Here’s the story behind the summer-long scurry of construction activity on SE Division Street at SE 68th Avenue …
This auspicious group, ready to dedicate the newly-reconstructed Egtvedt Hall at Warner Pacific (WP) College, are: WP alum and Church of God pastor John Parker; Bill Jones, VP with Bank of the West; Steve Stenberg, WP Director of Facilities and Planning; Conner Peckham, Student Body President; Jim Teague, Chair, Board of Trustees and an alumnus; Andrea Cook, interim WP President; Jay Barber, President Emeritus; Wayne Peterson, WP’s CFO; Frank Harris, who is with contractor SD Deacon; Skip Spanaway, from SRD Partnership, architects; and, Ray Cotton, pastor of New Hope Community Church, alumnus and parent of a current student.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
People motoring east or west along SE Division Street have probably noticed a recent flurry of construction activity at SE 68th Avenue – on the campus of Warner Pacific College (WP).
In what Andrea Cook, interim WP president called “amazing work in a very short time,” the school’s Egtvedt Hall underwent a complete renovation. “Groundbreaking for the project was on April 3, and we got our occupancy permit on August 21.”
Although the turnout was light for the dedication ceremony, everyone at the ribbon-cutting ceremony appeared to be ebullient about the project’s successful, rapid, and timely completion.
Warner Pacific’s interim President, Andrea Cook, introduces the speakers at the building’s dedication ceremony.
Speeches accompany ribbon cutting
After introducing distinguished guests standing behind the dedication ribbon, the school’s interim President, Andrea Cook, said, “Now, our students will have a place in which they can feel proud, when they bring their families and friends.”
Jim Teague, an alumnus and the Chair of the school’s board of trustees, told how, in 1976, the impetus behind the construction of the original building was to have a place to host then-President Gerald Ford when he came to speak at their graduation ceremony.
In the foreground, newly renovated Egtvedt Hall stands ready to serve students, faculty, and the community, school officials say.
“That was our motivation then,” Teague told the assemblage. “The motivation [for the improvements] is really all about our students. We felt deeply that we needed a place to really host our community. This includes our students, our faculty, our alumni – and our staff, as well. What you see here, now, is a place that is all about community. Community is what Warner Pacific is all about.”
Representatives of the architects, contractors, and the school each took turns praising the project and offering up dedication prayers. With that, the ribbon was cut and visitors toured the building.
With a snip of the mighty scissors wielded by Cook, Egtvedt Hall is official open.
Will provide a ‘community space’
Greg Moon, the school’s Development Director, told us that Egtvedt Hall now provides the campus with a spacious dining room, a coffee shop, a student center, and a bookstore. “Additionally, faculty, admissions, the registrar, and the business and financial offices occupy the second story of the building.”
“The renovation gives students a place they can relax,” Moon said. “The dining room, coffee shop, and multi-purpose room are open and available for our neighborhood community to use. The building also houses our ‘black box’ theater and music rehearsal studios. We hope you’ll come to our events.”
Learn more about this unique SE Portland educational facility by visiting their web site: CLICK HERE.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Officials suspect her son of actually dealing the dope. But the question remains, doesn’t anyone check on kids in foster homes? Learn the answer right here …
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office detectives say they could smell the pungent aroma of marijuana from outside this Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood home.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
We wanted to make sure we had all of the facts before we brought you this sad, unusual story about an outer East Portland foster mother, 49-year-old Sherry L. Feightner, being caught this week with 11 pounds of marijuana in her home – some of it said to be drying in her foster son’s bedroom.
Child visit 10 days before pot bust
We asked Lauri Stewart, communications officer at Oregon Department of Human Services, how a large-scale pot packaging operation could go on, undetected, in a foster home.
“First, all foster homes are visited for ‘certification’ every 180 days – or every 90 days, if many children are placed in the home,” Stewart told us. “The most recent inspection of Feightner’s home was in August, 2008.”
Stewart added that caseworkers visit foster children at least every 30 days. There had been two visits on October, she said, the most recent on October 17 – just 10 days before the pot bust.
She wouldn’t comment on whether or not she suspected that Feightner’s son, 28-year old Michael Chastain was responsible for bringing the pot into the foster home.
“We did send [Feightner] a letter stating that her adult son [Chastain] was not to visit the home, nor have any contact with the foster children,” Stewart said. “This isn’t a suggestion; it is a directive in the form of a warning letter.”
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office detectives snapped this photo of the suspected marijuana drying in the bedroom of a foster child. MCSO photo
Smelled the pot outside
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office detectives, following a tip about possible drug activity at a children’s foster care home, conducted a welfare check 3626 SE 132nd Avenue on October 27, according to Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Paul H. McRedmond.
“Our detectives said they could smell a strong odor of marijuana while standing on the sidewalk outside the house,” explained McRedmond. “Upon ‘consent entry’ into the home, detectives said they found eleven pounds of marijuana in an upstairs kid’s bedroom, drying on clotheslines strung about the room.”
Detectives said they found 11 pounds of pot being prepared for sale in this foster home. MCSO photo
McRedmond stated that one of the detectives said the odor of marijuana within the house was “so strong it made my sinuses hurt”. Detectives added that they believe that the pot had been in the house for two days.
A nine-year-old male foster child, whose bedroom was next to the “drying room”, was turned over to Child Protective Services. A two-year-old female child left the scene with her mother; the 13-year-old foster child, whose bedroom was the drying room, was not at the residence at the time of the bust.
Whether or not she was actually dealing dope, 49-year-old Sherry L. Feightner was arrested and booked on multiple charges – some of them felonies.
According to McRedmond, Feightner was arrested booked on two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, misdemeanors; two counts of Child Neglect 1, a Class B felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance and Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – both class-B felonies; and Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class A felony.
Although he wasn’t supposed to be at the home, 28-year old Michael Chastain was taken into custody there on a Federal pre-trial release supervision program violation, and lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
It’s hard to believe the driver and passenger in this Nissan Pathfinder weren’t killed when he swerved off the road, bouncing and rolling down the dyke, and landing upside down at the edge of the Columbia River …
Officials say the pair were lucky to have walked away with hardly a scratch, after their SUV rolled, bounced and jolted down the steep embankment along Marine Drive – and almost into the river!
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Those wanting to commute using NE Marine Drive the morning of October 28 were disappointed to find it was shut down, due to what police describe as a drunk-driving mishap.
“At 8:03 a.m., officers were called to the 7000 block of Northeast Marine Drive,” reported Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz. “A Nissan Pathfinder driven by 39-year-old Carlton Cherry drove off the road and came to a stop near the Columbia River.”
Investigators determined that Carlton was traveling eastbound on NE Marine Drive when he veered into the oncoming lane, attempted to swerve back into the correct lane, and then lost control of his vehicle.
A Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division officer looks at the crumpled Pathfinder far below his vantage point on the Marine Drive Bike Path. You can see the wheels of the SUV in the lower right-hand corner of this photo.
A tow truck driver hands the vehicle’s keys to the traffic officer before the SUV is recovered. Perhaps this wouldn’t have happened if someone would have taken the driver’s keys before he got behind the wheel.
Crumpled SUV tells a tale
When we arrived on-scene, we couldn’t see the wrecked vehicle while we were standing on Marine Drive. After making our way carefully down to the bike path – about halfway between the top of the levee and the water’s edge – we then could see the crumpled vehicle lying at the water’s edge, next to an estuary. It the accident had occurred during the springtime, high-water months – the car would have been underwater.
The top, front, sides, and rear of the Nissan Pathfinder were smashed in. No wonder – we could clearly see where the vehicle had dug a foot into the earth just above the bike path. It apparently flipped and rolled across the path, continuing down across the jagged boulders on its way to the edge of the Columbia River.
Two wrecker crews arrived, trying to figure out how to recover the mangled SUV. They called in a third, “Heavy Recovery Vehicle”, to yank the vehicle up the steep, rock-covered embankment, so they could load it onto a waiting flatbed truck.
It took several tries to find a strategy – and a heavy-duty “recovery vehicle” – to pull the wrecked SUV up the steep embankment to the flatbed truck waiting on the Marine Drive bicycle path.
Only minor injuries sustained
“Carlton sustained a minor injury,” Schmautz told us, “and his passenger, 47-year-old April Brunson, was not injured. Carlton was transported to Emanuel Hospital for evaluation and has been charged with one count each of Reckless Driving and DUII.
No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
How does one keep one’s neighborhood from looking trashed? See what these volunteers did – and how much money they raised for their association, in the process…
Neighbor John Bassett recycles his metal and gets rid of his junk – and also spends a few minutes helping Powellhurst/Gilbert Neighborhood Association Vice-Chair Elaine Medcalf organize a Dumpster.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Unlike almost any other grassroots local project, “neighborhood clean-ups” are specifically to help beautify sections of East Portland.
The Powellhurst/Gilbert and Pleasant Valley Fall Clean-Up was one such event.
“We do this to help our neighbors,” said its organizer, Powellhurst/Gilbert Neighborhood Association Vice-Chair Elaine Medcalf, as she closed the doors on a filled-to-the-brim metal recycling dumpster. “It also helps keep debris, trash, and unwanted appliances from being dumped off.”
Medcalf said there were seven sites open across Powellhurst/Gilbert, which is outer East Portland’s geographically-largest neighborhood. “One of our sites is on the border of the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood; they’re participating in the clean-up,” she noted.
At one of the sites there was a bulky waste Dumpster and a Dumpster for metals; at two sites there were a bulky waste Dumpster and a yard debris Dumpster; and at three sites there was a bulky waste Dumpster only.
“It’s great being able to get the trash out of the neighborhood,” neighbor John Bassett told us. “Especially out of my yard!”
Here’s some of the 19.7 tons of bulky waste that won’t be dumped in a park or along a road.
The results? Medcalf said the clean-up netted:
- Bulky Waste: 19.7 tons
- Yard Debris: 2.54 tons
- Metals: 4.3 tons
- Donations: $1,215.
Collection services were provided by Flannery’s Drop Box Service and Scott’s Metal Recycling. Tipping fees were provided by a grant from the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, and Metro.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Area residents were worried when reports of a teenage girl being raped surfaced last week; see how alert Portland Police Bureau officers got the man they say is the perpetrator …
Usually Lents Park is a place of fun and recreation for families. Neighbors started getting worried when they heard a girl had been raped here.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A broad daylight rape on October 20 left the residents who live around Lents Park – in the area of SE 92nd Avenue and SE Holgate Boulevard – feeling uneasy.
“We have some bad characters running through there,” said Lawrence Brookmeyer, a retired Lents neighborhood resident whose house overlooks the park. “I hope they catch the guy – we’ll all feel a lot better.”
Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz told us that, based on information from an interview with the teenage victim, detectives believe she was walking through the park and saw the suspect crouched against a tree. The victim approached the suspect to ask him a question. As she walked towards the suspect he stood up.
“As the suspect stood up,” Schmautz reported, “the victim observed that the suspect’s pants were partially open and his penis was exposed. Before the victim could escape, the suspect grabbed and sexually assaulted her. The victim physically resisted the suspect, who walked out of the area after completing the assault.”
Schmautz said the victim was able to give police a detailed description of the suspect, and helped the bureau’s sketch artist make a drawing of the suspect.
Police say they suspect this man, 26-year-old Andrea Tito Pascua, is the one who sexually assaulted the teenager in Lents Park.
Officer checks transient camps
East Precinct Officer Rian Hamby got on the case and checked several locations frequented by transients in southeast Portland. His work paid off; three days later, on October 23, Hamby found his man.
“In the area of SE 87th Avenue and SE Powell Boulevard, Hamby found and detained 26-year-old Andrea Tito Pascua,” Schmautz said. “Pascua was later positively identified as the suspect by the victim.”
Pascua was arrested and charged with one count of Sex Abuse in the First Degree and one count of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree in connection with the sexual assault in Lents Park, Schmautz stated.
This investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mary Wheat at (503) 823-0885.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Discover how and why these two SE Portland artists are giving this former gas station and coffee shop an entirely new – and delightful – appearance …
A board member of the non-profit Cafe au Play – located at Tabor Commons – Charles Heying prepares the exterior for painting.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The building on SE Division Street, across from Atkinson Elementary School, that started out as a gas station 50 years ago, and ended up being a coffee shop that was actually an illegal drug dispensary, is a step closer to becoming a community center.
The former “Drive-thru Wake-up and Deli” is getting an exterior makeover as part of its transformation into the Tabor Commons Community Center.
“When you drive past now, you’ll see a colorful design covering three walls of the building,” said Paul Leistner, a board member of the Southeast Uplift neighborhood coalition. “The public art is a combination of geometric elements with garden and bird motifs.”
Sees building as a canvas
The design was created by John Early and Laura Bender of Site Painters, a local firm that’s been doing murals and commissioned public artwork for 25 years. You’ve seen their work around town – at the former Nature’s Market on SE Division Street, for example.
“We live in the neighborhood, and have been following the progress of this project,” Early told us, while taking a brief break. “This nondescript little box of a building seemed like the perfect place for community art treatment.”
Grant funds local muralists
Early and Bender created a design, and then prepared a grant application to the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s neighborhood mural program.
“Thanks to the support of the community – and in-kind donations from companies like Powell Paint Company – we were awarded the grant. Volunteers prepared the exterior by sealing, sanding, and priming the surface.”
SE Portland residents, and professional mural painters, John Early and Laura Bender transform the former drug-dealing storefront into a work of public art.
Center to create a ‘sense of neighborhood’
“This is our neighborhood – we love this area,” smiled Bender, as the husband-and-wife duo mounted the scaffolding to continue their work. “I like the idea of helping to create art that promotes a sense of neighborhood.”
When they’ve completed their work, Early said, they’ll coat the exterior with an ultraviolet-shielding varnish that will also help fend off potential graffiti vandals.
Working to fulfill their goals
Leistner reminded us that the main goal for the project is to create a community gathering place. “One way the Tabor Commons is achieving this goal is through partnership with a local non-profit, Café au Play,” he said “They’ll create a family-and-community-friendly coffeehouse program to support children and families, by nurturing connections among caregivers and empowering people of all ages to see themselves as both givers and receivers of resources.”
Community members hope to finish the building and site renovation this winter.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Although she’ll represent all of Portland – find out why so many East Portland folks threw their support behind Portland’s newest City Commissioner …
Moments before the election results were posted, Amanda Fritz watches the coverage – with a couple hundred close friends and supporters – to see how her second attempt at gaining a seat on the Portland City Council would resolve.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Portland City Commissioner-elect Amanda Fritz became an “instant success” this week – after 17 years in the making – as she won Seat #1 on the Council this year by a wide margin over her opponent, Charles Lewis.
A 17-year journey
Just before the first results were posted, Fritz stepped in front of about 200 friends and supporters – including Mayor Tom Potter, and Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish – and talked briefly about her latest campaign.
“This journey started for me 13 months ago,” Fritz began.
“Actually, I started this journey 17 years ago when a neighbor left a flyer in my mailbox saying trees were about to be chopped down and I needed to come to the neighborhood Association meeting.
“At the time, I had children – ages five, three, and one – I like to describe it as being ‘knee deep in babies’. I went to that neighborhood Association meeting; I’ve been going to them ever since.”
Fritz concluded saying, “If you ever wonder about being a neighborhood activist – whether or not you can make a real difference in your neighborhood and city – the answer is yes. Yes, you really do.”
Outer East Portland neighborhood leaders – and Fritz supporters – Arlene Kimura, Alesia Reese, and Linda Robinson, say they’re cheered by the election of Amanda Fritz.
Outer East Portland volunteers recognized
One of the many supporters Fritz went on to recognize was Linda Robinson, current Chair of the Citywide Parks Team. When asked if she would help in the campaign, Robertson outlined four different ways that she could help, and then suggested a few more, Fritz commented.
We asked Robinson why she so actively supported a candidate who lives in deep Southwest Portland – when she, herself, hails from the outer East Portland neighborhood of Hazelwood.
“Where she lives,” Robinson responded, “There are many infrastructure deficiencies, like we have in East Portland. Her neighborhood was also annexed within the last 20 years.”
But what really made Fritz stand out as a potential leader, she said, were her group interaction skills. “I’ve watched how she carefully thinks things through and how she communicates with people. But most of all, she really understands citizen advocacy and has actively participated in government. She both ‘gets it’ and ‘does it’.”
Popular in East Portland precincts
Fritz opined that she won the election because she’s worked with neighborhood and business groups all over East Portland for ten years.
“My support and interest is issue-based,” Fritz told us after the election. “The problems and challenges in outer East Portland are the same ones in deep Southwest Portland. The City made promises to many neighborhoods that have never been fulfilled.”
During her two campaigns for office, Fritz said she found that both neighbors and businesspeople all across Portland expressed similar concerns. “I found that ‘most every group considers themselves unheard and uncared for.”
Portland City Counselor-elect, Amanda Fritz, thanks her supporters after elected to Position #1 by a landslide margin. Her son, Luke, sits in the background.
When we asked how she’ll use her office to remedy this situation, Fritz responded, “When people come to the City – that will be me – to express their concerns, I’ll let them know I’ve heard them, and will respond with practical solutions.”
Because Fritz was already meeting with city officials and civic groups, she was pressed to move to her next appointment.
We asked if she’d enunciate how she’ll use her soon-to-be invested authority.
“As one of five members, I’ll do my best to help the City Council work together for the common good. Bringing people together is what I’ve done for the last 17 years,” replied Fritz.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Find out how a routine traffic stop went from ‘zero to crazy’ in a moment – and why cops shut down SE Division Street, and called out the SERT team to capture this wanted, gun-toting man …
From SE 82nd Avenue of Roses east to 92nd Avenue, police shut down SE Division Street as they searched for a man, wanted for murder, who ran from a traffic stop.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It was just another fall afternoon at the 76 Market owned operated by James Arokiadoss, at the edge of the Lents Neighborhood.
“But everything went from ‘zero to crazy’ in a minute,” Arokiadoss told us, as he described the events that started unfolding about 4:00 p.m. on October 23.
76 Market owner James Arokiadoss tells what he witnessed during a “routine police stop” at his business.
Says potential customer looked harmless
“It seemed like the driver of a red van saw there was a cop on his tail,” Arokiadoss reported. It’s like he pulled into our gas station. But when our attendant went by to ask him what he needed, the driver kept looking around and told the attendant he ‘wasn’t sure’. He just sat there. When I saw him, he looked like a harmless fellow.”
Arokiadoss said it had looked to him like other routine traffic stops, in which a driver and a police car pull off SE Division Street and into his gas station on southwest corner of 92nd Avenue.
“It seemed like everything was normal at first,” Arokiadoss continued. “But when they looked at his driver’s license and insurance, the officer asked him to wait a moment. Another police car pulled up.”
After police checked the identification of the man driving this red van – the driver took off on foot, leaving the van and a female passenger behind.
Traffic stop goes sideways
Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Officer Cathe Kent confirms the story: “Officers contacted the driver and female passenger, and obtained identification for the driver. The identity of the driver was being checked through our mobile data system and [we found] a half-million-dollar bail warrant for Attempt Murder, posted by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.”
Kent said that the officer alerted the second officer to the driver’s “wanted” status – then suddenly, the man, whom she identified as 28-year-old Olen Billy Butler, bailed out of the vehicle and headed westbound – on foot – on Division Street.
Although he was surprised to see the fleeing man drop his shoes and a gun, Arokiadoss picked up the gun and held it for police.
Sees man drop his shoes – and a gun
Arokiadoss continued his story: “The woman riding in the car didn’t move; the driver, a black man, dropped his gun, and his shoes, on our driveway on Division Street. I picked up the gun, because we didn’t want anyone to have anything to do with the gun. We locked it up and called the cops and gave the gun to them.”
Officers, one on foot and one in a patrol, took off after Butler, who was running shoeless west on SE Division Street, and followed him to the area in the 2400 block of SE 90th Avenue. Cover officers arrived, and a perimeter was secured around a residence in which officers believed Butler took refuge. The Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was activated, and SE Division Street was shut down from SE 82nd Avenue of Roses east to 92nd Avenue.
For over four hours – throughout the height of rush hour – SE Division St. remained closed, as police hunted for the running suspect, who for reasons understood only by himself, discarded his shoes as he fled.
SERT squad’s communication efforts rebuffed
“During the course of the investigation,” Kent informed us, “It was determined that Butler was inside with a female, and that she was an acquaintance, not a hostage.”
For several hours, SERT officers tried to communicate with Butler, via phone and loud-hail, and received no response. “SERT deployed a chemical agent – tear gas – into the residence. Immediately, Butler and the female exited the home, and were taken into custody at 8:26 p.m,” Kent reported.
Police say this man, 28-year-old Olen Billy Butler, was about to be picked up on a $500,000 bail warrant for Attempt Murder.
There were no injuries reported by Butler or the female. It is unknown at this time if any weapons were inside the home, Kent stated, adding, “At this time, I do not know if the female is being charged with a crime. The Attempt Murder charge, listed on the warrant, is a Gresham PD case.”
Later in the evening, things were back to normal at Arokiadoss’ gas station business.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Read this before you vote! Find out what we learned at this East Portland Chamber of Commerce ‘Candidate’s Forum’ last week, featuring Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis …
The Portland City Council candidates Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis ready themselves for the early-morning forum at CherryWood Village.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Before the coffee in the candidates’ cups could cool, Ken Turner, the Government Affairs chair of the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, began the organization’s last Candidate’s Forum of the season promptly at 8:00 a.m.
After asking the candidates to introduce themselves, first Turner and then audience members quizzed the candidates about Freightliner’s move, and other relevant topics.
Here’s your final look at the candidates for this important City of Portland position – in their own words.
Portland City Council candidate Amanda Fritz.
Introducing Amanda Fritz
“I was born and raised in England, in case anyone is wondering about the accent. I came to the United States when I was 21, right after college. We decided to move to Portland in 1986, as we thought this would be the place to live and raise a family – sure enough, it is.
“I am running for Portland City Council, to provide all basic services in all 95 neighborhoods and 35 business districts by spending taxpayer’s money wisely.
“The city Council has a $3 billion budget to spend. I feel we can do a better job of prioritizing our existing budget to provide services in every part of the city.”
Says dirt roads not a sign of good ‘urban renewal’
“Recently the Oregonian asked us both to pick a place that exemplifies our interest in the city,” Fritz continued.
“I chose to come to Gateway, to SE Pine Street. We stood on this unpaved street, and I asked. ‘Is this truly a Regional Center? Is this a good example of an Urban Renewal District? Is this promoting the kind of housing and businesses that will support the existing businesses and existing residences here in Gateway?’
“We need to have more progress in parts of the city that have not had their fair share in the past.
“I live in Southwest Portland, in an area that was annexed in 1979. It shares many of the same problems – no parks; no sidewalks. It took 13 years to get a park in my neighborhood. East Portland is parks-deficient also. We need to put our attention and effort on the parts of town that is not had that service in the past.
“I served on the planning commission for seven years, in an advisory capacity to the City Council on issues of economic development, transportation, and crime prevention. I’ve been providing citizen involvement for schools, parks and neighborhoods.
“I’ve participated at the grassroots level for the last 17 years. I look forward to putting this experience to work for you.”
Portland City Council candidate Charles Lewis.
Introducing Charles Lewis
“I am the executive director of Ethos Music Center. It’s a nonprofit that I started about 10 years ago. I was a graduate student at Harvard University, and I was concerned about the tremendous budget cuts that destroyed the kindergarten through eighth grade music programs in our schools.
“Instead of cashing on my degree, I flew back home to Portland, slept on a friend’s couch for about a year and a half, and started up this nonprofit on my credit card. Ten years later, we have a staff of 78. We brought music education back to 2,200 kids, and started up 120 after-school programs, and we’re expanding in the rural parts of Oregon as well. Our budget is about $1 million a year. We’re filling a very critical need for kids in our community.
“My interest in running for Portland City Council is that I think we need some of that same innovative, creative drive on our Council. We’re going to be experiencing some very difficult economic times, and we need someone who has a track record of finding creative and innovative solutions to problems, and bringing them to the Portland City Council.
“Before I started up Ethos, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo, I was a student at the University of Portland, and I studied business and political science. I am married, 36 years old; I’ll be 37 the day after the election. We have a brand-new baby girl, 3½ months old.”
First campaign stop: filling potholes
Lewis continued, “I started off my campaign about a year and a half ago, in my neighborhood (Cully), by filling potholes on the dirt road that we live on. The city will not touch your dirt road or the potholes on your dirt road. They’re good about filling in some of the potholes on paved roads, but not for people who live on unpaved roads.
“Transportation and infrastructure investment are things that are very important to me. I am a former small business owner. My wife and I ran Portland Duck Tours, a business that gave tours on land and water.
“I’ll be focused on creating more jobs in Portland. It’s something I’ve done with Ethos Music. I’ll focus on helping out our schools and our kids, and helping neighborhoods throughout the City of Portland.”
Questions and Answers
Q “How do we improve the business climate in Portland – especially in light of the loss of Freightliner Trucks?” Turner asked
A: Lewis
“It may be too late to keep them from moving. I think we need to think more in terms of small businesses. For me, it’s about having a broad, even base. It’s not about investing in one single corporation. This one comes down to this: The corporation will act in their own self-interest, and that of their stockholders.
“But if you invest in small businesses, people who live here, and work here, and have kids in schools here – those families are going to stay and offer more real benefits. Over 80% of the jobs in Portland are created in small businesses.
“I’ve been promoting more access to capital through a revolving loan program with the City of Portland. It’s something I’ve tried to get for several years; it’s always oversubscribed and under-funded. We need capital for small businesses. Small businesses have a very small default rate – the Small Business Association operates [a lending program like this that has] had has a default rate of .17%; hardly any of these loans are defaulted. It’s a very secure investment in the future of Portland.”
Portland City Council candidate Amanda Fritz.
A Fritz
Smaller businesses depend on large businesses for getting orders for goods and providing services to them.
“Our economy depends on large businesses, as well as many small businesses, in Portland.
“If you go to my website, you’ll see a specific plan for how both large and small businesses can grow – and what we can do to attract and retain companies that will help keep Portland’s economy vibrant.
“Mayor-Elect Sam Adams, who endorsed me yesterday, sent out an e-mail asking how we can support the Freightliner workers that are losing their jobs. These are family-wage jobs that are gone. Those are people who buy from our businesses and put their money back into the Portland economy.
“One of the things we need do is have city commissioners who take note of what the existing programs are, to make sure that they work and that they’re utilized. This means getting information out about job retraining. We also need to provide the well-educated workforce that businesses need to thrive.
“We need commissioners who can work in collaboration with those who know the issues even better than Charles or I. Personally, I’m tired of politicians telling us what will work better for you. I will listen to you, and take your recommendations on what will work better.”
Q “What method should be used by the Portland business community to bring business-related issues to the attention of the City Council?
A: Fritz
“I will continue coming to Gateway, Midway, Parkrose, and to all the places you are. When I am elected, I can be quiet – and listen to what you had to say, so you can tell me what you need. I think this has been lacking in Portland city government for quite a while. I see this happening in the neighborhood system, too.
“Once every four years, the politicians come around and want to hear your opinion; then you don’t see them for 3½ years. That will not be me. I will be back – even at 7:30 in the morning. I want you to know that I have not accepted another single invitation to speak at 7:30 a.m., other than to this group.”
Portland City Council candidate Charles Lewis.
A: Lewis
“It’s by voting. I’m an East Portland resident; I live at about 60th and Prescott Street. East Portland residents have one city commissioner who lives past 42nd Avenue who’s representing their issues and understands what we’re going through.
“If it’s more investment in infrastructure, roads that need to be paved, or sidewalks needed for kids to get to school – it’s something that I would work with. Or the Prostitution-Free Zones on 82nd Avenue, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone who understands, from East Portland? We need more representation for East County.
“In addition, I believe that we need more representation for people who have created jobs in Portland; people who have run a small business and who have managed a budget. These are unique qualities that I bring to this office, and to the Portland City Council in general.”
Q “Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams made note that 24% of Portland families live below the federal poverty level. What role should the Portland City Council take, to create jobs for East Portland residents – and will this include public works?”
A: Lewis
“I come from a low-income family myself. I was one of six kids raised by a single mom who worked two jobs as a waitress, in order to make ends meet. I was able to work my way through college as a construction surveyor in Alaska, and earn a full-ride scholarship to Harvard University.
“Instead of cashing in on my degree, I came back to Portland to give back to my community. Portland’s low-income population is very important to me. Job creation, and supporting small businesses – the ones that create the most jobs here in Portland – is most critical, and is in the forefront of my agenda. There are a ton of things that we can do.
“In terms of capital and public works projects, yes, we need to focus on public works projects, to keep jobs going, especially during a recession. Historically, it’s a way that we can get out of recessions. It improves businesses, and helps improve the infrastructure around Portland.”
A: Fritz
“Public works are one of the ways we got into to this recession. The City Council has a $3 billion budget to spend. We can spend it more wisely by providing well-paying jobs for Portlanders.
“I want to look at the whole issue of contracts, and how the city spends that money. Currently, a section of the city code says contracts can run 25% over-budget before the City Council reviews them again. My [personal] budget doesn’t run 25% over budget before I start asking questions! Look at how the Tram went from $9 Million to $15 Million to $57 Million! If I’d have been on the City Council [then], I’d have been asking hard questions about the project.”
Q “According to reports of the Portland Department of Transportation, the City’s transportation infrastructure is in dire need – and will require millions of dollars to bring the system up to spec at a cost of $9 million a year. If you are in charge of PDOT, what steps would you take to fund this transportation problem?
A: Fritz
“By prioritizing the work needed to improve public safety on streets and sidewalks.
“My first son was born 22 years ago, and we wanted him to go to college. So, we started sacking money away. We didn’t have much money at the time, but we started saving money every month, so now at this point we have three kids in college – all graduates of Portland public schools. We’re still challenged by paying three college education fees. But we can do it without taking out humongous loans.
“The city needs to do the same thing with a $400 million backlog of transportation funding. We have a plan. We’re not going to be able to pay for this all at once.
“You know the City’s ‘surplus’? It’s not a surplus. It is money that could have – and should have – been used to pave streets, to provide sidewalks to school so kids can walk there. What I will do if I’m elected is to have a plan for how we’re going to do that. We shouldn’t even think about having citizens taxed for more money, before we have a plan to use the money that we do have more wisely.”
A: Lewis
“One of the things we need to stop doing is repaving roads that don’t need to be repaved. This year, walking the streets of Portland and knocking on doors, I see roads are being torn up and repaved. It doesn’t make sense. It’s based on an archaic model, with a focus on the main streets, regardless of whether not they need work. I’d like to bring some common sense to the process. In addition, we need to be more efficient with our resources.”
Lewis then gave an example of how he’s worked with the city to get a 20-spot bicycle corral built in front of his music training company. “It’s taken the city two years to create it. The amount of staff time than it took to engineer this bike rack was just ridiculous. We need to be more efficient. Frankly we need more investment in infrastructure.
“We have a lot of money dedicated to roads from the franchise fee. It was diverted under Mayor Katz’s administration. Just recently, the city Council voted to put that funding back toward the roads. I think it’s a good first step, but we need to focus on the basic infrastructure.”
Q Chamber member, Richard Kiely of Home Run Graphics asked: “Every political go-around we hear politicians telling us they’ll spend money wisely. Then they go back downtown and do what they want. Is there could be something that you can do to make sure that we get what we need from you?”
A: Lewis
“With me, as somebody who’s run a small business in a nonprofit – unlike a lot of politicians have had no experience managing a business – I had to live within a budget.
“For me, the proof is in the pudding. I spent money wisely, always looking at the bottom line. Otherwise you just go out of business. I’m not like most politicians, and I live in East Portland, like many of you. [When you think of] my priorities, I kicked off my campaign by filling in potholes on our dirt road. I feel that East Portlanders are left out of the process. I’ll bring more representation to Portland city Council.”
A: Fritz
“It would be an interesting discussion, would it not, whether Randy Leonard has brought services to outer East Portland – he’s a resident of Pleasant Valley.
“You don’t have to live in a particular area care about that area.
“I agree; look what I’ve done. When I left consulting with the Planning Commission, spent the past year working on Parks issues. I was in a meeting in Southwest Portland; a Parks Bureau person presented information. I went to an East Portland Parks meeting the following week and the same information was not presented – they presented different information.
Portland City Council candidate Amanda Fritz.
“What I did to fix that was to form the Citywide Parks team with East Portlanders Alicia Reece and Linda Robertson; she’s now the Chair of that group. Now, once a month, Parks people get the same information at the same time. Sure enough, we’re now getting a lot more attention on the Parks-deficient areas in East Portland, and across the city as well.
“We need to bring people together and accept that Portland’s problems are everyone’s problems. Portland’s benefits should be everyone’s benefits. People really do care, all over Portland, about fairness and equity and getting those services back to the neighborhoods that need them so badly.”
Q “: if the population doubles in the next 30 years, and the population keeps moving to Southeast Portland, how are you people going to work on our freeways to help smooth out the transportation problems? And what will you do to help prepare us for having twice the population that we already have?” asked chamber member Charles Powell, with Coaching At Its Best.
A: Fritz
“I served on the Portland Planning Commission for seven years. We were looking at this question. The Portland Plan is supposed to address that issue, as well as others, and to look at individual neighborhoods, and what is required to help make them livable.
“Half of the building permits in Portland are east of 82nd Avenue. We need to look at the specifics to see what’s been provided. The opportunity of the Portland Plan is it is supposed to adopt specific implementations and funding. Is crucial that both business community members and neighbors get involved in that process.
“You need someone on the City Council who understands how the nice-sounding policies about ’20-minute Walkable Neighborhoods’ may – or may not – be implemented where you live or work. Regarding freeways, we need to make sure that people have commercial areas in their neighborhoods, so they don’t have to get on the freeways to go shopping.”
A: Lewis
“In terms of freeways, this is one difference between myself and Amanda. “In regard to the Columbia River Crossing, I support the $4 billion in investment from federal and state and local funds. Amanda says she would’ve voted against it. I’ve lived in North and Northeast Portland for 18 years. I understand the bottleneck there.
“I do think that we should invest in more light rail, TriMet service, and reduce the amount of vehicle miles driven. But I more than we do have a bottleneck, and it is going to get worse, and we need to have that investment.
Portland City Council candidate Charles Lewis.
“You’ll remember that the Mt. Hood Freeway project; there was a lot of opposition to it. So we get a federal allocation of funds for the project and ended up deciding that we didn’t want the freeway and we directed it toward mass transit. With this project, I think we can come up with a state or local funds for it and skip the federal money.
“If we end up building more light rail, I’d be very happy with it, as well.”
Q Moderator Turner asked, “How are you going to convince the other members of the Portland City Council to use the Utility Licensing Fee – or at least 20% of it – for transportation, as originally intended?”
A: Lewis
“[A passing vote on City Council] takes three out of five. They voted to move in that direction. They understand that we have a tremendous backlog, $420 million backlog of road repair, and transportation. Our roads in Portland need serious help. The Council is realizing that we need to have some investment. They’ve diverted the transportation funds intended for projects like the Tram, and projects that don’t benefit the majority of people.
“I’ll take it to the streets if that’s what it comes to. One of the things I’ve found about politicians as they seem to wave in the wind, and go where the population’s interest is focused. I’ll rally the troops to make sure that Council knows it’s important to us. We’ll talk about some of the basic infrastructure that we need in Portland.”
A: Fritz
“I participated in City Council processes for over a decade. I’ve watched like in the budgeting process, how they’ve come up with their budget and put it out for citizens to make comment on it.
“A somewhat effective way to get the Council’s attention is to have a lot of folks show up and agitate. But that’s not a good process. We need to return to the ‘Neighborhood Needs’ process. This is where the neighborhoods are asked about their priorities, in terms of transportation improvements and other issues.
“This way, when you got the citizen input into what the transportation needs are, it’s going to be easier for me as a City Commissioner to insist that the Council follow its previous promises. Having followed the City Council decisions over the last 17 years, time and again, promises have been broken. But, as a nurse and a mom, I know that promises are important; we need to do what we say we’re going to do.”
Find out more about the East Portland Chamber of Commerce
To learn more about this engaged group of business people, check their new web site by CLICKING HERE.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
If you didn’t see this fun new show – here’s what you missed …
One of the 19 acts in the “Bronco Cabaret” was Me & My Shadow, performed by Grant Weston and Chris Davis.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In Parkrose, Bronco Cabaret! this week provided a musical voyage through time with songs from musicals – old and new – blended loosely together into the story of couples and families going through time, as narrated by Ciera Willis.
The students from Parkrose High School’s theater and music departments joined forces for three shows, October 23 thru 25.
“This is a new kind of show for us,” said the school’s theater department instructor, Ms. Zena, of the production. “This revue features songs from the past century of theatrical musicals and the pop music world, woven together by an endless tale of love.”
Including the live Parkrose High Band and technical crew, 75 students have been involved in the production of this stage-filling show. And if you are reading this before the evening of October 25th, it’s not too late to enjoy it for yourself!
See Saturday night’s show
Till showtime, tickets remain available at the door for the Saturday night, October 25th, show: $8 adults – $5 for seniors 65+ and for students 18 and under.
The curtain goes up at 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the Parkrose High School Theatre, 12003 NE Shaver Street, just west of NE 122nd Avenue.
Scenes from Bronco Cabaret!
Kerina Blanchard shows she’s got Fascinating Rhythm.
Actors show couples – and families – in love through the decades, as part of the show.
Taylor Grady performs I Cain’t Say No from the show, OKLAHOMA.
Jackson Singleton tells [not in shown order] Paris Mayhew, Ciera Willis, Nicole Horsley, Brianna Lewis and Taylor Grady why there’s Trouble! (right here in River City) from the show THE MUSIC MAN.
Matchmaker is performed by Judy Dan, Brianna Lewis, and Amanda Coalwell.
Paris Mayhew and Grant Weston sing A Whole New World.
The show includes comedy, including the Monty Python sketch, Bring Out Your Dead!
Moving forward to the music of the 1990s, Jessica Davison sings Don’t Know Why.
After the ensemble sings Seasons of Love, from the Broadway show RENT, the cast takes its bows.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Neighbors and staff members from Portland Parks & Recreation have worked long and hard planning for Clatsop Butte Park. The nagging question is, “Will it ever be built?”
Vice chair of the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association Paul Grosjean, and on Clatsop Butte Park Citizen’s Committee since its inception, says he’s concerned when – or if – the park will be built.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
One outer East Portland resident, Paul Grosjean, knows as much about the plans to turn 40 acres of vacant, unimproved land into Clatsop Butte Park as does anyone.
“I was selected to be on Clatsop Butte Park Citizen’s Committee at the very beginning,” said Grosjean at the unveiling of the park’s Master Plan at the Pleasant Valley Grange on November 1.
‘Can’t enjoy a Master Plan’
Grosjean said he is “thrilled” with the park’s plan concept. “The plan has reached wide consensus among all the participants for being a very responsible plan,” he continued. “It’s a plan that respects the land, and the watershed. It provides a lot of activities for people of all ages to enjoy.”
Located on the very eastern edge of SE Portland, Grosjean told us that has been a parks-deficient area for long time. When it’s built, he said, the park will provide for a wide range of needs.
“And it is important that I stress when we get the park built,” Grosjean firmly stated. “The next critical part of this process is to get the funding. I’ve always said, ‘No one can play in, or enjoy, a Master Plan’. We want the city to get a good ‘return on their investment’ in the master plan, and also for us to get a great park.”
Doug Brenner, East Portland Services Manager, and David Yamashita, senior planner with Portland Parks & Recreation take comments at the Clatsop Butte Park Master Plan Open House.
Called ‘Truly a great park site’
“We started out with about 15 or 20 acres,” David Yamashita, senior planner with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) said about the park space. “Just after we started the process, the City of Portland picked up another 20 acres of natural resource area. It’s one of those rare sites where you have the opportunity to have both a developed park and a natural resource area, all in one park.”
When it’s developed, Yamashita added, residents will have the same kind of recreational opportunities found in other City parks. “It is truly a great site because of the views and the amenities we’re planning: A soccer field, a playground, an off-leash area for dogs, a place for small community events, and lots of benches. It will also have off-street parking.”
John Bliss, resident of Pleasant Valley, and Karen Hubbard, a homeowner in Hawthorne Ridge, discussed the development plans for this park.
Residents dream of ‘their own’ park
“I’ve been paying close attention to this project,” said John Bliss, a Pleasant Valley resident and property owner. “For many years, I’ve been working with the jurisdictions to plan the entire valley. This park is as important as making good plans for placing schools, streets, and housing projects. I want to make sure we preserve open spaces for future generations.”
Karen Hubbard, a homeowner in Hawthorne Ridge, added, “The space has sat open for a long time. This is a great opportunity to put in our own park that really matches the needs of the community with the needs of the homeowners here. It’s been a long, but good, [planning] process. We’ve kept an eye on it, so we didn’t get a ‘cookie-cutter’ park that won’t serve us well.”
Construction timetable uncertain
However, it looks as if it may be some time before Clatsop Butte Park looks like something other than a large, unimproved plot of land.
The Master Plan may go before the Portland City Council for their acknowledgment or approval in November or December, said PP&R’s East Portland Services Manager, Doug Brenner.
“Then, probably, it will take a bond measure passing, for the park to get developed. PP&R may be going out for a bond measure in 2010, depending on the economy,” Brenner predicted.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
You can’t affect the plans of politicians in Washington DC – but you can decide who will take Lisa Naito’s Position #3 on the Board of Multnomah County Commissioners. Get to know the candidates better before you vote …
To get the meeting going, the Gateway Area Business Association’s “Rubber Chicken Award” is presented to Javier Gutierrez; manager of Midland Regional Library – the new home of the organization’s monthly meetings by the group’s president, Alan Sanchez.
Story by Watford Reed; photos by David F. Ashton
With the closure of JJ North’s Buffet, the site of their monthly meetings for years, the Gateway Area Business Association (GABA) has moved to Midland Regional Library for its October meeting.
The central topic of this month’s meeting was the race for Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3, now held by Lisa Naito.
About 50 business people and neighbors came to hear the Candidate’s Forum presenting Mike Delman and Judy Shiprack
“This race is important,” observed moderator David F. Ashton, “Because the successful candidate will have a direct voice in administrating a $1.2 Billion dollar budget – derived from your tax dollars. And, with this responsibility, him or her will be paid $82,000 per year, plus benefits, for their services.”
With that, Ashton invited Mike Delman and Judy Shiprack to the front of the room, and asked each to say why they were running for the office.
Note: Rather than characterize the candidates’ responses, we present truncated full-text quotes so you may get to know them — in their own words.
Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3 candidate Mike Delman.
Introducing Mike Delman
“Our county government is struggling to pay its bills, deliver services, and connect with the private sector and citizens,” Delman began. “The policies and programs undertaken by the county make a difference in all of our lives. I am running for Multnomah County Commissioner because my heart and soul is in this County, and I have the experience to make a difference.”
Delman outlined his service in the public sector as chief of staff to former Commissioner Gary Hansen, the executive assistant to the Multnomah County Sheriff, work with the Multnomah County Department of Aging and Disability services. He currently serves as the public affairs director for Portland Habilitation Center, a non-profit that trains and employs the disabled.
“I have seen first-hand how the county operates, and how it can run efficiently and effectively.”
Multnomah County Commissioner, Position #3 candidate Judy Shiprack.
Introducing Judy Shiprack
“I’m the candidate with real experience,” challenged Shiprack, as she outlined her vocational background as a teacher, deputy district attorney, and member of the Oregon State House of Representatives for three terms.
“I’ve been in charge of housing development for over 200 families and low income people. I have real experience, and have obtained real results. I understand problem-solving,” Shiprack said.
As a state representative, Shiprack said, “I created real programs; this is different from being a staff person. This is having a vote, and being in charge of advocating for programs that need to get support in order to pass.”
If elected to the County Commission, she said her priority is “investing in children; being smart about public safety, and getting our fair share of the taxes which we pay to Salem returned, to take care of services here in our community.”
Questions and Answers
Four questions were put to the two candidates; each had the opportunity to respond.
Q Many feel the board of Multnomah County Commissioners still carries the stigma of being back-room dealing, back-biting politicians; especially because some of these meetings appear to have broken “open-meeting” laws and these illegal meeting activities were never prosecuted. What will you do to make sure that the business of the County is conducted in the sunshine of openness and transparency?
A: Shiprack
“Was that a two-minute question?” Shiprack quipped. “The public meetings law is there for an important reason. They’re important to me as a voter and a taxpayer. They will be important to me as a member of the Board of County commissioners.”
Shiprack paused giving her answer to make the aside that, in a six-candidate primary, she garnered 37% of the votes.
“The voters respect the fact that I am open; that I have conducted my businesses with high ethical standard, and I have been responsive to voters. That is my record of achievement. I stand on that record. The conduct of public business in the full light of public scrutiny is very important to me. I will be an advocate for the continuation of that practice. And of course, as an officer of the court, they’ll be responsible and continue to be responsible to make sure that the light shines in our process.
Candidate Mike Delman.
A: Delman
“I’ve talked about independent verification for contracts and financial projects since I entered this race. I believe in further transparency. I will strongly work to enforce the existing statues to prevent decisions from being made behind closed doors; not before a public body.”
Turning to Shiprack, Delman added, “During this campaign, I have yet to hear my opponent comment on the actions of two of the [Multnomah County] commissioners considered responsible for allegedly breaking those public meeting laws.”
Q Politicians tell us of their lofty ideals. Instead, tell us the most important issues — ones that are actually under the control of the county — on which you’ll focus your efforts.
A: Delman
“I’ll focus my efforts on reopening a health clinic in the southeast quadrant of Multnomah County. There was a clinic at SE 33rd and Powell until three years ago. I’ve put forward a tangible plan inviting the Portland Adventist or Province Medical Center to partner with the county to open a health clinic to serve up to 2,500 people who are underserved. The incentive for them will be the reduction of uninsured clients coming in for emergency care. Emergency care costs a lot more than primary care.
“I will examine the $57 million in [the County’s] general fund that goes to contracts. Auditors say as many as 58 contracts were turned in without any approval. I look to separate monitoring and evaluation from administering the contracts.
“I’ll look at getting the County out of its motor pool and vehicle maintenance business. The City of Portland has outsourced this for two years, and saved money.
“I will join [Multnomah County Commissioner] Jeff Cogan’s effort to get a voice with the Portland Development Commission to wisely use Urban Renewal dollars and tax increment financing dollars to promote family wage jobs all over District 3 – more than in the Gateway and Lents area alone.
“And, I would also work to open Wapato Jail through a partnership with the State of Oregon, and local government partners. I think it’s likely that one of the ballot measures [providing for mandatory sentences for property crimes] will pass, and that will give us the opening to open those first 150 beds which are the most expensive to the economy of scale.”
Candidate Judy Shiprack.
A: Shiprack
“I want to go back and say to invest in children; instead of moving public safety expenditures into what I like to call the shallow end of the pool. I know that investing in kids fights crime. We have two programs right now, Early Childhood Head Start and a targeted Visiting Nurse program. These are both evidence-based programs. They’ve been scientifically shown to prevent criminal behavior both in juveniles and in future adults. That’ll be one of my priorities – investing in kids.
“‘Smart public safety’ means that we need to invest more in addiction treatment. Over 80% of the people who are booked into the Multnomah County jails are alcohol or drug affected. We know that addiction treatment works. We know that when we release people from our jails back into our community, and they haven’t had any drug addiction treatment, they’re going to come back [into jail], because their property crimes are driven by their addiction. I want to have programs that divert mentally ill people from expensive jail beds.
“Right now, we know that 13% of the people who are incarcerated have a serious mental illness. Police are not equipped to diagnose mental illness, nor are emergency room treatment or booking room personnel. I will support a triage center so we can divert mentally ill people from our jails.
“I’m also going to support getting fair tax treatment — which means going to Salem — to go in for local option taxes.”
Q On your list of priorities, where falls “protecting citizens by incarcerating criminals, fully funding other Sheriff’s Office programs and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office” – and why?
A: Shiprack
“I totally agree with [Multnomah County] Chair Wheeler that he did a wonderful job of establishing priorities for the county in light of an $18 million shortfall. Multnomah County, unlike the federal government, doesn’t print its own money. And we’re glad we don’t. What Chair Wheeler did with his budget process was that he drew a protective circle around services that Multnomah County provides to the most vulnerable of our services. By doing that, he defined what I was talking about as the ‘shallow end of the pool’.
“I was a deputy district attorney, and I understand how important is to fund programs in the attorney office. In particular, child support enforcement programs in the district attorney’s office, get very little attention. But as we know, child support, and taking care of children, is one of the ways we invest in children and prevent crime in the future.
“Until the sheriff’s office has made real inroads on the recommendations that were made in the post-factors study, to limit the abuse of overtime – to limit the abusive behavior and abusive standards that were going on with the supervision of people in our jails – we should look with a very skeptical eye at increasing funding. We should ask the sheriff’s office to live within its means.”
A: Delman
“The county has cut budgets for eight straight years. I had three main priorities to maximize use of funding. Those are: Public safety, health care and the School Programs.
“After trying to protect funding for those three areas, I believe we have to look at a new paradigm rather than ‘thinning down the soup’. I am pleased that I have earned the support of Sheriff Bob Skipper, Senior Deputy Norm Frank, and the Multnomah County corrections officers Association for my stance on public safety.
“My opponent and I differ on the use of a Wapato Jail. I have supported [Multnomah County District Attorney] Mike Shrunk’s plan for the use of ‘hard’ beds and treatment beds. I don’t believe treatment is a panacea for everything. Frankly, our economy is not bottomed out. We need to have ‘hard beds’ for those who are found guilty and need to be detained – as well as treatment beds. I think we can open Wapato, but it still needs to be looked at with higher jail beds as well as treatment jail beds.
Q What do you see as the main difference between you and your opponent in this race — and why should we care?
A: Delman
“I have the best experience needed to make a difference on the Board of County commissioners. I’ve assisted in balancing eight county budgets during the 1990s. I have strong relations in the private sector, public sector and in the nonprofit sectors needed to open up our decision-making process.
“You should care because the county has a $1.2 billion budget. No one respects ‘other people’s money’ more than I do. I will be the watchdog to make sure that your tax dollars are put to their highest and best use.
“There’s a clear difference between my opponent and I, when it comes to fiscal responsibility. One, I would never put myself, my family, and my organization, at risk in a speculative project that could lose a lot of money. This is especially if I was not confident of success. If I did, I would spend the rest of my life trying to make up and repay those tax dollars. I wouldn’t go to the newspaper editorial boards and tell them that this makes me a better candidate.
“The difference between my opponent and I is the $1.8 million loss which she has said, ‘is a good use of public funds’ to subsidize 60 units of housing that sold for $140,000-$469,000 in 2001.
“I’d rather spend a $1.8 million on 57 jail beds, five deputy D.A.’s, two health clinics to serve up to 5000 who are uninsured, or 21 School Programs.
“There is a clear choice here. If you want the status quo, support my opponent. If you want someone can make a difference, I welcome your support.”
A Shiprack
“I think we just heard part of the reason why I am the better candidate. And, why I will be a better County Commissioner than my opponent: I actually understand how these programs work.
“First, it is a totally appropriate role for the Portland Development Commission, as well as the nonprofit community, to be innovative and be creative. And, had we not participated in building affordable housing in Old Town/Chinatown, there would not be a Pacific Towers development that brought 157 units of rental housing; there would not be a 24-hour presence in the area.
“And, I also want to say that the $1.8 million feels like ‘It’s a wonderful life’. The $1.8 million is in the building, the property that is not sold because of a difficult location, and because of a difficult market. We will see that realized.
“But I think that what we’re hearing is really misconstruction. But that doesn’t surprise me, because we’ve already heard that my opponent confuses aggression and passion. I want to assure you that I don’t confuse either aggression with passion, nor do I confuse assertiveness with aggression.
“I’m going to protect the very important role of government, and especially in hard times, and especially with leaders such as yourselves, to be innovative, to be creative, to be bold and courageous, and to go places, that really, the private sector cannot go on its own. That is truly the role of government. It is more of the role of government in difficult times that it is an ordinary times. And we are in difficult times. I appreciate your support.”
Candidates pitch for your vote
Candidate Mike Delman.
Mike Delman
“I’m running to make a difference. I think there is a clear choice in this race. I’m not here in Gateway after the fact, simply as a candidate. I’ve been coming to this organization for 18 months; I’ve been going to six business associations and 14 neighborhood associations; I’ve gone to every festival, Parade and Farmer’s market. I’ve been coming here, not as candidate, but to start a relationship with you.
“My mentor, and my former boss, Gary Hanson, allocated staff throughout his eight years in office to participate in meetings, to bring legislation forward from groups such as yours. If I’m lucky enough to be elected to represent you. I’ll do the same thing. I know the difference between right choices and wrong choices when using your tax money for the highest and best use. I hope I can earn your support.”
Candidate Judy Shiprack.
Judy Shiprack
“First, thank you all of you for caring enough about your local government to be here today. It’s been engaging for me to be at the doorsteps of so many voters, and to have won the approval of so many voters.
“I want to say that in the primary, I had over twice as many votes as my opponent; I think that is going to carry through again. I want to remind you once again, that I have been in the arena. I’m not standing back and throwing stones at other people’s work. I have done the hard work myself. I stand ready to do more of that hard work; and heavy lifting.
“The first ‘hate crimes’ bill was drafted at my desk and passed by a single vote in the House of Representatives with my advocacy. The Oregon Housing Trust Fund was not an easy sell. The Oregon Lenders Housing Tax Credit was not an easy sell. These programs required advocacy, and innovation.
“In terms of Multnomah County’s future, it is the future of our children; it is a future of our communities; it is the future of our lives that is the quality of our allies in this community. I’m very proud of have the support of District 3; I look forward to being back here with you on many occasions.
Meet the GABA Members
GABA meets the second Tuesday of each month – to network, and to learn from community and business leaders. Find out more by visiting their website at www.gabanet.com.
David F. Ashton transcribed candidates’ responses featured in this report.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
