Portland charter commission quits!
What a horrible, horrible statement about the current condition of municipal government in Portland:
Charter Commission members fumed that the City Council didn't provide it enough funding and arbitrarily limited the terms of members, causing high turnover and a shrunken panel.Some said it was clear the City Council only wanted the panel to approve a series of housekeeping amendments and then move on.
The Sam Rand Twins and Nurse Amanda must be dancing in the aisles. Congratulations to them all on some first class bullying.
We knew it would come to naught.
| Posted at 12:52 PM | Permalink |
|
Comments (12)
This city needs a DoJ intervention, à la the other "City that Works".
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | February 28, 2012 1:16 PM
Maybe Ellen Rosenblum will lock some people up. Ha! Ha!
Posted by Jack Bog | February 28, 2012 1:18 PM
I wonder if the charter commission can sue the city.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | February 28, 2012 1:20 PM
The "city that works" - behind closed doors.
Good for them having the integrity to walk and flip them the bird...
Posted by Tim | February 28, 2012 1:44 PM
If this isn't a nervous breakdown, I don't know what is.
Posted by Allan L. | February 28, 2012 2:10 PM
I've seen it before. A few years ago, I served on a citizen's advisory committee that then-Commissioner Adams set up, but when we wouldn't rubber-stamp his agenda, but drew our own conclusions, his office pulled support and just let us work in a vacuum. The report that was ultimately generated bore little resemblance to the conclusions we came up with, and the city used it to justify the actions they had already decided on.
Sadly, it was a pretty effective way to hush us up and mothball the results of our work.
Kudos to the Charter Commission to call it like it is.
Posted by ITGuy | February 28, 2012 2:39 PM
I've heard this from several people. They serve on a panel for 'public input' and then are dismissed and the law is written so that they don't get what they want and it's written in a way to make sure.
People feel used and the word gets around.....how many times will they 'pull that ball away' (ala Charlie Brown) before enough lightbulbs go on?????
Posted by HeardItBefore | February 28, 2012 3:07 PM
I think Alan nailed it. It's too bad the local media doesn't see it.
Posted by David E Gilmore | February 28, 2012 5:12 PM
The City Council does not need any Charter Commission to present us with a voting opportunity to dissolve the PDC.
Pass a resolution to:
Strike Chapter 15 of the Portland City Charter.
Posted by pdxnag | February 28, 2012 5:15 PM
Pdxnag FTW!
Posted by dyspeptic | February 28, 2012 6:12 PM
"Some said it was clear the City Council only wanted the panel to approve a series of housekeeping amendments and then move on."
Are we talking the charter commission or the city auditor now?
Posted by Steve | February 28, 2012 6:17 PM
However, a message from Mr Saltzman today (sent at 3:14AM), regarding Police Accountability, is that a mtg scheduled for today was cancelled, that the Commission is in adjournment, and that written and oral comments are still being accepted:
"Adjournment
Written testimony and oral comments via telephone will continue to be accepted until February 29, 2012 one week after the public hearings. Telephone testimony can be provided at 503-823-4151. Written testimony can be provided: by email to
Alexander Villarreal, by mail to 1221 SW 4th Room 230, Portland, OR 97204 or on the Charter Commission's website athttp://www.portlandonline.com/chartercommission/index.cfm?c=54375To help ensure equal access to City programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will reasonably modify policies/procedures and provide auxiliary aids/services to persons with disabilities. Call (503) 823-4151, TTY 503-823-6868, or the Oregon Relay Service at (800) 735-2900 with such requests or visit
http://www.portlandonline.com/ADA_FormsThank you,
Alex Villarreal
Staff Assistant
Office of Commissioner Dan Saltzman"
http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?&a=386753&c=29385
Of course, ONI's notices are notoriously untimely.
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | February 29, 2012 1:20 PM