With the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) nonprofit organization emblazoning the side of a downtown Portland building with Alicia Silverstone’s naked tush exclaiming the hazards of wearing wool, we decided it was time to investigate one of the popular elements of Stumptown – why is Portland so liberal?
The smoke hasn’t cleared and the Eagle Creek fire rages on, but as more details come out about the 15-year-old Vancouver boy suspected to have started the Eagle Creek Fire by throwing smoke bombs, we wonder – what is an appropriate punishment for destruction of this scale?
Now that investigators have identified fireworks as the cause of the raging forest fire igniting 4,800 10,000 30,929 33,000 35,000 41,000+ acres (nearly 65 square miles) of beautiful Oregon and Washington forest and making its way across both states, we have to ask – why do we still allow personal consumers to buy and use fireworks?
Portlanders generally understand the basic concept of Labor Day – it’s a public holiday celebrating those of us who have to work or labor throughout the year. However, if that’s the case, why do so many retail stores hold sales requiring minimum-wage workers to work the holiday?
Given the amount of rain Portland sees each year (average rainfall is 36.69 inches), you’d be forgiven in thinking that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) would have a plan in place for when more solid stuff falls from the skies (think: snow).
For years, ODOT refused to use salt to clear roads in any circumstance, pointing to potential damage to the environment as the reason to avoid putting down the slippery-reducing substance (despite the environmental damage inevitably caused from dozens of car accidents leaking oil, transmission fluid, gasoline, and a number of other chemicals).
The catastrophes resulting from little to no snow removal have nearly made Portland a national punchline for its residents’ inability to handle the winter weather. Just check out this YouTube video made of some of the insane driving from the Great Snowstorm of 2007.
Well, that’s now changed. Sort of.
Bicyclists are legally required to come to a complete stop at stop signs. Skateboarders are not permitted outside of skate parks within Portland’s city limits. Oregon drivers are not allowed to use their cellphones while driving. Laws that aren’t enforced aren’t laws, they’re just suggestions.