Yesterday’s blog post about the ruckus in city council over a new Pearl District loo sparked a lot of controversy in the comments. So last night I went back over the spat on the city’s video archive, and pulled the relevant clip for you to watch:
The clip begins with City Commissioner Randy Leonard placating one of the neighbors by telling her to go back to the Pearl District Neighborhood Association with her concerns, and work something out there.
Then City Commissioner Nick Fish steps in, and seems to scold the neighbors for bringing this issue up at a time when there is tremendous need for restrooms and a great deal of NIMBYism greeting his efforts to site homeless feeds and warming centers around town, as well as toilets, which are part of the city’s strategy surrounding homelessness.
About six minutes in, Mayor Adams has to get involved with his gavel as an audience member—another Pearl District neighbor—starts calling out in the middle of Fish’s speech. It gets rather heated, indeed, and there’s great camera work from the city’s technology people to capture the heckler in action.
Who do you think comes off looking better: Adams, with his sturdy gavel? Leonard, with the smooth buck-passing, back to the neighborhood association? Fish, with the calmly raised ‘don’t roll your eyes at me’ hand—passive aggressive, moi? Or the irrepressible heckler lady? Go, heckler lady! Go! No, don’t. Don’t!
Sorry, council just isn’t usually this interesting to watch.
UPDATE! Screw it, let’s do a poll.
WHO COMES OFF BETTER?
Lady heckler, hands down. And now I roll my eyes at YOU!
As for who presents the more striking appearance, it depends:
Were Adams’ pants zipped?
I remember a lot more ruckus when Vera was Mayor. Seems like She pounded the gavel for a couple minutes when Genny Nelson called her on some bullshit and the packed house clapped and cheered louder than Vera could gavel.
By the way Genny Nelson is retiring from Sisters of The Road . A reception will be held December 12th at Sister’s cafe expect clapping, cheering, tears and maybe even some eye rolling if your fans of that.
Portland Police Commissioner Dan the Man Saltzman suggests in a loud, authoritative tone of voice, one should shout: “I’m not here for bathroom sex!” ten times before entering any public bathroom. This will alert anyone in the area of your intensions and project a commanding, assertive attitude. Blow a loud whistle a few times to make your announcement official.
If only they would care as much about the number of rest-rooms at the proposed PGE park redo. The spectator to water-closet ratio does not even come close to MLS guidelines.
What about Dan “empty seat” Saltzman or Amanda “no friggin’ way am I stepping into this one” Fritz?
Come on. Really. If Nick really wanted to help the homeless camping under the bridges he’d put the restrooms where, you know, they sleep. Under the bridges. But he’s Parks commissioner, and unwilling to upset the “seriously” well funded interests that are our Parks Board. Instead he wants a “token” restroom in the Pearl – where there actually is affordable housing, middle income housing. He doesn’t ever want to go against the big money – just paint the entire “pearl” district with a rich brush. Okay sheeple, you get what you deserve and a toy city, with toy problems, and never-ever approach real change. Douchebag hipsters.
Sam Adams is such a joke and I had to roll my eyes when he said that he was here to maintain a level playing field… except for when it is his election.