienc ...
1 Feb 2023 - Mary King
OPINION | I believe in a future utilizing vacant spaces downtown “ Want to hear a joke?” Melissa hollered to me across the street. “Sure,” I hollered back. The light changed, and she began to cross the street, leaning on a walker that was heavy with belon ...
25 Jan 2023 - Kaia Sand
OPINION | Responsibilties of the state in addressing the homelessness crisis Steel your gaze on the state. Gov. Tina Kotek signaled she is prioritizing housing and homelessness by issuing three executive orders on her first day in office, Jan 10. Kaia San ...
18 Jan 2023 - Kaia Sand
The state's lowest earners struggle to afford housing, deep wealth inequality persists When then-Portland Mayor Charlie Hales declared a housing state of emergency in 2015, many knew the housing crisis had been brewing for decades. The evidence was v ...
17 Jan 2023 - Tyler Mac Innis
OPINION | A tour through local government responsibility regarding homelessness. Who’s responsible for addressing homelessness locally? If you are confused, I commiserate. It takes a lot of tracking. Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. Th ...
11 Jan 2023 - Kaia Sand