Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Monday, November 11, 2024, 7:30 – 9:30pm

More info: events.iu.edu…

Ford-Crawford Hall, Simon Music Center
Monday, November 11, 2024, 5 – 6pm

More info: events.iu.edu…

Recital Hall, Merrill Hall
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 7 – 8pm

More info: events.iu.edu…

Waldron Auditorium
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 4 – 5pm

A musical “tail” that will bring the house down

There are two sides to every story, and when the Big Bad Wolf takes the stand in Piggsylvania’s Trial of the Century, he finally gets his say. But whether he’ll get a fair trial in a corrupt piggy court is anyone’s guess. Will the pigs’ splashy show make a puppet out of justice, or is the wolf’s song and dance about a sneeze gone wrong all razzle-dazzle? Enter the jury box and help decide the fate of Big ‘n’ Bad in this musical adaptation of the hit children’s book. Fun for all ages! *This is a sensory-friendly performance

Presenter: Constellation Stage & Screen
Written By: Robert Kauzlaric, Paul Gilvary, and William Rush
Directed By: Mitchell Ward
Cost: $15
Ticket Phone: (812) 336-9300
Ticket Web Link: seeconstellation.org…

Ford-Crawford Hall, Simon Music Center
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 3 – 4pm

More info: events.iu.edu…

DePauw University Green Center, 600 S. Locust Street, Greencastle, Ind.
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 3 – 5pm

VINEGAR TOM
Thurs.–Sat., Nov. 7–9 • 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 10 • 3 p.m.
Green Center, Moore Theatre

In an isolated, 17th-century rural village a woman’s lover claims she is the devil. Her mother curses at a neighbor. Crops are failing, livestock are dying, and family tensions are brewing. An herbal healer offers help with a pregnancy, and the betrothed daughter of a prosperous landowner refuses to marry. Doctors claim she’s insane and tie her up. Behind it all is the titular Vinegar Tom, a stealthy cat often seen lurking about, boldly plundering barns and milk sheds. Could he be a witch’s imp or the devil himself? Finally, a witch hunter arrives, and no woman is above suspicion.

Presenter: DePauw University
Contact: Suzanne Hassler
Written By: Caryl Churchill
Directed By: Ron Dye
Cost: General Admission: $10; Seniors, Youth and All Students: Free
Ticket Phone: 765-658-6733
Ticket Web Link: dpugreencenter.eventbrite.com
Communities: Bloomington, Brown County, Columbus, Franklin, Greencastle, Indianapolis, Martinsville, Spencer, Terre Haute
More info: www.depauw.edu…

Waldron Auditorium
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 1 – 2pm

A musical “tail” that will bring the house down

There are two sides to every story, and when the Big Bad Wolf takes the stand in Piggsylvania’s Trial of the Century, he finally gets his say. But whether he’ll get a fair trial in a corrupt piggy court is anyone’s guess. Will the pigs’ splashy show make a puppet out of justice, or is the wolf’s song and dance about a sneeze gone wrong all razzle-dazzle? Enter the jury box and help decide the fate of Big ‘n’ Bad in this musical adaptation of the hit children’s book. Fun for all ages!

Presenter: Constellation Stage & Screen
Written By: Robert Kauzlaric, Paul Gilvary, and William Rush
Directed By: Mitchell Ward
Cost: $15
Ticket Phone: (812) 336-9300
Ticket Web Link: seeconstellation.org…

Auer Hall, Simon Music Center
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 11am – 12pm

More info: events.iu.edu…

by Anonymous

Please vote as if you want stress to become eradicated. Please vote as if a solution to gentrification is needed to be found. Don't let the disaster capitalists continue to have the loudest voices in the room. Please vote to free us from private equity's grip. Please vote that bouncing forward not resilience can become an aftermath of any disaster. Please vote that the new form of feudalism is not okay and should not continue. . Please vote to continue to capturing consensus in the public sphere. Please insert yourself into the public sphere as much as you can after the election so the consensus model can truly expand. Thanks for the read! xoxox

See how well YOOOooooOOOOu score on this week's Halloooooweeeeeen-themed trivia quiz! (I am a ghost, if you didn't guess.) ???? by Wm. Steven Humphrey

HELLOOOOO, BRAINY HUMAN! It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And in this edition, we're testing your knowledge on a variety of HALLOWEEN-related topics including creeeepy Trump statues, ghost cars (and stores!), and Portland's most HAUNTED locales! OoooOOOoooooh! (That is the sound ghosts make, I'm given to understand.) ????

But first, how did you do on our previous, special edition ranked choice quiz? Super good, and I'm confident you are ready to vote if you haven't already! And in case you're wondering, here's how Portlanders ranked who should be our next mayor. (At least we know who should run next time!)

OKAY, TIME FOR A NEW QUIZ! Take this week's quiz below, take our previous pop quizzes here, and come back next week for a brand spankin' new quiz! (Having a tough time answering this quiz? It's probably because you aren't getting Mercury newsletters! HINT! HINT!) Now crank up that cerebellum, because it's time to get BRAINY!

Create your own user feedback survey

Did you enjoy that? Take our past Pop Quizzes HERE!

Plus, Nils Frahm and More Event Updates for October 31 by EverOut Staff

It’s Halloween! Treat yourself to tickets to see Tyler, The Creator on his Chromakopia tour. Country pop princess Kelsea Ballerini has also announced a stop at Moda Center next spring. Plus, Berlin-based pianist, composer, and producer Nils Frahm will set up his elaborate vintage gear at the Schnitz. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events, plus some news you can use.

MUSIC

Amyl and The Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness Tour
Crystal Ballroom (Mar 25, 2025)

Ashe: The Trilogy Tour
Revolution Hall (June 17, 2025)

Daily Bread – Flash Flood Tour
Wonder Ballroom (Mar 22, 2025)

by Anonymous

Just checking in here, currently riding home from work via TriMet. I'm bored so I thought I'd write an IA post. On the seat next to me lay an empty soda can, an opened Lunchables package and last, but not least, a banana peel. Something tells me it wasn't a fifth grader who went rogue and left this here after finishing their lunch. I'm not triggered (at least not as much as I used to be.) Although I do like TriMet overall, this is common place on our public transportation system. And it's pretty sad quite frankly.

Sabrina Carpenter, Cyndi Lauper, and More by EverOut Staff

November is here, which means a deluge of holidays are coming your way, from Election Day to Veterans Day to Thanksgiving. Plus, it's Native American Heritage Month and the first round of festive winter events are coming down the pike. Of course, there's also the usual array of concerts, festivals, food & drink events, and tons more. As we do every month, we've compiled the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, from Sabrina Carpenter to Cyndi Lauper and from World Vegan Month to PLUS PLUS: PAM CUT's New Annual Festival.

PLUS PLUS: PAM CUT's New Annual Festival
I have to hand it to PAM CUT. Although virtually everyone clowned on their name change (they were formerly known as Northwest Film Center), the organization's revamp of a decrepit, one-time adult movie theater has been thrilling to see. Tomorrow Theater offers a consistent slate of screenings supplemented with artsy programming, and their new annual multimedia festival, PLUS PLUS, will offer more where that came from. Throughout November, drop by for parties, art happenings, and community events—I'm stoked for talks with Ani DiFranco and Titus Kaphar, special screenings, and collaborations with local art-makers Carla Rossi, Violet Hex, DJ Anjali, and woo-woo. LINDSAY COSTELLO
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Nov 1–Dec 1)

by Wm. Steven Humphrey

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.)

• Lawsuits Allege Deceit and Greenwashing by Oregon’s Largest Gas Utility

Advocates hope two lawsuits filed this month against gas utility NW Natural lead to change. The lawsuits say NW Natural has lied to customers and shared greenwashing propaganda, including spreading misinformation about a state climate policy.

• POP QUIZ PDX!

It's the spooooky HALLOWEEN edition of your fave weekly trivia quiz! This week: creepy Trump statues, ghost cars, and Portland's most HAUNTED locales! OoooOOOoooooh! (That's our imitation of a ghost, btw. ????) See how well YOU score!

• The Mercury's November 2024 VOTER CHEAT SHEET!

Filling out your ballot this weekend? GOOD! Need help? Voila, here's your 100% accurate Mercury Endorsement Cheat Sheet to help you fill out your ballot lickety-split!

• How Portland Became a Roller Derby Mecca

Twenty years ago, Portland's first modern roller derby league emerged. It's now the largest derby league in the world. Now, the four-time global champion Rose City Rollers will compete for another title win this weekend at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

• Could the James Beard Public Market Rise From the Corpse of Corporate Failure?

Long envisioned as Portland's version of Seattle's Pike Place, the James Bear Public Market would also provide an answer to downtown’s dearth of fresh produce.

• What to Expect From Portland’s New Government

Good news: Portland is getting a (much needed) new form of city government in January. But what exactly is changing for our elected officials? And, perhaps more importantly, how will all of this impact you?

• THE TRASH REPORT

If you're looking for the trashiest gossip from this election season, then you've found the right garbage can. ???? ????

• TICKET ALERT

Get those tickets now for the shows you don't want to miss, including Tyler, The Creator, country pop princess Kelsea Ballerini, and Berlin-based pianist, composer, and producer Nils Frahm!

• Infinite Life: A Play About Pain That Hurts So Good

Third Rail Repertory kicks off its 2024-25 season with a work by contemporary theater star Annie Baker. Never before have six actors worked their respective chaise lounges with such verve.

• Don't Miss the Mercury's ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY!

Looking for fun on election night? Join your friends at Mississippi Studios for the Mercury's official election night watch party—hosted by the hilarious Alex Falcone and Shain Brenden! (And what? IT'S FREE!)

WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!

Sabrina Carpenter, David Sedaris, and More by EverOut Staff

There's plenty of first-rate events to check out this week, from The Official Portland Mercury Election Watch Party to Sabrina Carpenter's Short N’ Sweet Tour and from Kumoricon to An Evening With David Sedaris, but first, make sure to VOTE! And for a look at the month ahead, check out our November events guide.

Dehd
Chicago-based indie-rock trio Dehd, who Pitchfork has dubbed "as much a rock band as they are a viable alternative to Red Bull," is coming to town to support their new album, Poetry. The album sounds like the sonic interpretation of the summer season with warm guitar riffs and bouncing percussion that evokes running down a beach to catch the ice cream truck. Don't miss an opening set from Brooklyn-based art-punk band Gustaf. AUDREY VANN
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

by Mercury Promotions

Look, nobody wants to be alone on election night—so why not spend it with the Mercury, two of our fave stand-up comics, and all your friends?

The Merc, along with our pals at Mississippi Studios are hosting an election night watch party TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 5, with special guest hosts, comedians Alex Falcone and Shain Brenden! Both are former winners of the Portland's Funniest Person contest as well as the Mercury's Geniuses of Comedy, and as the results roll in on the big screen, Falcone and Brenden will be entertaining everyone with hilarious comedy, spicy political takes, and welcoming some very special surprise guests as well!

Best of all, our election night party is FREE—so grab your friends and show up for a night of (hopefully) celebration for our first woman president and lots of laughs.

The Official Portland Mercury Election Watch Party—hosted by Alex Falcone and Shain Brenden

Tuesday, November 5, 6:30 pm

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi

FREE (21+ only)

by Courtney Vaughn

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good morning and happy election day, Portland! Obviously, drop off that ballot if you haven't yet. If you need a replacement, the county elections office can help you. If you're not sure who to vote for, here's our handy dandy election guide, which even includes a cheat sheet for you to refer to when filling out your ballot. If you’re monitoring results, let us keep you company on our live election night blog, and if you need to commiserate with others, or share a joke and a drink to ease the stress, join us in person at Mississippi Studios tonight for our free election night party!

In Local News: 

• Speaking of the election, voter turnout so far in Multnomah County is a little low. The number of ballots returned by Monday hovered below 46 percent. In the last presidential election, more than 73 percent of Multnomah County ballots were returned the day before the election. Some have speculated that Portland’s new ranked choice voting system and the sheer number of City Council candidates is slowing voters down, or dissuading them from filling out their ballot. BUT, people were a lot less busy in 2020, and if RCV is the culprit, why is Clackamas County–which isn’t using ranked voting– also seeing just 50 percent turnout by Monday? Similarly, Washington County’s elections office reports only 47 percent of ballots were returned by Monday. Maybe voters procrastinated, or maybe they’re just waiting to drop off their ballots in broad daylight, when there’s less likelihood of a ballot box getting blown up by some nut job. 

Turnout in Multnomah County as of November 4, 1 days before the election.

Current: 46% of accepted ballots (50% with returned ballots)
2020: 73%
2004-2020 average: 65%
2004-2016 average: 63% pic.twitter.com/xVyPxKjebo

— John Horvick (@horvick) November 5, 2024

• In other local election news, a few buildings downtown have boarded up their windows in preparation for potential election night protests. Portland police have been hyping up the potential for election-related violence for months now, creating a bit of hysteria that’s got some major companies spooked. At least one online flier inviting anarchist protest has circulated, but it’s unrelated to any particular candidate or party and more directed at general disdain for the state of the country.

Both local and national law enforcement teams are on standby in Portland ahead of Election Day, but many businesses are taking matters into their own hands… boarding up their windows and doors. @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/0kmbAWAIvb

— Mckenzie Richmond (@kenziestuvland) November 4, 2024

• Portland City Council seems primed to overturn the city’s agreement with Multnomah County on managing homelessness. As we reported a few weeks ago, City Commissioners Rene Gonzalez, Mingus Mapps and Dan Ryan have all signaled support for dissolving the intergovernmental agreement that lays out which functions each government agency handles, in an effort to collaborate and tag-team the region’s most critical issue. The three stooges allege Multnomah County hasn’t kept up its end of the bargain, and they’ve got professional shit stirrer and County Commissioner Sharon Meieran egging them on. This week, Portland City Council will vote on whether to end the agreement. Jessica Vega Pederson, chair of the county’s Board of Commissioners, has called out the plan to kill the agreement as short-sighted, misinformed, chickenshit, and harmful to unhoused Portlanders who need a bevy of resources and services.

Regional executive leaders are united supporting a collaborative approach to addressing homelessness, and pushing back on this political stunt that includes no plan.

“The three commissioners did not provide any alternative plan”https://t.co/KFIkThGrNo

— Jessica Vega Pederson (@jvegapederson) October 18, 2024

• Here’s a bright spot: Portland’s own Rose City Rollers took home a fifth world championship title over the weekend. The league’s all-star roller derby team, Wheels of Justice, overtook St. Louis’ Arch Rival Roller Derby in the final game of a three-day tournament at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Due to the international repercussions of the pandemic, this year’s Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Global Championships were the first since 2019. Keep your eyes peeled for more of our coverage. Rose City Rollers all-star team Wheels of Justice celebrates after a championship 
  win Sunday, Nov. 3.  courtney vaughn Gov. Tina Kotek (center) rallies the crowd Saturday, Nov. 2 at the 2024 Women's Flat
  Track Derby Association Global Championships. To the left, Kim "Rocket Mean" Stegeman (left) holds the championship Hydra trophy.   courtney vaughn

In National/World News:

• Attorneys for Elon Musk basically admitted that Musk’s election lottery scheme was more of a plot to boost the Republican party. When faced with charges of running an illegal election lottery, where he promised to pick a daily winner at random for a $1 million prize in an effort to get people registered to vote, attorneys said Musk never intended to use a lottery system to choose a winner. He instead planned to vet and select the right person to essentially be a cheerleader for Trump and the Republican party. Huh. Money can buy rocket ships and high-dollar attorneys, but it can’t buy intellect.

@lizzza

I’ll be with B

♬ original sound - Liza Koshy

• Quincy Jones, the musician and producer behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller who also worked with Frank Sinatra and was awarded 27 Grammys during his lifetime, died at 91. Jones died at home with family in Los Angeles. He was set to receive an honorary Academy Award later this month.

RIP to Quincy Jones. Do yourselves a solid and watch the documentary “Quincy” by his daughter, Rashida Jones. https://t.co/6nIE8VzPoz https://t.co/lOzgNCmFyZ

— GullahMuseumSC (@GullahSc) November 4, 2024

• Your black plastic spatula is slowly poisoning you. Recent reporting in The Atlantic reveals that many black plastic kitchen utensils are likely being made from recycled electronic waste, and leaching toxic chemicals into your food. The discovery was noted by a biochemist in 2018, who asserted that the high amount of flame retardants in black plastic products like spatulas signals the items were probably manufactured with recycled electronic parts used in computers and TVs. Because plastic is prone to leaching chemicals when it’s heated, researchers theorize it’s likely that black plastic cookware is releasing harmful compounds into cooking oil and hot foods. Might also be time to rethink all the plastic carryout containers used to store and reheat hot foods. ☣️????

• One last bit of election-related news, promise! ICYMI: Donald Trump pretended to blow a microphone during a campaign stop last week. Trump was pissed about the mic malfunctioning and his instinct was to mime a raunchy, suggestive movement with his hand and mouth. Keep this man away from children (and the White House). Hawk tuah!

@sbsnews_au

Donald Trump motions over an empty microphone stand after battling technical issues at a campaign rally.

♬ original sound - SBS News

A Portland City Council discussion that could've ended a collaborative agreement, without a backup plan in place, has been scrapped a day after the election. The move would've cost the city more than $40M. by Courtney Vaughn

Update: Nov. 6- This story has been updated to note that this week's Council discussion has been canceled.

A day after an election showing Portland City Commissioners Mingus Mapps and Rene Gonzalez losing their bids for mayor, a plan to revisit an intergovernmental agreement on homelessness between the city and Multnomah County has been canceled. 

An agenda item scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 to consider terminating the homeless services agreement was pulled from the agenda Wednesday afternoon, just 26 hours before it was slated to be considered by Council.

The proposal, which came from Commissioners Mapps, Gonzalez, and Dan Ryan, was a divisive move that could've upended the city's collaboration with the county on the most pressing issue impacting the region.

In a joint statement Wednesday, Gonzalez, Ryan and Mapps said pulling the plug on their plans "will allow space for the new City Council, Mayor, and County Commissioners to renegotiate the Homelessness Response Services Intergovernmental Agreement if they choose."

"The Commissioners remain steadfast in their conviction that the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and Metro can build a better system to address homeless services and pave a better path forward," the statement reads.

Three weeks ago, while presiding over a Council meeting in Mayor Ted Wheeler’s absence, Commissioner Gonzalez directed the city attorney to draft up a contract termination ordinance that would dissolve the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) dictating homelessness response and collaboration. He got a nod of support from Mapps and Ryan. 

The trio then introduced a proposal to formally end the contract between the governing agencies, citing “insufficient progress” to meet key milestones and deadlines. A contract termination proposal on Thursday’s agenda suggests the current arrangement lacks the right framework and governance structures to tackle the homelessness crisis “with the urgency, collaboration, and effectiveness required.”

Gonzalez, Ryan, and Mapps pitched the proposal as an orderly wind-down to make way for an improved agreement. But one day after an election showing Gonzalez and Mapps losing their bids for mayor, the proposal was abandoned.

The proposal drew swift backlash from the mayor and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. Following Portland’s Oct. 16 Council meeting, Vega Pederson issued a statement admonishing Gonzalez, Ryan, and Mapps. 

The majority of City Council says they don't want to work with the County to end homelessness.

Its clear these officials - candidates desperately vying for your vote this month - have their eyes on their own future and not our collective one.

Disappointing. pic.twitter.com/sZwkoQBiF2

— Jessica Vega Pederson (@jvegapederson) October 17, 2024

Last Friday, when the item officially appeared on a Council agenda, she spoke out again.

“The City Council deciding to end this agreement after just a few months is a short-sighted decision that will harm our community’s future,” Vega Pederson wrote November 1 in a lengthy explanatory statement released by the county. “We don’t need more talking–this community cannot afford it. That will not lead to better outcomes or fewer people on the street, and I do not believe it is a good use of taxpayer resources when we have a collaborative plan we are already putting into action. No single government can [solve] this issue alone. The County is taking action on homelessness every day and that work is best when we work in partnership.”

Vega Pederson previously called the move a “political stunt” by Gonzalez, Ryan, and Mapps just before the election. If the Council voted to end the contract, it wouldn't take effect for 90 days, when a new City Council is in place. 

Margaux Weeke, communications director for Commissioner Ryan, says the commissioner isn't opposed to working with the county under a modified arrangement, but it needs to be substantially different.

“Dan Ryan knows the players. He knows the game," Weeke says. "And he wants to expand the amount of seats at the table and pave a better path forward for homeless services."

The current IGA, which was just renewed in July, essentially lays out a division of labor, funding, and responsibilities between the city and the county with regard to homeless services and shelters. It also identifies goals and milestones for reducing the number of unsheltered people in the county. 

Vega Pederson said the county now spends all of its homeless services funds, and more, while providing clear data and public dashboards. She also noted the homelessness response plan lays out 120 action items, each assigned to a responsible party.

The county has issued data on spending and progress summaries.

If city estimates are accurate, ending the agreement would place a significant financial burden on the city as it heads into a tight fiscal year. Portland and Multnomah County currently share financial responsibility for the region’s homelessness response. 

The city would no longer have to send $32 million in general fund money to Multnomah County, but it would take on more than $40 million in costs to permanently manage the Safe Rest Villages and Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites. 

The roughly $40 million expense doesn’t include costs for wraparound services that the county currently provides at the shelter sites. The city doesn’t know how much it would cost to provide those services, and there is no alternative plan in place for maintaining services and shelter beds if the contract goes away.

Welcome Home Coalition, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing and universal access to housing, warned the termination proposal was dangerous.

“They are presenting this action without a clearly articulated new plan of how the city will serve people experiencing homelessness,” an email sent from the coalition reads. “Backing out of the Intergovernmental Agreement without an understanding of how this would impact service provision will have rippling consequences that will no doubt result in more harm to those in the most need of services.”

In a joint letter released last week, the three commissioners explained their decision to introduce the agenda item, saying the city needs to see a different way of managing services.

“As Portland City Commissioners with years of experience with the Joint Office of Homeless Services, we are resolute that we can no longer afford to maintain the status quo,” the joint letter states. “We are also united in our repeated calls for accountability, efficiency, and improved governance to enhance our homeless services. …And despite our repeated requests for clear and useful data, operational alignment for short-term shelters, and a shared vision for the homeless services system, we have faced significant challenges in implementing these necessary changes.”

Ending the IGA would further deteriorate an already strained relationship between the city and county. Mayor Wheeler previously said the working relationship between both governments had improved over the past year, but recent IGA renewals have been met with reluctance from Mapps, Ryan, and Gonzalez.

by Wm. Steven Humphrey

Who's ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland's best concerts and events—our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst... if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep us alive and kickin'!) And oh boy, do we have some fun events coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Reverend Horton Heat on February 27 at Crystal Ballroom!

Seeing REVEREND HORTON HEAT live is a transformative experience. Flames come off the guitars. Heat singes your skin. There’s nothing like the primal tribal rock & roll transfiguration of a Reverend Horton Heat show. Get your tickets now, or enter to win here!

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Thurs Feb 27, 8 pm, $35-$50, all ages

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Des Demonas on November 17 at Polaris Hall!

A favorite of Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop, Washington, DC’s DES DEMONAS blend post punk, funk, blues, psych rock, Afro beat, and more into their own unique sound — listen LIVE when they share new tunes from their highly-anticipated sophomore LP, APOCALYPTIC BOOM! BOOM! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!

Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth Ct, Sun Nov 17, 8 pm, $15, 21+

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Karina Rykman on November 15 at Mississippi Studios!

She’s opened for Khruangbin, performed on America’s Got Talent, soundchecked with Phish at MSG, and much more — catch dynamic jam rock bassist Karina Rykman LIVE when she returns to Portland! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, Fri Nov 15, 9 pm, $20, 21+

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Mason Jennings on November 16 at Mississippi Studios!

Hawai’i-born, Minneapolis-based folksinger Mason Jennings returns to Mississippi Studios with tunes from his latest record, Holy Dive, and beyond! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, Sat Nov 16, 8 pm, $30, 21+

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see The Bygones on November 17 at Aladdin Theater!

Luminous indie folk duo The Bygones share nostalgic songwriting from their debut, self-titled release! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!

Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Sun Nov 17, 8 pm, $25, all ages

• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Sam Grisman Project on November 16 at Aladdin Theater!

A longtime Dawg Trio member with his father David Grisman, Bay Area bass player Sam Grisman upholds the legacy of Dawg music with his new musical project. Don’t miss their return to Portland! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!

Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Sat Nov 16, 8 pm, $32.50, all ages

GOOD LUCK! Winners will be notified on Monday. Check back next week for more FREE TIX from the Mercury!

by Suzette Smith

The Mercury provides its readers with interesting and useful news & culture reporting every single day. If you appreciate that, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. If you read something you like, something you don't like but are glad to know about, and/or something you can't find anywhere else consider a one-time tip. It all goes in the same pot and it all goes to the editorial team. Thanks for your support!

Good Morning, Portland! We're still "turning and turning in the widening gyre" over here, and we may be for quite some time.

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Last night's round of election results arrived without any notable changes in the Portland City Council races. News editor Courtney Vaughn writes: "With Keith Wilson securing the mayor’s seat the day prior, results in City Council districts largely held firm."

• While the national election results have been [understatement incoming] pretty distressing, local races are lined with silver. The Columbian reports Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has maintained her lead over far-right, perennial challenger Joe Kent. The Oregonian has a good breakdown of the race and history of Gluesenkamp Perez's hard-fought win.

• PCC Automotive Service Technology Program instructor Jay Kuykendall has been named this year's Educator of the Year by the North American Council of Automotive Teachers, Portland Tribune reports. "Kuykendall oversees the auto shop lab and teaches engine performance classes, along with elective courses like Subaru U, electrified vehicles and light-duty diesel."

• Beloved local coffee chain Jim and Patty's Coffee announced earlier this week that it will close its remaining two locations, in Beaverton and in Portland, on November 11. "Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your support..." owner Patty Roberts wrote. "Now I will need to find a job. If anyone has any ideas for an old lady who has been off the job market for over 40 years, let me know!" ???? For more backstory, check out this Mercury piece about the struggling coffee shops from October.

• There was once a time in Portland when one could easily—well, depending on connection issues—rent a cheery little blue and white hybrid car to drive. The little smart cars were great for unforgiving rain showers and surprisingly solid in the snow. Car2Go merged with Reachnow in 2018, then tanked in 2019. In 2021, Free2Move announced it would drop a "fleet of 200 Jeep Renegades" for Portland consumers to rent, but the cumbersome cars departed once more in 2023. This week MSN reposted that story from 2023, so some people have been letting us know about it. Sorry about MSN, and this all happened last year. Still fun to revisit this tweet:

so let me get this straight

car2go joins sharenow, while reachnow becomes reachnow pic.twitter.com/gJi7R6YZ8e

— Cabel Sasser (@cabel) March 4, 2019

• Politicians are politicians, but I find Sen. Jeff Merkley's vibe calming:

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A post shared by Senator Jeff Merkley (@senjeffmerkley)

• Every week, the Mercury gives out free tickets to local shows and this week we've got sweet tix for Reverend Horton Heat, Des Demonas, Karina Rykman and moooore—check'm out and win with our Free Ticket Thursday giveaway!

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• I can't immediately find who said this, but I think it's a valid concern: As we watch the transition back to a Trump administration presidency, the cabinet appointments are probably going to feel like being repeatedly punched in the face. President-elect Donald Trump named Florida strategist Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff on Thursday. Wiles has run his political operation for nearly four years, making her one of the few people to survive at his side for any length of time. What's Wiles deal? Nepo baby. Ronald Reagan campaign staffer. Wiles has been credited with putting Rick Scott in Florida's governor’s office. Associated Press has a nice, long profile on her this morning. Is she going to tear the tampon machine out of the White House bathroom again? We're watching.

• A Biden administration initiative known as “Keeping Families Together” was struck down by a Texas-based US District judge yesterday; Judge J. Campbell Barker argued that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority with its attempt to lessen barriers to citizenship for undocumented immigrants married to US citizens.

• Soccer fans did violence again, but this time it might be motivated by cultural and political friction. NPR reports that "leading political figures in the Netherlands have condemned the violence that followed a match between a Dutch team Ajax and Tel Aviv's Maccabi. According to NPR, "Dutch police said 62 people have been arrested following several clashes." Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema described local men seeking out Israeli fans on scooters. Dutch police chief Peter Holla said fans of Tel Aviv Maccabi had "set a Palestinian flag on fire in the city and attacked a taxi." Dutch authorities have banned demonstrations through the weekend.

• Happy Martian New Year... soon! In Scientific American Phil Plait writes: "Why would anyone pick November 12 as New Year’s Day for Mars? And why does our official reckoning of Martian time set the eons-old Red Planet only in its 38th year? The answer involves a combination of natural cycles and the human need to impose order via somewhat arbitrary timekeeping—pretty much like on Earth."

• And now we part—wishing a fine weekend to my naysayers and hatchet men in the fight against violence.

Pasta, Dumplings, and More by EverOut Staff For obvious reasons, I suspect we could all use some soul-warming nourishment to bolster our spirits right about now. We've compiled this list of fortifying options, including noodle soups, pizza, dumplings, pasta, soul food, and more, so you can get your comfort food fix. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide. PIZZA

Apizza Scholls
Serious Eats founder Ed Levine once dubbed this "Neo-Neapolitan" pizza destination "one of the top five pizzerias in America."
Sunnyside

Amy Sedaris, QDoc Film Festival, and More by EverOut Staff

Stay busy with some of the many top-notch events happening this week, from Amy Sedaris to the QDoc Film Festival and from BrewLights at the Oregon Zoo to opening weekend of the Portland Winter Ice Rink. And check out our November events guide to see what the rest of the month has in store.

Amy Sedaris
Referring to someone as "whimsical" feels vaguely off-putting, but I'm not sure there's a better word to describe Amy Sedaris—the host of the Emmy-nominated series At Home with Amy Sedaris was just as comfortable making raisin necklaces and popsicle stick buddies as she was gutting a fish. Although the series was canceled after three seasons, I look back on it fondly as a reflection of my early pandemic days, when making sense of the world meant baking a sourdough bread loaf shaped like a mermaid (true story). Find out what Sedaris is cooking up next at this live talk, moderated by "professional nervous person" Courtenay Hameister. LINDSAY COSTELLO
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

Citing ethical issues and potential conflicts of interest, advocates want the city to halt a no-bid contract renewal that would funnel millions to the Portland Metro Chamber. by Courtney Vaughn

For years, Portland has collected fees from property owners in enhanced service districts to pay for added cleaning and security services in designated areas. The districts are typically concentrated around businesses, offering private security, extra policing, janitorial services, and more recently, removal of homeless camps. 

Some stakeholders say the city has yet to confront the unique and outsized role of Portland’s most powerful business lobbying group at one enhanced service district (ESD) in particular—Downtown Portland Clean & Safe.

This week, Portland City Council is scheduled to vote on a 116-acre expansion of the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe district, as well as a fee hike and a five-year management contract renewal for the district. 

Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, more than 100 Portlanders and over a dozen community groups are urging City Council to postpone the contract renewal that would funnel a hefty portion of a $58 million, no-bid contract to the Portland Metro Chamber.

An open letter to city commissioners outlines a number of transparency and ethics issues surrounding the Clean & Safe contract, asking the Council vote to be tabled until a new Council is sworn in this January.

Currently, the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe district is overseen by an organization of the same name, whose management has significant overlap with the executive leadership of the Portland Metro Chamber (formerly the Portland Business Alliance).

A large chunk of funding for the Metro Chamber’s leadership staff comes from a lucrative contract to oversee the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe ESD.

That means a private group that lobbies the city on behalf of private business interests is being paid millions in public money to oversee a service district that includes a large swath of its own dues-paying members. The downtown district also includes several government agencies and properties that pay into the ESD—including Portland City Hall. Moreover, community groups say the contract and service delivery model are convoluted at best, with next to no oversight from the city.

The letter’s signatories say the petition for district expansion, and the accompanying contract renewal “raises serious concerns related to affordability, efficient use of public resources, accountability, and transparency.”

“The City contracts with Clean & Safe, which subcontracts with other organizations to carry out cleaning and safety services. Yet the executive director of Clean & Safe is simultaneously an employee of the Portland Business Alliance, which is also a subcontractor of Clean & Safe,” the open letter to Council states. “Unclear lines of oversight make it difficult for ratepayers or the public to hold anyone accountable. Even more concerning, the contract allocates significant overhead to the Portland Business Alliance, the city’s most active lobbying organization.”

It's a contract that mystifies everyone from accountants, to ratepayers, and even auditors. 

A 2020 city audit of Portland's ESDs found "little oversight" of the privately funded public service districts and noted "complicated governance and management systems" that obfuscate public access to basic information such as budgets and subcontracts.

Not long after the city audit, a local business executive spoke out about the questionable business arrangement baked into the Clean & Safe contract. When she did, she was allegedly threatened with a lawsuit from the Portland Business Alliance.

Since then, other local government watchdogs have taken note, but gotten little traction with city leadership.

“I think this council has an ethical responsibility to answer all these questions for the voters, or wait,” Diane Goodwin, a member of local political advocacy group Portland For All, says.

It's unclear what Clean & Safe's latest budget includes. A 2021 budget calculated total expenses at around $5 million, including about $858,000 in salaries. Exactly what portion of staff is covered in those salary expenses is murky. Both the Metro Chamber and Downtown Clean & Safe share staff. In fact, the Chamber's CEO and president, Andrew Hoan, is also the CEO and president of Downtown Clean & Safe. The 2021 budget shows $243,000 in "shared administration" salary costs. 

Tax documents from 2022 show Hoan drew a $333,000 salary from the Chamber that year. The two organizations also share an executive assistant and an advocacy coordinator. Clean & Safe's operations director and executive director are also listed as part of the Chamber's staff. The Clean & Safe executive director drew a $154,000 salary from the Chamber that same year.

Businesses and commercial property owners in the district overwhelmingly support the expansion, saying the frequent cleaning and beefed up security have improved downtown Portland and made it safer for workers and visitors.

“We want our associates to feel safe coming into work,” Kelly Mullen, president of Portland’s Safeway and Albertsons division, told the Council on October 31 during its initial consideration of the contract and ESD expansion. Mullen said recently, the Safeway location at 10th and Jefferson has had to reduce store hours and close off an entrance, to improve safety at the grocery store.

“We want to be part of the solution and really make our community thrive,” Mullen said.

The council also heard from the principal of a private school advocating for the district expansion so her students and staff could receive extra security and clean-up around the campus.

One element of Downtown Clean & Safe that’s lauded by nearly every district member, even critics, is the Clean Start program, run by Central City Concern. The program offers janitorial jobs cleaning city streets to people transitioning out of homelessness. For many, it offers a fresh start and a path toward self-sufficiency. 

City staff and Clean & Safe reps say the expanded district and new proposed rate structures will offer more transparency, reasonable fee calculations, inflation adjustments, and a cap on rates for condo owners. Several residential ratepayers say the whole Clean & Safe arrangement leaves them with more questions than services received. 

John Pumphrey owns a condominium in the downtown district. He and other condo owners say the services they pay for are often duplicative of private security and janitorial services they already pay for through their homeowners association. They also say the services serve mainly to benefit businesses, not residents.

“I’m a condo owner in downtown Portland and our building pays $24,000 a year to Clean & Safe and for this, [we] receive next to nothing,” Pumphrey told the Council, asking them to vote against the contract renewal. “What’s really irritating to some of us about Clean & Safe is that 50 percent of what we contribute … is skimmed off the top by the Portland Metro Chamber.”

Pumphrey isn’t the only one critical of the unusually high compensation provided to Portland Metro Chamber staff from the Downtown Clean & Safe contract.

The open letter to City Council also makes mention of the compensation arrangement, asserting the Clean & Safe contract “pays nearly 50 percent of Business Alliance executive salaries in addition to up to 30% in administrative overhead.”

“Many of these executives appear in City lobbying records and in state filings for PACs that advocate for private business interests, often directly in conflict with the will of the voting public,” the letter reads. “It is inappropriate to use public resources to offset the cost of business lobbying.”

Devin Reynolds, the city's ESD coordinator, said the arrangement between the Metro Chamber and Dowtown Clean & Safe isn't an anomaly.

“Having an ESD contract with a third party to fulfill some, or all their service areas is indeed common across business improvement districts, business improvement areas, and enhanced services districts,” Reynolds told the Mercury earlier this year.

Commonplace or not, some downtown ESD ratepayers say they’ve been cut off from any meaningful participation in their district’s oversight or decisions.

Anita Davidson, a condo owner in the downtown district, told the Mercury that for years, condo owners have had no representation in district leadership, and there is little to no transparency around operational decisions.

“As residential people, we don’t feel we belong there. We don't have a vote in who runs Clean & Safe,” she said. “We can’t even join Portland Metro Chamber, because it's for businesses. I’d like to see Clean & Safe become a public nonprofit. That would solve a lot of things. I still have to make a public records request [just] to see their budget.”

In an effort to appease homeowners, the new contract includes a fee cap on residential units. It’s a nice accommodation, but homeowners in the industry-dominated district say what they really want is a way to opt out.

There currently is no mechanism to do that, and the process for annexing additional property into an ESD doesn’t require a vote from affected property owners. It’s left up to City Council to approve. Current standards only require the city to notify affected property owners by mail and hold public hearings where they can chime in. 

“Unfortunately for ratepayers, the city has not yet, after 30 years, adopted standards for formation, renewal, or expansion of the ESDs,” Davidson told Council. “At some point, we hope and expect that this will happen, although listening tonight, it sounds like it's an all-in-one thing.”

Other district members say they disagree with their tax revenue being used to initiate homeless sweeps, and pay for increased police presence.

That’s especially true in the case of Sisters of the Road, a homeless services nonprofit and member of the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe district.

“From 2016-2020, unhoused residents accounted for over half of arrests made in Portland. Their charges were primarily nonviolent, survival crimes. That same data showed that people are 20 times more likely to experience criminalization in Downtown Clean & Safe versus other areas of the city,” Lauren Armony, program director at Sisters of the Road, told the city in written testimony earlier this year. “Hyper-surveillance has not made our neighborhood any healthier or safer, but further entrenched vulnerable individuals in the cycle of incarceration and poverty.”

Organizations like Sisters of the Road say they're irked that the ESD funnels its members’ taxes into the Metro Chamber, which has powerful influence over city politics and often advocates against the city’s vulnerable, unhoused residents–the same population Sisters of the Road is trying to help. 

The Clean & Safe contract and district expansion are currently scheduled for a second reading and vote by Portland City Council on Wednesday.

Uzo Aduba has won over critics and fans for her portrayal as "Crazy Eyes" on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. Aduba speaks to NPR's Michel Martin about her success and how she got there.

Host Michel Martin speaks with rapper Samuel Bazawule, better known as Blitz the Ambassador, about his new album, "Afropolitan Dreams."

The host shares some final thoughts before the close of the show.

Bangladesh defies the stereotypes. It was born in poverty but has risen up the income ladder and is a model of health progress. Will the current political upheaval take a toll on its impressive achievements?

NPR's A Martinez talks with Cary Baker, author of "Down on the Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music."

Utility companies have been sued to bankruptcy over downed power lines that caused deadly wildfires in Hawaii and California. A Colorado utility's power shutoff to prevent fire also caused problems.

Companies in China are fueling a "silver economy" by adapting to serve hundreds of millions of people over the age of 60.

Global pandemic treaty negotiators are hashing out cooperation plans this week and considering rushing the process out of fear that the Trump administration would pull the U.S. out of negotiations.

NPR's Michel Martin talks with Edward Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center about President-elect Trump's influence on Senate Republicans' selection of a new majority leader.

Trump has made some unconventional and surprising choices when it comes to his foreign policy and defense team, like his plan to nominate Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.

The crypto industry was the largest corporate donor to this year's elections. Now it has a crypto-friendly president headed to the White House, while critics worry about the fallout for consumers.

Israel's airlines are generating a windfall as international carriers cancel or limit flights due to security concerns. Flying in or out of Israel has become a logistical challenge since the war in Gaza erupted.

For a long time Tesla used its own kind of charger plug and had its own supercharger network. That once-exclusive network is opening up to other EV manufacturers.

In a first-best world, we'd all save enough money and there'd be no scammers. In a second-best world, we'd all know how to protect ourselves.

That's what Sheila Bair thought, too. As former chair of the FDIC, she noticed many kids and adults weren't quite getting the education they needed. So, she decided to do something about it.

Today on the show: What Sheila Bair has learned about American capitalism as one of its top regulators and how she's trying — one book at a time — to help new generations from falling into its traps.

We learned about Sheila Bair's kids books from listener Erin Vetter. If you've come across anything that makes finance fun, email us! We're at indicator@npr.org.

Related Episodes:
Mailbag: Children Edition
Beach reads with a side of economics

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

Voters really don't like inflation. In fact, whenever there's a sustained jump in the cost of living, the party in power often pays a price.

Originally broadcast March 23, 2012

Basic Black takes a look at national and local headlines including the outrage ignited by the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida, the debate over Massachusetts; "three strikes" legislation, and Charles Street AME Church vs. One United Bank.

Our panel this week:
- Callie Crossley, host and executive editor, The Callie Crossley Show
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH radio
- Charles Yancey, Boston City Councillor
- State Rep. Russell Holmes, (D-MA)
- Alejandra St. Guillen, executive director, Oiste

Originally broadcast on April 27, 2012

Tonight, with "Riding The T," we continue WGBH News' weeklong focus on the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority. Our discussion explores the significance of the MBTA in communities of color. Later in the show, our conversation digs deep into the deluge of racist tweets from Bruins fans towards Joel Ward, the black player from the Washington Capitals who scored the winning goal, thus ending the Bruins march towards the Stanley Cup.

In conversation:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of creative writing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Marvin Venay, co-founder of Think Politics and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus

Originally broadcast on July 6, 2012

July 6 marks four months to the day that the country will elect the president of the United States. We close this season of Basic Black with an exploration of questions going into the 2012 presidential election including:
Has African American support diminished for President Obama? How strongly has opposition to an Obama second term grown in light of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act? What will be the impact of recent decisions (President Obama and Supreme Court) concerning immigration? Is Michelle Obama a secret weapon in the president’s re-election campaign arsenal? Will there be any surprises from the upcoming conventions?

Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host and executive editor, The Callie Crossley Show, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, cultural commentator and assistant professor of creative writing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history and founder of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Tufts University

Originally broadcast on October 26, 2012:

The deadline is fast approaching on a federal mandate for the Boston City Council to pass a plan that reorganizes the city’s voting districts. But there seems to be no clear consensus among council members, nor among many in Boston’s communities of color, on how to do it. The mayor has already vetoed two maps. A coalition representing African American, Asian, and Latino voters has vowed to sue if they are unsatisfied with the council's solution. Emotions are running high, and only ten days remain.

Our panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kevin C. Peterson, executive director, New Democracy Coalition
- Alejandra St. Guillen, executive director, Oiste
- Sean Daughtry, political action chair, Boston branch, NAACP

Relevant links:
As deadline looms, state of play in redistricting
Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter, October 26, 2012

Group pitches alternative voting maps to city council
Jeremy Fox, Boston Globe, September 29, 2012

More city council redistricting maps with Consalvo and Yancey verbal sparring
David Ertischek, Roslindale Patch, October 4, 2012

Redistricting map passes despite objections form Communities of Color Coalition and councilors of color
Mark Liu, Chinese Progressive Association, MySouthEnd.com, August 29, 2012

Boston City Council Census and Redistricting Committee


(Image source: FreeFoto.com)

Originally broadcast on November 2, 2012.

As the nation heads into election day on November 6, Basic Black considers the relevance of polls and the persistence of predictions. And what does it say about the candidates and this country that the race is so close?

In conversation:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history Tufts University; Du Bois Fellow, Harvard University
- Robert Fortes, Republican strategist


(Photo: Early voting, Ohio 2012. Source: Associated Press.)

(Originally broadcast December 14, 2012)

Black churches routinely discuss both scripture and issues like gay marriage and voter suppression,and gun violence. Today’s tragic shooting in Connecticut is a fresh reminder of the ever present violence assaulting so many black communities. What role has the black church played in dealing with the violence? We'll look at that and examine the church's influence in shaping opinion about current issues of the day.

Has the church become too political, or not political enough? Has this institution re-invented itself in order to adequately meet the challenges of changing communities around it?

Panelists:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor or writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Rev. Paul Robeson Ford, Union Baptist Church of Cambridge
- Rev. Brandon Crowley, Myrtle Baptist Church

(January 11, 2013)

Basic Black welcomes actor Teagle F. Bougere to the studio for a conversation on the themes raised in the play Invisible Man, based on Ralph Ellison's seminal work and currently on stage at The Huntington Theatre. Bougere is the lead actor in the production.

Among the many questions on the table: Does this play have any resonance for a contemporary audience? What does the play say about the experience of the African American man in particular? What would a contemporary version of the play look like or have as its focus?

Our full panel:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Barbara Lewis, executive director of The Trotter Institute, UMass Boston


(Photo by Astrid Reiken, 2012)

January 25, 2013

President Obama officially began his second term of office on January 20th. In his inaugural address to the nation the following day, his focus was on the strengths and promises of America. In this Basic Black conversation, we explore the challenges, the goals, and the demands for the second Obama administration.

Our panel this week:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Robert Fortes, Republican strategist and political consultant




Photo: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

April 5, 2013:

With Mayor Menino's announcement that he would not seek a sixth term, the race for the next mayor of Boston has officially begun. Even as the slate of candidates takes shape, questions are emerging, among them: what is the opportunity for emerging leaders of color; what are the benefits to the city of Boston of new leadership, regardless of race; has the Menino administration left anything undone in communities of color that can now be addressed?


Our panel:
- Callie Crossley, host, Under The Radar, WGBH
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature, and publishing, Emerson College
- Kevin C. Peterson, founder/director, New Democracy Coalition
- John Barros, executive director, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative


(Photo source: FreeFoto.com)

May 3, 2013

Tonight on Basic Black history in the headlines: a report this week concluded that for the first time ever, black voter turnout surpassed that of white voters. We'll look at the national and local implications. And in sports, NBA player Jason Collins revealed he is gay; as the first professional athlete to do so, it's history, but is it news?

The panel:
- Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Motherhood, Men and Midlife; asst. prof. of writing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Michael Jeffries, assistant professor of American Studies, Wellesley College


(Photo: Jason Collins. Kwaku Alston for Sports Illustrated.)



(Photo: Jason Collins. Kwaku Alston for Sports Illustrated.)

May 24, 2013

President Barack Obama's address to the graduates of Morehouse College last week drew criticism and praise, not only for what he said but also for how he said it. Was he talking down to the graduates in pressing for personal responsibility? Does he whip out the "preacher" cadence for black audiences only? As graduates of HBCU's and other institutions go out into the world, what is the most useful message they need to hear?


Panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News
- Kim McLarin, author, Divorce Dog: Men, Motherhood and Midlife
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University


(Photo: Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

May 8, 2015 This week Basic Black opens with a follow-up look at the events in Baltimore with a conversation about black leadership and variations on the “blue wall of silence.” Later in the show: as tensions in Baltimore increased, it was the White House Correspondents Dinner which included a few jokes on the state of race relations, that took center stage in many media outlets; and just after the state of emergency in Baltimore was lifted, the comedy duo Key and Peele premiered a sketch called “Negrotown”… we ask, when is the right time for satire?


Panelists:
- Latoyia Edwards, Anchor, New England Cable News
- Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter, WGBH News
- Kim McLarin, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature, and Publishing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, Professor of History, Tufts University
- Emmett G. Price III, Associate Professor of Music, Northeastern University and author of The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture


Photo: (Left) Scene from “Negrotown” Key & Peele, Comedy Central. (Right) Protesters demonstrate as a curfew imposed in the aftermath of rioting following Monday's funeral for Freddie Gray goes into effect Friday, May 1, 2015, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/David Goldman)