The city’s Parks Advisory Board voted this morning against City Commissioner Randy Leonard’s plan to arm water bureau security guards. Leonard, however, says he’s unfazed, because the parks bureau is nothing to do with him. “It’s the parks board, and I run the water bureau,” said Leonard. “We’re arming water bureau security staff for water […]
Matt Davis
Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.
Posted inNews
Mayor Ivancie Knew How To Handle Distractions…Now, We’re All Gonna Vote Yes On 66 and 67
Okay, so Frank Ivancie didn’t exactly have the greatest reputation around here. He once called homosexuality a “a severe, unnatural personal problem,” for example. But the fella sure knew how to deal with unwelcome distractions, like, say, a NUCLEAR ATTACK: MAYOR IVANCIE: “COMFORT THE DYING” Fortunately, I’ve prepared an updated version of the poster for […]
Posted inNews
Recall 2 Files Quietly At City Auditor’s Office—Election Will Cost $350,000 In Taxpayer Dollars
The second effort to recall Mayor Sam Adams filed discretely this morning at the City Auditor’s office. RECALL 2: “SAM ADAMS HAS LIED TO US” “They filed a prospective recall petition at 8:20 this morning,” says Andrew Carlstrom, city elections officer. “It gives the reasons for demanding the recall.” “Sam Adams has lied to us. […]
Posted inPolitics
WTF, Massachusetts?
Did Massachusetts just screw health reform? Well, it depends who you ask. If you ask the health insurance lobby, then no. But if you ask the Democrats, well, they’ll probably fudge the issue. The answer is of course, “yes.” NEW REPUBLIC OBAMA TO SCALE BACK AGENDA? The Democratic loss in the state costs the would-be […]
Posted inElection 2010
Saltzman Files For Reelection, But Will He Deign To Share A Stage With His Rivals On Jan 28?
UPDATE: DAN SALTZMAN WILL BE COMING, says his campaign manger. FANTASTIC. ORIGINAL POST, 12:24 pm: In surprise of the year, reticent police commissioner Dan Saltzman has finally filed for reelection this morning. We’ve invited Saltzman, along with the other 6 candidates for his seat, to our Candidate Olympiad on January 28. SALTZMAN: FINALLY FILED THIS […]
Posted inNews
Recall Recall Launching Tomorrow, Reports PBJ
An article on the Portland Business Journal’s website quotes an anonymous volunteer on the second recall campaign against Mayor Sam Adams this morning. The article says the second recall plans to launch tomorrow. RECALL RECALL: LAUNCHING TOMORROW? But the story, which doesn’t seem to have a byline, is based on some pretty weak sauce. It […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!!
MASSACHUSETTS VOTES!!! And the race is “unexpectedly close.” NO MORE MR.NICE PRESIDENT!!! Obama plans a “combative turn” if the Dems lose today. HAITIANS FLEE PORT-AU-PRINCE!!! Escaped prisoners running the slums already, reports the Associated Press. FBI ILLEGALLY COLLECTED PHONE RECORDS!!! Reports the Washington Post. DENNIS HOPPER DIVORCES FROM DEATHBED!!! Now, that is a man with […]
Posted inNews
Breedlove To Write Adams Memoir
Beau Breedlove is shopping a new scandal memoir around through a Chicago agent, according to the Oregonian this afternoon. Well, it’s a book proposal. He hasn’t actually written the thing yet. “The book is a reflection on the events of my life before, during and after the ‘scandal’ surrounding my relationship with Sam Adams,” Breedlove […]
Posted inElection 2010
Saltzman’s Seat: Come To Candidate Olympiad!
With the race for Dan Saltzman’s council seat now split seven ways, the Mercury and the Bus Project have decided to put on a Brewhaha event for all seven candidates, so that you can meet and get to know them before the 1000-signature deadline for publicly financed campaigns on January 29. CANDIDATE OLYMPIAD: COOL RUNNINGS […]
Posted inMedia
“It’s Not Livable If You Can’t Live There.”
The Oregonian ran an editorial by a Midwestern urban affairs writer yesterday that deserves to be trumpeted—if only because it hits on the downsides of this city as well as any article I’ve read over recent years. “Portland should be an economic juggernaut — but isn’t,” writes Aaron M.Renn. Perhaps the problem, he wonders, is […]
Posted inNews
Martin Luther King, Jr.
North Portland realtor and former candidate for State Senate, Fred Stewart, just Facebook’d this link to Martin Luther King, Jr. on “Meet The Press.” It’s fantastic. Watch the interviewer trying to shame King for his arguments “against private business.” Wow. Quoting President Truman, who said private business people had the right to discriminate against “negroes.” […]
Posted inNews
Mayor Will Meet President Obama In D.C
Sam Adams is off to Washington next week for a series of meetings to try to convince the Federal Government to invest in the city’s “green economy.” Astute readers will realize Portland isn’t the only city in the US vying to become a hub of said “green economy,” but Adams does have a few aces […]