This morning, Robert Pamplin—owner of the Portland Tribune, KPAM, a stable of neighborhood papers, Ross Island, etc.—sent a letter to Mayor Tom Potter saying he’s no longer considering donating Ross Island to the city, saying he was tired of the city dragging its feet.

Potter has responded in kind, saying, “Baby, please don’t go.”

I think I speak for most of Portland in expressing my profound disappointment after reading Dr. Robert Pamplin’s letter (dated May 30, 2007). I believe all of us who have been part of these negotiations - including Dr. Pamplin, Mayor Katz, our environmental community and myself - want the same thing: a green and welcoming Ross Island that is an important part of Portland’s riverfront and a key piece of our environmental heritage.

I have appreciated Dr. Pamplin’s willingness to engage in the conversation up until this point. And I understand his frustration with what has been a long and, at times, difficult process. I hope he can understand that my first obligation is to protect every Portlander’s interests and tax dollars. I cannot accept anything on their behalf without absolute clarity about the legal obligations I am accepting as well.

In the spirit of honoring the many years of hard work that have gone into this conversation by so many in our community, I am asking Dr. Pamplin to meet with Mayor Katz and myself next week to explore how we can overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of his gift to the people of Portland. While I understand his concerns about the process up until this point, I remain optimistic that a mutually agreeable solution is still possible.

Potter is in Italy on vacatio—I mean, on a city business trip—visiting Portland’s sister city Bologna, so the speed of his response is remarkable. Especially considering that the last time he went to Europe on vacation was when James Chasse died while in police custody, and Potter couldn’t be bothered about it until he got back more than a week later. I guess it’s true, no (dead) man is an island.