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Thank you for covering this issue. I think these reforms seem like a step in the right direction and I'm glad to see them being taken -- thank you. As organizer of a local block watch, I learned to appreciate the role that good policing can play in my community. The failure of the City to hold bad (or failing) cops accountable damages the trust we as citizens can have of any police -- even the good ones -- it degrades community policing, and I deeply resent that.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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I registered on I-Match but have never been matched to a job -- I find it very un-user friendly, too. I believe we're required to do it to collect unemployment, but it's another example to me of a way I think the elements of the Oregon system are sort of broken and ineffecient.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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I've been unemployed for a little over a year -- first time collecting benefits in my life, first time out of work for longer than a few weeks.  I've survived because I have low living costs by adding $12,000 to my home equity line of credit, which I was lucky to have. More recently my boyfriend moved in and that helps, too.

I collected unemployment through Washington State for the first 6 months (I live in Oregon, have worked in Washington and Oregon), which was a much better system -- it paid more, for one thing, but it was also better organized, more informative, more logical in a lot of ways (e.g., you're required to log three employer contacts a week online in WA, rather than random periodic audits in OR). Even the WA website works better -- much better. Switching to Oregon was a bit of a shock. I don't really understand why Oregon does a worse job, but that's not my question.

But my questions are: who should I complain to about the weaknesses and problems I see? Which specific politicians are responsible? And are there any organizations advocating for the unemployed generally? I've always had pleasant encounters with the people on the phone, btw (when I can get through) but I don't get the sense that they are "agents of change."

Thanks for covering this important topic.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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For me, it's not a matter of "can we afford to do this now" it's a matter of fairness -- these represent investments for private, for-profit companies that have been making money hand-over-fist. Let the shareholders invest in this by reducing their profits, since they'll see the return.

Better yet, invest all the profits into things like sustainable energy that serve long-term public needs. This is one more reason why we need public utilities, if you ask me.

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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I've been unemployed since September and am collecting unemployment for the first time in my life. I live in Portland but worked in Washignton and Oregon, so I was encouraged by the Oregon unemployment people to file in Washington because they pay a lot more (their max is $540 a week versus Oregon -- $480 or something). Then, after 6 months of looking hard for work to no avail, my Washington benefits ran out and I had to file through Oregon, rather than getting the federal extension because I still had income that I hadn't collected on in Oregon.

Because of the way that benefits are calculated -- something I still don't entirely understand -- I went from $540 a week in Washington to $360 a month (before taxes) in Oregon. It's only been a couple of weeks for me on Oregon benefits (you also have to skip a week -- the "waiting period" -- which is also really tough when you're going from one set of benefits to another) but I really don't know how I'm going to make it -- my health insurance alone is $260 a month. I don't have dependents, or car payments, or a crazy mortgage, etc. so I consider myself relatively lucky, but it seems like the system is kind of broken if you can't at least survive on unemployment benefits.

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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I have supported additional state funding for OHS -- I went to Salem with the CHAMPs lobbying group, I have a Cultural Trust plate on my 1988 Volvo, I have written my legislaters about the current crisis.

My concern now is that additional state funds might not go to support the library because it is not valued by the OHS board. Can OHS give me any assurance that it will put additional funds to the library?

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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I agree -- recent exhibits have included things like 3-D and puppets -- trendy, but not historically significant.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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With all due respect, '4th graders versus historians' is a false dichotomy. What will 4th graders learn about history without the SOURCES of that history available? Why not just go to Disneyland? I say this as someone who has worked in exhibits and media.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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To answer Julie’s question, I value both the library and museum, but a concern that I share with many in the historical community is that over the years (not just the past months) OHS has undervalued the importance of the research library in favor of exhibits.

We all love exhibits. I’ve had the pleasure of working in exhibit & media design and deeply appreciate the importance of engaging the public in learning and caring more about history through fun, less-textual experiences. But a museum without a library is like frosting without the cake – maybe even frosting without the butter. Not very nutritious, or even very yummy.

In my own work as a public historian, I’ve used OHS collections for public programs, including work with K-12 teachers, as well as research on the historic use of properties in preparation for environmental clean up. These are uses that may not directly lead to ticket sales, but they lead to a greater public good.

The current structure at OHS seems to lead it to seek tickets while leaving a larger public good without an advocate or protector.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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Thank you very much for covering the plight of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library and its staff (and to Deborah Olson for her excellent articulation of the issues on your blog!).

There are many of us concerned about the future of this wonderful resource  --  more than 670 to date have signed a resolution in support of the library and staff at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Save-the-OHSRL-and-staff -- the comments illustrate a lot of the things people value as well as their concerns for the future. And more than 870 people have joined the Facebook group, "Save the Oregon Historical Society Research Library and Staff." If you care about this issue, we invite you to join it -- as well as the discussion tomorrow. We look forward to it!

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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I would appreciate a show on unemployment, particularly from the perspective of the unemployed. It seems timely, and I know it is for me, personally. After over 20 years of working, I find myself unemployed and collecting benefits for the first time.

I?ve learned a lot about the unemployment benefits system in the last few months, e.g., benefit payment rates are higher in Washington than in Oregon, you have to apply for at least 3 jobs a week regardless of whether there is work in your field, and many of the people working in the unemployment benefits offices are very supportive and friendly. I?ve also learned a little bit about the impact that filing unemployment has on the company that laid you off, but I still don?t completely understand how it payments are structured: Is it possible that a state could run OUT of money to pay the benefits if enough companies went bust?

I have other questions: what exactly is involved in extending benefits after your first six months? (I hope that isn?t relevant to me, but it would be good to know!) What will Obama?s policy of not taxing unemployment benefits mean (and how long have we been taxing unemployment benefits, anyway?)

And I?ve had a chance for some personal/sociological reflection: As a white collar worker facing unemployment for the first time, it was strange and new to collect unemployment benefits, but many of the people in my are in construction trades, and it?s been a part of their working lives for a long time. What?s different about collecting unemployment as a white collar worker?

How are other people keeping their spirits up? What are they doing with their time? There?s a part of me that?s really enjoying time off, after years of working with only brief vacations and lots of stress. But on the other hand, my self-esteem is suffering, and part of me really fears never getting another job, or heading on some kind of middle-aged downward career path.

Anyway ? these are some of the questions I have. I?d love to hear from people from the Oregon unemployment office, an accountant (to talk about the impact on companies facing layoffs, and maybe the tax implications for those of us unemployed ? not basic fiscal advice), maybe a historian, and other people who have been unemployed, now and in the past.

Thanks!

-- Mary

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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