Congratulations to Tucson for having higher standards than Sam Rand Portland, although to be honest, that isn't too difficult.
The story was on the bikey grapevine more than a month ago, but the O is just running the background check angle today. Wonder what that is all about.
Miller's current job is presumably toast following the mayoral election in November. Thirty-nine years old, he is the former head of the mayor's office staff and an inactive member of the Oregon State Bar. A resident of Portland since 1998, he has been the city "transportation" director for about 15 months.
The comments bring up some other very interesting issues, Jack, that might be of interest. Incidentally, the hint that your and other coverage may have been a factor. In particular, take note that CoP employees hired after July 1, 2011 and fired without cause automatically qualify for six months to one year of severance pay. Considering that (a) even most government jobs may only offer three months' severance, and (b) there's going to be quite the sweeping of Sam Rand patronage when the new creep moves in, how much is Portland going to have to pay for all of the video design dolts when they're back to being completely unemployable?
In reality, Miller had no qualifications to become the Portland Bureau of Transportation Director. He was just another overpaid crony - a yes person who preached the bicycle/streetcar agenda to PBOT for Sammyboy.
Tucson is in the early stage of building a short streetcar line. Portland officials including Miller were deeply involved in lobbying to convince Tucson of it's merits. Homer and his minions participated, along with Charlie Hales and his company.
Tucson is now realizing that many benefit claims of streetcar projects are false. That it is more the upzoning, TOD's, and other subsidies that created development. Miller as Sam's chief and now the PBOT director is part of the misconception foisted onto Tucson. Our mainline media doesn't paint this picture but I'm sure Tucson officials checked out other sources and questioned Miller's inability to see Tucson's transportation needs.
They have over 200 miles more of bike trails than Portland=a better bike city than Portland. They have much better streets.They believe in freeways and boulevards and left and right turn lanes. And density as Portland practices it isn't wanted in Tucson. But then all of Miller's misconducts certainly added to it, maybe even precedes Miller's policies not matching Tucson's.
Maybe the newest charges against CoP's parking meter guru McCoy recently filed was Tucson's reasoning. It implicates Sam and Miller directly. And it may prove to be why Sam is leaving the mayors office and Miller is shifting in the wind. Miller's bribe of using Beam's coastal home, even though less than McCoy's in monetary value, is still a bribe. Will Miller be charged?
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
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Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
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14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
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Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
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Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
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14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
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Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
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Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
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Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (12)
Parking meter indictments?
Posted by Dave J. | August 14, 2012 2:27 PM
That would be singular.
Posted by Jack Bog | August 14, 2012 2:30 PM
Maybe some deep pockets in Arizona said "Portland? Bikes? Anti-car? No way".
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | August 14, 2012 3:36 PM
Maybe what we call "business as usual" around here actually looks like conflicts of interest and unethical behavior elsewhere. Imagine that.
Posted by Snards | August 14, 2012 4:07 PM
The comments bring up some other very interesting issues, Jack, that might be of interest. Incidentally, the hint that your and other coverage may have been a factor. In particular, take note that CoP employees hired after July 1, 2011 and fired without cause automatically qualify for six months to one year of severance pay. Considering that (a) even most government jobs may only offer three months' severance, and (b) there's going to be quite the sweeping of Sam Rand patronage when the new creep moves in, how much is Portland going to have to pay for all of the video design dolts when they're back to being completely unemployable?
Posted by Texas Triffid Ranch | August 14, 2012 4:42 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLiLSRKms30
Posted by Mojo | August 14, 2012 4:47 PM
In reality, Miller had no qualifications to become the Portland Bureau of Transportation Director. He was just another overpaid crony - a yes person who preached the bicycle/streetcar agenda to PBOT for Sammyboy.
Posted by TR | August 14, 2012 5:04 PM
Tucson is in the early stage of building a short streetcar line. Portland officials including Miller were deeply involved in lobbying to convince Tucson of it's merits. Homer and his minions participated, along with Charlie Hales and his company.
Tucson is now realizing that many benefit claims of streetcar projects are false. That it is more the upzoning, TOD's, and other subsidies that created development. Miller as Sam's chief and now the PBOT director is part of the misconception foisted onto Tucson. Our mainline media doesn't paint this picture but I'm sure Tucson officials checked out other sources and questioned Miller's inability to see Tucson's transportation needs.
They have over 200 miles more of bike trails than Portland=a better bike city than Portland. They have much better streets.They believe in freeways and boulevards and left and right turn lanes. And density as Portland practices it isn't wanted in Tucson. But then all of Miller's misconducts certainly added to it, maybe even precedes Miller's policies not matching Tucson's.
Posted by Lee | August 14, 2012 9:47 PM
We shipped our solid waste to Washington and got Charlie Hales in return.
Maybe if we ship our political dregs to Arizona they'll send us an MLB or NFL team in return.
Posted by Jennifer | August 14, 2012 11:36 PM
Portland politicians sold Tucson on the streetcar concept imcluding seven streetcars manufactured by United Streetcar in Clackamas County.
Posted by reader | August 15, 2012 5:17 AM
But don't streetcars and light rail "spur development"? Um...apparently not:
http://urbanreviewstl.com/2012/08/no-matter-the-implementation-light-rail-doesnt-spur-development/
Posted by Max | August 15, 2012 11:45 AM
Maybe the newest charges against CoP's parking meter guru McCoy recently filed was Tucson's reasoning. It implicates Sam and Miller directly. And it may prove to be why Sam is leaving the mayors office and Miller is shifting in the wind. Miller's bribe of using Beam's coastal home, even though less than McCoy's in monetary value, is still a bribe. Will Miller be charged?
Posted by Lee | August 15, 2012 9:25 PM