In YOUR opinion, what are the top 3 political issues going on in Portland/Oregon

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by davemess10

There was poverty in SE before the gentrification happened. Outer SE has always been more of a blue-collar and minority area, without huge incomes.

I would tend to agree with Cactus more. I mean, "Felony Flats" (where I actually live) is not nearly as bad as it was even 10 years ago (or so I'm told).
So I don't know if the SE is really getting poorer.

One of the papers had a huge article about how the average wages are dropping in SE Portland over all. That was about six or seven months ago, but I wasn't able to find the article when I searched for it the other day.

The article was in connection with the number of increased police calls compared to other parts of the cities.

I do agree, there was poverty in SE before gentrification, and most likely always will be. I don't think crime is really getting worse in that area, at least outside of property crime and theft. But services such as good schools and easy access to basic food supplies is a definite concern for residents in SE more then it was a decade ago.

[SETabor]

The SE overall may be getting poorer but it's hard to compare a relatively small quadrant like N or NW Portland with a larger, more sprawling quadrant like SE. It seems like the poverty in Portland keeps shifting east and somewhat south. Geography kind of limits the other options.

When I first moved here, Lents and 82nd were areas to actively avoid. They may not be ideal now but the areas have shifted to 122nd and Hazelwood.

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by hamellr

But services such as good schools and easy access to basic food supplies is a definite concern for residents in SE more then it was a decade ago.

We were somewhat surprised at the differences between the Fred Meyer on 82nd and Foster vs. the one we used to go to at Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy and Scholl's Ferry. We figured since it was the same chain they offered the same things. Wrong. THere is a much smaller produce section, and much less on the natural/organic food aisle. We have pretty much been reduced to shopping in 3 rows of the store. Granted there is a bigger, more selection Fred Meyers just a few miles down the road in Clackamas. And we are within 2-3 miles of 2 different trader Joe's.
At least for us the food access isn't too bad, the we wished there was a closer New Seasons (closest is Sellwood).

[SETabor]

What surprised me the most about Fred Meyer is the price disparity between stores. I was shopping for something for a recipe and saw it at a Fred Meyer in Beaverton for say $0.89. I thought we might have it. Turns out we didn't so I went to the Fred Meyer on Hawthorne and the same thing was $0.99. Not a huge individual difference but that could add up for a whole bag of groceries.

[khyron]

Originally Posted by SETabor

What surprised me the most about Fred Meyer is the price disparity between stores. I was shopping for something for a recipe and saw it at a Fred Meyer in Beaverton for say $0.89. I thought we might have it. Turns out we didn't so I went to the Fred Meyer on Hawthorne and the same thing was $0.99. Not a huge individual difference but that could add up for a whole bag of groceries.

FWIW, this has been true of every chain of grocery stores in every city I've ever lived in (across several widely varying regions of the U.S.). I really don't think it's uncommon...it's just an expression of supply and demand in different neighborhoods. Items command different prices among different people. In some food stores, you will even find the exact same product in two parts of the store with different UPC codes on it (and one might be much more expensive than the other). It definitely pays to keep your eyes peeled.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by davemess10

We were somewhat surprised at the differences between the Fred Meyer on 82nd and Foster vs. the one we used to go to at Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy and Scholl's Ferry. We figured since it was the same chain they offered the same things. Wrong. THere is a much smaller produce section, and much less on the natural/organic food aisle. We have pretty much been reduced to shopping in 3 rows of the store. Granted there is a bigger, more selection Fred Meyers just a few miles down the road in Clackamas. And we are within 2-3 miles of 2 different trader Joe's.
At least for us the food access isn't too bad, the we wished there was a closer New Seasons (closest is Sellwood).

Now imagine going shopping and having to take all your groceries home via bus or bike.

[khyron]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Now imagine going shopping and having to take all your groceries home via bus or bike.

I grocery shop almost exclusively using the streetcar and MAX, it works out pretty well as I like fresh things and would need to shop a couple times a week anyway so I tend to carry smaller loads each time. I can hit two different Safeway stores, a Fred Meyer, a Trader Joe and a Whole Foods as well as two different days of the Farmer's Market all by free rail (well free for now anyway, see my earlier post about current transit politics).

I break out my car about once a month just to keep it lubed and clean off the plugs, etc. and then I tend to make larger runs, including places a bit out of the way for me like WINCO (amazing bulk food section) where I'll grab more stuff at once.