The city council has sure turned into a sand box!
Too bad we can't demand the councilors go do real work, and they could start by filling all the pot holes or picking up trash.

Jack, I like the way Saltzman calls Randy out for bullying and he vents at you.
I also predict that, "Your hubris knows no bounds" will go on to be a national catch-phrase.
Then, in a few generations, it will become the standard greeting between drama majors everywhere.

Randy makes me so I happy I live in ..... Lake Oswego.

Randy strikes me as a guy who should have received special services for ADHD when he was growing up, but who did not. Now he ping-pongs from one crusade to another, each one launched in the span that it takes most people to order a cup of coffee. It would be refreshing if he'd turn his obsessive focus to things that...you know...matter.

Things that matter aren't politically sexy projects that boost you to the next strata of political life.

No one ever reached higher office by filling holes in the street and paying down debt.

Make no mistake - city politicians' primary concern are becoming state politicians. State politicians' primary concern are becoming national politicians. National politicians' primary concern are becoming more prominent national politicians.

The rest of us just foot the bill for their social ladder, and hope we get what we need once in a while as a byproduct.

Stuff that is in their actual job descriptions bores them to tears. Add in that there is an army of paid "consultants" and others who stand to benefit romancing them at every turn. That, and people with any personal dignity left don't want to be seen with them.

Step one is get a new Auditor who will hold their feet to the fire about reporting free entertainment, cigars, etc. The proverbial smoke-filled rooms have returned, but they are dodging the transparency rules that were designed to out it all.

We're back in Frank Ivancie mode.

Frank Ivancie? Let's not get crazy here. I was a banquet captain in those years so I was around Ivancie a lot.
On Randy's worst day he's no Frank Ivancie.

Wow, a politician calling someone out on a matter of hubris is the type of situation that has turned political satire into a redundant description. Governmental appropriation of more and more of our everyday lives (i.e. using tax dollars to finance soccer stadiums only a tiny minority want and that will financially benefit a select few) is happening so often with the help of politicians like Leonard that it's hard to remember a time when the government wasn't in our wallets and in our way.
Wanting to control the brand on a piece of private property is exactly a matter of hubris.
Too bad Neil Sheehan already used this for a book title because it also fits the story of Randy, Sam, et.al. "A Bright Shining Lie."

I'm still with Randy.

The soccer thing is the worst idea since the last development project and the sign thing makes no sense at all.

But he is a real person who appears to be honest as far as I can tell.

You take the bad with good with Randy.

When you're a hammer, you look for the closest nail.

I'm just grateful that, in a city with high unemployment, growing poverty, a disappearing middle class, increased pollution, ever-rising Oregon Food Bank requests, and a growing list of utterly failed Adams campaign promises, the top three City Council priorities are

(1) "Get a soccer team"

and

(2) "Build lots of green skyscrapers"

and

(3) "Get a neon sign".

Sorry...He tipped the scale too far.

Step one is get a new Auditor who will hold their feet to the fire about reporting free entertainment, cigars, etc.

It's already required, and it's the state, not the city, that enforces it.

Anyone want to make a request to look at Randy's filing to check its accuracy?

Frank Ivancie? Let's not get crazy here. I was a banquet captain in those years so I was around Ivancie a lot.
On Randy's worst day he's no Frank Ivancie.

Of course that's just your opinion, Mr. Bill.

Or should I refer to you as "Captain Bill"?

Seen any unexplained lights in the sky lately, Cap'n?

...I'd be just the least bit careful tossing around the term "crazy", if I were you.

Of course that's just my opinion.

cc,
The phrase "Let's not get crazy" just means "Let's not get carried away." It's a common saying and doesn't imply anyone is actually crazy.

If you want to refer to me as Captain Bill go ahead, but that was in my past.

I think I see your confusion. Presidents are still called President long after they leave office. But it doesn't work that way with Banquet Captains - I can assure you.
The worst part is the gratuities also stop.

As for unexplained lights in the sky? I see lots of them starting with the stars. I have no explanation for why they are there, but I wish I did.

Perhaps you know.

Mr Bog

Since I am not a lawyer and you are, I was thinking about Randy's plan to condemn the sign and take it over.

If I am the building owner (I think its the Naito's) and I no longer own the sign due to condemnation. Since condemnation makes it city property - Can't I tell CoP to remove their property from my building after it is condemned?

Or why not charge them rent for the space their sign takes up? Of course maybe then they would just condemn the whole building.

Better idea - Since CoP water is going up 16% in June, lets raise the rent 16% above what it would have been in June.

Steve:
Ramsey Sign owns the sign, not the building owner. Ramsey has a long-term lease with the building owner (Venerable Properties) to lease the portion of the roof where the sign is erected. U of O is leasing the building, but it does have an option to purchase the sign from Ramsey.

Since U of O refuses to work out a compromise, condemnation is warrented Maybe the U of O will understand that there are other considerations besides it own selfish interests. BTW, the U of O had no qualms about using the power of eminent domain when it needed land for the Nike stadium.

"Maybe the U of O will understand that there are other considerations besides it own selfish interests"

What better dis-interested party than Randy Leonard to fight selfish interests?

"U of O had no qualms about using the power of eminent domain when it needed land for the Nike stadium."

And this justifies Randy's abuse of the eminent domain process how?

"Ramsey has a long-term lease with the building owner (Venerable Properties) to lease the portion of the roof where the sign is erected."

You usually cannot assign a lease without permission of the landlord, so they could still bump up sign rent if that is what it took to keep UofO in the building.

Unless I am missing something, PSU could have expanded to Old Town like UofO did. So why do we want to antagonize someone like UofO again? Especially when Randy has no real replacement or jobs he could bring?

A) Randy is not a "dis-interested party", he is a member of the Portland City Council and as such should be focused on what the people of Portland want. If you don't think he is doing, so vote him out of ofice. As far as I am concerned, he represents my interests.

B) Yes, it does justify the use in regards to this sign because in both cases, officals felt the power was needed for the common good.

C) Perhaps, depends on the wording in the lease. From my perspective, so what if the rent is increased? Why is it that what the CoP may pay for the sign + upkeep is any difference from what the U of O (also a public entity) pays?

D) You obviously have no conception of how the OSSHE works. U of O virtually owns the Chancellor's office (located on the U of O campus). Over the decades they have stopped or delayed PSU from issuing advanced degrees, from expanding, from allowing on-campus housing, and the most recent action - to merge with OHSU. My question is, why did the OSSHE even allow U of O to expand to Portland. What is offered by U of U could have just as easily been offered by PSU.