This event is of international importance since this city has, during previous winters, entertained the planet with its vehicles sliding into one another or fruitlessly attempting to climb a hill near the tram.

Will the divisive, vindictive, lamentable mayor show up with a snow shovel and articulate the city's plan: residents should shovel snow from the sidewalks?

Will the Portland Tribune's Jim Redden report other than favorably on what we should anticipate from the city during this La Niña winter?

Can you set up pool? And we could make bets on times or IF "hiz honor" will even show.
And just how much is this "dry run with inspections" going to cost anyway? The supervisors can't do an inspection of chains without making it a media event?!
The end is near.

I don't think it's fair for you to describe it as ALL "City of Portland workers" "going home for a few days". The press release only refers to "Portland Transportation Maintenance Operations employees" joining "community partners" (whatever that means) and Sam Adams.

You find enough valid stuff to criticize without basically claiming the whole city staff is taking a paid vacation.

That's what everybody in Portland does when it snows.

Looking forward to 24 hour storm coverage from the local news stations at the first sign of a flake (not the city hall type).

I'm waiting to see who gets assigned to report Troutdale on the local media.

Did Hizzoner tweet about last nights gang shooting?

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/10/portland_police_respond_to_ear_1.html

I'm afraid these killings will continue if the Mayor doesn't hold a news conference or tweet about it.

"The media are advised to arrive at 10:30 a.m. for video opportunities. Trucks fitted with chains, plows, and sanders will be run through an inspection station."

This, in fact, is the real (and only) reason for the event. Adams is using it as a PR opportunity.

Quick, everybody! Up to the Sylvan overpass! Don't forget to get some video of your shoe to show everyone how slick snow/ice can be!

The city that works.

It must be snowing already. The city doesn't seem to work.

For example I went down to the Bureau of Development Services (we use to call it "the Building Department")on Monday and all the bureaus were closed for the whole day. It's standard procedure now. I came back on Tuesday and BDS was only open to noon, like all the rest of the days. On Fridays I seldom try to get anything done down at the permit center because Friday seems to be one of those "slack days". The employees seem to take Fridays off to make a nice three day weekend.

It must be a hell of a snow storm. If it does snow we probably won't notice much of a difference in activity down there.

I think the Annual Portland Aerial Tram Evacuation Training taking place today is even more hilarious. They'll blocked off pill hill and navigating through it was apparently a challenge this morning. 9 am - 2 pm with Portland Fire and Rescue, etc.

Any Randy sightings, I wonder? I can't imagine he'd be able to resist being lowered from the Tram:

From the OHSU link:

"The training will take place above the OHSU Casey Eye Institute parking garage. At that location a small number of exercise participants will be evacuated from the tram and lowered via ropes and harnesses down to the top of the parking structure. While local news crews are welcome to cover the training, we ask that you do so from the ground and refrain from entering the Casey Eye Institute parking lot so as not to interfere with the exercise."

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2010/2010-10-22-annual-portland-aer.cfm

With the wind today I doubt King Tut Leonard will want to indulge his fans.

Sam can't do it like last time. He's can't fit through the escape door, plus they can't find him.