Psst. Hey Buddy, Want a Free Tree?
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New superhero What makes Blazers’ Robin Lopez tick? PortlandTribune— SEE SPORTS, B10 THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 • WWW.PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COM • PUBLISHED THURSDAY ■ Friends of Trees nears 50,000th planting, mostly in rights of way Psst. Hey buddy, BILL BAPTIST/HOUSTON ROCKETS He burned the steaks, but former want a Portland Trail Blazer Clyde Drexler thinks this year’s Blazers could compete for an NBA title. free tree? Drexler n a recent Saturday morning, which alternat- sees some ed between sunshine and wind-blown rain, Kristin Jost planted a free tree in the front Oyard of her house on Southeast Brooklyn ‘glide’ in Street and maybe made a neigh- borhood friend or two. STORY BY Jost and husband Branden Jost Blazers have lived in their Powellhurst- PETER KORN Gilbert house for seven years, and they’ve thought about planting a Ex-NBA star predicts tree or two out front. But both work full-time, and then there are daughters Julia and Katie, 3 1/2 and 2 years old, bright years ahead respectively. “There’s just no time, and money became a big part of for Portland team it. Trees aren’t cheap,” Jost says. In September, a Friends of Trees can- By KERRY EGGERS “Who vasser knocked on the Josts’ door and The Tribune offered a deal. The four or fi ve feet of wouldn’t their front yard closest to the street was HOUSTON — The grill is want to live public right of way, Kristin was told. In fi red up on a pleasant, sun- most city neighborhoods, that right of ny southern Texas Sunday on a tree- way is defi ned by a planting strip be- afternoon. Clyde Drexler is lined tween the street and the sidewalk, but sans cap and apron, but he’s street?” even without a planting strip, the city in the act of chef master as retains control. he slaps four rib-eyes on the — Sheila Grayson The Josts were told that as part of a slatted pan. citywide initiative to plant trees in the “I’m a grill guy,” the ex-Trail public right of way they could get a Blazers great says with a grin. free tree and, in January, join a crew of volunteers go- “That’s who I ing house to house planting the free trees in their am. I can grill neighborhood. anything — “My mom’s Jost also was given information about the value of vegetables, street trees. First, they absorb stormwater. They also pro- fi sh, chicken, healthy, my vide needed summer shade and habitat for birds and steak. I don’t kids are squirrels. In addition, studies have shown that on streets TRIBUNE PHOTO: JAIME VALDEZ cook much, healthy — with big tree canopies overhead, a tunnel effect induces Julia Jost watches her mom, Kristin, place a Friends of Trees sticker next to a tree they helped plant in Southeast but when I do, Portland as part of a Saturday volunteer effort. By afternoon, the group of volunteers had planted a free tree in I go to the life is good. See FRIENDS / Page 2 the Josts’ front yard public right of way. grill.” Every day is Drexler cer- tainly knows Saturday.” plenty about — Clyde Drexler the process, the result of Can water having grown up with “Drex- City left with fewer options ler’s World Famous BBQ and Grill” — owned and operated watchdog by his mother, Eunice Scott — in downtown Houston. Alas, there are distractions after port drops island plans on this day. A phone call di- rein in verts Drexler’s attention, and before you know it, the steaks Businesses see are charred. After some quick spending? improvisation, replacements ‘wakeup call’ for are procured and a tasty meal of steak, baked potato, brocco- Critics say nonprofi t jobs; city seeks sites li, salad and rolls highlights a Portland reunion party of CUB lacks authority By STEVE LAW sorts. The Tribune Delicious pound cake is to do much good served for dessert, provided by Score another win for Carol Jones, for 33 years the By JIM REDDEN the environment in Port- wife of Steve “Snapper” Jones, The Tribune land’s long-running fi ght retired TV analyst for national over marine trade terminals networks, as well as legendary Two weeks ago, and in re- proposed for West Hayden former broadcaster for the cord time, the City Council Island. Blazers. They moved from approved a new watchdog to Environmentalists and is- Portland to Houston in 2008, keep tabs on water and sew- land residents are basking in and Drexler and Jones — a er spending. victory since the Port of Port- mentor to Drexler during his The agreement struck with land shelved a request for the years with the Blazers — re- the Citizens Utility Board city to annex its 800-acre prop- main good friends. came about two weeks before erty, and back out of a city-port Turning down an interview petitions were agreement guiding future de- request, Drexler instead has fi led with city velopment on 300 of the acres. invited me to his palatial fi ve- elections offi- But the port’s Jan. 8 an- bedroom estate in a 900-home cials for a May nouncement leaves the city gated community adjacent to 2014 ballot with fewer avenues to provide TRIBUNE PHOTO: ALVARO FONTAN Royal Oaks Country Club to measure to industrial land for future jobs, The Port of Portland bought most of West Hayden Island two decades ago to build marine terminals along watch the AFC championship create an inde- as required by Oregon land-use the Columbia River west of the rail bridge. Now the port’s project is being shelved for the second time. game and visit. The afternoon pendently law. That could put pressure on turns out to be more of a gab- elected board Metro to expand the urban fest than a viewing party, and to manage the growth boundary, perhaps con- pivotal work session with plan- development as his predeces- I’m delighted to meet Carol, FISH water and sew- verting more Hillsboro-area ning commissioners, asking to sor, Sam Adams, who had chat with Drexler and Jones, er bureaus. farmland into industrial acre- “We need a wakeup cap its expenses for environ- coaxed the port to make anoth- and have the opportunity to re- On Jan. 8, every member of age — and diverting future jobs call about Portland’s mental remediation at $43 mil- er stab at developing its West new acquaintances with Scott. the council except Commis- outside Portland. lion. Port leaders wrote that Hayden Island property in 2009, I haven’t seen Drexler’s sioner Amanda Fritz — who Bob Sallinger, the Portland economy.” planning commissioners’ con- after losing an initial attempt mom since helping the Hall-of- was absent — voted to autho- Audubon Society conservation — Corky Collier, ditions would cost up to $82 years earlier in the face of envi- Famer write his memoirs, rize a five-year agreement director who led opposition to Columbia Corridor Association million, rendering the project ronmental opposition. “Clyde the Glide,” a decade with CUB to review and com- the West Hayden Island ship- too expensive to pencil out for “What I saw over time was ago. When I tell her she hasn’t ment on future spending plans ping terminals, praised Mayor grain or other terminals. people taking a look at the changed at all, I’m not kidding. by the Water Bureau and the Charlie Hales and fellow city Sallinger hopes the undevel- The port envisioned 900 to facts and becoming more At 78, she’s still spry, funny and Bureau of Environmental Ser- councilors for “standing fi rm” oped west half of the island 1,200 well-paying blue-collar doubtful about going forward,” opinionated. When Drexler in- vices, which operates the city on the environmental protec- might be protected as perma- jobs at the marine terminals, Sallinger says. forms everyone that Scott was sewer system. tions approved by the city Plan- nent open space. plus spinoff jobs that could add In mid-December, Hales told a basketball star long before The resolution authorizing ning and Sustainability Com- Port of Portland leaders had another 1,400 to 3,100 positions. the Portland Tribune editorial he was, she beams. mission as a condition for an- sent a letter to city commis- But Hales never mustered See DREXLER / Page 5 See WATER / Page 8 nexing the port parcel. sioners Oct. 7, days before their the same enthusiasm for the See INDUSTRIAL / Page 9 “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to Portland Tribune deliver balanced news that refl ects the SHOW SOME LOVE FOR MALACHI stories of our communities. Thank you Inside — SEE LIFE, PAGE B3 for reading our newspapers.” — DR. ROBERT B. PAMPLIN JR. OWNER & NEIGHBOR A2 NEWS The Portland Tribune Thursday, January 23, 2014 Friends: Many qualify, but few accept trees ■ teers blanketing a neighborhood From page 1 in groups of seven or eight. But trees, and educating the drivers to slow down. public about them, have defi nite- Jost chose a black tupelo in ly become the organization’s fo- November, when Friends of cus. The wrong trees in planting Trees showed her a list of trees strips cause problems, Dorer that would thrive in her space. says, sending deep roots that She liked the description of its break up sidewalks or growing black bark and orange and red tall enough to interfere with autumn foliage, and the fact that power lines. tupelos are drought-resistant, so Friends of Trees offers 112 dif- their tree shouldn’t require too ferent planting strip species much care and feeding.