Sources Say • A former ally sours on Sam
LAUDERDALE
As the July 1 deadline to begin circulating petitions to recall Mayor Sam Adams inches nearer, the mayor has lost the support of one of his most visible backers — local musician and man around town Thomas Lauderdale. The pianist repeatedly denounced Adams during the Tuesday open house on redeveloping the Rose Quarter. Lauderdale says he cannot believe Adams is willing to tear down the iconic Memorial Coliseum to make way for a Triple-A baseball stadium, and he also opposes the version of the Columbia River Crossing bridge Adams is supporting.
“The mayor has lost it,” Lauderdale said at the end of the open house, where most of the people who spoke also opposed tearing down the coliseum.
Before the event started, Lauderdale told recall campaign spokesman Jasun Wuster that he now supports removing Adams from office. Wurster was handing out leaflets supporting the recall when Lauderdale walked up and took one.
“I was shocked,” said Wurster, adding he is relieved that even some progressives now agree that Adams needs to go.
Thanks for the call
State Sen. Mark Hass was less than amused by the press conference Adams and State Sen. Rod Monroe held on April 11.
The Saturday morning event was intended to help convince Hass to hold a hearing on Senate Bill 907, which was referred to his Senate Education and General Government Committee on March 16. Adams and Monroe wanted the hearing held before April 17, the last day for first hearings on bills in most legislative committees. Hass told Sources Say that he would have been happy to schedule the hearing on the bill when it first reached his committee — but no one told him it was important until a scant two days before the press conference.
“It would have been nice if they would have talked to me closer to the beginning of the session than the end,.” said Hass, who represents portions of Southwest Portland and Washington County.
SB 907 would allow the city to approve the design of medium- and high-density housing projects along MAX lines and other major transportation corridors. Adams said such reviews are needed to end the proliferation of “cheap, ugly housing,” especially in portions of east Portland represented by Monroe, the bill’s sponsor. Hass said he would ask that the bill be referred to the Rules Committee, which has a later deadline for first hearings.
Randy being Randy
If Commissioner Randy Leonard was embarrassed by the Tribune’s recent story on his campaign spending, he isn’t showing it.
On Feb. 26, the Portland Tribune reported that some good government types were questioning why Leonard had spent hundreds of dollars in leftover re-election funds for meals around town and even the purchase of a portrait of himself. At the time, Leonard said the meals were served during City Hall-related meetings and the portrait was intended for his office.
Since the story was published, Leonard spent just over $150 for two meals at the Lotus Card Room & Café and another $150 to hire the Molly Malloy Irish Dancers for a St. Patrick’s Day performance at City Hall. At least no one can accuse the city’s most entertaining commissioner of being inconsistent.