Saltzman's "for the children" cred takes a couple of hits
One of the big items on Commissioner Dan "Legend" Saltzman's thin 12-year résumé at Portland City Hall is his founding of the property tax levy that Portlanders pay for child welfare programs outside the public school system. Yesterday not one but two interesting questions were raised about Saltzman's performance in his much ballyhooed "for the children" role.
One was why he didn't disclose the fact that as a member of the board that awards the grants of those property tax dollars, he was voting to funnel $600,000 to an organization whose chief fundraiser is his own girlfriend. Even WW, which has been urging people to vote for sleepy Dan, has picked the story up after the Merc broke it. The O got into the act earlier this hour.
The other question was raised by a commenter on this blog, who questioned why Saltzman, defender of children, would advertise his endorsement by Matt Hennessee, the Goldschmidt lieutenant and Baptist preacher who was disgraced a few years back when it was revealed that he had sexually abused a young female relative of his.
It's amazing that a guy like Hennessee is still in any sort of bizarre Portland limelight. But to show up on an endorsement list of a self-declared children's champion? That's quite an eye-opener. Granny always used to tell me, "Show me your friends, and I'll show you who you are."
On a side note, a few readers have noted that the effectiveness of the children's levy has never been carefully studied. But even if it's as good a thing as it's cracked up to be, "Legend's" halo is not as clean and shiny as his fans describe it.
| Posted at 1:25 PM | Permalink |
|
Comments (13)
Thank you Jack, good shot at it. Isn't it disturbing how these things seem to get buried until it serves the Empire to bring them out. This is old news saved for the election cycle. These news rags must have gotten permission from the King to print it. You know Jack, I hate bullies and there are no worse bullies than bureaucratic bullies, so when will we talk about the real Mary Volm and why she was tossed under the bus? uh, I mean the Street car.
Posted by McGregor | May 4, 2010 1:58 PM
My son pointed out to me that I use the expression “now you are screwed” except using the “F” bomb instead of “screwed”. Anyway Saltzman, now you are screwed.
Posted by John Benton | May 4, 2010 2:23 PM
Anyway Saltzman, now you are screwed.
Well, that's what you'd expect in a normal city when a city council member routes $600k to his girlfriends employer when her job is "fundraising"....but, please remember John...this is Portland after all and Mr. Salty will surely talk his way out of this one...."it was for the children"...
Posted by PD | May 4, 2010 2:37 PM
Since many of us who comment here do not like the direction of our city, we have the opportunity to change two of the council seats this May.
Hope this news would get Saltzman off his perch.
Fish isn't exactly helping the cause either. He seems too amiable with Leonard at council hearings I have seen. Fish also isn't really standing up for our Bull Run Water System. Maybe it is because he is from New York and doesn't have a heart connection with the treasure of our water system and reservoirs. Who is running against him?
What would be the best strategy to shake this insider game up?
Would it be best to vote for the most unfamiliar name, someone who just won't be persuaded to go along to get along? I do hear chatter from folks that they will not vote for familiar names anymore. Wonder how pervasive that is? Unfortunately, those angry may just stay away from voting, but who knows, maybe it will bring them out for a change.
Posted by clinamen | May 4, 2010 2:59 PM
Finally. I've found his campaigning on 'children's issues' to be hinky for years. I've said so here.
It has been nothing but political posturing. Worry and sympathy, signifying nothing.
Posted by godfry | May 4, 2010 3:05 PM
"Anyway Saltzman, now you are screwed."
Hey, he just needs to follwo Sam's lead. Not a big deal, this is Portland after all.
Posted by Steve | May 4, 2010 3:48 PM
Well now, The only one running against Mr. McFishy is Nichols, he is OK but not much better. The slippery Fishy is trying to slide by on this one on the "For the Children" format that is working so well for Mr. Salty. Check his OrStar account, you will see the same names backing them.
We ought to think twice about any big backers involved in our city. You read this site so you know we are in serious hot water and need some tough choices made. The only thing prospering in Portland today is corruption. For the Children, though.
Posted by McGregor | May 4, 2010 3:52 PM
I'm afraid someday the children will be asking who created this mess and who were the leaders of our community and why did they give all this corruption a pass?
Posted by clinamen | May 4, 2010 5:40 PM
Fish is astute enough to build allies and avoid alienating even those he disagrees with. He's the only member of the current council that offers some hope for the future: once he feels secure in his current seat, I'm hopeful he will grow a spine and begin to challenge the McCreepy/Fireman cabal.
Posted by Mister Tee | May 4, 2010 5:42 PM
Or further, why didn't the adults of our community watch out for our future?
Posted by clinamen | May 4, 2010 5:42 PM
“Fish is the only member of the current council that offers some hope for the future.”
That is really a crock. Fish is a limp wristed blue Oregon liberal that is as much of a phony lightweight as Rex Burkholder. His claim to fame is to let the homeless camp anywhere they want. He is a total idiot and should be thrown out of office. Yes I am really mad, and I have never met the moron.
Posted by John Benton | May 4, 2010 5:58 PM
http://animals.about.com/od/fishes/a/tenfactsfishes.htm
Fact 2: Fish were the first animals to evolve backbones.
Unfortunately, not all of them made it.
Posted by Lawrence | May 4, 2010 6:15 PM
I can just hear Howard Cosell
http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/play/port_lofi.cfm/sound_iid.66332
Now we got a "Thrilla in Portlandilla." Sorta. Whatta numbnutz.
[that comment got detoured earlier somehow to the krazy kop piece's comments pile]
Btw, nice bush league sophistic distraction play by the city attorney's office knocking down a lay straw man's off-target "conflict of interest" argument. Let's start instead with "appearance of impropriety" and "improper bias" and "lack of candor" and "failure to disclose."
Then there's "self-dealing," of course. Uh oh.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Self-Dealing
CoP Code of Ethics
http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=51735&a=279370
For example -- 1.03.030 Objectivity. City officials' decisions are based
on the merits of the issues. Judgment is independent and
objective.....2. If an individual official’s financial or personal interests
will be specifically affected by a decision, the official is to
withdraw from participating in the decision [emphasis added]....State law distinguishes between actual conflict of interest, which definitely would affect
the official, and potential conflict, where the effect is not certain. In the case of a potential conflict, the official must disclose the conflict....3. City officials avoid bias or favoritism....City officials should avoid giving the public any reason to believe they would receive better or different services if they had a personal connection with the official....
Lowdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afBdFyE7PeE
Posted by Mojo | May 4, 2010 10:54 PM