Smirk:

I think Karlock's refrain is "Why AREN'T we encouraging people to use small cars instead of public transit."

And it's not an old refrain, it is a TIRED old refrain.

I would like to join the PPIPAPPPPP, or at least get some t-shirts made.

thanks for the typo catch, pdxMB. A funny moment last night came when Adams mentioned that the cameras in the room were for cable tv and then saw Jim and said, "Actually, this is Jim Karlock, who’s taping for himself."

"Groundtruthing?"

REALLY?

REAAAALLY?!?!

Wow.

Also: “The Portland Plan and the process we are launching tonight is not about Sam Adams’ vision, it is about your vision. This process has been structured to be about you,” said Fish.

How is this different from Tom Potter's costly "Visioning" product?

Of course it's about YOU. As long as you are:

"White, 32 percent have a household income over $100,000 and only 33 percent were under 40"

You can hide in your microbrew pubs, 'green' buildings and Pearl condos behind gates and guards and feel good about yourselves because of your intentions, despite the actual results.

You can also roll up the windows of your Prius' as the armies of change bummers and junkies line up to swap shifts at the corner and in front of the empty storefronts.

It would be amazing if any of these people actually walked the downtown streets today and took a look.

Question for Blogtown: How do you guys think these meetings are going to change the ultimate Plan they come up with?

In other words, if they just wrote the Plan right now based on masturbatory planner group-think orthodoxy, or if they wait and write the Plan after this process, how specifically do you think they two products would differ? As you can probably guess, my bet is that they wouldn't differ in any substantial way.

And Sarah, you should really be a planner. I can guarantee that your dismissive response to the couple of people who didn't share your politics is precisely how the planners in the room were reacting. Planners are great listeners just as long as your telling them what they already think they know.

Dear Ms. Mirk,

Thank you for helping me point out that the word "homelessness" and the idea of "homelessness" are missing from the Portland Plan. I'm not an active homelessness advocate (although this may turn me into one), but when I read the Portland Plan for fifteen minutes on the way to the meeting, I was quickly transformed into a concerned citizen. After the meeting, I tracked down Nick Fish and asked him why it didn't end up in the plan. He couldn't explain the omission, but he invited me into his office to discuss it. I'm currently in the process of scheduling that appointment. I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Thank you again,
Alexander Johnson