Following his inauguration, Mayor Sam Adams launched two
important plans this week. First, Adams’ plan for his first 100
days in office was released last Friday, January 9. The plan
focused on education, the economy, and sustainability, with additional
fields in transportation, arts and culture, and emergency management.
Items on the checklist to be achieved by mid-April ranged from
launching a quarterly council newsletter to wide-ranging plans to
“stimulate public and private sector support of arts and
culture” and “improve energy efficiency.” Next, Adams launched an
economic stimulus package for Portland on Tuesday, January 13,
at a press conference at city hall. MD
***
No sooner had a new city council been sworn in than the race began
to find a successor for City Auditor Gary Blackmer, who
announced his resignation from elected office last Tuesday, January 6.
Blackmer, who has served as auditor for 10 years, and recently oversaw
Portland’s controversial voter-owned elections program, not to mention
the city’s Independent Police Review, was midway through his
third four-year term as auditor, and his resignation takes effect on
May 18. The timing is tricky, because it’s unknown whether a
publicly financed candidate will have time to run a viable
campaign for Blackmer’s seat—even though the position qualifies
for public money. Anyone interested in the position must be a certified
public accountant, a certified public auditor, or a certified
management accountant. MD
***
With their legs in a steel bear trap, covered in fake blood,
PETA volunteers Meggan Anderson and Krissy Addington
participated in an hour-long protest on Friday afternoon,
January 9, by lying on the sidewalk at SW Broadway and Yamhill, outside
Nordstrom. “It’s a bit chilly for them,” admitted PETA campaigner
Nicole Matthews. “But it’s nothing compared to the coldness of a person
who continues to wear fur.” The protest was the last stop on a
Northwest tour by the animal rights organization. Sergeant Jim
Dakin stood discreetly inside the doorway of Nordstrom, keeping an
eye on things. “I’m just standing in here because it’s warm and I
forgot my coat,” he said. “There’s no issues here.” MD
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Catch the news as it happens at blogtown.portlandmercury.com.
And see you on Tuesday, January 20th at the Oregon
Democrats/Mercury‘s Obama Inauguration Victory Ball, at
the Tiffany Center Emerald Ballroom, 1410 SW Morrison, 8pm, $100-120,
and get down at the Change Is Here dance party, Holocene, 1001
SE Morrison, Tuesday, January 20, 8 pm, $8-10.