I imagine if we weren't spending $1.5 billion or so to fix the overflows, we'd see plenty of money going into maintenance.

It's a national issue. It took a long time for the Clean Water Act to result in combined sewer overflow mandates, but once it did, that's where the local money has gone.

I remember reading that the national bill for combined sewer overflows was about $100 billion for the next 20 years. What is that, one year in Iraq to fix every sewer system in the country?

Think the Oregonian might pick it up before the weekend?

If it matters to Oregonians, it was in the New York Times last week.

I just wish they had included a picture of that semi-trailer being hoisted out of the hole. I saved a copy of the picture on my work computer. Thought it might make a nice cover for the municipal bankruptcy filing.

The SUV they did use was pretty impressive, but nothing like that huge city truck.

What is that, one year in Iraq to fix every sewer system in the country?

Yeah. (Heavy sigh.) When you think about our deteriorating civic infrastructure versus what we spend on "defense"...it borders on the criminal.

Our neglected sewers are all George Bush's fault?

Our neglected sewers are all George Bush's fault?

Just the contents.

Are the Feds even responsible for paying for that? I thought that was on the city itself, or the state at most.

Its a bit more telling to look at things like that hole in SE, and then ask why we need a tram or more light rail before we fix whats already here. Its on the city.

Well, if you're a resident of the City of Portland....it's on you! We all have been paying more and more over the years, and your water/sewer bill will only get worse before it gets better....in 2011 or 2012 I believe? Just in time for the Mayan cosmogenesis...

"Local geology or underground hazards are blamed for many sinkholes: weak limestone in Florida, old mineshafts in Pennsylvania. But increasingly, the authorities say, as America’s cities grow older and basic repairs are put off,, when the ground gives way the problem is bad pipes."

My bold.

Perhaps that's because we're too busy pimping the city coffers to the developers?

I heard that as soon as they pulled that sewer truck out of the sinkhole, the line broke and it fell right back in.

Is that true?

The Big Pipe is using the money that could go to maintaining the existing sewer system, and it's mostly responsible for the increase in rates. Expect to be paying close to $100/month (yes, that's every month, not quarterly like the current bills) just for sewer service within 5 years.

The kicker is that it won't leave the river that much cleaner when it's finally completed in 2011. Bacteria levels are already above state standards before the Willamette even gets close to Portland.

Yeah. (Heavy sigh.) When you think about our deteriorating civic infrastructure versus what we spend on "defense"...it borders on the criminal.

The problem is, a nation without "defense" is like a body without an immune system.

When you think about our deteriorating civic infrastructure versus what we spend on "defense"...it borders on the criminal.

What's more relevantly (? a new word ?) criminal is the $$$ that got wasted on:

• the tram
• the water bureau software fiasco
• the reservoir cover/eBay fiasco
• fighting AT&T over broadband internet access
• the Streetcar (Buses aren't good enough for the Swells Of The Pearl?)
• Max (Buses aren't good enough for the Proles Of The Suburbs?)