The hot political rumor at city hall this week has Commissioner Dan Saltzman readying a resolution that would resurrect the controversial Prostitution Free Zones around 82nd. One source explained that “Dan doesn’t like when people are mad at him,” and pressure from neighbors around 82nd was getting to be too much. So what gives? Saltzman […]
City Hall
Posted inPolitics
Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis Debate at City Club
City council candidates Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis faced off at City Club today, in a debate that truly kicked off the general election. Though both candidates have been campaigning on their own–often appearing in the same neighborhood parades–this was their first big one-on-one appearance. Check out the blow-by-blow after the cut! Lewis kicked things […]
Posted inCity Hall
Will the Last One Out Turn Off the Lights?
With just 104 days left in Mayor Tom Potter’s administration, his staff is dropping left and right. Community Affairs Director Carmen Rubio is moving to Commissioner Nick Fish’s office on Monday, where she’ll be doing policy and communications work. And the mayor’s spokesperson, John Doussard, is bidding the mayor’s office adieu next week. (Confidential to […]
Posted inPortland
A Sneak Peek at Commissioner Randy Leonard’s Public Safety Report
I just snagged a draft of Commissioner Randy Leonard’s Public Safety Assessment, the report mayor-elect Sam Adams asked him to prepare. It’s not due on Adams’ desk until September 9, but Leonard and his staff “reluctantly” released it today, though they’re still waiting for the mayor and the chief to comment on it. (UPDATED at […]
Posted inPolitics
Auditor Gary Blackmer Pulls Charter Amendment Proposal
I was fully prepared this morning to write what was clearly going to be the most boring Hall Monitor column EVER. (More boring, even, than anything that Scott Moore ever wrote. Kidding! Miss ya, Scott.) I mean, check this out: I was going to write about Auditor Gary Blackmer’s move to enshrine the city ombudsman’s […]
Posted inCity Hall
Mayor Tom Potter Jumps Into the Randy v. Rosie Spat
Mayor Tom Potter may be on vacation, but he still found time to file an editorial with the Oregonian, expressing his support for Police Chief Rosie Sizer. As you may recall, mayor-elect Sam Adams has asked Commissioner Randy Leonard to review the police department and the city’s entire public safety system. In the process, Sizer […]
Posted inPortland
Whatever Happened to Renaming 42nd Avenue?
Remember late last year, when a group of folks wanted to rename a street in Portland for one of their heroes? No, I’m not talking about the Cesar Chavez effort. I’m talking about the move to rename 42nd Avenue for Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In early January, Aaron Duran of […]
Posted inCity Hall
Developers Essentially Steal From the City, Screw the Poor
Last week, City Auditor Gary Blackmer released the report of a months-long investigation done on the PDC and Bureau of Planning’s policies surrounding tax breaks given to developers who build affordable housing. The report is serious. It points out the poor follow-up process that has resulted in some developers snagging tax breaks by promising to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Dog Treats for Police Chief Rosie Sizer…
…and other highlights from the city’s second quarter lobbying reports: In April, police union head Robert King gave Sizer $35 worth of “Dog Treats and Chew Toy[s].” In May, the chief had a $10 breakfast with Portland Patrol Inc boss John Hren. Lots of politicos enjoyed the Rose Festival gratis, attending the “Queen’s Garden Party,” […]
Posted inPolitics
Oh, Right. There’s Still an Election…
I caught two city council candidates–yep, people are still running for city council–at this weekend’s Division/Clinton Street Fair and parade. I tagged along with Amanda Fritz, hoping to catch a glimpse of candidate-voter interactions. But in a parade setting, not surprisingly, those are limited mostly to Fritz waving and shouting “hello!” “good morning!” and “I’m […]
Posted inPolitics
BREAKING: Safe, Sound and Green Streets Proposal Currently Dead
Commissioner Sam Adams’ Safe, Sound and Green Streets Executive Committee just wrapped up, and were nice enough to brief me as a committee. A press conference for one, as Adams put it. (Though the Oregonian’s city hall reporter did pop in later.) Long story short: Thanks to the economy, the proposal is currently dead. A […]
Posted inCity Hall
Stalking the Safe Sound and Green Streets Executive Committee
I’m hunkered down at the Mercury’s city hall bureau (AKA a wooden bench next to a power outlet in the hallway), waiting for Commissioner Sam Adams’ Safe Sound and Green Streets Executive Committee to finish up their 3 pm meeting. On the agenda? Well, technically I have no idea. It’s a closed meeting, and they […]