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No-cause tenant evictions
You have to read through a lot of this article to get to the truth about Shanaquewa Finney's eviction ["Kicked Out of Town," WW, May 25, 2016]. The house has mold problems that she herself reported and wanted fixed.
Well, guess what? You don't come in and spray Mr. Clean to remediate mold. Areas with mold will have to be stripped down to the studs and treated. You cannot live in the house during remediation.
Now it would be nice if the landlord and tenant worked out the issue so she could move back in afterward. I would also like to see some repayment of rent for ignoring the mold issue in the first place. But that's in a perfect world.
—"Velma"
This is an almost impossible problem, because you cannot write a law that protects good tenants from no-cause evictions but also allows landlords to deal with problem tenants who impact the property and everyone living around them.
"For cause" evictions are extremely expensive and time-consuming, and then you run the risk of the problem tenant trashing the place while the case is resolved. If the damages are beyond what the security deposit covers, good luck collecting once they are out.
More housing is needed, and ideally housing to provide for low-income folks.
—"FlavioSuave"
The whole dynamic of renting is complicated. It really boils down to mutual respect and accepting responsibility by both the landlord and tenant.
Those two things seem to be sorely lacking in today's climate of acceptable greed.
—"II-jm"
Police chief's shooting case
The fact that we're still debating what, if any, action Larry O'Dea should face (though Mayor Charlie Hales did finally put him on paid leave) for drinking, shooting his friend, and then lying both to Hales (at first) and investigators about what happened just boggles the mind ["Hunting for Cover," WW, May 25, 2016].
The amount of power the city has abdicated to the Portland Police Bureau is mind-blowing.
—"sparrow/sharrow"
Taking potshots at ground squirrels and prairie dogs, or any species, is not "hunting," it's wildlife serial killing. That should be as big a story as the human victim (who lived).
—Mick Fidel
Recreational pot in oregon
The over-regulation of marijuana is giving a huge advantage to big, out-of-state investors at the expense of small, local businesses and family farms ["Green Forecast," WW, May 25, 2016].
Oregon could be missing an opportunity to make sure that the emerging and booming cannabis industry spreads the wealth fairly. Over-regulation strongly favors indoor production over sun-grown outdoor production, and this will be a disaster for the environment.
—"rancher"
In the land of furries
Some people have too much time on their hands ["Species Dysphoria Blues," WW, May 25, 2016]. Or lobster claws, or whatever.
—Mary Listonn
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Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210.
Email: mzusman@wweek.com.
Willamette Week