There's a curious op-ed piece in the O today. In it, the president of the local gas company, who is a high-ranking member of Portland's business elite, loudly sings the praises of the Portland Development Commission, particularly the selfless volunteers who contribute to the agency's operations.

The recent financial scandals at the PDC are nowhere mentioned. And the serious questions that have been raised about the agency's dubious priorities and insensitivity to the values of the city's residents are dismissed with a terse brush-off:

Over the years, there's been disagreement about the short-term goals and implementation of PDC projects. In retrospect, I'm sure we would do some things differently, and some have voiced concerns in recent months.

What's the point of the column? It's a little hard to tell. The closest it comes to an actual punchline is near the end:

With many urban renewal districts waning, now is the time to embark on a serious discussion about the collective vision for the city's economic future and to ensure we're making the best use of the valuable tools we have to work with. This re-examination should be more than aligning bureaus and public agencies. I applaud the mayor's willingness to evaluate whether "business as usual" is good enough.

And my wish is this: As we review the PDC -- its mission, its goals and its operation -- let's remember Ira Keller and his vision. Let's remember the value of independent, citizen volunteers in shaping a city.

Portland wouldn't be the same without that remarkable, intangible and priceless asset.

Can someone who speaks West Hills please translate this for me? The best I can make out is that the Old Boy Network is sending a message to Mayor Tom Potter, that it wants the current bureaucratic structure for urban renewal in Portland left alone.

If that's what this is about, I disagree. The City/PDC organization chart needs a good redrafting. The current system lacks transparency and accountability, and invites waste and corruption.

As for "the value of independent, citizen volunteers in shaping a city," what about the scores of "citizen volunteers" who show up at meeting after meeting with PDC face cards and bureaucrats, only to have their suggestions trashed and their noses rubbed in the resulting mess? I'll take those folks over weaselly aspiring politicians like the current chair of the PDC (19 days and counting) any day.