06.12.13 Your Premium Buzz

Dwyane Wade Wore a Jacket Made Entirely of Jams Shorts

Knope of the Week

Jessica Williams, Mac’s List Editor and Mac Prichard, Mac’s List Founder

Newest Members

Judith Mowry, City of Portland, Office of Equity and Human Rights, Policy Analyst

Nicholas Kobel, Portland State University, Graduate Research Assistant

Next Forums

June 12 – Lunch and Learn with Center for Priority Based Budgeting

June 20 – ELGL Willamette Valley Presents Community Rhythms

June 20 – Lake Oswego Police Chief Johnson; Clackamas County Undersheriff Kirby; and Milwaukie Police Chief Jordan

June 28 – Happy New (Fiscal) Year Event – Remember to RSVP

High 5

1. How the Arts and Cultural Tourism Spur Economic Development – It’s the question that all local officials ask themselves: How can we attract and retain profitable businesses and talented people? A key component of such efforts — and one that’s often mislabeled an “amenity” —is arts and culture.

2. Gentrification of the Strip Mall – These declining suburban outposts are hotbeds for immigrant entrepreneurs. How should we protect those businesses as strip malls evolve?

3. Cruising Through Town He Put on the Map – George Lucas went back home to Modesto, Calif., the town he made famous in the movie “American Graffiti,” to serve as the grand marshal of a classic-car parade.

4. Five Historic Preservation Projects Benefiting Main Street – While historic preservation is about preserving our cultural heritage, it can also help create jobs and revitalize communities. The National Trust for Historical Preservation recognizes the efforts of private citizens and local governments that revitalize their commercial districts through preservation with the Great American Main Street Awards. Below are some past winners of this prestigious award and the stories of their success.

5. The Best (And Worst) Cities for Newspapers – Pittsburgh Tops Highest Readership; Atlanta Takes Honor for Lowest

I’m Just a Bill

Legislators don’t want to come between lobbyists – This session of the Oregon Legislature, while insisting on its intention to be public and open about details like the budget and school funding, seems to be moving swiftly to conceal something that Oregonians — especially Salemites — might really want to know.

Bloomberg Asks Donors to Shut Wallets Over Gun Votes – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York will urge major donors not to aid four Democratic senators who helped block a bill on background checks.

Protests in North Carolina Challenge Conservative Shift in State Politics – The Moral Mondays rallies at the state Capitol, led by a coalition assembled by the N.A.A.C.P., have raised a voice against the loss of the state’s centrist leadership.

Liquor surcharge would increase cost of drinking in Oregon, boost state budget – Oregon liquor authorities will have to choose sides when they vote Wednesday morning on whether to add a 25-cent-a-bottle surcharge to the price of spirits.

Boehner grasps for middle on farm bill – Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) faces a divided conference and some of the trickiest legislative waters he’s had to navigate since the fiscal-cliff fight in trying to manage a farm bill fight in the House.

Vaccines, toxics and a Nike deal for any business: Oregon Legislature today – When Gov. John Kitzhaber called the Legislature into special session last year to pass a bill allowing Nike to lock in its method of corporate tax collection, Republican lawmakers said the bill ought to allow any business to seek the same deal.

Editorial: Bill for failing counties just a stopgap – The legislative proposal that finally starts to spell out how the state should respond in the (increasingly likely) event that an Oregon county financially fails isn’t much better than a stopgap.

Fiscal Cliff

C-Tran employs a consultant for BRT, raises fares – Bus rapid transit’s status in state law not certain; could affect need for vote

Clark County waives fees; jobs may develop – Consider the floodgates open. In another political victory for Clark County Commissioner David Madore, his plan to eliminate all traffic impact and permit fees for nonresidential development was approved Tuesday by a 2-1 vote of commissioners.

Inside Portlandia

Oregon City sees no easy route to fixing clogged highway intersections – As the city prepares to update its transportation system plan, which prioritizes the city’s long-range needs for roads and related projects, three key highway intersections may left off the list simply because they’re too expensive and the city has no way to pay for them.

City Launches Investigation into Artharee’s Behavior Towards Commissioner Smith – Mayoral Spokesman Dana Haynes this afternoon announced the City of Portland will launch an investigation into the events of last Thursday evening when Mayor Charlie Hale’s public safety advisor, Baruti Arhtaree, made what he has termed “inappropriate” commentsabout County Commissioner Loretta Smith.

Cost estimates, draft reports presented as Southwest Corridor conversation continues – A high capacity transit corridor in the southwest Portland region should extend from Portland to Tigard and Tualatin, regional planners recommended Monday, setting up a decision for policymakers next month

Clackamas Town Center: Six Months Later – Clackamas County mental health workers have continued to care for victims and others traumatized by the shootings. Martha Spires, who manages safety net programs for county Behavioral Services. She observed a spike in requests for help on crisis lines and at a walk-in clinic in the weeks after the shooting – as many as ten a day at one point. And, she says, when it’s in the news, she hears from people again.

Tigard exploring overnight parking restriction, code change after Walmart complaints – Residents asked Tigard officials to consider regulations on big-box retailers, with Walmart in mind, at an April 30 town hall. City attorneys, in a memo dated May 28, warned Tigard against laws targeting specific retailers.

Trifecta of trouble: Portland Mayor Charlie Hales deals with mounting criticism in roughest week yet – Well, Hales is now getting more than he bargained for as criticism grows this week over a trifecta of trouble: Hales’ lack of transparency in the investigation of top administrator Jack Graham, his belated action over inappropriate comments made by top aide Baruti Artharee and his inattention to the city’s anti-terrorism agreement with federal law enforcement.

Outside Portlandia

Richmond may turn street into “bicycle boulevard” – Bicycles would become the best way to ride more than 2 miles though Richmond’s Fan District and Museum District neighborhoods under a proposal to create the Floyd Avenue Bicycle Boulevard.

A cheeky problem: N.J. town to restrict baggy pants – But the provision that has gained widespread attention is a prohibition on pants that sag more than 3 inches below the hips, exposing either skin or underwear. Troiano said Wildwood has been inundated with complaints from tourists upon whose money the popular beach town depends for its survival.

Washougal clarifies code on barking dogs – The managers of a no-kill animal shelter in Washougal received clarity Monday on the city’s stance on where barking dogs are allowed.

Lakewood rejects TV show ‘Cops’ to avoid negative light – The city of Lakewood has rejected a request by producers of the “Cops” television show to again film police officers on the job in the community for the show’s 26th season, which begins airing in September.

Career Center

Is Work Killing You? Five Ways to Lower Your Stress – Do you bounce out of bed every morning bubbling with enthusiasm about going to work? Or do you groan your way to the office?

WHY DO WE THINK WE DON’T SLEEP ENOUGH? IF RECENT STUDIES ARE TO BE BELIEVED, MOST OF US GET MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS EVERY NIGHT. SO WHY DO WE THINK OTHERWISE? MAJOR FACTORS INCLUDE OUR PERCEPTIONS OF OURSELVES AND TIME–AND HOW WE SPEND IT.

The Future of Job Interviews – With HireVue on-demand interviews, Mark Newman helps more applicants make a personal impression, and employers “meet” far more candidates.

Social Network

Facebook is getting old – Here’s a question I’ve been pondering lately, and I don’t think I’m alone: When will my personal journey with Facebook come to an end?

Why Twitter Disclaimers Like ‘Views Are My Own’ Won’t Save Your Job – It didn’t take long for visiting New York University professor Geoffrey Miller to start damage control last week after he told “obese PhD applicants” they wouldn’t have the will power to finish dissertations if they “didn’t have the willpower to stop eating carbs.”

Is Twubs the Next Big Twitter Chat Management Tool? Twubs, the 5-year-old hashtag platform that aggregates tweets, pics and videos into a branded page, has debuted a free, Twitter API-compliant chat tool.

Governments Search for Google Data – Google publishes a biannual “transparency report” that breaking down the number of requests it receives for user data. This interactive shows requests by foreign government agencies for information about user data, primarily relating to criminal matters.

The 8 most annoying social media personalities – However, some people intentionally or unintentionally abuse social media, inflicting negativity, anxiety, and unhappiness on others.

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