A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Accusing a majority of the City Council of disrespecting Portland Hispanics and their supporters, Mayor Tom Potter defended walking out of deliberations to find an alternative to renaming North Interstate Avenue after Cesar Chavez.
“I felt that’s what I had to do,” Potter said Friday morning about walking out of discussions between commissioners Sam Adams, Randy Leonard and Erik Sten over alternatives to the controversial renaming proposal, which Potter supports. “They showed disrespect for a sizable portion of our community.”
Potter made the comment to reporters at the grand reopening ceremonies for Macy’s at Meier & Frank’s Square. He was asked about the incident after the morning ribbon-cutting event.
Although Potter supports the renaming proposal, it has drawn fierce opposition from many businesses and residents along Interstate who believe the avenue’s current name is historically important. The council had previously approved a series of public hearings in the area on the proposal. They drew heated comments from both sides of the issue.
Adams and Leonard subsequently introduced a resolution calling for a new committee to be created to consider other potential streets for the renaming. They were discussing alternatives to that plan with Sten when Potter walked out of the council meeting Thursday afternoon.
“I was appalled by the discussion and felt I could not be a part of it, so I got up and left,” said Potter, who insisted the three commissioners were ignoring the process they had already approved.
The council is scheduled to take up the new committee discussions on Nov. 14. Although Potter has called for a vote on the name change the next day, he told the reporters he did not know if that would actually happen now.
“I don’t know what the process is,” Potter said.
There are no streets that need to be renamed, it's not necessary, and all the streets are fine as they are! Please focus on more civil and necessary issues than what's to be spelled on a small 1x4' green board, thank you.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I wish our city/state government would spend more time improving our infrastructure rather than haggling over renaming stuff that's already there. I wonder if Potter and the rest of the 'Wiener Boys' are happy with the current level of congestion that cripples Portland seven days a week.
Oh and when one of our rickety bridges succumbs to years of neglect, at least we'll have shiny street cars to look at.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Let's figure out a nice "Dead End" we can name after Potter.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 12:03 PM
You people in portland deserve potter.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 12:05 PM
With any luck maybe he will stay out, He has done very poor job as Mayor. I for one wish he would quit early, it would be better for all. We made a mistake with this guy. Maybe Potter thinks the job was for King of Porland! Not Mayor of Portland?
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Just another example of a politician attempting to ram a personal agenda down people's throats. I agree with a previous poster that this is a poor use of everyone's time. If the Mayor insists on naming a street after a Mexican, then I suggest that he name one of the streets in Hillsboro, where it will be more obvious and appropriate! Better yet, perhaps the council members could rename EACH OTHER ... at least then they wouldn't bothering anyone outside of City Hall!
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 12:12 PM
I worked hard to help get Potter elected because I thought he was earnest and honest. I still think he's earnest and honest, it's just that I disagree with nearly everything he's been earnest and honest about. I have regretted helping him since the day he took office.
Sam Adams, on the other hand... I agree with him a little more often, but trust a whole lot less.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Does Potter think that this is a student council meeting? From ill-advised endorsement of Critical Mass (by riding with them) to his weak attempt to grab more power from the city council (which is likely why he decided not to seek re-election) to his dangerous disregard for public safety by stepping away form the joint terrorism task force, Tom Potter has shown that he is little more than a tin-hat tyrant. Now, after failing to ramrod a silly street renaming, frustrated Tommy takes his ball and sulks in his corner. Congratulations, Portland. Your Mayor is a child.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 01:22 PM
He didn't want everyone to see him cry. Like when you tell your 3 year old he can't have a cookie. If he thought that dropping on the floor, kicking his feet, and screaming would help him get his way, he would have done that instead.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 01:35 PM
I love it when the wing nuts get revealed for who they are. You idiots voted for this idiot, you deserve him. Portland is so screwed.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 01:40 PM
You liberal idiot pdx voters got exactly what you voted for. If you don't like it vote in someone else and stop whinnying.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 01:41 PM
Tom Potter is a Tool. Why re-name streets? I sure as hell don't want my tax dollars going to "re-naming" another street. Maybe he should focus his energy on what portlanders want, fixing our illegal immigrant problem. I hope whoever voted for this moron falls down a flight of stairs!
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 02:26 PM
Change is constant.
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Dear Mr. Potter,
Just keep walking... and please, don't stop until you get out of town. Could you grab Randy and Sam on the way out, too?
Then maybe we can get some leadership in town to take care of the the real issues of our city. And it isn't about renaming a well known street to pander to another one of his pet diversity groups. How about just thinking about "the people?"
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 03:00 PM
lame ducks waddle--not walk
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 03:49 PM
There's already alot of tension over immigration, do these people not care what more renaming a street over a Mexican is going to do? Obviously the public has an issue with it, but Potter wants to ram it down our throats anyway? I believe there's alot of other major issues that could use a little more attention than renaming a street.
Why stop there lets rename our masscots too since the Native Americans are having an issue now. We can have the Banks Border Runners, McMinnville Migrants,Gaston GreenCards, ForestGrove Field Pickers etc.
This is solely a personal opinion from another true legal Oregonian feeling another kick in the gut coming!!
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Oh, my gosh, it sounds like Mr. Potter is not being respectful of the other city council members and their views!
Maybe we'll get lucky and the city council will be unable to accomplish anything useful because of his absence.
I guess that wouldn't be much of a change, although at least they would stop wasting money on changing street names to pander to the more strident among our local illegals.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 12:56 AM
A few months ago I posted an example of Potter's temper when he was chief of police. For some reason, the good people here at the Trib thought it was bad taste or something because it was deleted soon after it came on line.
I've been surprised that Potter has lasted this long without going off. He's generally pretty good at keeping a public face and keeping his temper tantrums within the confines of his private office. But he definitely can't handle criticism and demands everything be done his way. And if it isn't, look out. It was pretty funny to me to watch him try to cultivate that grandfatherly, liberal image. He's certainly a bleeding heart, but like a lot of them, pretty tyrannical about implementing his views.
In a training class when he was chief, someone questioned his community policing model. The question was polite and had a good basis. Instead of answering int, he immediately suggested that anyone who didn't agree with him should quit. I've worked for some heavy handed chiefs, but never one like him.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Editorial response:
Ret,
I searched the database and am so far unable to find any comment submitted under your name or email address that makes any reference to Potter's temper. If you can provide me with any additional information, I'll see if I can locate it and let you know why it might have been rejected.
James Marks
Webmaster
Pamplin Media Group
Maybe this Is a PLOT. Maybe Tom Potter is going to resign so President of the Council Adams gets a 16 month incumbency till the Election.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 01:38 AM
I live 3 blocks from Interstate. Rename any street in my neighborhood to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. I'd say it's not the renaming that's gotten most of NoPo upset, it's the lack of process and the fact that we just had a renaming less than a year ago.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 01:47 AM
This is not the first time Potter has run away from his public responsibility as an elected official to discuss a matter of public policy when he found himself without a winning argument. Mayor Tom Potter has refused to explain his support for or even talk about his public housing policy of unlimited neighborhood concentration of public housing with me or anyone else, press included, for more than two and a half years. Now that's a walk out.
Richard Ellmyer
Community activist leading the campaign to stop all potentially new public housing (means test + government subsidy + rental agreement) in the Portsmouth neighborhood, especially the following:
1. Hacienda CDC public housing project on N. Newell Street
2. The recently decommissioned Sharff Army Reserve Center
3. The former John Ball School site
4. The recently closed Clarendon School site
Standards for Equitable Distribution of Public Housing Resolution author and project champion
Writer/Publisher - HAP Watchers commentary - Published on the Internet (http://www.goodgrowthnw.org) and distributed to thousands of readers interested in public housing policy in Multnomah County. To Subscribe: HAP-Watchers-on@goodgrowthnw.org
President, MacSolutions Inc. - A Macintosh computer consulting business providing web hosting for artists and very small businesses. Located in Portsmouth, the neighborhood with the second highest concentration of public housing clients, 30% and rising, within HAP's Multnomah county jurisdiction of 117 neighborhood
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 02:08 AM
Perhaps Mr Potter thought growing a beard would give him a dignified and mature look, too bad the personality cannot be changed by the facial hair. What a brat!
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 02:31 AM
I would have expected behavior like this from one of my children when they were 2 or 3, but then they would have received one quick swat on the bottom and stood in the corner for a time out. Can we do that to the mayor??? Please????
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 03:11 AM
Unbelievable how much effort goes towards something so stupid and clearly pointless, when we have roads, schools, homeless, streetkids, drugs and prostitutes to worry about!!! Are you freaking serious with this renaming nonsense? Get back to City Hall and begin doing YOUR JOB!
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 03:12 AM
What's disrespectful is trying to push through yet another stupid idea with blatant disregard to the people and businesses it actually affects. Opposing this is not a slap in the face of the hispanic community, it's a realization that it's misguided and COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 03:38 AM
I consider myself very liberal, politically speaking. But, I think the mayor is misguided on this issue. I think the mayor is "disrespecting" the wishes of the majority of residents and business owners..particularly those who live and operate within the Interstate area. Also, just because they don't want to rename the street does not make them disrespectful of Hispanics.....although, I think the timing of this proposal (considering the illegal immigrant issue) was poorly thought out.
I am sure with all the new development going on in Portland that a new street will be created begging for a name (South Waterfront??)...or why not rename the Interstate MAX line after Mr. Chavez?
The city needs to get back to the business of more important issues, IMO.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 03:45 AM
CLASS ACT TOM, CLASS ACT.........
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 04:00 AM
Keep walking Tom!!!
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 04:12 AM
Gawd, how much longer do you poor people in Portland have to deal with this infantile twit?
This street naming issue has been blown way out of proportion; far too much time has been spent on it. Why doesn't the city change it's street naming ways so that it's put in the hands of the citizens? Isn't that what a democracy is about? Or are all of these fools on the city council too afraid that the citizens will not behave in the manner in which they desire?
Fact is, Cesar Chavez has done NOTHING for the city of Portland. He is barely recognized as a national figure. Wouldn't it be more prudent to name a street (if you MUST waste time) after someone more deserving? MLK was totally deserving, but Chavez is marginal at best. Truthfully, this is racism--on the part of the city council. Their while liberal guilt (I'm a liberal) to me is just as odious as that of the KKK.
Let the people decide. Aren't we supposed to reign? Aren't leaders supposed to do what WE say??? Where did democracy go?
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 04:23 AM
JB, Thought the same thing. He didn't get his way so he tookd his ball and went home. Don't they have more important issues to deal with than wasting time and money this subject?
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 05:54 AM
Hmmm...if he wanted to do something constructive with Interstate Avenue, then perhaps he ought to look at late-night safety issues on MAX.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 05:56 AM
“Temper Tantrum Tommy”, we have a mayor with the maturity level of a 2 year old.
Was this a self-imposed time out?
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 06:36 AM
The Mayor is a naked!
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 07:11 AM
Hey Tommy Boy,
If you want a clear vison of what the folks here in Portland think, just read all the above comments. And it won't even cost the city one thin dime.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 07:32 AM
I'm so glad I left that malfeasance infested slum and moved back down to Salem! Your city is one continuous trainwreck. Don't get me wrong I really love a lot of aspects of Portland but politically it really leaves a lot to be desired. I'm ashamed and embarassed of the poor leadership in our state's largest city.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 07:44 AM
Tantrum Tommy is, by accusing others of racism, attempting to deflect from his desire to be Portlandistan's first Emperor For Life.
What a shock it must have been for him that he WASN'T hoisted on the shoulders of the masses, carried from City Hall, and given a hero's parade inclusive of rose petals being strewn before him.
I guess the people were too busy inhabiting the city's now drug and prostitution friendly zones to mass in appropriate numbers, touch hand to forelock, and prostrate themselves before him and his imperious edicts.
The question pops into mind as to what it is that makes such people as Tantrum Tommy, and Tenpin Teddy K., think that retreats and tantrums are virtuous?
Makes one proud to have them as leaders, no?
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 07:55 AM
“I felt that’s what I had to do,” Potter said Friday morning about walking out of discussions between commissioners Sam Adams, Randy Leonard and Erik Sten over alternatives to the controversial renaming proposal, which Potter supports. “They showed disrespect for a sizable portion of our community.”
Potter is an imbecile. He insults the city commissioners and he insults the city with his comments. He has completely disregarded the input of many citizens and has tried to ramrod the street name change through without any attempts at a compromise. I'll never understand what people ever saw in him.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 08:54 AM
You rightwingers need to give Mayor Potter a break.
He's just being his typical Virgo self, and the stars in his third house weren't condusive to favorable social interactions.
Cesar Chavez was a hero of the proletariat and naming a street after such a noble progressive icon is the least that Mayor Potter should do.
I applaud Mayor Potter in all his efforts, from showing the council who's who to getting the police out of Bush's invasive spy operations.
Mayor Potter truly reflects the city's best things.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Okay, I'll repost my story. A bit over 15 years ago, there was an African American woman named Azalea Cooley who claimed she was lesbian (she probably was), dying of cancer and crippled (she was neither) and being the target of hate crimes.
She was the media darling. A parade was held for her, rallies, Potter was constantly seen with her. The investigating detectives started a surveillance on her house for several nights and nothing happened. The surveillance was called off, but a surveillance camera was left up and Potter wasn't informed. The camera caught Ms Cooley walking out of her house at night and putting a cross on her backyard.
Instead of praising the detectives for catching a fraud, Potter went ballistic on them for not telling him about the camera and making him look like a fool (not hard to do). Although he had been at many other press conferences, he refused to be at the one where she was exposed.
Justice is not nearly as important to Potter as his own agenda. He's demonstrated that numerous times.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 10:25 AM
The Mayor of Portland should be a strong leader, especially when addressing frustrating, difficult issues. If I am fortunate enough to be elected Mayor of Portland, I will lead by example. I would be ashamed of myself if I ever walked out of a council meeting, just because I was frustrated and not getting my way.
True leaders rise to face difficult situations. They don't give up in the face of of adversity.
...I suppose it is good to see our elected officials can be passionate on certain issues. If only they gave this much attention to strengthening the regional economy, protecting the environment, and improving government efficiency.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Bob Ball, hurry up and tell the citizens of Portland you are gong to run for mayor. We need you! Get these jokers out of office. Our city is imploding. Not to mention we are the laughing stock of our nation for the ridiculous things done and said at city hall.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Chavez was a wonderful man, but renaming of streets is expensive. Like someone suggested: wait for a new street to come into being that needs a name.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 02:03 PM
wow, I hope that I don't know any of you negative people in real life. damn.
When I heard this story, I was proud to be a Portlander. I am glad that I voted for Tom and am still happy that he is our Mayor. So he's human...don't you think that's a good thing?
And why not change Interstate to Cesar Chavez? It's a great idea. What are we waiting for?
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 02:19 PM
In all fairness, "Scary Potter" did take responsibility for his action(s) no matter how stupid and childlike it may have been. Reminds me of the times he attended the FBI's Task Force meetings and was out there in some world of his own. Truly a man that has risen to his level of incompetence according to Dr. Laurence Peter...
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Potter's "My way or the highway" tantrum has no place on the PDX city council. What kind of self respecting politician doesn't count his votes before a meeting? He got what he deserved.
What this walk out episode tells me is that he is not communicating, probably not AT ALL, with the other PDX city commissioners. That's total amateur hour. You're not running for re-election, Mayor, but you still have to work with those folks! I hope you don't treat everyone who disagrees with you this way.
Mayor Potter, suck it up. Apologize. Admit you made a mistake. Mend your burned bridges with the other city commissioners. Even if you think you did the right thing, apologize, man! The bigger person will take the high road, even when he believes he's in the right!
Tell the Chavez activists to put their macho "we're not respected" chest puffing on hold for a few months. Patience is a virtue in politics. You should know that.
Why are you so upset? You didn't promise them you had the votes in your pocket, did you? If that's what happened, and if I were in your shoes, I'd be upset, too. With myself! Is that why you walked off?
Listen, listen listen, to everyone. Not just your supporters. Listen to your opponents, respect them. You're going to need them to get anything done. Especially now that you've alienated them with your brinksmanship attitude.
My way or the highway. How's that working for you so far, Mayor Potter? Get it over with. Apologize and move on.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Can anyone please tell me what are the fruits of Cesar Chavez's struggle? Is Mexican labor fairly compensated for their labor? When I lived in San Francisco the name of Army street was changed in his honor, I always found it a cruel joke since the Army was one of the few options for hispanics getting a education and none of them would ever think of doing the sort of work there parents and grandparents did. Just as no one writing on a subject like this would do that sort of work or pay the prices it would take to give farm labor a decent wage. You all disgust me in the extreme but Sam Adams, Randy Leonard and Erik Sten are liars,scammers and hypocrites that make me wanna puke up the spendy organic greens I paid too much for. All over that "J.B." clown while I'm walking out with Potter.
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 07:17 PM
Isn't it ironic that just as Tom Pothead leaves
Sam Adams will probably take over...might make ya'll
wish for Tom to come back.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Instead of redefining his five year old self with temper tantrums, Maybe Potter could come up with an alternate plan that wont cost business owners millions of dollars. Renaming streets, aside from being costly, confuses drivers looking for business locations. And then there is the added traffic congestion...
How about creating parks or green spaces and naming them after the revered to fill his quotient of political correctness.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 01:12 AM
"Gawd, how much longer do you poor people in Portland have to deal with this infantile twit?"
Uh, the whole council is infantile. That's what you get when the pool is reduced to nothing but clones.
Reductions:
Must support all things union
Must be liberal
Must be pro gay marriage
Must advocate smart growth
Must support more light rail and streetcars
Must oppose any and all school choices
Must Hate Bush and all things Republican Party
Can't be a Republican
Can't be conservative
Can't object to the status quo in any way shape or form
Must commit to perptuating more of the same policies
Must not make waves
Must support the favorite city developers
Must not scrutinize city budgets
Must not demand genuine audits
Must support all taxation, new and old
Must oppose M5
Must oppose the double majority
Must oppose the kicker
Must align with echo all press releases from TriMet, Metro, Port of Portland, PDC and all other local agencies.
ON and ON and ON.
(care to add any?)
So who does that leave for potential replacements?
Not very many and they'll be exactly the same as what you have now.
Welcome to San Franscicso!
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 01:49 AM
So why is re-naming Interstate such a big thing ? and why Ceasar Chavez ?
I think what we are seeing is the advance marketing of future apartments and condos along the newly re-zoned Interstate population concentration corridor.
In this sanctuary city, the future illegals would naturally gravitate to a street named after their compadre.
Development is big business here in elPortlandia and I suspect Tom Pothead's retirement portfolio includes investment in this area.
Why else would he have an emotional outburst over re-naming a street?
Altruism? His Legacy? I doubt it.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 01:59 AM
Sten wanted the City Council to do the work, but Adams said he was "mindful that we're three white guys." That prompted the mayor to speak up: "Aren't I white, too. I would like for Adams to explain what he meant by that!
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 02:57 AM
Am from out of town and I was reading the newspaper and this paper and that comment about 3 white guys, is Portland a racist town. This city needs to be on Youtube.com and cnn.com for that comment and what did it mean. Was the mayor trying to say it doesn't want Portland to look like a racist city that includes all people. Which america is a melting pot. Mayor Potter maybe that is what you were trying to have come across but your council members now have made some people wonder if its a racist council that only uses lip service. Get it together Portland, Oregon you never know who comes into your city and leaves with alot of dirty laundry to air.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 03:08 AM
I believe that what Commissioner Adams was referring to is that with Potter refusing to consider or even discuss anything other than a rubber-stamp of what the Chavez committee wants, that any alternative would be up to the 3 council members who at least are open to listening to what the majority of North Portland is saying.
The Chavez committee started meeting with the mayor way back in May, 2007. They lined up his support months before they went public. They alone looked at various possibilities for the re-naming, and they alone created the criteria as to how the various streets should be judged. Only then, after having lined up City Hall support and having decided by themselves alone that Interstate Avenue was the anointed street, did they go public. For the Chavez committee to try to come accross as politiclly naive and "only following the councils directions" is a bunch of BS.
I fault Potter for falling into this trap, refusing to be open to the opinions of the people, calling opponents racists, and adamently refusing to consider other options. He has made himself irrelevant; I am thankful there are 3 white guys on the council able to deal with reality.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 05:51 AM
It doesn't have to be about 3 white guys on council. It should be I am thankful there are people on the council who are able to deal with reality. Correct to say Portland is a racist city, why should color play a part, that's why the divsion is there. With all the Mexicans comin to Portland, Oregon to live, there will be a Mexican Mayor with some Mexican council members. The Hispanics will be the majority, so treat those like you want to be treated.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 11:35 AM
It doesn't have to be about 3 white guys on council. It should be I am thankful there are people on the council who are able to deal with reality. Correct to say Portland is a racist city, why should color play a part, that's why the divsion is there. With all the Mexicans comin to Portland, Oregon to live, there will be a Mexican Mayor with some Mexican council members. The Hispanics will be the majority, so treat those like you want to be treated.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Potter's name calling is immature like a little boy not getting his way. He has accomplished giving Portland a undeserved bad name. He is supposed to be the representative of this city. How scarey. What the heck was he thinking? I sure didn't vote for him. I don't live in Portland city limits. But have had ample opportunity to drive the street concerned.
The council has no business renaming historical streets that we the community know and appreciate their backgrounds. Think of it Interstate was the main highway into Portland years ago with all the old motels lining it. There is a certain charm there. I worked in the area before light rail and always enjoyed driving through there. To rename it something else that has no relationship to the area is inappropriate. I still can't believe that Portland Boulevard was renamed Rosa Parks. What could be more Portland than the only street named after it? I think we should name another important street Portland Boulevard.
Because I see no reason to rename a street after a hispanic does not mean I don't respect and like hispanics. They are some of the best hard working people I know. But Cesar Chavez has nothing to do with Portland history and certainly not that area of Portland. There are most likely areas that it would be more appropriate.
How about naming a street after some of my family? I have an uncle that died protecting our country and freedom in the war.
Isn't he equally important? I really do think that allowing the council to change street names is a waste of taxpayers money.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 02:45 PM
At least it did not start that way.
Portland's Municipal Code has an existing law that governs the renaming of streets, it is known as chapter "17.93 Renaming City Streets". This law has six parts to it and the first five provide guidance for why and how an existing street name should be changed. These provisions have been, and will be, ignored by the Mayor and City Council.
When the City Council changed the street names to Naito Parkway (Ordinance: 170368) and Rosa Parks Way (Ordinance: 180549) they waived the provisions of 17.93, except for the last provision, "17.93.060, Implementation". This last provision states that once the City Council has made the decision to rename a street, they notify Bureau of Maintenance who installs the new signs, and after a period of Five years that street name is permanently changed to the new name. They don't need the law to make a name change. They have done and will continue to do as they wish, because they can ignore the law by waiving it.
In the ordinance that renamed Portland Blvd. to Rosa Parks Way the Mayor and City Council did not even follow the provisions of 17.93.060, they changed the time of the permanent name change from Five years to Three. (Also, "Rosa Parks Way" is poorly worded because it is easily confused with "Rosa Parkway" and should to be changed to "Rosa Parks Blvd.")
Ignoring a law to honor people who fought for our civil liberties is not an Honor, it is an insult to their memory and our city's citizens.
Read the law for yourself:
http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=ciiig
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 04:51 PM
"Karen" - it is unlikely that anyone in the Portland area could have put it any better than you did - hopefully it didn't take that long because the list goes on and on and on...
And to "Steve"
"He faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
"Someone stop me," he cried.
As he faded from sight,
"Won't nobody help a naked man?"
"Won't nobody help a naked man?"
Randy Newman
"Scary Potter" has got to go along with Adams and Sten before anything can really get accomplished in this City of Roses...
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 27, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Sounds like a snot-nosed little kid having a temper tantrum.
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 01:09 AM
Tom, is any of this sinking into that beady little brain of yours? We don't care if you take your ball and go home. If anything that's what we want you to do. take all your stinking toys, pack up all your stuff and keep right on going out past the city limits sign. You're a disgrace and an embarassment to the city of Portland. I'm glad I didn't vote for you and I won't be voting for any of your follow-ons.
Is it November 2008 yet????
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 02:02 AM
I have to say what makes the city council and mayor think that they should and can rename our streets? It is unfair that an organized group with an adgenda can approach the city and ask to have a street renamed to fit their adgenda. Most people in Portland like the names of our streets and the history behind them and don't appreciate having well know places renamed to fit someone's political or social adgenda especially to prove Portland is open minded.
The Mayor and city council show no concern or respect for the people in Portland when they sucumb to these requests to keep themselves in office. Where the mayor thinks he can represent Portlanders and push names changes is ludicrous. How about the opinion of the residents. Thanks to the Portland Tribune and a questionaire by a local tv station it seems to be the ony way the PEOPLE who have lived here all their life can respond to these inappropriate requests.
Naito Parkway is a well deserved name change. He was so involved in building Portland. I totally agree with that name change. Martin Luther King is fine. I do have a problem if there are two streets named after Rosa Parks. One should be plenty. There is also a lovely grade school named after her also. I do have a question as to why the streets west of I 5 and in north Portland are the streets being selected.
The mayor, and I use that term unhappily, and the council need to find another outlet for their renaming and get to really important city business. His behavior is embarrassing and disgusting.
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 02:42 AM
Mayor Stewie Griffin....Waaaahhhh Waaaaaaahhhhh!
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 04:57 AM
How many commenting here mow the lawn?
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 06:04 AM
Four states have a state holiday after Cesar Chavez. There are schools, libraries, public buildings, and more named after him throughout the country. He is rated the top civil rights legendary leader under Martin Luther King Jr. Mayor Potter is following a national trend to honor his successes which included unionizing migrant labor. Former Mayor Vera Kratz was under Portland Police Intelligence surveillance just for carrying "Boycott Grape" signs outside Safeway which was part of the unionizing goals of Cesar Chavez. I preferred Union Avenue over MLK Blvd but I got used to it. It is politically correct that we name a major thoroughfare after Cesar Chavez too!
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 07:19 AM
Four states is hardly a national trend.....
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 09:23 AM
What does the Hispanic community think? Do they prefer someone else to represent them? What importance was directly made by Cesar Chavez to the City of Portland itself? Have they renamed the local latino community college in the Portland area yet?
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 10:27 AM
"But lets look at this. Mr. Chaves was a man who helped establish living, and working conditions for migrant farm laborers, who were probably mostly ileagles. If that be the case this would be a case of aiding and abetting a felon. and you want to rename a street after a crook?"
"Bruce"
hmm.
do you know your history? apparently not.
most streets here are named after crooks. greedy, racist, white settlers. ALL of them were illegal immigrants.
how about John H Couch. "The contribution to Portland for which he is most remembered today is the platting of his land claim in Northwest Portland.." wow. so he stole some land.
(email verified)
Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Why no street named after Pres Ronald Reagan? He brought down the Berlin Wall and freed millions from the grasp of the Soviet Union. He needs a street before Caesar Chavez does. Why not honor MY heritage?
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 01:11 AM
So, using simple reasoning, only a member of a given demographic can represent said demographic.
To wit: Blacks can only represent Blacks; Hispanics can only represent their own.
Because anyone outside of the given demographic is not "down" with(or knowledgeable about) the experiences of that demographic.
As one member of the wrinkled, old, crotchety Caucasian sporting face fur demographic, I feel woefully represented by Tantrum Tommy Potter. The man is hardly "down" with MY struggle.
The same goes for Rattle-Can Randy Leonard or Eric "The Suburbanite" Sten.
At least when I get "backed up" I know to increase the fiber and Ex-Lax or shake my bony, pale, cane-clutching fist at the problem rather that to run, like a woman scorned, tears a-streaming, from the problems vexing me.
It is embarrassing to have such cowardly Caucasians claiming that they represent my demographic.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 02:31 AM
"most streets here are named after crooks. greedy, racist, white settlers. ALL of them were illegal immigrants.
how about John H Couch. "The contribution to Portland for which he is most remembered today is the platting of his land claim in Northwest Portland.." wow. so he stole some land."
Gee, Crystal, got a STONE ax to grind?
Maybe you could show me the law (being 'illegal' means violating a law) that the noble Indians had on the books regarding immigration. I would guess not as none of the folks here had advanced past the Stone Age and developed a written language. BTW, the oft mentioned 'Oral Histories' are worth exactly the same amount as the paper they aren't written on.
Slapping a "greedy, racist, white settlers" label on EVERY caucasian male who had anything to do with building PDX is kinda JUDGEMENTAL isn't it? How very Portland of you.
My "greedy, racist, white" ancestors built many of the bridges you likely use to get your carcass from one side of the Willamette to the other. I am sure that since you now know exactly which heartless bas**ds built the bridges, you will be swimming in protest. Right?
Chavez had nothing to do with PDX or Oregon. As to the claims of the Latino community that they need a monument for them to honor their contribution to the community, I would ask where is the monument to the many Swedish and Norwegian people who actually did help build this area?
And when we discuss the Latino 'contribution' to the community...are we talking about ALL of their contributions....or just the ones where laws aren't broken?
Just curious.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 04:45 AM
never mind most of the streets are pot holed.
never mind the fact that you can't cross the I-5 bridge at any time of day.
WE NEED TO RE-NAME THIS STREET FOR THE HISPANICS! Hopefully it turns out like MLK bvld did.
IE take a street (union) that has the worse reputation of the city and name it after a civil leader and spend x amount of money to change everything and force every business along there to spend x amount of money.
I hate portland.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 06:17 AM
It's fairly simple; Potter has acted like a dictator from the get go, trying subevert the rules of process whenever he can in order to ram his personal beliefs down our throats. And whenever he doesn't get his way, he throws a tantrum and hurls words like "racist" and "homophobe" if you don't agree with him. The same goes for his staff.
I am Mexican, I live in North Portland and even I do not think it's okay to rip out one history to replace it with another.
Ceasar Chavez represents the history of a small group of Portland citizens.
Insterstate Avenue, which used to be the only way to get to Washington, is part of the history of EVERY Portland citizen.
And Tommy Tantrum clearly shows very little regard for Portland, her history and the people who want to preserve it.
Run along now Tommy... somewhere, a village is missing their idiot.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 09:57 AM
I could careless about the hispanics. Lets focus on maybe fixing up the schools, roads, healthcare before we spend a bloody dime to rename a street. I'm offended that we are wasting the time and money to entertain the idea. Move on to a real problem.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 02:21 PM
What an immature little boy. How about we rename the street that Potter lives on? Then he can send out thousands of change of address forms. We don't disrespect hispanics, we don't want to change our mail, letterheads, and other address forms. Go name a park, bridge, building, or city hall for Chavez and maybe Potter won't return to city hall any more.
(email verified)
Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 03:36 PM
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Re: Potter walks out of City Council hearing
How very mature! Things don't go his way so he takes his ball and goes home. What a dork!
"JB"
(email verified)
Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 10:59 AM