The Northwest District Association and the District 4 Coalition are leading the opposition, which is gaining momentum in other parts of the city. Reach out to those organizations and your City Councilors.
The ultimate way to change the course of history is whom the people elect to hold office. Instead of listening to the rhetoric, judge the actions or inactions. Vote to replace those who waffle, placate, make excuses, and/or lie. The next person maybe not your idea of a great statesman or even person but soon politicians will be less inclined to treat the electorate with indifference. As far as I can see there isn’t anyone who left a better “job” to serve as on the counsel.
Ah, the irony: as thousands of us participate in the "No Kings" marches, there are those who happily not only allow, but push for, the Office of Community & Civic Life" to reign unchecked in the name of values. Perhaps we need a large, more locally-focused "No Sovereign Departments" march around City Hall.
Most Portlanders are more focused on the “king” than what goes on in their own city that actually effects them. They’d rather talk about Trump’s latest tweet or outrage porn than talk about policy.
I recently had a run-in with my "democratically elected" neighborhood association. We were meeting in a church which, we were informed, would be torn down and replaced by a massive (60-90 apartments) "affordable" complex that would fill an entire block in a modest single-family neighborhood. The church's minister wouldn't disclose who would build the behemoth, or anything concrete about the project. Any questions?
I rose, prefaced my question with an observation that many "affordable" housing projects have developed issues lately--and was summarily cut off by the association president. I was, she said, guilty of the sin of asking about "ethics" although I had not actually asked the question. I was told to shut up and sit down.
In later correspondence, the president threatened to ban me from attending future meetings if I didn't shape up.
This is the way we do business in Portland: don't ask anyone anything that might be about "ethics," and--for sure--embarrassing.
Some neighborhood associations (a very, very few) are effective; but most are jokes.
This sounds like a perfect case for declaring that you feel unsafe and accusing the president of the neighborhood association of creating a hostile environment. Being threatened with banishment for asking a question is a textbook hostile environment by any reasonable definition.
She beat me to the "unsafe" angle first, Ollie. Standard (hate to say it, but female) response to criticism is to hit the "threatening" button and demand that you step back...
I remember when Mayor Frank Ivance tried to dump the Office of Neighborhood Associations, and he backed down. I'm not sure where Mayor Wilson stands, but the 12-member city council is suspect.
Thank you, Allan for your insight. Are there steps we can take to reverse this trend?
The Northwest District Association and the District 4 Coalition are leading the opposition, which is gaining momentum in other parts of the city. Reach out to those organizations and your City Councilors.
The ultimate way to change the course of history is whom the people elect to hold office. Instead of listening to the rhetoric, judge the actions or inactions. Vote to replace those who waffle, placate, make excuses, and/or lie. The next person maybe not your idea of a great statesman or even person but soon politicians will be less inclined to treat the electorate with indifference. As far as I can see there isn’t anyone who left a better “job” to serve as on the counsel.
Ah, the irony: as thousands of us participate in the "No Kings" marches, there are those who happily not only allow, but push for, the Office of Community & Civic Life" to reign unchecked in the name of values. Perhaps we need a large, more locally-focused "No Sovereign Departments" march around City Hall.
There's no standard like a double standard!
Most Portlanders are more focused on the “king” than what goes on in their own city that actually effects them. They’d rather talk about Trump’s latest tweet or outrage porn than talk about policy.
Mirror reflection of current federal administration.
Well said!
More than ever, this “my way or the highway” sentiment prevails at City Hall. Almost Trumpian.
Only a couple of years to go in blaming everything negative here on the president.
Well said and spot on. Thank you, Allan.
I recently had a run-in with my "democratically elected" neighborhood association. We were meeting in a church which, we were informed, would be torn down and replaced by a massive (60-90 apartments) "affordable" complex that would fill an entire block in a modest single-family neighborhood. The church's minister wouldn't disclose who would build the behemoth, or anything concrete about the project. Any questions?
I rose, prefaced my question with an observation that many "affordable" housing projects have developed issues lately--and was summarily cut off by the association president. I was, she said, guilty of the sin of asking about "ethics" although I had not actually asked the question. I was told to shut up and sit down.
In later correspondence, the president threatened to ban me from attending future meetings if I didn't shape up.
This is the way we do business in Portland: don't ask anyone anything that might be about "ethics," and--for sure--embarrassing.
Some neighborhood associations (a very, very few) are effective; but most are jokes.
Thanks for the comment.
What neighborhood was that?
I was there as a civilian, so I'll stay mum.
This sounds like a perfect case for declaring that you feel unsafe and accusing the president of the neighborhood association of creating a hostile environment. Being threatened with banishment for asking a question is a textbook hostile environment by any reasonable definition.
She beat me to the "unsafe" angle first, Ollie. Standard (hate to say it, but female) response to criticism is to hit the "threatening" button and demand that you step back...
The city is still going on about "core values of anti-racism and equity"? Is the year 2020 never going to end?
I remember when Mayor Frank Ivance tried to dump the Office of Neighborhood Associations, and he backed down. I'm not sure where Mayor Wilson stands, but the 12-member city council is suspect.
Hanging onto the neighborhoods is very important. Good editorial.