Creepy's revenge
Everybody's been pointing me to this story, and I can see why: It's a Portland classic.
The Recall Sam Adams movement has its headquarters in a building owned by the City of Portland. It's the same forlorn block, under the SmartPark garage by the Galleria, in which the whole Peterson's convenience store saga played out two summers ago.
The recall folks got a donation of the use of the space as a sublease from a prime tenant. But now the lease is up, and the city is kicking the recall folks out, even though they're offering to pay rent up front for the period between now and the petition signature deadline, April 20.
It isn't because you're the recall, says the city. Oh, no -- it's just that we want to get some high-end retail in there right away, and you know, in the current vibrant economy of downtown Portland, those retailers are just chomping at the bit to get into that space. There's very little other storefront space available right now.
Guffaws.
The recall staff sent around this message to supporters last night:
This is our last week at the 940 SW Morrison Street Office.The recall people should have seen this coming, but they haven't proven to be the sharpest knives in the drawer. And given that the mayor has shown himself to be a petty, vindictive, liar, no sane person will easily accept the city's explanation that the eviction isn't due to who the tenants are. (The mayor is in complete control of both the finance bureau and the PDC.) What a soap opera.Office hours this week: Mon/Wed 10:30-1:30 and Tues/Thurs 3:30-6:30
The city that works so hard for you this past year is our landlord at this site. The Portland Development Commission is in charge of upgrading this site and desires to have a "more retail frontage" presence even though there are several vacant store fronts in this same building. This particular site has not had a permanent tenant for years. The PDC does not have a tenant or permits in for improvements at this site and does not anticipate this until this summer. We only need the site until April 20th. Feel free to draw your own conclusions. You might want to make a few phone calls to our city leaders....
The collective nervous breakdown known as Mayor Sam Adams continues -- but just think, only two more years and 10 more months to go. Then Fireman Randy will formally assume the mayor's office, and at that point things will really stabilize.
| Posted at 4:41 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (12)
Thanks for digging these "little nuggets" up for sharing with the rest of us to keep the truth of City Hall alive in the forefront of our minds.
As for Sam's Recall Petitions, I signed one a few week's ago and was asked to take blank form and get others to sign, and so far I've gotten 34 signatures...it's easier than giving away cupcakes as it turns out.
Surprisingly, most don't even mention their dislike of Sam based on his Sexacapades, but hone in on his mismanagement of PPB and his attempt to shield himself from the accountability by putting that poor dupe (Dan) in to soak up the stink in hopes to keeping it out of his office. Nay, we all remember that he was Vera Katz's Chief of Staff and he let her go blithely down the road to PPB Ruin that he, himself, inherited and now makes poor Dan skip along as it get more rocky and rough a travel. Sorry Sam, there is lot of folk who remember and see through the craven dirty politics and feel it's time for you to go!
Posted by no fan of Sam or Dan | March 2, 2010 5:47 AM
There are many people who have never seen Randy Leonard's and Creepy Sam's video.
It speaks for itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMnY5FAKhl4
Posted by Ben | March 2, 2010 6:45 AM
The downtown UPS driver says "Portland is the City that Works, but won't let anyone else work." He was bemoaning the way they have systematically destroyed downtown traffic flow and removed truck loading/unloading zones for bus stops.
Posted by Mister Tee | March 2, 2010 6:47 AM
Time for a Public Records Act request; all phone and appointment logs of Sam and hsi entire staff; all E maiil of Sam and entire staff. Something similar to PDC.
Of course the City will want a gazillion dollars to do the "researcH" and won't comply until after the signature deaedline.
Maybe some deep pockets outfit in the news business, like the Oregonian.....umm, ahh, err, better make that Willie Week will make the request and do the asking.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | March 2, 2010 6:58 AM
Hey, at least Randy's HIT Squad didn't do a surprise invasion and kick them out earlier!
What's a few hundred or thousand dollars from a willing tenant? It isn't like the City is in desperate need of money ... if this is Samadumbs intelligent way to run a city government, that alone should demonstrate why he needs to go.
Posted by Mike (the other one) | March 2, 2010 10:09 AM
Can someone help me understand. How did Adams get elected? Are the majority of Portland voters dumb, not paying any attention or just "save the environment/get rid of cars at any cost?" And Leonard "Mugabe" has been reelected at least once. He's a smart loose cannon who serves a few special interests, especially the Portland Fire Bureau, our (very well paid) heros.
Posted by Don | March 2, 2010 11:00 AM
Don -
How did Adams get elected?
Thre axioms of politics come to mind:
1. You can't beat somebody with nobody. And Dozono was nobody among the voters, and he let Adams define who Dozono was. See axiom 3.
2. Money alone doesn't guarantee winning, but the absence of money guarantees losing.
3. Strike early painting the opposition as sleazy and they will spend so much effort / time / money trying to "correct" the picture that they will never gain traction with voters on the real issues or get voters to pay any attention to the real issues.
Bob Ball anyone?
Its a tried and true formula, a very depressing way to do politics, and something at which Mayor Creepy is a master.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | March 2, 2010 11:09 AM
I'm just full of questions today. To wit: The recall campaign only needs the space until April 20, right? (4/20-that's rich). Doesn't an FED action take about 37 days to complete? Wouldn't the publicity of the city attorney getting an FED and the Sheriff kicking the recall campaign out be the kind of publicity that would generate signatures and get the recall on the ballot?
Posted by sadlyivotedforsam | March 2, 2010 1:00 PM
It will be interesting to see how long this space sits vacant.
Posted by Bart | March 2, 2010 3:12 PM
Well, I wasn't going to sign the recall petition this time around, but now I am.
Posted by Sadie | March 2, 2010 4:13 PM
If some of you only knew of all the other under the radar shenanigans Adams has pulled in the 20 years he's held court at City Hall. His power plays are endless, just like his recent stealing of $20 Million from SoWhat to fund his lightrail to Milwaukie. There wasn't one iota of "reconciliation" from Sam with those paying that bill. He's totally dictatorial. His governance is just as bad as his lying.
Posted by lw | March 2, 2010 7:16 PM
Meanwhile, a demonstration of integrity among a disappointing pol's staff:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704187204575101691470234842.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | March 4, 2010 1:18 PM