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Thursday, January 22, 2009

City Hall / Media / Politics / Portland Saltzman "Grieving", Mentions "Shot At Redemption"

Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 3:25 PM

City Commissioner Dan Saltzman got back into town last night, and came to work for the first time since the scandal broke today. His first reaction was "a sense of loss, in terms of I think the dynamism of a new city council and a new mayor. That's the sense I felt, a sort of grieving," he says.
c6bb/1232666608-saltzmangrieving.jpg
SALTZMAN: "Grieving..."

Saltzman spoke of a "vacuum of leadership" in city hall at this point. "I'm not trying to condone his behavior with misleading statements, but I do want to wait until the Attorney General's office furnishes it's position," he said. "I'm not at all condoning the fact that he lied to the press and mislead the press, but I think that Portlanders are forgiving people, and ultimately I think they may consider all that in the context of a shot at redemption."

Saltzman declined to add his name to a letter signed by his 3 fellow city commissioners sent yesterday, calling for an independent investigation into the scandal, and promising to pay for the Attorney General's costs. "But if the Attorney General is worried about covering his costs, I'm certainly not going to vote no on that," he said.

Saltzman spoke for two minutes on the phone with Adams yesterday, he says. "He asked me what I thought, I told him I'd support him in whatever he decided to do. But without knowing all the facts yet I'm not in a position to make any position. To me it's a very sad time. I think with so much energy and so much to focus on, I'll mourn even more if this becomes the major distraction for everybody in the city, but these are things I can't predict at this point."

Lastly, speaking of the city's code of ethics, there's been a dollar on the floor in city hall since I got here an hour and a half ago...
492a/1232666995-dollaronfloorcityhall.gif
SEE A PENNY: PICK IT UP...?

Also, the Recall Sam Adams campaign just put out a press release. It's posted after the jump. 50 people were checking out the website at 3:35.

Dear Mayor Adams,

As the leader of our great city we ask you to consider and respond to the
citizens of Portland about the following proposal.

We propose that you end the pain that you are causing to all the citizens
of Portland by announcing that you will resign on May 18th, 2009.

This will allow for a new election for mayor to occur on May 19th, 2009,
in which you are welcome to participate in as a candidate. We ask you to
do this as it will provide the citizens of Portland a chance to elect a
Mayor that we feel will represent us. More so, it will prevent the next
six months of citizens being forced to focus on the issue you created,
when we have much larger problems to address.

A Mayor's election on May 19th will not cost the citizens of Portland, as
we have an Auditors race that will be on the ballot with funding earmarked
for a runoff in July.

We implore you show the citizens of Portland, young and old, what it means
to truly take responsibility for your actions and allow us to have a fair
election in which we know all the facts about the character of the person
who will represent us for the next 4 years.

Sincerely,

RecallSamAdams.com


20fd/1232667305-dollaronfloorcityhall2.jpg

 

Comments (14) RSS

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1
I can't believe I am actually typing this but here is goes. I really respect Dan Saltzman and his position on this. The grieving is my response too. It is not about the sex or the lie or Adams is gay. It is about a new council and mayor who seemed on a path to get things done is now off that path. That is what makes me upset.
Posted by pdxmom on January 22, 2009 at 3:47 PM · Report
2
You should take that dollar.

Also that websites About Us page is irritating:
"We are the frightened and timid voices who have an equal vote in our government, yet are drowned out by those with an ambition for power that knows no end. "

Frightened and timid voices?! (You can't see it but I'm making a wanking motion and rolling my eyes)

Take the dollar.
Posted by Jinx on January 22, 2009 at 3:48 PM · Report
3
As much as I am against the idea of Sam Adams resigning, their request is actual pretty reasonable as far stupid requests go. However, I think that they're wrong about not costing the city anything because the city helps cover campagin costs.
Posted by Graham on January 22, 2009 at 3:49 PM · Report
4
When I saw the link for "a group of powerful individuals," I expected to see the Trilateral Commission. Still, they have a point. You don't want to get crossways with the Oregon Local Grocery Committee....

:::wanking gesture, rolling eyes:::
Posted by Guffman on January 22, 2009 at 3:59 PM · Report
5
Pardon me while I clutch my pearls a little harder. "Grieving"? Sheesh.
Posted by John T on January 22, 2009 at 4:07 PM · Report
6
As far as their request it is reasonably written but I think they underestimate how apathetic "outraged" people can be.

I'd be willing to bet money that the majority of people "outraged" over the Clinton deal don't even know how that turned or what it was about exactly.

Sam Adams shouldn't resign because he is still qualified to be our mayor and in six months no one is even going to remember what this was about except that it involved some hottie with a porn name.
Posted by Jinx on January 22, 2009 at 4:11 PM · Report
7
Oh my God.

Everyone is so "sensitive" with their "feelings" and they just don't know if they'll ever be able to "trust" again.

Portland should just light some serenity candles and journal this out.
Posted by kiala on January 22, 2009 at 4:40 PM · Report
8
And dialogue (as a verb of course) We've got to dialogue.
Posted by D on January 22, 2009 at 4:54 PM · Report
9
Don't forget visioning. We can vision our way out of this, I'm certain of it.
Posted by Bob R. on January 22, 2009 at 5:13 PM · Report
10
I drink your retarted attempts at a public recall. I drink them up!
Posted by idrinktheline on January 22, 2009 at 5:36 PM · Report
11
We should define a mission statement and then break up into groups to brainstorm and role play.

Posted by kiala on January 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM · Report
12
HAHA.........

BOB R..you crack me up!!

And kiala, your C-U-T-E!

And..........I like the way you think!
Posted by Al M on January 22, 2009 at 6:41 PM · Report
13
That's what I like to see - Sam Adams scandal - bringing Portlanders together, creeping them out.
Posted by D on January 22, 2009 at 11:51 PM · Report
14
Holy smokes this is brilliant:
"Portland should just light some serenity candles and journal this out."

"Journal it out, bitch."

I don't see the concept of an election re-do as fair or necessary. If a referendum on Adams is needed---and there very well may be--then the recall process is right there. It not only gives time for reflection and context (since it can't happen before July), it gives us time to see how Adams is able to function with this hanging over him.

I have no idea where an "investigation" of this is going to go. If there was anyone who heard Breedlove or Adams admit something before he turned 18, I can't imagine the DoJ getting it where the papers have not. And unless there's a webcam video of it, date stamped, how is any conclusive evidence expected? Kroger is making a mistake here, IMO.
Posted by torridjoe on January 23, 2009 at 3:29 PM · Report

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