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Normally, when
puts out its picks for an upcoming election, being the liberally minded Portland resident I am, I generally get confirmation that I am doing the right thing. But I have to say that the
picks for the PPS School Board STUNK [Grow Up and Vote!," May 7, 2003]!! Specifically, the picks for Zone 1 and Zone 7 were WAY OUT OF TOUCH! In Zone 1, Douglas Morgan has the passion, the sensibility and the experience that will lead the school board to more cooperative and strategic relationships. What appears to confuse
is his manner, which is quietly straightforward; you obviously miss this as his brilliance. For Zone 7, your pick was also completely whacked: Dilafruz Williams is a far better prepared candidate than
gives her credit. She has led Portland schools toward success over and over again through her commitment to civic education, experiential education and quality teaching. Her ability to cooperate and be a team player is unparalleled. Next time
endorses candidates, I would hope that it does more than just give a cursory look at candidates as politicians and attempt at least to provide some meaningful information or at least, God willing, education.
Margaret Banyan
North Farragut Street
KEEP ON JAMMIN
I want to express gratitude to WW for the continuing coverage of the egregious conduct of Jammin Radio 95.5 regarding the station's deliberate mocking and ridicule of people with developmental disabilities in our community [Rogue of the Week, April 30, 2003]. The agency for which I work, the Arc of Multnomah County, and I are profoundly concerned and saddened that this station offers programs and activities that ridicule people we care about, advocate and assist. I do not listen to the station in question (nor would I purchase the products they endorse), and I admittedly do not know how much of this is going on, but we were indeed contacted when the events occurred. We strongly support the various advocates for their efforts to call out this station and their unfortunate attempts at a version of "humor" that is not in fact humorous and instead seems to exemplify a lack of basic human concern.
I really feel it is essential to acknowledge that the debasement of people who are vulnerable is so prevalent in our culture at this time. The Arcs throughout this country, and here in the Portland metro area, for years have promoted a positive vision of the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of society. Over the last several years, there has been a discernible reduction in our sensibilities about how people with disabilities should be considered, treated and assisted. Even social institutions, like state legislative bodies, for example, have contributed to the debasement of people with disabilities by their collective (and perhaps individual) lack of understanding and consideration of people for whom support and encouragement are always needed. We need to do better.
In my work at the Arc of Multnomah County, I have gotten to really know many people with developmental disabilities, and I can attest to their abilities and basic dignity--they are indeed good people. Thank you, WW, for doing the right thing.
Bill West, Case Coordinator
Arc of Multnomah County
Southwest 11th Avenue
BROADBANNED
On Tuesday [May 6], The New York Times had an article on how South Korea had more users of broadband Internet service than the U.S. per capita, with the average cost $22.50 in South Korea vs. $52.95 in Portland.
On Wednesday [May 7], Willamette Week very rightly named Comcast Rogue of the Week for using their monopoly grip on broadband Internet service in Portland to jack up the rates for customers that don't also get cable TV. Like David Hohnstein, I also live in Southeast Portland, where Qwest has only offered DSL in select areas rather than the entire area. Three years ago, Qwest sent me a letter saying DSL was available in my area and to call and see if it was available for my phone number. Because I live just off of Powell, it is to this day still not available, though friends 15 blocks away have had it available for years because they live just south of Hawthorne Boulevard. Clearly, if you don't live in a "trendy" area, Qwest has no interest in offering you DSL, though they are more than willing to interrupt your evening meal trying to offer you call waiting, etc., no matter how many times you ask them not to call again.
Unlike David Hohnstein, I switched back to a dial-up service, SpiritOne, rather than accept this monopolistic grip on the broadband market. At less than 40 percent of the cost of Comcast, the speeds at primetime, the early-evening hours, weren't that much different unless you are downloading big files. And as an added bonus, rather than having to work through a menu to get to a real voice, I was able to speak to a human on two rings with SpiritOne, a small local Internet provider that actually delivers the "service" in Internet service provider. And with a busy phone line, no telemarketers!
And finally the icing on the cake was an article in The Oregonian on Thursday, where Comcast vowed to "win back the customers they had lost last year" while they lose more like me this year as Comcast uses its stranglehold to get customers to pay for Comcast's acquisition of AT&T Broadband.
I nominate for "Rogue of the Year" all local monopolies including Comcast, Qwest and Portland General Electric as they have grown so abusive with their unlimited power that they no longer serve customers but rather exploit them.
Andy Reid
Southeast 39th Avenue
WWeek 2015