Dale Nye brings decades of newspaper experience to his job as a Street Roots vendor. He began his career with a bicycle paper route in coastal Oregon, which later evolved into a motor route of 200 miles round trip. He delivered The Oregonian and other papers from Lincoln City to Pacific City and along the highway to Portland and back. His parents were the owners of the local newspaper distribution business for more than 30 years.
Dale recounts delivering the Sunday newspaper to Gov. Tom McCall at his home on the coast as part of his regular route.
“He was the tallest governor we’ve ever had,” Dale said. “Nice guy.”
Selling newspapers is a challenge, Dale explained, whether it’s a community’s newspaper of record or a street paper like Street Roots.
“As I gained more experience, I discovered selling Street Roots takes more strategy. It’s very tactical,” he said. “You have to get up early and get on your spot. I’ve tried lots of different spots – Fred Meyer on Hawthorne, in front of Goodwill, the Multnomah County library –looking for high performance sales with a regular customer base.”
Dale is nearing his first anniversary as a Street Roots vendor. He is still trying to find his permanent spot but can be found frequently in the early mornings near First Baptist Church on Southwest 12th Avenue and Taylor Street. He says the morning hours are most profitable.
Dale is quick to volunteer his other vending tips.
“Have papers visible and nicely presented. Presentation is key. Get it visible from picture windows,” he said. “Another key element in selling papers is being sober and having good hygiene. Customers want new information, and if they have a thirst for information, they came to the right source. I’m putting myself out there with a product that is consistent. Be determined.”
For Dale, Street Roots provides an important supplement to his Social Security income. He said Social Security doesn’t pay the rent. But Street Roots provides a more important function for him.
“As a Street Roots vendor, I get responsibility; there’s pride in what I know. I get to draw on strategies and techniques to put the news out there on important local and regional issues that are sometimes controversial. It’s a cultural paper; it affects all walks of life, from the homeless to the affluent. There’s something in it for everyone. Street Roots helps me stay healthy and contributes to my sobriety. It’s an activity that is pro-social and provides a social outlet for me to interact with my community. And it’s taught me some new skills –like being open-minded and open to the possibilities. And with the income I earn with Street Roots, I’m able to be a customer and a consumer in our economy.”
Dale has some advice for his customers, too.
“Never give up,” he said. “Don’t let a day pass without staying committed to a cause.”
Dale has big plans for his future.
“I’m going through vocational rehabilitation right now, with a plan to be back at community college. Right now, I plan a steady course with Street Roots, and I go to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). That’s going to be a lifetime commitment. In the future, I visualize myself going back to the coast.”
His memories from childhood inspire his return to the coast. His fondest memory is the day he spent fishing in Depoe Bay with his father, whom he describes as his best friend.
“We got to the channel, we launched at high tide. The fog was thick – like split pea soup. We were going for salmon and had loaded herring for bait. The fog began to part, and I looked behind us and could see five or six dorsal fins trailing us by about 50 feet. The sharks were attracted by the motor and the petroleum. So we cut our engines in shark-infested waters, and decided to drift and go for ground fish instead. My dad wanted to get a lingcod. I looked starboard and saw a sunfish – it was huge. Maybe 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, leaping out of the water. When we came back into the harbor, each of us had about 50 seabass and 50 snapper. My dad never caught that lingcod, but he was still happy. That was my best memory – that one special day.”
But Dale doesn’t let his dreams or his memories distract him from living in the present.
“I’m of service to Street Roots right now,” he said. “I’ve got a sense of purpose here.”