John Doussard writes:

Amy -

Actually, I didn’t forget our conversation, and we have continued it here on several occasions.

We are pursuing a 2-track approach this year - first, we are delivering the traditional SOC at the City Club. The Mayor thinks there is a Portland history to observe and respect, and the role the City Club has played - and continues to play - in our city’s civic life should not be easily dismissed. But, we are discussing holding a “second part” to the speech out in the community - possibly at a venue like IRCO, although no site has been determined. We’re still trying to determine what that would look like - no one would want to simply repeat another speech. Interestingly, the folks who have been very supportive of the idea and are interested in helping us do this are….the City Club.

If the “second part” makes the leap from discussion to reality, we’ll keep you posted. That said, I think City Club—a great organization, I completely agree—should let go of the term “State of the City,” which carries its own public tradition. The City Club can continue to host an annual event with the mayor—call it “Lunch with Tom,” charge as much as you’d like, serve roast beef—but I suggested to Doussard that Potter should reclaim the “State of the City” for the public, and stop giving this speech in a fancy hotel!

Portland may be used to the “tradition” of outsourcing an annual public address to a private club, but that’s certainly not how it’s done in most other big cities.

In NYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2006 speech was hosted by Staten Island’s Borough President, in a cultural center. His 2005 speech was at a community college in the Bronx.

Last night, Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino got props for taking his speech “to the neighborhoods,” and delivering his State of the City in a community theater.

Seattle’s Mayor Greg Nickels gives his address in city council chambers. The City Council president (they’ve got a strong mayor system) offers a rebuttal.

San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom’s last speech was at a public high school. He’s also given his speech at San Francisco State University.

Los Angeles’ Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also likes public schools—his 2006 speech was held at a South Los Angeles campus.

Minneapolis’ Mayor R.T. Rybak gave his speech at feel-good “Plaza Verde… now home to seven Latino-oriented businesses, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, and the Lake Street Business and Career Center.”

In Eugene, Mayor Kitty Piercy gave her speech last Thursday at a community theater.

But Houston—Houston!!!—has a system like Portland. Their mayor gave his address in a Hilton, at a luncheon, to the “Greater Houston Partnership” group.