Blogtown, PDX

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Election 2008 Sho Dozono Takes Credit for the “Scrapped” Sauvie Island Bridge Project

Posted by Amy J. Ruiz on Wed, May 7 at 4:33 PM

Mayoral candidate Sho Dozono makes some good points in his statement this afternoon—which he gave at city hall—including “If I was not running for mayor and challenging City Hall’s spending, my opponent would have continued to ram-rod this pet project through,” and “Commissioner Sam Adams indicated that his “flip-flop” on the Sauvie Island Bridge project is due to rising energy prices. How can anyone not be aware of rising gas prices?” Adams would be hard pressed to convince people otherwise on the first point, as this thing has become a political hot potato, no matter how great an idea it is. And on the second one, though Adams and his staff say they got the new forecast from the state yesterday—the one that shows a projects $2.7 million gas tax revenue shortfall, which is $1.9 million more than the shortfall predicted six months ago—does seem sudden, and seems to have taken Adams by surprise.

More from Dozono:

“For the sake of the taxpayers I am pleased that my opponent came to his senses and ended the Sauvie Island Bridge project. This proposal is the most recent, in a long list of projects that are completely out of synch with the City’s core priorities. If I was not running for Mayor and challenging City Hall’s spending, my opponent would have continued to ram-rod this pet project through,” Dozono said.
“With recent media accounts of the $18.5 million cost overrun to the city’s new payroll computer system and the doubling of the cost of the Eastside Streetcar Burnside/Couch Couplet project, Sam Adams knew that spending $5.5 million on a bridge for the Pearl District and NW Portland was not going to make Portland taxpayers happy,” Dozono said..

“I have consistently communicated my opposition to the Sauvie Island Bridge project. I support safe alternative for pedestrians and cyclists. There are so many other pressing priorities such as safe sidewalks for all of Portland’s school children and the lack of affordable housing for Portlanders who are one paycheck away from losing their homes,” Dozono said.

“Commissioner Sam Adams indicated that his “flip-flop” on the Sauvie Island Bridge project is due to rising energy prices. How can anyone not be aware of rising gas prices? Since the beginning, Commissioner Adams has manipulated City Hall to spend money on his projects without the scrutiny of the general public,” Dozono said.

“Portlanders have the opportunity to send a clear message to Sam Adams, one that says you want a City Hall that is accountable to taxpayers. As Mayor, I will focus the City on providing core services to Portlanders,” Dozono said.

“My campaign is focused on prioritizing spending. I have promoted a rainy day fund to weather downturns in the economy. I have proposed a $50M set aside specifically for infrastructure and public safety so that core services will not face budget cuts in budget-cutting years. I have the experience to lead in challenging economic times,” Dozono said.

For more information on Sho’s first 100 day plan, visit www.shoformayor.com

I also cover Dozono’s 100 day plan in this week’s column. I’m glad he’s finally putting forth specific ideas (though several are taken from Mayor Tom Potter, and even Adams)—it’s much more interesting to scrutinize proposals. Like Dozono’s $50 million rainy day fund: I’ve yet to find anyone in city hall—including folks who aren’t supporting Adams—who think that’s the right target. Potter, Saltzman, and Adams have all expressed support for a $5 million pot. Dozono hasn’t made the case for a reserve that’s 10 times greater—or explained what he wouldn’t fund to grow the coffers instead.

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Comments

Hopefully Dozono is also opposed to the Columbia Crossing, a project of about 800 times the cost.

Posted by Evan Manvel | May 7, 2008 4:45 PM

I'm glad Dozono got Adams to start to listen to the public - sure there are a lot of NW Portlanders who wanted this, but I have over and over and over heard people who are against this bridge at this time.

Adams needs to chill out - which he seems to be doing, and the bike lobby has become way too smug and out of control - nearly unsensible!

Posted by Dozono is Right On the money | May 7, 2008 5:40 PM

Adams needs to chill out - which he seems to be doing, and the bike lobby has become way too smug and out of control - nearly unsensible! Even though I am a bicyclist, I have not been a supporter of the bridge relocation - we need roads cleaned up and repaved in east P-town

Posted by Dozono is Right On the money | May 7, 2008 5:41 PM

What I love about the entire mess is Adams trying to blame Potter for his own screw-up, which was apparent from the beginning. Must be hard to swallow that Potter was right on this one.

Posted by Variable | May 7, 2008 11:47 PM

Oh please...Sho got lucky that something changed in this project and made it unaffordable at the right time for him. I watched Sho bumble over his words at his "press conference" which consisted of 1 TV reporter. More of Sho bumble bumble bumble...I don't want an idiot running city hall and Sho is clearly not the guy you want running a city.

Do you really think Sho had anything to do with this? Has Sam ever seemed like he listened to what Sho had to say?

By the way I watched a group of apartment residents in SE PDX rip Sho signs out of their apartment complex which had been plastered with a bunch of Sho knows yard signs. Did any of Sho's lawn crew actually ask apartment owners if they could place their signs on apartment grounds? I'm just saying that looks a bit ummm...illegal? I see a lot of Sho signs around apartments where you don't really know if a resident actually posted the sign or if some dude just walked by and put it in. Just sayin'

Posted by Garrett | May 8, 2008 1:06 AM

I am tired of Sho. He cannot claim that he brought "awareness" to this issue. Time and time again, Sho has said the money that was supposed to go towards the Sauvie Island Bridge project should go elsewhere. But, if you look at the facts, and actually read what the money is slated for, you'll find that the proposed money for the bridge could only be used on safety projects in NW Portland-- no where else and for nothing else. Not potholes, not affordable housing, or healthcare (which Sho does not provide to all of his employees). Sadly, with the budget shortfall from ODOT, we are still left with some of the most dangerous streets in Portland for pedestrians and cyclists. Sho supports cheaper "alternatives", which also means pedestrians and cyclists need to go somewhere else.

My interpretation of Portland has been that it is a progressive place. I cannot believe that people have locked onto Sho like he is some kind of wise man with taxpayer dollars-- after all, he doesn't pay his taxes or his extremely cheap rent on his restaurant. Sho never provides any fresh ideas to solve city problems. All he says is that the city needs to "prioritize" or reconsider its commitments. Great, with Sho as mayor we will have another grandfather clock looking over every bureaucrat's and commissioner's shoulder scrutinizing how every dollar is spent, hoping the private market will do everything, and in turn, nothing gets done and Portland becomes another run-of-the-mill U.S. city-- boring! Portland, if you want to be like the rest of America, be my guest-- vote for Sho! Stagnation will be the name of the game in Portland, you'll be completely unsatisfied with your government, because it will do nothing... just like it did during the last four years under Potter. Vancouver, B.C. will be the only progressive city left in North America.

Posted by Thomas Egys Crow | May 8, 2008 10:56 AM

Ah yes Amy, I reviewed the First 100 day statement on his website and it's kind of scary.
I love his first line…”I will develop a strategy for building a clean technology workforce by partnering with industry, government and non-profits.” What does that mean? It sounds all lofty and “feel good” but please, “will develop a strategy”…I guess that means he doesn’t even have an inkling of how to even begin to achieve a clean technology workforce. Or does he have to be Mayor to be able reveal his secret plan?

PPPleeease…..$50 million rainy day fund established by getting money from where?

“He will work with the council and city bureaus to develop a capital expenditure budget” Duh, that’s comes with the job. Mayor Potter has just released the 2008-2009 budget.

Hmm…he “will immediately focus on neighborhood development plans”…I guess he’s trashing Mayor Potter’s $1.5 millon Vision PDX data and going to have the city pay for a new one.

Nice to know he’s going to sit down with East Portlanders. He can try to get up to speed by checking in on the East Portland Action Plan. Of maybe he doesn’t know it exists?

He doesn’t need to lead an international trade delegation. He can just work on hosting Greenbuild International Conference and Expo that Mayor Potter attended this past November and promoted Portland. But I guess Donozo likes to travel and unfortunately…Portland only has the facilities to host a conference of a few hundred .

I guess he will fill the 47 vacant PDOT positions with volunteers because there isn’t money in the budget to pay them all.

It will be interesting to see how many businesses he can get to rally around for his educational causes when he doesn’t believe the city will be or needs to continue growing.

Yes ,that “$80 million Burnside-Couch couplet will serve those special interests” i.e. East-side/West-side enhanced vehicle and transit flow with increased on street parking…oops there is a mention of sidewalks, bike lanes and bicycle parking…I’m sure those are the unacceptable big ticket items.

Portland, this guy is a real prize. The Portland Mercury Republicans endorse him. I guess they believe the city can survive being on hold for another 4 years until they can find a real candidate.

Posted by SYK | May 8, 2008 7:46 PM

If my numbers are right, 5 million is less than 1% of the city's general fund. For your personal financial planning do you figure 1% of your annual income is a sufficient rainy day reserve?

I don't. I figure at least six months. For the city, that would be about 300 million. 50 million is short, but 5 million is a joke.

Posted by Dave Lister | May 8, 2008 8:13 PM

Only $5 million?! Fvcking aye, Adams won't even get out of bed in the morning if he can't blow at least $5 million of public money.

Posted by Jon | May 8, 2008 10:08 PM

I don't think it was Sho at all. He can take the credit though.
I think it is my campaign promise to hold cyclists responsible for their actions and to not spend money on things we don't need to make a few people happy.
Based on my no-nonsense approach and honesty regarding this and other issues, I have been winning votes. Council knows this and have been feeling the pressure of my "accountability" campaign. They are now going to start "saving face".
Despite the media's attempts to keep me unheard of (including The Mercury), I am getting out there and winning fans.
How about that interview, Amy.....

Posted by Chris Rich | May 9, 2008 9:34 AM