I had a free doughnut and some caffeinated (oops—BAD IDEA) coffee this morning at the “Vision Into Action” coffee klatch before the council session. Since I haven’t really had caffeine in about two years, and I happen to be extremely sensitive to sugar rushes, I’m struggling to maintain a sense of perspective on this morning’s Made In Oregon sign debate. But that’s probably a good thing. Because it doesn’t seem like anyone else has been able to maintain a sense of perspective on it, either. Weeeeeee! Let’s go!
MADE IN OREGON SIGN: Randy Leonard wants to use $500,000 in city money to buy the sign from the U of O…
An ugly mood was set for the debate on the sign issue this morning when Nick Fish and Randy Leonard voted against a proposal by Commissioner Dan Saltzman to lower the City Of Portland flag once a month on the date that corresponds to the number of abused children who have died in the city the previous month. Both Leonard and Fish said they thought that Saltzman’s idea might confuse Portlanders, and that they were concerned that lowering the flag for abused children might mean that other groups would come forward, seeking to have the flag lowered in their cause. Amanda Fritz said she had process concerns—how, for example, would the number of dead children be counted, she wondered—but she didn’t see any reason not to go ahead with the idea. It went 2-2, and Saltzman plans to push for the ordinance again, once Mayor Sam Adams is back in the chamber, next week.
Why would Leonard and Fish have concerns about a resolution to recognize abused kids, I wonder? It’s not that their concerns aren’t arguable here at city hall. But Saltzman is the commissioner who accused Leonard of trying to “bully a process” with his sign resolution, on Tuesday. And this reporter couldn’t help wondering whether Leonard and Fish might be making some kind of point with their votes. They’ll both be mortally offended by the suggestion, I’m sure. So I’m sorry, in advance. But like I said: Coffee helps me lose my sense of perspective. I’m gonna go pop half a Xanax.
LEONARD AND SALTZMAN: Sparring on the dais…
Phew. That’s better. In addition to prescription drugs, I find meditation and deep breathing are the best way to ward off panic attacks. “Visualize yourself in a room where you feel safe,” is the mantra. Like council chambers! Yesssssss.
Discussion got off to a rough start, with Dan Saltzman asking a panel including Leonard and Mayor Adams’ chiefs of staff tough questions about how to fund the $500,000 condemnation of the sign. Saltzman proposed an amendment to the condemnation resolution, saying that no general fund dollars, no urban renewal dollars, or ratepayer dollars would be included in paying for the sign, but Leonard interrupted: “Dan, the time for amendments is after the public testimony and discussion,” he said. “Well, then I certainly will be proposing that amendment later on,” responded Saltzman.
This is so stressful! And 18 people are signed up to testify…
Matt Davis, you are a horrible Portlander. You don’t drink coffee or beer. Those are like our two most important products. Why do you hate local businesses?
For clarification: Having spent a good 15 years striving to go against one’s own genetics, one has found the best way to move forward without dying and or fucking it all up is to play the hand one’s been dealt. But I buy decaf from Stumptown all the time. And if a local brewer would only make an O’Douls, I’d be its biggest fan!
It takes some cajones to take a stand against abused children. Their point that everyone and their dog will want to lower the flag is a good one though.
This is a pissy council. I like it. I wish Sam was there. His cranky overbearance ads to the entertainment. He was at his petulent best on NPR’s call in show yesterday.
City council, making idiotic, meaningless, intentions instead of results since 19XX …
3-1 in favor of condemnation, Fritz a no based on use of public funds. Amended to exclude general funds, TIF, and ratepayer funds as sources.
This whole sign thing seems like a really great way of using time wisely. I can’t think of anything more important than a sign, can you?
So.. where is the money coming from then?
Leonard ought to be ashamed of himself. But, of course, he isn’t. What an incredible waste of taxpayer money. Fire them all.
See what happens when Mayor Adams is out of town? Looney Tunes type whackiness. I thought Saltzman was the sane voice on the council. He may still be, relatively speaking. But where does this proposal come from? How about we just put the flag at half mast all the time. Also, why not make a little memorial in every spot where someone dies…. (spin off to rant about roadside memorials averted).
Maybe it was all a ploy to set the stage for the main event. Have we no real issues in Portland these days?
“Oh my god, eleven children died last month?”
“No, it’s just Veteran’s Day.”
What happens if 32 abused kids are killed in a month? This plan is awful.
@mr. voluptuous
You said: “So.. where is the money coming from then?
Leonard ought to be ashamed of himself. But, of course, he isn’t. What an incredible waste of taxpayer money. Fire them all.”
The money that U of O would be using to change the sign to say University of Oregon would be from your tax dollars as well that are meant to fund an educational system. And no I don’t give a rats ass if it’s a private donation from Phil Knight himself. U of O can shove this idea right up their stack.
How come when Kiala writes dumb things like this, we let her get away with it, but when Matt Davis wants to do it, we make fun of him for his O’Douls habit?
(And hey, I do it too, but I still want to know.)
Because Kiala is the queen of Blogdown and you will do as she pleases.
EDIT: Queen of Blogtown
Well I think you’re right on schedule here. Typically journalists look at the donut + fruit plate and say, gee it’s a Persephone problem and I won’t taste, or gee here’s lunch. The latter figure out after a duration that sugar + caffeine prior to public policy meetings is self-abuse, and perhaps a strategic plot on the part of hosts to keep them off-balance.
It would be interesting for the Merc, or the New England Journal of Medicine, to commission a longitudinal study of use of psychopharmaceuticals in public policy negotiations.