Please, no Bojack. If the Oregon Historical society can dope people who didn't even know of its existence into voting it a new tax, this city office could very well think the same. I swear most of the folks voting for the new Historical Society tax didn't have the foggest such an organization actually existed before voting. Who are these nim wits who vote themselves new taxes for services they never use or even plan to use either themselves, their family or close friends? There must be something in Bull run water, or after the city of Portland gets it, kind of like a date rape drug only this one causes most citizens to become zombies marching to whatever cityhall or other public organizations want.

Or maybe (to give them the benefit of a little doubt) they think it's appropriate to support something that appears to have value to the community, even if they don't get a direct, personal benefit. Kind of like schools, for the people who don't have children in them at the moment.

Here's a nostalgic snapshot in time: part of the plan for the South Waterfront, circa 2002.

http://oscdl.research.pdx.edu/resources/20060829/1156884049SAUVERV.pdf

The environment-related goals are especially humorous in 2010.

I look forward to digging out the City Club report in which they proposed to solve an identified downtown business area prostitution problem by creating a designated zone for such activity in Inner NE.

And, no, I did not make that up. And, no, it was not an April Fools' Day or pre-proto-Yes Men prank. It was as completely sincere as the City Club of Portland gets...which we all know would be enough to make St. Francis himself want a stiff drink.