Landlords and tenants frustrated with rent assistance delays

Kim McCarty represents 6,000 low-income tenants across the state. As the executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants, McCarty said their office receives hundreds of calls from tenants who have lost their employment benefits and are still not fully employed — now, they're afraid of being evicted.

Oregon's statewide eviction moratorium expired at the end of June but state lawmakers passed a bill providing a 60-day grace period for those who applied for assistance — Multnomah County extended that grace period to 90 days.

Deborah Imse is the executive director of Multifamily NW, a rental industry group representing a mix of large and small landlords and property managers. She said landlords are in the dark about how the rental assistance process works, where their tenants' applications are in that process and at what point they will get paid. 

McCarty and Imse discussed their frustrations on this week's episode of "Straight Talk."

How do we address the gun violence across Portland?

Portland Police Sergeant Ken Duilio, Lakayana Drury, founder of the nonprofit Word Is Bond, and Multnomah County's Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss what's behind the gun violence and possible solutions.

Portland voters have a once in a decade opportunity to change how the city runs

It was 1913 when Portland voters first decided the city would have a commission form of government with city council members elected at large. Now, 108 years later, Portland is the only large city in the U.S. to still have the unique system of government and residents have voted eight times to keep it that way.

A twenty member Charter Review Commission is studying alternatives to the city's form of government and elections, and may refer their recommendations to the Nov. 2022 ballot.  

In this episode of Straight Talk, Laural Porter talked to members of the commission about their task, why there's a charter review, what they're studying and how you can make your voice heard. 

Sunrise Movement PDX calls on Oregon leaders to take swift action on climate crisis

Youth climate activists Adah Crandall and Cassie Wilson discuss the growing climate crisis and what they want Oregon leaders to do about it. Specifically, they talk about the recent climate protests and their objections to the I-5 Rose Quarter expansion project. 

Commissioner Dan Ryan promises urgent action on two Portland crises — homelessness and gun violence

Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan discusses the new "Safe Rest Village" project, the surge in gun violence and his plan to run for re-election in 2022.