Our Spin On 7 Days of News

[April 1st, 2009]

• DISGUST: The New York Times called Portland “a symbol of much that is wrong,” in a piece last week headlined, “A Downturn Wraps a City in Hesitance.” The March 26 story cited plummeting housing prices, high unemployment and foreclosures, along with a hesitancy by businesses to take on risk.

  

• BUST: Billionaire Paul Allen’s cable company, Charter Communications, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 27. The St. Louis-based company still has $8 billion in debt.

  

• FLOUR DUST: As in calamari, that is. City Council placed a $79,925 lien on Greek Cusina in an attempt to force owner Ted Papas to bring the downtown restaurant up to fire code. An inspection last May turned up 50 code violations.

  

• LESS THAN AUGUST: The Oregon State men’s basketball team on March 30 won Game 1 against UTEP in the best-of-three final of the College Basketball Invitational, March Madness’ second cousin. The Beavers try to clinch a win in Game 2 of the CBI on April 1.

  

• INFURIATING QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Please help me retire my debt. Make a contribution today!” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who’s apparently missed recent news about the recession, in a letter to supporters seeking donations to repay campaign debts from his 2008 victory over incumbent Republican Gordon Smith.