Author: Douglas Tsoi

Join the Reparations Underground Market

Two years ago, after George Floyd’s murder, I felt angry and helpless about the continuing racist society we live in. I educated myself, marched, and vowed to make a difference. However, I felt there weren’t concrete, practical ways to integrate racial justice into my daily life. That’s why I created the new Reparations Underground Market (www.rumpdx.com).

The Reparations Underground Market (RUMpdx) is a Craigslist-style website for services, but instead of money being exchanged, it all goes to reparations. In each transaction, the Vendor chooses from eight different direct aid choices where half the money goes, and the Buyer chooses where the other half goes. Vendors volunteer their time and professional expertise – things like writing, editing, handyman services, and financial coaching. Buyers purchase what they normally need, but know all their spending goes to reparations. 

If you want to integrate racial justice into your daily life too, offer your professional expertise and skills on RUMpdx.com or buy something you already need on the Market. Either way, you are diverting some of your consumption towards justice. 

We can emerge from crises, pandemic and George Floyd, either better or worse than before. It is up to us to choose. We didn’t create the world we live in, but unless we actively do something, we will perpetuate it for our children. A more just and equitable world we want in our hearts is possible. 

If you have questions about RUMpdx, email [email protected].

The Leroy Blocks

Leroy Sly Scott, who passed away two years ago in May, now lives forever as part of our neighborhood. You may have known Leroy as a charismatic fellow who told a joke or sang a song from his stoop behind the Belmont Market. For years Leroy would sleep on (or nearby) his daytime throne on 34th Street before he got housing for what turned out to be his final year on Earth after 34 years of living outside. This stoop continues to be a place of gathering of all sorts of neighbors in Sunnyside. Now as you sip your coffee from Stumptown or walk your dog down to the playground, there is an image of Leroy there to greet you and to remind you that “All around the world, people are singing the same song.”  (A shortened version of this was Leroy’s favorite expression, inspired by the Digital Underground song.)  

The Portland Street Art Alliance and a group of local artists and community members came together last December to create a mural to honor Leroy. Thanks to artists Kyra Watkins, Caleb Ruecker, Sarah Farahat and Tammy MacKinnon who together designed and painted the mural, and to Tony Booone, a community member and Street Roots vendor who helped out. 

In the coming months visages of some of Leroy’s friends and community will be painted above the Tao of Tea and “The Leroy Blocks” will be complete. If you would like to contribute to this entirely community-generated and community-supported art, please do so here: https://leroymural.causevox.com. A big thank you to the Portland Street Art Alliance for their dedication, care, and skill in beautifying our neighborhood with the history of its neighbors. 

Three Words: Know Your Neighbors

Best practices (always) for emergency preparedness in three words are … know your neighbors.

Here are two stories to illustrate this:

1) A few weeks ago, about 3,000 homes around me lost their power for more than an hour. This is not unusual for our block, so we were prepared. We calmly got out our flashlights and placed them in strategic places on the three floors of our home. My husband got out our Coleman lantern, noticed that we had no more mantles so he went over to Freddy’s and replenished our supply. Done.

I texted a few neighbors (texting is the best way during a power outage) and asked them about their power. I could see across SE Yamhill that my neighbors still had power and knew we could tap into their power (we did this once before when the power was out for about 25 hours) to keep our refrigerator running and power up our cell phones and computers. I could do all these things because I have phone numbers for most of my neighbors and we know each other well.

2) I chatted recently with a friend who lives in Ladd’s Addition. She told me about a new neighbor, whose name she didn’t know, who had recently moved across the street. These new neighbors had gone away for a few days and contracted with a pet service to take care of their dog. The only way she and some of her neighbors knew about any of this was when some other neighbors heard a dog howling inside the new neighbor’s house and wondered what was going on. So, someone knew someone, etc until eventually the issue was resolved. But it took awhile. So, imagine if these new neighbors knew their neighbors and were able to share contact info in the event that something like this might happen. It would have saved a lot of time and energy.

3) What is your KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR’S story?

Want to share a story or need some help getting prepared? Email me at [email protected]. I am always happy to meet my Sunnyside neighbors.

Sunnyside Neighborhood Community Cares (SNACC) Committee Updates

In our March meeting the SNACC Committee discussed the Sunnyside Shower Project (SSP) Needs Assessment which was conducted to shine a light on barriers to the service, unmet needs, core strengths, as well as finding paths to move the project forward. We learned that time stood as a barrier for SSP guests with seven requesting more available days and times to shower, three mentioning the difficulty of scheduling appointments, two asking for everyday availability, and many admitting that a time limit of more than the current 30 minutes would be more welcome. Many strengths were accounted for by all participants, including 12 who declared the SSP as their sole support in maintaining their hygiene and personal care needs. Findings are available online HERE. We will be sharing a full report with the community soon, as well as discussing next steps for implementing changes based on these findings.

We also discussed additional projects that the SNACC Committee might consider taking on to provide further aid to the houseless community, such as administrative and paperwork assistance. We plan to continue this conversation in our next meeting on Thursday, April 21st from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at The Formation Lab (838 SE 37th St.). We hope you’ll join us.

Act Now for Climate Emergency on April 6th

Two years ago, the Portland City Council declared a climate emergency, but has little concrete to show yet in terms of either actual reductions or policies to reduce carbon emissions. Extinction Rebellion PDX and others will hold an action in the late afternoon of April 6th to demand that the City enact a plan for annual concrete steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5-10% annually given the dire nature of the most recent International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.  

This action will take place in conjunction with the global Scientists’ Rebellion. We are calling on local scientists to both join us and speak out, so please help us spread the word! This action will involve scientists and climate activists outside both Portland City Hall and the Portland Business Alliance office with a short march in between the two buildings. We will be stressing that the City needs to take stronger substantive actions and that the Portland Business Alliance needs to stop blocking City efforts to reduce emissions and stop attacking the Portland Clean Energy Fund, the Portland Clean Air Protection Program, and other climate initiatives. This action on April 6th is in conjunction with organizing testimony to the City on their budget priorities for the next two years in terms of climate resiliency and emissions reductions. If you are interested in joining, helping or learning more, please email info@xrpdx.