Creepin' out
Several readers have asked our take on the sudden turnover of staffers in the Portland mayor's office. We're not sure what's motivating it, but it hardly seems a coincidence that the mayor's "chief of staff" (what pretention down there), chief spokesperson, and "senior" economic development staffer are all splitting the scene.
Whatever's behind all the moves, we note with some dismay that all three of the departed are taking gigs elsewhere in city government. And so the net result is likely to be more influence by the mayor, which is not a good thing.
| Posted at 11:46 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (13)
I'd want to leave, too.
Posted by dg | March 2, 2011 11:59 AM
This is either:
(A) Rats abandoning the ship, or
(B) Brainwashed disciples going out into the world.
Posted by Rich | March 2, 2011 12:45 PM
Rich,
You forgot option C), which is Sam's effort to extend his tentacles out into the Portland political scene in an effort to create his own Goldschmidt-esque syndicate.
Posted by MJ | March 2, 2011 2:35 PM
Rich,
If it is (A) Rats abandoning the ship, - might mean that the polls show Adams is out, or that the insiders consider him too much of a liability to their agenda to keep him in.
If it is (B) Brainwashed disciples going out into the world. Not a good sign, as some assurance that the agenda will be perpetuated, whether Adams remains or not. Most likely another "selected one" will be cast for the role, so as to give the people some hope.
Posted by clinamen | March 2, 2011 2:44 PM
Mayor's "chief of staff" and "senior" economic development staffer - Needed new venues to demonstrate incompetency in.
Chief Spokesperson - Fatigue from lying.
Actually, Sam may not be mayor next cycle (50-50), so he needs someone to hire him based on his personal finance issues.
Posted by Steve | March 2, 2011 2:45 PM
Count on it: Adams will run for office in the next election. His ego and job prospects demand it.
There are only two reasons he would not run: (1)It's made clear to him that he will not receive financial or in-crowd support, period, or (2)He's offered a job at the state or federal level. You can count on him reaching out to see if #2 is possible.
Posted by the other white meat | March 2, 2011 3:13 PM
Sounds to me like the Wu Syndrome!
Posted by RickN | March 2, 2011 3:35 PM
I would think he would be angling for a federal position as others throughout the state that are upset with Portland would not want to deal with him.
Obama did not have him involved in the entourage when here, although Adams claimed he wanted to be with the Police Chief to see how things are managed when a President comes here.
Didn't he have years as Chief of Staff with Mayor Katz to take that ride with a Police Chief when a President came to Portland?
Posted by clinamen | March 2, 2011 4:01 PM
MJ--I have been wondering about your statement -- sowing his seeds so to speak, so that the weed has a place to land when he cannot land any where else. My hope is that these people will see him for what he truly is and not give him the time of day when he comes begging for a new job in 2012.
Posted by teresa | March 2, 2011 4:31 PM
I find it interesting that he is loading up Saltzman with bureau responsibilities so Leonard and Fritz can have the time to run for re-election. Payback for their loyalty and making sure Saltzman is too busy to run against him. Everything Adams does is manipulative to benefit....Sam.
Posted by Mary Volm | March 2, 2011 7:08 PM
I would guess that city staffers are by now aware of the fact that Adams, Leonard, Saltzman, Fish, Fritz, Griffin-Valade, Merritt Paulson, and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber are the subject of a felony securities fraud inquiry being conducted by Oregon's Division of Finance and Corporate Securities, in connection with the public funding for PGE Park's renovation.
The inquiry centers on ORS 59.135, which makes it a felony to conceal or misrepresent material facts in connection with any project being funded by municipal bonds.
In this case, the material facts that were at first concealed, and then misrepresented are the requirements contained in Major League Soccer's "Venue Design Guide," which clearly indicate that PGE Park, even after it is renovated, will not be able to meet minimum MLS requirements for basic spectator facilities.
City officials and soccer officials have argued that the MLS requirements were somehow waived by MLS, but whether or not they were waived, they remain material facts, according to the law.
There are many potential scenarios from this point forward, but the law is clear, and so is the evidence.
And under the provisions of a related statute, ORS 59.137, Henry Paulson and others could also be liable.
Posted by Peter Apanel | March 2, 2011 8:43 PM
(2)He's offered a job at the state or federal level. You can count on him reaching out to see if #2 is possible.
Maybe that's Obama's legacy (you know, after the healthcare fiasco): the "Department of Homeland Sustainability".
The EPA, Federal Transit Administration, Amtrak - among others - could be moved into this new Cabinet level department with Sam Adams in charge of it.
Posted by Erik H. | March 2, 2011 11:03 PM
Peter Apanel,
When was this filed? Keep us posted.
Posted by Starbuck | March 3, 2011 8:43 AM