PDX-Council: What's Wrong With Portland?

Posted by Ben on January 03, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. in Portland, Transportation, Politics, News, Environment

Let's see what our candidates have to say about Portland's most dire concerns.

In the third installment of Blogtown's "Meet the Contenders" series, Amy Ruiz has each wannabe Portland Commissioner (and Randy Leonard) answer the ever-popular question, "In your opinion, what is Portland’s most pressing problem? If elected, what would you do about it?" The answers are quite revealing and provide some insight into what each potential would prioritize if elected (or, in Randy's case, re-elected).

Four of the responders cite jobs and business as the most pressing problem: Amanda Fritz, Jeff Bissonnette, John Branam, and Randy Leonard all note some version of a wealth gap and people struggling to get by. While their angles and solutions all vary, I'm glad to see that they recognize the widening gap between rich and poor as a serious problem that must be addressed by the current generation.

One responder, Chris Smith, wants to us "think globally and act locally" in tackling "peak oil and global warming." While I appreciate that this is a serious problem and one that must be dealt with immediately, I was initially disappointed that he picked a "big-picture" topic-- that is until he talked about local sustainability. Although I still think that if you take care of our economic climate, you'll be able to accomplish this task too. If many of our residents, however, are struggling to survive, sustainability might be difficult. Although some might assert they go hand-in-hand, which would be nice.

Another, Howard Weiner, talked about public safety. He's right that we need to connect the police with local businesses and neighborhoods, but I just can't see public safety being Portland's most pressing concern. Of course it's a concern, sure; we need to do our best to ensure that good drug recovery programs exist and that community policing is a reality, but I just can't seem to justify ranking this ahead of economic survival for our working weary. Anyone have any ideas?

Meanwhile Ed Kill, Randy's only responding opponent, talks about "foresight" and sewage and how we need to protect Portlanders from paying too much. Although it's hard to take something seriously when he botches grammar and spelling as badly as he does.

I omit Charles Lewis' response, as I don't have the means to listen to his video at my current location. Anyone have a summary?

In short, I really think that the first four have it right-on: living wage with good benefits and ensuring the survival of our working poor is a top-flight concern that must not be ignored. We don't want Portland to become an economically-stratified city.

What concerns matter to you? Did you like the responses, or are some of them full of it?

Comments

Comments from site editors have a darker background than comments from everybody else.

Randy Leonard scares the hell out of most people who really know him. PLEASE PLEASE let a real candidate run against him.

I was County Commissioner Serna Cruz's neighbor in the Mississippi neighborhood. Leonard unleashed his building inspectors on her and busted her for some dumb rule just to embarass her. And the sad thing is this paper slammed Cruz and did not point out the employee who screwed over Serena was working for Randy. Shame on you willy week

I heard an interesting story from a client that works in the Water Bureau. Does any one know the facts about the pretty blond dental hygenist Leonard just hired at the Water Bureau into a $85,000 job doing PR? Thats more then most Portlaned make you bum!!!

Lets see: dental hygenist to big bureaucrat? Something's fishy. Willamette Week, what's the deal with that one? If my friend was right, then she is on to a very big concern of corruption at City Hall.

I am calling the Auditor recent report on Hiring corruption, Randygate. see below

www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=170943

He is the classic Oregon good old boy. Randy, PLEASE move to Clackamas County and be the big boy there and stop giving jobs and contracts to your friends.

Im VOTING FOR JEFF BISSONETTE It is time for a change in City Hall.

Posted by: Sal Guli on January 03, 2008 at 2:20 p.m.

Reply to this

We use Markdown to style our comments. **This is bolded.** *This is italic.* [This is a link](url)
For more options, try reading the wikipedia article or the official style guide.

Your name:

Email:

Url:

Remember information:

Body:

Change your mind? Hide this form.
- I really like Leonard, actually.
  
  However, I will give $5 to any candidate that finds me (so far, that's been Branam and Smith). Haven't made up my mind yet, so...
  
  Posted by Michael on January 03, 2008 at 11:12 p.m.
  
  Reply to this
  
  We use Markdown to style our comments. **This is bolded.** *This is italic.* [This is a link](url)
  For more options, try reading the wikipedia article or the official style guide.
  
  Your name:
  
  Email:
  
  Url:
  
  Remember information:
  
  Body:
  
  Change your mind? Hide this form.
Chris Smith, wants to us "think globally and act locally"

I want him to visualize whirled peas... or realize that shit happens... Tomorrow, in his honor, I will speak only in bumper stickers.

Posted by Dan on January 03, 2008 at 3:07 p.m.

Reply to this

We use Markdown to style our comments. **This is bolded.** *This is italic.* [This is a link](url)
For more options, try reading the wikipedia article or the official style guide.

Your name:

Email:

Url:

Remember information:

Body:

Change your mind? Hide this form.

Your name:
Email:
Url:
Remember information:
Body:

Your name:
Email:
Url:
Remember information:
Body:

Your name:
Email:
Url:
Remember information:
Body:

We use Markdown to style our comments. **This is bolded.** *This is italic.* [This is a link](url)
For more options, try reading the wikipedia article or the official style guide.