How about a round-up of wonktastic Portland policy analysis? Well, alright then…but I warn you…
WATER FIGHT!!! City Commissioner Randy Leonard is “shocked” at accusations by open reservoir activists that he’s pursuing an alternative to a federal exemption from water purity laws set out by the Environmental Protection Agency. Open reservoir activists say Portland’s water is so clean, we don’t need to cover up our reservoirs, whatever the EPA says. Leonard says he agrees, but that it might be a good idea to look at alternatives, just in case the federal government doesn’t think Portland is quite so special as its residents seem to. The Tribune has the story this morning. Meanwhile, Mercury illustrator Brett Superstar interprets the story:
LEONARD ILLUSTRATION: Reverent…austere…
PORTLAND A MAJOR SPORTS CITY!!! Forbes Magazine says our population growth is the major factor. Wet or not, Leonard will be pleased, since he’s trying to bring major league soccer to Portland.
NOT FARE!!! Portland Transport has a pdf of the presentation given to Trimet Directors on January 28, suggesting they ditch fareless square, or at least, limit it to light rail only. Former city council candidate Chris Smith runs the site, and there’s extensive discussion in the comments. It’s interesting to note that Trimet is doing this the smart way, this time around, instead of simply surprising voters like they did last year. Perhaps the Portland Business Alliance hired a public relations consultant to help them push for the change more effectively?
ANON BLOG COMMENTERS IN LIBEL TROUBLE!!! Hundreds of people who posted their opinions of a Dallas sexual assault trial in an online forum are now the targets of a lawsuit. The authors of those comments thought they were anonymous, but this week, a judge ruled their names should be revealed. The attorney for the plaintiffs, suing 178 people for libel, has labeled the comments “a form of persecution.” Meanwhile, you may remember, Portland has had a very different experience in the courts, when it comes to legal rulings about whether anonymous commenters should have their information protected by law.
GREEN CENTER EXTENDS DEADLINE!!! The Portland Development Commission has extended the deadline for on its request for proposals for Mayor Sam Adams’ trumpeted Oregon Sustainability Center, according to Brian Libby at the Portland Architecture blog, who goes into detail on the possible reasons behind the reported delay. Libby asks: “Is the Sustainability Center a mirage, a great opportunity, or something in between?” You choose.
WE CAN’T AFFORD MEASURE 57!!! Back in November, Oregon voters passed a law mandating drug treatment for certain property and drug offenders. The trouble is, you can pass a law, but that doesn’t mean the state can afford it. Fear not, however. State representative Chip Shields has now established a “Promise of Measure 57 Committee.” So you can go ahead and imagine a heavenly choir singing, backed by lots of trumpets. Also interesting to note, in the law itself, is section 8, subsection 4, which is essentially a sub-clause saying the state doesn’t actually have to provide the drug treatment at all. No part of the law, it says, “creates any claim, right of action or civil liability; or requires a supervisory authority or the Department of Corrections to provide treatment to any individual under the authority’s supervision or in the department’s custody.” Promises, promises…
TASER POLICIES MAY GET SUPREME COURT REVIEW!!! The ACLU in Florida has petitioned the court to decide on the case, on behalf of one man who claims excessive force by the devices. Meanwhile, here in Portland, the weapons continue to be controversial.
WHAT 3.6M JOBS LOST OVER 13 MONTHS LOOKS LIKE!!! Nancy Pelosi’s staff draw the most terrifying graph I’ve seen so far, relating to the recession. You may also enjoy this podcast, with Senate President Peter Courtney, on the upcoming budget crisis. The podcast was recorded February 4, but is full of stark reminders that the state is, essentially, buggered. “I do think the recession is here for quite a long period of time,” Courtney says. No word yet on the impact of the stimulus package on Courtney’s spirits, but we’ll keep you informed.
NOPO’S POPO A GOGO!!! The O‘s Anna Griffin checks in with St.John’s neighbors about the upcoming closure of their police precinct. A similar move was last proposed in 2007, although this time, it looks like no amount of special pleading is going to keep the St.John’s precinct open. SE precinct looks to be on the outs, too.
Good day.
Thanks for the PortlandTransport shout-out.
I recommended a no vote on BOTH of the crime measures in November because it was clear the state couldn’t afford either.
But the beauty of the old bait and switch in measure 57 is the exit clause. They don’t have to pay for treatment. It’s a nice scam. The prosecutors get the prison time, and the inmates get no treatment at all. This time next year most treatment programs will be gone.
If Chip Shields is serious about putting everything on the table then I propose the Hamsterdam Act. Legalize it all (or at least leave prosecution for dealers up to the feds) and spend the DOC money on walk-in immediate drug and mental health treatment facilities with housing support.
Fun fact for the day: The US has more of a percentage of it’s population in prison than any other major country in the history of the world, with one possible exception: Nazi Germany. (The Nazi record keeping on the dates of imprisonment vs execution aren’t exactly clear, so we don’t actually know. However, if we keep it up, we’ll pass them, so the “winner” will become clear again.)
(And yes, Godwin’s law and all that.)
Fun fact for the day: The US has more of a percentage of it’s population in prison than any other major country in the history of the world, with one possible exception: Nazi Germany. (The Nazi record keeping on the dates of imprisonment vs execution aren’t exactly clear, so we don’t actually know. However, if we keep it up, we’ll pass them, so the “winner” will become clear again.)
(And yes, Godwin’s law and all that.)
Yes, I know I probably just sent a double post, but in my defense, it still says “Showing 1-3 of 3” 3 minutes later.
“The US has more of a percentage of it’s population in prison than any other major country in the history of the world, with one possible exception: Nazi Germany.”
That’s not actually true, Matthew. I’ll trot out some numbers if anyone is interested.
Sure, bring ’em on, especially in the “Good Morning, Wonkery!” thread.