Willamette Week | News| Urban Pulse

EAST SIDE STORY
Why does the Eastside MAX have four stops in the half mile between the Rose Quarter and Lloyd Center--slowing it way, way down--and then no stops between Lloyd Center and 42nd Avenue? Why not a stop around 28th Avenue (like about where I live)?

--Gil Johnson

LANDLORDS WITHOUT TAPE MEASURES
How 'bout some control over how landlords advertise? I've looked at almost 30 apartments here, and not one landlord had correctly listed the square footage of the living space. Not one. The percentage error was on the average 25 percent. That's out of line. Additionally, what gives them the right to charge a non-refundable cleaning deposit, sometimes upwards of $350? That's bullshit. I always have to clean my own apartment when moving in, not to mention paint it! If there weren't so many people moving here...

--John Stines

SWINGERS
People that sit around, moaning about how they liked swing music before it was cool. Please, please shut up! I suppose you had that ankle tattoo and the nose ring before they got overexposed too, right?

--Z. Pedersen

RADIO RAG
For a city that prides itself on being eclectic and having a groundswell of local music, Portland's airwaves suck. And that includes on-air talent.

--Scott Salzwedel

THE IDIOT BOX
All three of the "major" Portland television stations drive me crazy with:

1. Commercials for the station/helicopter/station-sponsored charities/anchors during what passes for the "local news." During the holidays, I think KGW spent more time promoting their toy drive than reporting the news.

2. Constant, maddening references to their damn choppers: Every time I hear "And now from Jet Ranger II," I just wanna fro' up.

3. Incorrect spelling on their graphics accompanying news programs. I've seen the upcoming century spelled "Millennium" and "Millenium" on the same station during the same broadcast.

4. Silly chat, especially about the weather: "Well, Jim, when's the rain gonna end?" accompanied by chuckles and grins.

Other than that, I have no gripes...about Portland television.

Except perhaps for the OPB fund-raising gigs.

Urp! Excuse me--just another fur ball.

--Diane Johnesse

THE PORTLAND GIRL
I am so sick of having to deal with these faux-bitter 20-year-old "I'm a pagan lesbian who's rebelling against the injustices put upon me by society" type of people. I mean, come on! You cannot possibly be that bitter at 20 years old (or even 30 for that matter) without a great deal of it being self-imposed. Oh, I know it's "tragically hip" to be a "he-woman manhater," but really, "wymin," do you not realize how you look to everyone else?

And one other thing: Portland is the only city I have been to where I have held the door for a lady, only to have her turn around with a smug look on her face and tell me, "I'm not going to say thank you!"

--Dave Runner

Your "Kvetchfest" list missed one important point--single women. The pool of single women is limited to unbathed vegans in natural-fiber clothing resentful of anyone with a profession (who are therefore cogs in the wheel of the current oppressive system) and uneducated, twice-divorced minimum-wage workers without any goals for the future. If the authors of the article can find an unattached woman with a college degree, direction in her life and a healthy, positive attitude, I would appreciate an introduction.

P.S. My friends have verified that I do not fit any of the attributes of the single men described in the article.

--Matt Greenberger

EDITOR'S NOTE:
We asked for it. You delivered. We've received more than 100 responses to our call for your pet peeves ("Kvetchfest," WW, Jan. 20, 1999). What did we learn?

1. The battle between motorists and cyclists in this city is surpassed only by the war between the sexes and the tension between natives and newcomers.
2. People don't like "newscopters."
3. Despite all the groaning, this is still a great city.

To everyone who sent in their personal peeves, we say thanks. For those of you who didn't see your complaint in print, take heart. We read them all, and if we ever do this again, we'll keep your kvetches in mind.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Willamette Week | originally published February 10, 1999