19 Comments
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Peggy's avatar

This makes me sick. Maybe it is time to get out.

But maybe if it gets really bad people will pull their heads out of their personal entertainment and pay attention. And then maybe do something. But I'm not confident that a majority of Portlandians will wake up and change anything. Most who wake up will move out - as many already have. But housing prices are ridiculous here. I hope people will want to stay and take their city back. And realize they cannot trust the Marxist Media.

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Theresa Griffin Kennedy's avatar

"Dinosaur media..." LOL... I agree.

"Councilor Sharon Meieran cast the sole No vote. (She’s term-limited and won’t be around much longer to vex chair Vega Pederson, who did a lousy job of hiding her disdain for her fellow Big Girl.)"

Yep JVP can't hide how much she hates the fact that Sharon is ooodles smarter than she will ever be.

I like Meieran. She's smart. Don't like JVP. Tedious not-very-smart nitwit who thinks she has all the answers. Also, Sam Adams is exposing JVP for the control freak she is. Can't wait to see Sam March back into politics. Frankly, we need some men back in the mix. Too many fussy women, mucking things up. LOL... Just joking... Well, sorta but not really.

Great piece!

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Javier's avatar

Seems like a lot of pragmatic voters are going with Jessie Burke. I leaning towards Sam but I just really don’t want Singleton. She’s another JVP.

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Theresa Griffin Kennedy's avatar

I’ve got some funny dirt on Burke. Nothing serious but it didn’t reflect well on her. I’m far more confident that Sam knows what to do. You can’t beat the guy in terms of intelligence and experience. Burke is insecure, petty and young. We don’t need a pretty face and empty head. Just my opinion…

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Javier's avatar

Did you see what Adams said? This is terrible! I’m now voting for Burke.

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/04/24/should-metro-take-back-homeless-dollars-for-housing/

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Theresa Griffin Kennedy's avatar

If Kevin Fits, Shannon Singleton and Sam Adams all say yes to that, then there are good reasons behind why they feel that way. Definitely vote for who you want, but I'm not throwing my vote away. Burke will not win. She stands a slim chance and isn't half the politician and change maker that Sam is. To each his/her own, I guess.

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Javier's avatar

I would counter that if Singleton supports something it’s almost assuredly not a good idea. She’s a status quo candidate if I’ve ever seen one. Adams is a political animal. I’ll grant you that. :) The long term solution for me is to move out of Multnomah County. That will be a happy day.

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JR's avatar

Just an aside about serving on commissions, supervisors, etc. I have been there myself, usually as the counterpoint to groupthink. I wasn’t able to stick it out more than a couple of years though, mainly because feeling it was a waste of time. Most of the others loved the prestige (?) and perks around town. I have a hunch the Montavilla Neighborhood Pres. had similar thoughts.

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Seth's avatar

Bamboozeled again!

So frustrating...thank you for what you do Richard!

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Paul Douglas's avatar

Well I last commented that I thought J B-E understood the angst of outer SE Portland working-class neighborhoods. Apparently I was wrong: I am seriously disappointed in her for not sticking up for those Montavilla tax payers.

Very disconcerting.

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Javier's avatar

JBE also voted to overturn the firing of a PPS teacher who was calling in sick and then working a second job. It was “racist” to fire him. LOL. She’s only 1 notch better than JVP. If you want change at Multnomah we need someone like Brian Knotts. He’s running for District 4

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Paul Douglas's avatar

I think Jesse Burke would be a great Commissioner from District 2.

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Javier's avatar

Yes, and so would Sam Adams. Tough to choose for me. Sam has experience navigating the local government system and a willingness to buck the system. Jessie is a business owner but would have a tough learning curve and seems stretched thin…..worst case scenario would be to have Singleton sneak in.

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Javier's avatar

After Sam Adams said he would divert homeless money to the ever growing Metro bureaucracy he lost my vote. I’m now voting for Jessie Burke!

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/04/24/should-metro-take-back-homeless-dollars-for-housing/

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Mosby Woods's avatar

Excellent reporting. Ugh...

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Ann's avatar

I just want to pull my hair out!

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Javier's avatar

Great piece again but it’s just so depressing. Richard do you ever want to just give up and move? I do.

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Pamela Fitzsimmons's avatar

Richard has done time in Detroit and Chicago. He has seen worse than this and knows where Portland could be headed if the progressives don’t wise up.

The situation in this city reminds me of a gardener who deliberately nurtures the weeds and then wonders why his garden doesn’t thrive like it used to.

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Peggy's avatar

Excellent analogy.

Poor weeds, they are plants too!

And rats - feed the rats - don't kill them. (I've seen people on nextdoor lecture about not killing rats.)

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