Think Out Loud

The number of vehicles impounded in the city of Eugene tripled from 2020 to 2022. Advocates for people experiencing homelessness say that cars, recreational vehicles, campers and other vehicles serving as makeshift homes make up a significant portion of what’s impounded. Many cannot afford to get their vehicles back and lose all their belongings and what little shelter they had, worsening their plight. Others may not have the title for their vehicle. Towing companies sometimes have to pay to get rid of the vehicles they’re stuck with, some of which contain hazardous materials that are expensive to dispose of. We talk with the Register Guard reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick who looked into these numbers and the broader policy implications.

In Eugene, homeless campers in city parks are being given just two hours notice to move. For many years, city workers gave campers at least 24 hours notice. But starting in 2021, the city created a new category of "non-established" campers, apparently to get around a law passed that year that required 72 hours be given to unhoused campers, according to reporting in the Eugene Weekly. The number of two hour eviction notices has risen drastically, and the city appears to have set a record for such notices in 2022. Now Eugene’s Human Rights Commission is questioning why the city council and mayor were not informed of this change and plans to hold public listening sessions on the matter. We talk with Alexis Weisend, who reported the story for the University of Oregon’s Catalyst Journalism Project and Eugene Weekly.

Three candidates are on the ballot this spring to fill the open seat on the Multnomah County Commission. The seat, which represents Southeast Portland, was vacated when Jessica Vega Peterson won election to Multnomah County Chair last fall. Ana del Rocío, former David Douglas School Board member; Albert Kaufman, board member for neighborhood association Southeast Uplift; and Julia Brim-Edwards, Portland Public School Board member will all join us for a debate in collaboration with Street Roots, Portland’s street newspaper. Ballots are due May 16th.

Across the country, 60 schools are offering a unique course that teaches students about African American history. McDaniel High School is just one of the many schools selected by the College Board to help pilot the new AP African American Studies course. The hope is that by 2025 high schools across the U.S. will have the option to offer this course and allow students to take the exam for college credit. Maurice Cowley is Oregon’s first and only educator currently teaching this course. He joins us to share what his students are learning and his hopes for the future.

Earlier this month, the Oregon School Activities Association unanimously voted in favor of making girls wrestling an official high school sport starting in the fall. The move is intended to boost equity for girls wrestling programs in Oregon by improving access to training facilities and coaching staff, and by separately scheduling competitions for girls and boys matches. Since the 2018-2019 wrestling season, the OSAA has awarded state championship titles for girls wrestling matches, which previously were held as exhibition tournaments.

According to a proposal submitted by school athletic officials to the OSAA in January, there are more than 1,100 athletes competing in girls wrestling programs in Oregon high schools, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Nationwide, participation in the sport increased by 50 percent in just four years, according to a 2021-2022 survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Joining us to talk about girls wrestling in Oregon are Sarahi Chavez, a sophomore and member of the girls wrestling team at McKay High School in Salem; Jessica Lister, the head coach of the girls wrestling team at Hood River Valley High School and a three-time All-American wrestler; and Trent Kroll, the athletic director of Hood River Valley High School who successfully petitioned the OSAA to change the status of girls wrestling.

Vancouver has between 250 to 400 units available to rent for short stays through Airbnb, VRBO and other sites, according to data collected by city officials. Most of them, however, are operating illegally because of zoning restrictions on short-term rentals, a period of stay that the city defines as less than 30 days, in residential neighborhoods. As a recent article in The Columbian reveals, Vancouver city officials are now attempting to bring short-term rentals into compliance by proposing new regulations, including a $250 operating permit which owners of the units would need to apply for. Carlos Fuentes is the city and federal reporter for The Columbian. He joins us to talk about this issue.

What’s it like, for a woman in the U.S. today to experience pregnancy and birth for the first time? And how has that changed over time? Why are maternal death rates higher here than in other countries? Those are questions Portland journalist Rebecca Grant takes on in her new book, “Birth: Three Mothers, Nine months and Pregnancy in America.” While the percentage of home births has risen recently to a 30 year high and the numbers of independent birth centers are rising, about 98% of births still occur in hospitals. She joins us to talk about her reporting and what these three women’s stories tell us about the state of maternal health in this country.

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $10 million to Portland State University, Willamette Partnership and several other organizations to establish an assistance center. The Environmental and Energy Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center is a part of the Justice40 Initiative and has a goal of increasing environmental justice and economic opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities. Lynny Brown is the health and environment partner at Willamette Partnership. Cheyenne Holiday is the energy, climate and transportation manager at Verde. And Direlle Calica is the Director of PSU’s Institute for Tribal Governments. They all join us now to share the vision of the center.

Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon features scenic rock formations and volcanic cliff walls that provide sweeping views of the Crooked River and canyon floor below. It's also a premier rock climbing destination, with more than 1,500 bolted routes for climbers to maneuver. According to park officials, Smith Rock’s popularity has soared in the past decade, with nearly a million people visiting it in 2021. At roughly 700 acres, Smith Rock also provides critical habitat for golden eagles, prairie falcons and other raptors, prompting seasonal climbing closures and restrictions to limit hiking on trails near nesting sites.

Last week, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department unveiled a new draft “Master Plan” for Smith Rock, and is accepting public comments on it until May 15. The document is intended to serve as a roadmap to guide management and planning priorities at the park for the next 20 years, from upgrading bathroom facilities to instituting a reservation system for parking to relieve congestion. Other proposals include expanding trail access to people who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility, and creating a set of standards for rock climbing behavior and etiquette at the park. Matt Davey, Park Manager at Smith Rock State Park, and Max Tepfer, the president of the High Desert Climbers Alliance and a professional rock climbing guide based in Bend, join us to discuss the new plan.