Very insightful. In the water billing debacle in 2001, Sten blamed the the water chief for not circulating a memo to the sewer department. If only that were done, we'd have avoided this "horrendous mistake." (Sten's words, not wine.)

I'm still waiting for Mr. Leonard to tell us who it was on staff that lied to him, and that they've been fired or reassigned to an insignificant position.

When I read about this kind of stuff, all I can picture are the old Three Stooges programs..... Is this what goes on down at City Hall?

I'd like to know where these newcomers came from, where they expect politicians to honestly admit their mistakes.

And when Sam's staff member, Roland Chlapowski posted the below defense on commissionersam.com, what he really meant to say was Sam Adams stepped down in August 2003, and his fingerprints were all over the horse swapping negotiations...That little old 2002 "mistake" is awfully convenient, and still hasn't been corrected.

His last day in City Hall was August 11th, 2002. The tram came before Council on August 14th, 2002. Sam should be commended for taking on a difficult project (that he previously hadn't worked on or had in-depth knowledge of) and learning the ins-and-outs of the project. He took a hard look at the facts and made the tough decisions needed to ensure compentent management.

I understand that people want scapegoats, but Sam is not your man, guys. He has made difficult governing decisions in the interest of the public, even though it has made some pretty big names in Portland mad. He continues to do what is right for the the City of Portland even though many people in the press don't appreciate that. Sam deserves a little credit, or at the very least, a break.

Posted by: Roland Chlapowski | Feb 2, 2006 3:43:52 PM