Every day she chalks ‘Black Lives Matter’ in a bike lane, and every day someone erases it

Chalk on NW 2nd Avenue bike lane in Old Town.
(Photos: Maria Cahill)

Maria Cahill has taken her fight against racism to a bike lane in Old Town. As an organizer with Irene’s Circle, a nonprofit that supports families impacted by police violence and hate crimes, it’s just one of the ways she exercises her commitment to justice.

Every day for nearly a month now, Cahill has chalked a message into the protected bike lane on NW 2nd Avenue right outside the Japanese American History Museum. Sometimes she’ll write, “All lives will matter when Black Lives Matter” and other times simply, “Black Lives Matter.”

Portlander John Russell leads free walking tours in downtown Portland. He has seen the chalked message many times — and he’s also noticed that it gets washed away each time. “Who cleans it off each day?” he wrote in a Facebook post yesterday. “A white guy who works for Portland’s Downtown Clean and Safe crew goes out of his way to clean it off. He doesn’t bother with other chalk in the neighborhood. Just this one.”

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County says NW Newberry road will be fixed by summer/fall 2018

Landslide and damage to NW Newberry.
(Photo: Multnomah Countyu)

Multnomah County issued advisories for two roads in the west hills that are popular with local riders.

They’ve released a date for when NW Newberry will be fixed and re-opened. And they’ve announced a new, upcoming closure of the west side of NW Germantown.

Winter storms pummeled NW Newberry Road into submission, causing a major landslide about a half-mile up from Highway 30. The landslide caused the pavement of the northern (uphill) lane to completely split apart and fall down a hill. As a result, Multnomah County closed the road on January 18th. Concrete jersey barriers were placed across the road in both directions. While the road is technically closed, bicycle riders have continued to use it by going around the barriers to enjoy a quiet and safe, carfree road.

At a recent public meeting, County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson said a federal grant has helped with the repair project. Yesterday, the County issued a statement saying they’ve begun working on a retaining wall needed to support the new road. Construction is set to begin in late spring 2018 and the road should reopen to all users by late summer/early fall of the same year.

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Video of Water Avenue collision provides vital evidence

Arrow points to Tamar Monhait just before the collision. Note that she is more than half-way through.
(Image taken from video of collision)

The Portland Police Bureau are now have clear video evidence of the collision that resulted in the death of Tamar Monhait early Monday morning.

A camera facing southwest from Water Avenue Coffee caught the tragic incident and owner Matt Milletto has forwarded the video to the PPB investigator working on the case.

I watched the video today. I’m not going to share it out of respect for how it might impact people’s emotions; but I will attempt to explain what I saw.

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Water Avenue business owner wants safety improvements, and PBOT already has some planned

Matt Milletto of Water Avenue Coffee-2.jpg

Matt Milletto of Water Avenue Coffee, standing in the intersection where Tamar Monhait was hit Monday morning, is tired of the dangerous driving in his neighborhood.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Matt Milletto, the owner of Water Avenue Coffee, has seen enough. The death of 41-year-old Tamar Monhait just steps away from his front door has spurred him into action.

During the monthly meeting of the Central Eastside Industrial Council last night, Milletto stepped forward during the public comment period to share his concerns about the intersection of Water Avenue and Taylor. I wasn’t there but heard from a source in the room that he spoke forcefully about the need for something to be done. I met Milletto today to hear his perspective first-hand.

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A chance to tell ODOT what their spending priorities should be

Current STIP project map showing projects that are in design (blue), under construction (orange), or completed (green).
(See full, interactive map here.)

STIP TIPS

Track it, comment on it, learn about it.

If left to their own devices the Oregon Department of Transportation would spend all our money on infrastructure that puts the needs of motor vehicle operators above all else. That’s because despite high-minded claims to the contrary, ODOT is still a motor-first agency at its core with a few reform-minded projects, staffers, and policies around the edges.

Take the “performance report” they released earlier this month. While billed as a serious analysis of a major problem, independent economist Joe Cortright with City Observatory saw it more as propoganda. “While packaged as a ‘performance report’ on the region’s highways,” Cortright wrote in a sharp rebuke published on August 8th, “this document is really a sales brochure for upcoming ODOT investments to widen three Portland area freeways.”

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Weekend Event Guide: Cross Crusade kickoff, Giro PDX, Bike Scout scavenger hunt, and more

Bike games are the best games. Sunday’s Bike Scout Scavenger Hunt is a must-try.
(Photo: Filmed by Bike/Bike Scout)

Can you believe it? Cross is almost here.

This Sunday the venerable Cross Crusade holds its kickoff bash. Now’s the time to commit to a season pass and prep your body, mind, and bike for the upcoming season.

Of course there’s also a few fun options for more laid-back riders. Roll southeast for a chill ride with our friends from Bike Milwaukie or grab some friends and do the Bike Scout Scavenger Hunt.

Here’s the guide to all the goodness…

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Job: General Accounting Clerk – Stages Indoor Cycling

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
General Accounting Clerk

Company/Organization *
Stages Indoor Cycling

Job Description *
Stages Cycling came to market in 2012 to completely blow the category of power measurement apart. Six World Championships and less than a year later, the world’s most data-driven, obsessive, professional cycling team, Team Sky, chose to exclusively ride Stages Power meters to victory in the most grueling professional cycling races in the world including the world time-trial championships. This role will support accounts payable and accounts receivable for sister company, Stages Indoor Cycling.

Stages Cycling is a daughter company of Foundation Fitness. This role will work side by side with accountants supporting Foundation Fitness and sister company Stages Indoor cycling. We are a dynamic, innovative company that has experienced a lot of growth in our seven year history. If you’re looking for a dynamic and growing, small business atmosphere, read on!

To apply, please include a cover letter with your resume.

Role and Responsibilities

This position is responsible for providing accounting support to Accounting Controller and other managers. Issues and receives daily invoices and documents on the general ledger system, ensures files are complete and maintained as needed, handles accounts payable duties, and assists accounting personnel.

Performs accounts payable functions to include:

-Matches system Purchase Orders with invoices as they are received.
-Charges expenses to accounts and departments by analyzing invoices and expense reports, recording the entries.
-Pays vendors by monitoring discount opportunities, verifying federal ID numbers, scheduling and preparing checks, resolving purchase order, contract, invoice or payment discrepancies and documentation; insuring credit is received for outstanding memos and issuing stop payments as necessary.
-Maintains vendor records in accounting system.
-Maintain vendor relationships.

Performs accounts receivable functions to include:

-Prepare invoices for customers for Foundation Fitness and its subsidiaries.
-Verifies validity of account discrepancies by obtaining and investigating information from sales, customer service department and customers.
-Post customer payments by recording cash, checks and credit card transactions using appropriate systems to manage information.
-Maintains customer records in accounting database.
-Maintain weekly aging report and provide information and updates to internal clients.

Performs other accounting functions to include:

-Reports sales taxes using third party administrator and reconciles sales taxes payable.
-Reconciles corporate credit card usage.
-Reconcile employee expense reports using third party application, verifying general ledger accounts and auditing for receipts in accordance with the corporate travel and expense reimbursement policy.
-Maintains historical records and files according to standard IRS guidelines for records retention.
-Assists with monthly closing activities regarding accounts payable reconciliation.
-Assists with related special projects and provides ad hoc reports as required by management.
-Assists with monthly closing activities regarding accounts receivable reconciliation.
-Assists with related special projects and provides ad hoc reports as required by management.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Analyzing Information, Data Entry Skills, Attention to Detail, Confidentiality, Thoroughness, General Math Skills, Reporting Skills, QuickBooks Knowledge, Sophisticated Time Management, Multi-Tasking and Organizational Skills, Verbal and Written Communication Skills

Preferred Skills

Understanding of Accounting Principles, Working Knowledge of General Ledger.

Additional Notes

This position is a full-time, in-office attendance position. Benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, 401k matching program, and paid time off.

How to Apply *
Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@stagescycling.com with the subject line, “Application for General Accounting Clerk Position.”

Tamar Monhait: Photos from the intersection and remembrances from those who knew her

Tamar Monhait.
(Image by DANAVA)

As we wait to learn more about what happened in Monday morning’s fatal collision, I’ve tried to learn more about Tamar Monhait, the 41-year-old artist whose life was cut tragically short.

I went to Southeast Water and Taylor this morning to get a better sense of the intersection and have reached out to those who knew her.

The collision happened just a few feet from a bike corral, a Biketown station, and the street seats of Water Avenue Coffee Company. During the day this intersection is bustling with a mix of industrial truck traffic, walkers and bikers headed to and from the Eastbank Esplanade, patrons of the many popular cafes and bars in the area, and professionals headed to any one of the newly sprouted office buildings that are transforming the central eastside.

Little is known about precisely what happened, but from initial statements by the Portland Police Bureau, we know that Monhait was riding northbound on Water Avenue prior to the collision. She was probably in the freshly-painted bike lane as she approached the intersection with Taylor. It’s a standard, 5-foot wide, unprotected bike lane with no buffer and the striping ends before the intersection. There’s an auto parking lane to the right of the bike lane and a vehicle lane to the left. This is a major city bike route as evidenced by the bikeway signage telling riders to turn east on Taylor to reach northeast and southeast Portland.

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The Ride: One century to rule them all

There’s more than one way to get to Vernonia – if you don’t mind getting dirty.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

This post is sponsored by River City Bicycles.

You know I have a soft-spot for Columbia County. A ride I did this weekend made it even softer: A 100-mile loop that pulls together adventurous riding that’s relatively close to Portland and offers everything from expertly crafted singletrack and primitive logging roads to carfree paths and smooth country roads.

I call it the Scappoose Vernonia Singletrack Century.

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