Mark Fulop
@markfulop.bsky.social
Personal opinions only. Building local economies. Christian faith, structural justice, community economics, policy, positive aging & mentoring 5W4 #SDA #Adventist
Pinned
Mark Fulop
@markfulop.bsky.social
· Dec 14
Progressive churches must oppose Empire & destructive federal policies. We never give up. But we also need to shift our attention to building strong & connected, local communities. We must be relevant & make a difference locally. Socially connected. Economically empowered. Engaged in service.
Indeed, @mayorkwilson.bsky.social & the city councilors (cc: @councilorepg.bsky.social) need to learn from other cities & think deeply about the needs of micro/small businesses. Maybe talk to business owners about their struggles. All in preparation for the next budget planning process.
How Local Governments Can Support Small Businesses Struggling with Economic Uncertainty and High Costs
San Francisco offers an example model for other cities seeking to create the local regulatory environment necessary for small businesses to thrive.
www.urban.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Indeed, @mayorkwilson.bsky.social & the city councilors (cc: @councilorepg.bsky.social) need to learn from other cities & think deeply about the needs of micro/small businesses. Maybe talk to business owners about their struggles. All in preparation for the next budget planning process.
This is scary data. Extremely scary.
1️⃣ New NCRP research shows regressive funders are outspending progressive allies in the fight over LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant justice & democracy.
2️⃣ Anti-LGBTQ+ funding is up. Anti-immigrant funding is spiking. Anti-democracy funding keeps rising between election cycles.
2️⃣ Anti-LGBTQ+ funding is up. Anti-immigrant funding is spiking. Anti-democracy funding keeps rising between election cycles.
December 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This is scary data. Extremely scary.
The @ncrpcommunity.bsky.social examined philanthropy funding movements focused on sustaining the democratic society versus regressive funders. Regressive funders accelerate their efforts while other progressive funders cower in self-censorship.
The Rise of Regressive Philanthropy in the 21st Century - NCRP
New research from the National Committee of Responsive Philanthropy explores the increased investment of regressive private and public foundations in recent years.
ncrp.org
December 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The @ncrpcommunity.bsky.social examined philanthropy funding movements focused on sustaining the democratic society versus regressive funders. Regressive funders accelerate their efforts while other progressive funders cower in self-censorship.
Praying that some more competent candidates will step up in Portland District 3 for 2026 🙏🏻 #pdxpolitics
December 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Praying that some more competent candidates will step up in Portland District 3 for 2026 🙏🏻 #pdxpolitics
Democracy Failing due to Corruption.
American Progressives. “We periodically hold the most massive awesome and clever #NOKINGS rallies ever. 🙌🏻”
Bulgaria citizens: “Hold our beers.
American Progressives. “We periodically hold the most massive awesome and clever #NOKINGS rallies ever. 🙌🏻”
Bulgaria citizens: “Hold our beers.
Bulgarian government resigns after mass anti-corruption protests
Prime minister makes announcement before parliament vote on no-confidence motion filed by opposition
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Democracy Failing due to Corruption.
American Progressives. “We periodically hold the most massive awesome and clever #NOKINGS rallies ever. 🙌🏻”
Bulgaria citizens: “Hold our beers.
American Progressives. “We periodically hold the most massive awesome and clever #NOKINGS rallies ever. 🙌🏻”
Bulgaria citizens: “Hold our beers.
Capitalism isn’t the problem. Unchecked exploitation of Corporations extracting community wealth is the problem. While we can reduce consumption, do more bartering, & sharing, we inevitably buy things. How we buy matters. Twofold: Boycott corporations and invest in small businesses. #shoplocal
December 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Capitalism isn’t the problem. Unchecked exploitation of Corporations extracting community wealth is the problem. While we can reduce consumption, do more bartering, & sharing, we inevitably buy things. How we buy matters. Twofold: Boycott corporations and invest in small businesses. #shoplocal
Remember when Bezos asked cities to kiss his ass in a fake competition for Amazon headquarters 2.0? It appears that is what the Republicans are now demanding the same from rural communities in exchange for restoring a third of the Medicaid cuts they took away in the Big Billionaire Bill.
‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies
Democrats and health advocates described the strategy as highly unusual, and some fear it could be wielded to favor political allies.
www.politico.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Remember when Bezos asked cities to kiss his ass in a fake competition for Amazon headquarters 2.0? It appears that is what the Republicans are now demanding the same from rural communities in exchange for restoring a third of the Medicaid cuts they took away in the Big Billionaire Bill.
What advice do you have for a person loosely connected to this platform looking to increase their use (abandoning threads) to track pdx politics, small business topics, & nonprofits? Besides engage & be kind.
December 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
What advice do you have for a person loosely connected to this platform looking to increase their use (abandoning threads) to track pdx politics, small business topics, & nonprofits? Besides engage & be kind.
When PDX district city councilors are focused on troops in Portland, milling around an ICE facility, they’re not talking about 3-4 business owners in a neighborhood having their HVAC systems gutted for scrap metal by known homeless drug users. Leaving the businesses with huge unplanned expenses.
October 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
When PDX district city councilors are focused on troops in Portland, milling around an ICE facility, they’re not talking about 3-4 business owners in a neighborhood having their HVAC systems gutted for scrap metal by known homeless drug users. Leaving the businesses with huge unplanned expenses.
Now that @schumer.senate.gov & @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social successfully made a day of mourning seem bipartisan, rumor has it they are now drafting formal apologies to Randy Weaver, David Koresh, & Timothy McVeigh, sayin, “what the heck, let’s get ahead of this for once. “
September 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Now that @schumer.senate.gov & @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social successfully made a day of mourning seem bipartisan, rumor has it they are now drafting formal apologies to Randy Weaver, David Koresh, & Timothy McVeigh, sayin, “what the heck, let’s get ahead of this for once. “
I agree with lot of what pdx city councilors do but when the “socialists”of decide to take a vacation to Vienna on taxpayers’ dime & ignore the local academics, researchers & resident experts in housing, urban planning & social sciences, it’s straight up bougie, regardless of the propaganda reels.
September 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I agree with lot of what pdx city councilors do but when the “socialists”of decide to take a vacation to Vienna on taxpayers’ dime & ignore the local academics, researchers & resident experts in housing, urban planning & social sciences, it’s straight up bougie, regardless of the propaganda reels.
I was talking with someone recently who did not know who Jim Jones was, never heard of Ruby Ridge & only had a vague idea of the significance of David Koresh. This week I was reminded to pull Waco Rising off the shelf & revisit the highlights.
September 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I was talking with someone recently who did not know who Jim Jones was, never heard of Ruby Ridge & only had a vague idea of the significance of David Koresh. This week I was reminded to pull Waco Rising off the shelf & revisit the highlights.
Part of me knows that I should be quoting Matt 5 but part of me wants to be quoting Psalms 137. So I best be quiet.
September 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Part of me knows that I should be quoting Matt 5 but part of me wants to be quoting Psalms 137. So I best be quiet.
This is important reading for @portlandcouncil.bsky.social Development is a done well neighborhood by neighborhood.
“The state and city have made large cross-sector investments to finance neighborhood-based redevelopment.”
“The state and city have made large cross-sector investments to finance neighborhood-based redevelopment.”
In a Decade, Baltimore Cut Vacancy by More Than 20 Percent. This Didn’t Happen by Accident
Over the past 70 years, Baltimore has experienced population decline and disinvestment that has resulted in a high number of vacant properties. Through a whole-block redevelopment strategy, $3 billion...
housingmatters.urban.org
September 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
This is important reading for @portlandcouncil.bsky.social Development is a done well neighborhood by neighborhood.
“The state and city have made large cross-sector investments to finance neighborhood-based redevelopment.”
“The state and city have made large cross-sector investments to finance neighborhood-based redevelopment.”
They were literally fighting wildfires. Where is the outrage? @cantwell.senate.gov & @murray.senate.gov
Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire
SEATTLE — Two people fighting the Bear Gulch fire on the Olympic Peninsula were arrested by federal law enforcement Wednesday, in a confrontation described by firefighters and depicted in photos and v
www.columbian.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
They were literally fighting wildfires. Where is the outrage? @cantwell.senate.gov & @murray.senate.gov
Playing the socialist & equity card until they realize they can use taxpayer dollars to take a Vienna vacation.
@councilordunphy.bsky.social @counciloravalos.bsky.social @councilorgreen.bsky.social
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
@councilordunphy.bsky.social @counciloravalos.bsky.social @councilorgreen.bsky.social
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
Portland city councilors will travel to Austria for housing junket
Councilors will spend six days learning about social housing, which Vienna implemented starting in the early 20th century to subsidize and regulate units.
www.oregonlive.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Playing the socialist & equity card until they realize they can use taxpayer dollars to take a Vienna vacation.
@councilordunphy.bsky.social @counciloravalos.bsky.social @councilorgreen.bsky.social
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
@councilordunphy.bsky.social @counciloravalos.bsky.social @councilorgreen.bsky.social
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
Reposted by Mark Fulop
It’s not just that the oligarchs don’t want to pay their fair share of taxes.
Many of them literally do not believe in the concept of government.
They are rich and powerful and have the “divine right” to do anything they want.
Many of them literally do not believe in the concept of government.
They are rich and powerful and have the “divine right” to do anything they want.
June 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It’s not just that the oligarchs don’t want to pay their fair share of taxes.
Many of them literally do not believe in the concept of government.
They are rich and powerful and have the “divine right” to do anything they want.
Many of them literally do not believe in the concept of government.
They are rich and powerful and have the “divine right” to do anything they want.
Gaslighting is not just for the right. According to the press release of Green & Dunphy the amendment eliminated $11 million General Fund Prosper Portland & instead “fund its operations through a $50 million Strategic Investment Fund—a revolving loan program used to finance local businesses.”
The information being shared by Prosper Portland is incorrect. Councilor Green and I are not proposing to defund the economic development activities at Prosper Portland. We are asking that they use the money from their new savings account to fully fund those programs.
May 21, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Gaslighting is not just for the right. According to the press release of Green & Dunphy the amendment eliminated $11 million General Fund Prosper Portland & instead “fund its operations through a $50 million Strategic Investment Fund—a revolving loan program used to finance local businesses.”
The boom loop that Portland, Oregon really needs, is to capitalize on the four district model that has been adopted as the new charter. In this model, we make distributed investments across all four districts…
May 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The boom loop that Portland, Oregon really needs, is to capitalize on the four district model that has been adopted as the new charter. In this model, we make distributed investments across all four districts…
Morning coffee ☕️ “If a modest fraction of a community shift a modest fraction of their expenditures toward local business, the economic boost can be extraordinary. One study found that a shift of just 10% of purchases could create 31,000 new jobs paying $940 million in new wages.”
May 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Morning coffee ☕️ “If a modest fraction of a community shift a modest fraction of their expenditures toward local business, the economic boost can be extraordinary. One study found that a shift of just 10% of purchases could create 31,000 new jobs paying $940 million in new wages.”
Undoubtedly the stupidest idea floated this week. If the city councilors don’t see how this would undermine all four districts & damage neighborhood businesses. Then we are screwed as a city. This ideas plus MBL support = increased disparity & inequity.
Portland mayor, Oregon governor propose suspending development fees to boost housing construction • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek announced a plan Thursday to incentivize developers to build more new housing in Portland.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
May 3, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Undoubtedly the stupidest idea floated this week. If the city councilors don’t see how this would undermine all four districts & damage neighborhood businesses. Then we are screwed as a city. This ideas plus MBL support = increased disparity & inequity.
Easter. The cross is not a symbol of blood atonement sacrifice. It was a the ultimate act of revolution.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offering & again
He has told you what the Lord requires. Do justice, to love mercy & walk humbly with your God?
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offering & again
He has told you what the Lord requires. Do justice, to love mercy & walk humbly with your God?
April 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Easter. The cross is not a symbol of blood atonement sacrifice. It was a the ultimate act of revolution.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offering & again
He has told you what the Lord requires. Do justice, to love mercy & walk humbly with your God?
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offering & again
He has told you what the Lord requires. Do justice, to love mercy & walk humbly with your God?
Just a friendly reminder of where we are today. Oh. The same place we were in 1970 when Nixon was president. #BezosOrionRocket
youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4
youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4
Gil Scott-Heron - Whitey On the Moon (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Ace Records
youtu.be
April 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Just a friendly reminder of where we are today. Oh. The same place we were in 1970 when Nixon was president. #BezosOrionRocket
youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4
youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4
News flash. Senator Lisa Murkowski along with half a dozen other senators could stop this chaos today.
April 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
News flash. Senator Lisa Murkowski along with half a dozen other senators could stop this chaos today.
When #church leaders are suggesting that empathy can be (or is) a sin? The faith that you profess is in free fall and crashes into the Empire as the “Deutsche Christens”
Note to my #Christian pastor friends? Time to double down as the vocal & faithful opposition of the “Bekennende Kirche.”
Note to my #Christian pastor friends? Time to double down as the vocal & faithful opposition of the “Bekennende Kirche.”
April 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
When #church leaders are suggesting that empathy can be (or is) a sin? The faith that you profess is in free fall and crashes into the Empire as the “Deutsche Christens”
Note to my #Christian pastor friends? Time to double down as the vocal & faithful opposition of the “Bekennende Kirche.”
Note to my #Christian pastor friends? Time to double down as the vocal & faithful opposition of the “Bekennende Kirche.”