Stats
Comments Posted By Lizzy Caston
Displaying 1 To 30 Of 42 Comments
Made in Oregon sign – a compromise? Really?
“I wonder if those involved at that level really feel like they accomplished something these past two months”
Yeah, I have to wonder that as well. More so for our City Council. I mean, here we are facing an $8.8 million dollar budget shortage in the City with critical services like police, fire, low income housing, school and mental health funding and you name it on the chopping block and Council spends how much energy and time (which also equals public money) on A FRIGGIN SIGN?
I find it disgusting. Council has had plenty of opportunities to deal with signage issues, including this particular sign over the years.
You know, the sign issue could have been dealt with, no scratch that, should have been dealt with by the city in initial development negotiations and DDA (Development agreement) with U of O when then were doing their deal for their new Old Town location. Signage should also be part of the City’s overall comprehensive planning, design and zoning codes, especially in the Central City and Downtown Plan updates which are now 6 or 7 years behind schedule BY THE WAY. Oh, except with a 40% recent cut to the Planning Bureau, I guess Portland no longer does comprehensive planning. Which is kind of sad for a City internationally known for its past planning efforts and I fear we are going to see all kinds of future cluster-f’s like the signage issue because of it.
Really, U of O might have dug in their heels, but it was the City of Portland that screwed this one up a long time ago. U of O was doing what any brand would do and just following what the previous owner of the sign (Made in Oregon who changed it from White Stag) did too.
The City screwed this one up, they were right to compromise.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On April 8, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
The start of a journey. OBAMA!
ThanKs so much for documenting this and for representing Portland!
Can’t wait to read more!
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 17, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
I used to love estate sales, yard sales, garage sales, thrift stores and the like and would buy stuff like you described (and then some). Then I realized I had a HOARDING problem. Really. 18+ trips to Goodwill later I finally have a wonderfully organized, spacious and clutter free home.
I’m keeping it that way.
But, hey, good for you.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 11, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Walmart and Home Depot are flooding I5 at Chehalis
Yeah, that area of Washington State isn’t exactly known for their progressive land use planning and development. Pretty typical actually and it goes something like this: Former agriculture area gets rezoned by City Council under pressure of big box retailers/developers/land owners who cite JOBS! TAX REVENUE! GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY! Developer insists on waivers to existing flood and other land use conditions. City builds roads and other infrastructure to support big boxes based on permitting fees and sometimes for free with the idea that they are making a good investment for future growth and businesses. City Council also bows to pressure to waive certain requirements with regards to land use restrictions. Then we end up with a bunch of roads and big box developments in areas that are prone to flooding. Wonder how much this will end up costing the City, the State and Feds? LOTS.
Stupid and irresponsible.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 9, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Catch someone lighting up in a bar? Dial 1-800-I’m-a-Snitch.
I rate this one up there with calling the City on my neighbors that park their cars backwards on the wrong side of the street, those pesky kids making out in their cars in the park after hours, someone that might cheat a little bit on their taxes, or someone that didn’t pay their fare on Trimet.
I guess I’m not enough of a curmudgeon to snitch on the smokers or bars that allow smokers. However, if there is a large monetary reward involved then that’s another matter entirely.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 4, 2009 @ 12:54 am
Photos of Flooding in Oregon City
I feel bad for any family that has to suffer through a flood, but A NEW HOUSE BUILT IN A FLOODPLAIN post Veronia Flood and Katrina? That’s just idiotic.
I think it works like this with building in floodplains. Certain jurisdictions haven’t changed their zoning, nor have they updated their floodplain maps. I also think there are many, many “grandfather clauses” built in for people that already owned land before the land was converted to floodplain status.
Still, getting insurance and financing on these is a different story and well, building in one knowingly is just, duh.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 2, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Oregon Governor Requires New Gas Metering Device for All Portland Residents
Honestly, I wouldn’t put this past our Oregon govt. They do some goofy stuff.
Really terrific post!
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On January 1, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
Last Chance to Smoke like a Chimney: Three Days to the Oregon Smoking Ban
Any State that is relying so much on lottery money and video poker at bars for basic general funds rather than dealing with their imbalanced tax structure needs to get their sh*t together. That’s no way to run government. Yeah, I’m talking about Oregon.
As far as the smoking ban. Well, I was in Spain when they implemented the restaurant/cafe smoking ban and in France when they did the same. There was a lot of hemming and hawing and meek protests and uproar that it would shut businesses down, etc etc, but a after many months people just adapted. The cafes (which really function like bars in France anyway) were PACKED the last time I was in Paris and the smokers were just hanging outside. Califonia, Canada and a whole bunch of other places seem to be doing just fine with a ban.
Although I really don’t feel passionate about the ban one way or another, I certainly won’t miss coming home from a night of imbibing smelling like an ashtray.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 28, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
I’m with both of you on this one. Where the hell was Potter? Why, in a city known for it’s planning isn’t there a clearly communicated snow plan in place BEFORE it snows and an implemented one during and afterwards?
Like I’ve said, imagine if this was a real disaster or emergency. Whoa. Unless you have paranoid survivalist tendencies like I do and have lived through many snow blizzards, tornadoes, and tropical storms, I’d say most of Portland is in for a hell of a time.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 28, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
TriMet MAX Yellow line down for 3+ days
These are trying and unstable times on Tri-met due to weather and for the most part people are good, but they are getting tired and grumpy now (including drivers and I can honestly cut them a bit of slack here. I drove a lot yesterday and it sucks to be out there battling the roads and idiot drivers). I think it’s important to remember that no one experience on Tri-met right now is indicative of the whole situation. I’ve had nothing but terrific experiences this week on Tri-met, including taking the Yellow line, the shuttles, the blue line downtown and then the Red Line to the airport during snowpocalypse on the 21st and then again today. So go figure.
I think Portlanders are used to such terrific bus and train service that when the system is under duress, it seems like a really big deal. Given that Tri-met suddenly has a huge number of new and more frequent riders this week and the roads are still F*#ked up, their whole system has been in upheaval on routes with shuttles, with chains on buses, etc. I still feel they are doing a fantastic job. They have been especially good at communicating and keeping up to date info on Transit tracker and their website, and for me that goes a very long way in the respecto-meter.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 26, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Yeah, I know it is an annoyance and I know it feels like N. Portland gets the short shift, but I’m going to play devil’s advocate here.
Aaron brings up a good point. Basically, when doing this kind of city “emergency planning” work, Tri-met needs to look at the whole city and then weigh the issues/problems with where the most need is and where the most impact will be. The Red and Blue Lines serve a larger geography and more people, and have the critical aspect of serving PDX airport and downtown. I think they are wise to focus their limited resources on those lines.
I know it sucks, but there are several bus lines (and a shuttle) serving those areas.
I think Tri-met is doing a fantastic job given the circumstances, and I do give them an A++ for their communications (online, on the phone, on their automated 238-ride system and on tv).
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 24, 2008 @ 10:21 am
I’ve really come to the conclusion that this week as a terrific practice exercise in preparing for a real disaster. I, like I think most people in Portland, would fail miserably at the real deal. I’m now making it a New Year’s resolution to get prepared (emergency water, a generator, extra warm clothing and blankets, emergency food, following the Red Cross disaster plan list, etc).
Snow preparedness is a bit different than something like an earthquake or flood obviously, but I think it comes down to part luck, part experience, part mental preparedness and part actual and practical emergency preparedness.
BE PREPARED. That’s my new motto.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 23, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
yeah, I’ll miss La Bodega.
As for predictions regarding the Portland tech scene. I have no idea. We are in such a turbulent and uncertain national economy right now. It’s really hard to say. I guess my biggest prediction is a holding pattern for the next 6 months at least, with (and unfortunately) more casualties. After that? All bets are off.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 22, 2008 @ 6:40 am
“When you own and operate a site, weather (sic) or not you physically edit posts, you are the site’s publisher. As such you can’t drop that hat and post ‘like the rest of us’. Everything you post on the site has the full weight and authority of being the site’s publisher.”
Well, actually, that’s not true.
The above comment seems more a projection of what the above reader wants and perhaps views OurPDX to be, rather than what it is. Lack of editorial input by Betsy would be a decision on the part of the publisher/editorial board etc. In this case that would be Betsy. It’s her site, her playground, her rules. Neither decision is wrong or unethical in new media, especially in community blogging run by one person which I see this site as. This is especially true given the non-commercial nature of OurPDX.net. In journalism, the “wall” as it is referred to, between the publisher, marketing/ad departments and the writers is there to keep advertising from influencing content. Since this site has no advertising, the point is moot.
The decision would be whether OurPDX publisher/admin/editor (AKA Betsy) decides to take a more hands off/neutral stance or not – puts a policy in place and sticks to it. However, that’s not the approach Betsy or OurPDX has chosen. Once again, this decision is neither unethical nor against the new media/blogging grain. A good comparison would be The Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com) vs. New York Times, where Ariana Huffington weighs in daily with her opinions. Even blogs owned by professional media (such as the New Orleans Gambit Weekly http://www.blogofneworleans.com allow their publisher and editor to comment on posts). The issue really is transparency – stating who you are with real name, etc. when commenting, and Betsy is doing that. It is always assumed that when one is writing a blog comment it is their own opinion. If OurPDX.net wants to make this really clear, then in the “about us” section, simply add a caveat stating something like, “the opinions of the publisher and contributors in posts and comments is their own and not the opinion of OurPDX.net as a whole,” or some such thing.
The Knight Center for Digital Media http://www.knightdigitalmediacenter.org/, as well as Cyberjournalist.net and several other blogging/ethics oriented websites have guidelines and lots of discussion on this topic if you want to see the mass opinion of others in new media (both from community/non-profit websites, and professional/commercial sites). The reason I know about this discussion is that it has come up a few times in my professional work.
Regardless, in my professional opinion (having been working in journalism, communications, media and now new and social media since I was 16) is that Betsy certainly is in the clear to express her opinion here, and I personally welcome it.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 7, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
In France they have these robot street vacuum cleaner things that suck up the poop. I’m not kidding.
I personally think the Pearl condo owners should get together and create one giant dog poop compost hole where it gets turned into fertilizer. It could be located in a new “Poop Park”. It would be Portland’s first dog-friendly, sustainable poop place.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 5, 2008 @ 10:50 am
There is nothing more annoying than passive aggressive self proclaimed “compassionate” types with zero sense of humor who like to rip on others and project all kinds of their own idiotic
issues based on a simple blog post.Rats and mice are a health hazard.
Communities are made up of many smaller communities. OurPDX does not claim to represent Portland.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 3, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Well, believe it or not, Cascade Station is an example of transit oriented design. That is, you can take MAX out there from other parts of the city to stores that usually are limited only to auto traffic. You can also bike there. Ikea is a perfect example. It is one of the few Ikea’s in the US that one can easily get to using public transportation or by bicycle. And yeah, yeah, I’ve heard the jokes: “how am I supposed to carry my Malm bedroom set on the train.” Answer: Ikea delivers.
Not to say Cascade Station is perfect. It has a long tangled history with the City on why it is what it is. Specifically, when the area was originally planned it was going to be office and hotels. The office market bottomed out, the area remained vacant and so the City rezoned. Mostly to allow for Ikea, who wanted to come to the Portland area, but were looking at places like Hillsboro or Wilsonville. The Ikea was so desired by Portland for the jobs, taxes, etc. and because Ikea is, well, cool and an attractor to our whole idea of a “creative class” city. The other stores are meant as attractors and so the area just doesn’t stay empty. Personally, and this is coming from someone who is not much of a shopper, I like Cascade Station. It’s much easier than having to drive out to the ‘Tron when I need to do my big box shopping (and let’s all admit that we need to hit those kinds of places once in a while).
Also remember, the area is new. It is doing exactly what the City planned it to do – new hotels, an office complex, more shops are all being built- and it is still transit oriented by definition. And it’s a great place for people with a bunch of time on their hands at the airport.
Anyway, I hope that explains the area better. It is not suitable for housing, industrial is limited due to the freeways, airport and Columbia Slew and heights are limited. Given those challenges, I think this is the best use possible given the circumstances.
(Caveat, I worked on this project at PDC from 2004-2006).
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On December 1, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
Brother, can you spare a chalupa?
Gretchen, nice to see you writing here! Also, what a terrific idea!
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On November 21, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
BlogHer’s not coming to PDX in 2009
I think the lack of single hotel issue, should that be a major case for BlogHer saying no to PDX, is extremely shortsighted on their part. I mean, anyone with any clue about Portland would know there are dozens of available hotels within easy walk and MAX ride of the Convention Center. But I don’t think that is the issue.
1000 people at a convention is pretty small stuff, even for dinky PDX.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On November 11, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
OurPDX author/reader Meetup – Nov. 12
Should we reserve the big back table? That place is pretty small. It might be good to warn them we are coming?
Also, be careful! Those Mai-Tais are deadly.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On November 6, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
sorry Betsy,
My ballot is tucked away safely in Portland waiting for me when I return from New Orleans on November 01. Still, rather than mailing my ballot, I love walking to Pioneer Courthouse Square on election day and dropping it off in person. It makes me feel less paranoid that some whacked out postal clerk will “accidentally” lost it. Plus voting on election day is festive and filled with drama and surprises.
Which brings me to this question: How about an OURPDX election day party? I’ll help plan and coordinate if others are interested.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 25, 2008 @ 11:03 am
I don’t think there is a “line”. It’s nuanced, situational and life always happens in shades of gray.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 14, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Dieselboy nailed it. I think people have street solicitation burnout in Portland. It becomes especially true when one HAS said, “no thank you” and still continues to get pressured and harangued by the signature gatherers. Luckily for me I’m hearing impaired so I have a pretty good excuse for not acknowledging them. Most of the time I can’t hear them, but I do always try to be polite, but firm, about not engaging.
Also, as a public transit rider – people need to understand that riding the bus is not a Coffee Klatch nor is it a slight if people don’t want to engage or talk or even smile. I have to respect that. Sometimes I’m up for being chatty on the bus, other times I just want my 10 minutes of quiet time a day when I’m not mandated to talk to people through work, etc or alternately, I’m on deadline and I am working on my I-phone or writing work notes or something. That’s not being rude or unfriendly, just private and focused. Rudeness on the bus is not letting a disabled or elderly person sit down or not picking up your food wrappers.
Also, I’m sort of fed up with the notion that because I live in Portland or something people expect me to SMILE and be FRIENDLY all the time. Screw that. That’s fake. I’d rather just deal with the theater of humanity as it is – real and authentic. Polite, yes, always. But forced friendliness, even if I’m having a bad day or something? No way.
However, I do agree, people need to be more polite in public. Everywhere. Not just Portland. Trust me on this one.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 13, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
SLL: An Interview with Oregoniansteve
Looking forward to your posts and thanks for doing Strange Love Live
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 12, 2008 @ 11:12 am
ooh, I love Julia (she pronounces it Yoo-la). Nicest cart woman on a block of really nice cart women. Anyway, her borscht is very good. Also, try her Pelmini dumplngs – sort of like a steamed Russian potsticker with sour cream.
http://foodcartsportland.com/?cat=82
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 9, 2008 @ 8:11 am
Maybe it is some economic downturn, election freakout thing? Maybe IV drug use goes up as the economy goes down? God, how sad. And what about needle exchange? I thought that was like buying espresso in Portland – easy and everywhere.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 9, 2008 @ 8:15 am
Betsy, whew. Hysteria over. It’s just I’m having a little Portlanditis right now with regards to change. I love change, in fact my sofa is full of it. It just worries me when the unique character of Portland (such as neon signs and food carts) start to get “cleaned up” and replaced with new sterile stuff. You know…
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 4, 2008 @ 9:34 am
This is a BAD SIGN. Not the sign itself, but the removal of it. I smell URBAN RENEWAL all over the place which could be a code word for GENTRIFICATION or alternately put, the CLEANING UP OF CHINATOWN which means something entirely PC and BLAND and a vaguely middle class white interpretation of multiculturalism (like some dragon statues or Chinese Palm trees) will be put in its place.
Or maybe, just maybe, it is being repaired or something and will return. I swear to god if Chinatown gets Yuppified like the rest of inner Portland, I am moving. I’m sick of this shit.
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 3, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
The Band: Adopting the Right Look
This website should help you out: http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com/hall/index.php
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 3, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Get on with the construction already
«« Back To Stats PageComplain to the City! Nuisance complaint. They were pretty good at fining the ass off the owners of similar property on my block
» Posted By Lizzy Caston On October 2, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
