This Week in the Mercury
More than Okay, Less than Cosmic
What Is Right with Black Dynamite Also Happens to be What Is Wrong with It
Saturday, February 28, 2009
TV Battlestar Galactica: Going Out with a Whimper.
Posted by Erik Henriksen on Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Popular opinion of Battlestar Galactica hasn't quite hit Dollhouse levels of disappointment, but it's certainly headed that way. And not without just cause: Despite some great episodes this season, it sucks to realize that with a mere three episodes left, this is how they're spending them.
As always, a spoiler-filled rundown of last night's episode, plus a spot to weigh in, after the jump.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Games LittleBigContra: I Think I Just Peed A Little
Posted by Earnest "Nex" Cavalli on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Ladies, don't take that headline as an admission of incontinence. I've got the bladder of a grizzly bear. But sometimes the 'net just shocks me with something so damn awesome, so purely radical, that — like the majestic falcon — I piss all over myself.
The theme music from Contra alone is generally enough to make me cross my legs nervously, but remaking the NES classic in insane detail within the LittleBigPlanet editor? I need to buy some new couch cushions.
Events / Games Good News, Bad News: Video Games Live Coming to Portland
Posted by Earnest "Nex" Cavalli on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Good news: Video Games Live, the world's premier fusion of video game music and fancy orchestral accompaniment is coming to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Bad news: The show isn't until November.
Good news: The VGL folk have scheduled two shows to ensure that everyone has a chance to cry like a little girl with a skinned knee when the Legend of Zelda theme comes on.
Bad news: Tickets aren't yet on sale, and the group's official site offers no hint as to when they will be.
Unrelated news: I'm really not getting this whole "bolding key terms for impact" thing. Matt Davis is some kind of wizard.
Film Behold! Outlander, a "Sci-Fi Viking Epic"—STARRING ME!
Posted by Erik Henriksen on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Outlander, a movie about a space alien who teams up with Vikings to fight a monster, opens today at Cornelius Stadium Cinemas. (Read our web-exclusive review here.) I watched the movie last night on a DVD sent to me by the studio, and shortly after popping the disc in, I discovered Hollywood's latest futile attempt to keep their films from being pirated:
Yep, there's my name, in giant goddamn letters, across the entire screen—and not just during those opening credits, but throughout the entire movie. So I guess if a pirated copy of a movie about a space alien who teams up with Vikings to fight a monster hits the internet, and every scene is marked "Erik Henriksen," well, then they'll know who leaked it, and Harvey Weinstein can show up at my apartment with a lead pipe, or just start talking shit about me.
What's weird, though, is how distracting this weird anti-piracy tactic proves to be. Like, in Outlander, actor Ron Perlman sports a truly amazing prospector-style beard. It's just stunning. Not that you can tell, thanks to my big stupid last name that's covering it all up:
Food Chow-Dah!
Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:51 PM
If you didn’t have enough food contests to attend this weekend, consider attending the Chowder Challenge at New Old Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant tomorrow from noon to 6pm.
Twelve local restaurants and brewpubs will be fighting for Portland chowder supremacy. This is New England style clam-chowder... Perfect for the end of winter. Categories include most authentic, best with beer, and most flavorful. It’s going to be a outrageous chowder-down to the death! It might also just be a gathering of drunken chefs showcasing creamy seafood soup. Who knows?
I’m particularly excited about the “most flavorful” category. When I think clam chowder, I think: cream, potato, bacon fat, and clams. How can you make that more flavorful!? Incidentally, I also think about burly fishermen with thick accents, wearing half removed bright orange rain slickers, making sweet love to each other on an icy New England beach… But maybe that’s just me.
So, we’ve got beer, chowder, Joe the Balloon guy, music, beer… Need anything else? Nope, didn’t think so.
A portion of the $10 to get in door price goes to Locks of Love.
SEX SEXY
Posted by Marjorie Skinner on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I know, you are pure sex. Just looking at you inspires inappropriate thoughts and desires in just about everyone you pass. Except for blind people. They just smell it. That's why we here at the Mercury are having a little photo contest (details here) to find the sexiest boy and sexiest girl in town to feature in our sex issue, coming out on March 12. In addition to getting the recognition your hotness deserves by being memorialized in a published professional photo spread, you'll also win $200!! Because nothing goes better with sex than money. Simply put up your photo (or that of the hottest 18+ person you know) on our Flickr page tagged "sexyportland" and let the magic of hotness go to work. Just make sure that the object of your lens lust is either yourself or someone you know how to contact. But hurry! The deadline is March 5—less than a week away! Oh! And did I mention it would be awesome if they were HOT?
Transportation Chris Smith: CRC May Be "Furnace" Not "Thermostat"
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:16 PM
After Adams wrapped his State of the City speech today, there was only time for a handful of people to ask questions publicly. Luckily, transportation activist Chris Adams dashed to the microphone and was at the head of the queue. His question about Sustainable Sam's vote yesterday approving the widest option for the $4.2 billion Columbia River Crossing commuter bridge was very pointed.
Adam's stance is that voting for the 12 lane bridge was actually an ecologically minded choice that will help Portland achieve World's Most Sustainable City status. He says that since Portland will have oversight of the project via a CRC committee, the big bridge can be managed (by adjusting tolls, transit ticket prices or the number of carpool lanes) to encourage mass transit. Adams uses the metaphor of a thermostat. From his speech:
"I know, the phrase 'performance-based active transportation management' does not exactly roll off the tongue. So we liken this new cross-river partnership to a thermostat. You would not build a home heating and cooling system without a way to regulate the airflow and control the temperature based on the time of day, outside conditions, and who is using what rooms."
So Chris Smith, a local transit wonk who serves on long list of transportation committees gets up to the microphone. "I'm very nervous about the Columbia River Crossing," he says.
"I'm concerned we're putting off big performance decisions about the bridge for the future. I imagine there will be disagreements between Portland and other parts of the region about whether this thermostat should be set at 64 or at 72. And I'm just afraid we'll build the furnace that will heat the city to 82. How can you ensure that this easy political decision now will not come back to bite us in the future?"
This echoes some other environmentalists' criticisms of the 12 Lane plan. But Adams stuck to his 12-lanes-can-be-green guns. "The objective that we have is to put together performance goals first and we'll use that framework to make other decisions about the bridge," he replied.
Transit Wonk Analogy Battle! Furnace vs. Thermostat: Who Will Win?
Cats / Fashion What, No Cats?
Posted by Marjorie Skinner on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Come to MOD. We've got cats. And fashion. And llamas. And llamas in fashion shows.
Artsy / Music More Gushing over the Reading Frenzy Benefit at Holocene
Posted by Alison Hallett on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Ned mentioned the upcoming Reading Frenzy benefit at Holocene on End Hits a while back, but to my admittedly fevered fan-brain, his post lacked the appropriate level of enthusiasm for the fact that Corin Tucker will be performing a solo show. I mean yes, he posted a huge picture of her face, and the headline of his post was "Corin Tucker to play Reading Frenzy benefit " but... still. Tucker provided the vocals for the greatest rock band Portland has ever produced, and unlike the other members of Sleater-Kinney, she's largely avoided the spotlight since the band broke up. From the Call the Doctor days through the end, her voice is what kept me listening to the band (I know, a controversial position). Like here:
This song makes me crrrry. Plus! In addition to Tucker, music from Tu Fawning, Golden Bears, and rumored special guests Mirah and Explode into Colors; Carrie Brownstein will screen one of the Thunderant shorts she makes with Fred Armisen; and there are readings on the docket by Northline author Willy Vlautin (I will not embarrass myself here by describing just how much I like Willy Vlautin) and Arthur Bradford, author of Dogwatcher and creator of How's Your News.
It pretty much could not be a better show. Wait yes it could, Janet Weiss could swoop in for a Sleater-Kinney reunion. Eh?
Next Thursday at Holocene. Tickets are apparently going fast—it's $20 advance or $8-20 sliding scale at the door, but waiting til day-of to score an $8 ticket does not seem like a prudent strategy. Buy them here.
Politics / Media / News Adams Gets Quarter Ovation At Speech
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Sam Adams survived his City Club State of The City speech intact but shaken this afternoon, promising a focus on the green economy and apologizing to the audience for the "distraction" caused by his "well-documented mistake."
The full text of Adams' 5000 word speech is included after the jump. But what was the reaction to his speech like?
Adams faced no questions about the scandal during questions, which, subject to the rules of City Club, can only be asked by City Club members. "I think he stacked the room with city and county employees," one audience member told Rob Manning, the reporter from OPB—Manning'll be on All Things Considered at 4:45, if you fancy hearing more about that. OPB also runs the whole City Club audio at 7pm.
In the press box, the Mercury was sat next to the Oregonian's editorial cartoonist, Jack Ohman:
Press Box: Ohman, nearest the camera, and Just Out's Jaymee Cuti, liveblogging in the background...
"Not as much applause," wrote Ohman, in his black notebook, when the audience clapped after Adams apologized. "You can tell the audience is divided."
When Adams mentioned that the Oregonian editorial board had been "wagging its finger at me," Ohman wrote in his notebook: "WHICH finger?" He proceeded to wag his finger at his colleagues, twice, over a period of ten minutes.
Adams, meanwhile, seemed keen to please the audience.
"Portland's going solar, folks!" he said.
And: "Just wait until you get on the cyclo tracks, folks! You'll never want to get off!" To which there was an unresponsive pause, before the audience applauded, politely.
Adams held up a photo of Timothy Hutton, the star of TNT's series, Leverage, which he announced will be shooting in Portland, next year. "When you see him on the street, act cool," Adams joked.
At the speech's conclusion, Adams' staff tried to lead the crowd in a standing ovation. Unfortunately the attempt backfired, and apart from once PDC employee, almost everyone in the back of the room stayed resolutely in their seats. A photo of this, and more reaction, after the jump...
TV / Drunk ShamWow Dub = SHAMTASTIC!
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Some days I despise you, internet—but on days like today? With videos like the one below? Today I feel like you're a magical wizard ejaculating rainbows into my mouth. Please join me in enjoying this overdub of the ShamWow infomercial—now with a hilarious, tear-inducing Jerry Lewis voice. GOOD STUFF!!
Bikes / City Hall Sam Promises to Save Bike Budget
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 2:34 PM
City Club sold out today for Mayor Sam Adam's State of the City speech. The crowd was a lot of city planners and gray haired types (actual fur coat spotted in the audience) and Matt will post later about how the speech went. But I wanted to get up real quickly one of the questions someone from the public asked Sam after the hour-long speech wrapped up. Remember earlier this week when the BTA and BikePortland commenters were freaking out because PDOT is cutting the Safer Routes to School funding by 40 percent? Well...
Guy with soul patch: Thinking about the economic situation and trying to make Portland the most sustainable city in the world, are you still committed to funding Safe, Sound and Green Streets and other bike programs?
Mayor Sam Adams: Yes! ... The city will backfill some of the cuts, like Safer Routes to School... Biking is the most affordable form of transportation so now is the time to be investing in bike funding.
Sam's new slogan? —> Helping Zoobombers stay gainfully employed in 2009.
Food Cochon 555
Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 1:12 PM
The pig is such a marvelous, versatile creature. It’s a natural garbage disposal. It’s cute. It’s smart. It’s delicious (so fucking delicious).
Growing up in the sparsely populated Southwest, on high desert land irrigated into lush clover fields by the Colorado River, my experience with pigs began early. I remember one fateful afternoon, at a summer day camp I attended, when counselors decided it would be cute if the kids dressed the farm animals for a fashion show. I will never attempt to put pantyhose on a pig ever again.
But I will eat them. I will eat them all up.
This Sunday is National Pig Day. To celebrate the illustrious animal, the Taste Network (an "experiential" food company out of Georgia) is throwing its Cochon 555 pig cook-off at 6 pm in the Ecotrust building . The event is a friendly competition between five local chefs who are each given an heirloom pig—from Carlton or Sweet Briar Farms—to cook how they see fit. Cochon 555 has toured the country and the Portland competitors are folks who really know how to dress-up swine (sans pantyhose): Vitaly Paley (Paley's Place), John Gorham (Toro Bravo), Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon), Alex Bourgidu (Porta Restaurant), and Tommy Habetz (Bunk Sandwiches). Also on hand will be five wineries offering their wares.
It should be a great time. I have a feeling the competition will be fierce, and I certainly expect a good amount of offal.
So, if you happen to have an extra $125 lying around… Put it in your savings account, unless you are a die-hard foodie or crazy for pork. In that case, $125 is probably a good deal—considering that dining at each of these chef’s establishments over the course of an evening would cause considerable bloat, and cost way more than $125. Tickets on sale here.
And if you’re not into eating an animal on its special day, you can always go to Lighthouse Rescue Farm and celebrate the living-breathing pig in a more hospitable habitat. Just sayin’.
Politics Who Cares About Terrorists if They're White?
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Two news reports that came out today about two different terrorists living in America highlight the crazy disparities between how the government treats foreign-born Muslim people involved in terrorist groups versus homegrown white Christian people involved in terrorist groups.
The first news story is about Ali Al-Marri, a Qatari guy who was attending college in the US before September 11th. I hung out with Ali's brother, Jarallah, for a couple weeks in January and got an earful about his case — the CIA suspected Ali of being involved in Al Qaeda and arrested him right after 9/11. Since then, he's been held in naval prison in South Carolina, much of the time in solitary confinement in a "sensory deprivation" cell. Ali hasn't been charged with any crime and today the Justice Department announced it would finally arrange a civilian trial for him.
The second story is about Robert Henderson, a Nebraska state trooper who was fired for being actively involved with the Ku Klux Klan. In his decision, the State Supreme Court judge said, "From its very inception, the State of Nebraska has been founded upon principles of equality and tolerance that the Ku Klux Klan, from its very inception, has used violence and terror to oppose."
So one man suspected of being involved with a group that's used violence and terror to oppose the American government has been imprisoned for five years while another known member of a group that's used violence and terror to oppose the American government just gets fired from his job. What's the difference? I think their pictures say it all.
If our justice system really did value equality and tolerance, either Robert Henderson should be held without trial for five years or Ali Al-Marri should be released immediately. Apparently having members of known terrorist organizations running loose in the country is no big deal as long as their terrorist organizations are part of the fabric of American history. But obviously, both of these are dumb options — we should just have fair trials for all terror suspects to begin with.
News / Courts Courthouse To Close On Fridays
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 11:30 AM
The Multnomah County Courthouse on SW 4th will be closed Fridays from March 13th until further notice, due to budget cuts. Presiding Judge Jean Maurer emailed courthouse staff this morning. Judges will still show up on Fridays "to do the work of the court," Maurer wrote, albeit without staff present.
Judge Maurer is yet to return a call for comment.
Food / Politics Totally Non-Corrupt Dining Alternatives For Randy Leonard
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 11:19 AM
City Commissioner Randy Leonard is under fire in this week's Tribune for spending his left-over campaign funds on steak dinners. Corrupt? Meh. This ain't The Wire, and Leonard ain't no Clay Davis. Indeed, the commissioner says he just "follows the law." But of more interest, and indeed, concern, to the Mercury is the fact that Leonard chose to spend much of the money in steakhouses:
• May 14, 2008: $198 for Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse dinner with unspecified guest
• June 5, 2008: $225 Ringside dinner with Mayor-elect Sam Adams
• July 15, 2008: $341 for Ringside dinner with Greg Goodman
• Nov. 3, 2008: $338 for Ringside dinner with blues musician Curtis Salgado
• Dec. 4, 2008: $183 for Ringside dinner with union leader James Hester
Steak, as you may know, is high in cholesterol, one of the leading causes of heart disease, for which, as a former firefighter, Leonard is already at high risk. It's also a shame, with the commissioner pushing citizens to "choose local," that he chose to eat at a national chain like Ruth's Chris. But perhaps worst of all is that the Commissioner would choose to restrict his food choices in a town with such a wide variety of culinary options available.
Fortunately, Leonard still has $15,826 in his campaign fund to splurge on dinners out. So I asked Mercury food editor Patrick Coleman to come up with 10 restaurants in Portland that the Commissioner might like to choose as alternatives, in the future. Here they are, with links to the Mercury's restaurant reviews and totally awesome restaurant search(TM), along with Coleman's comments:
1.Bunk. "Politics is said to always happen in smoky back rooms," says Coleman. "But Leonard can bring transparency into the operation while keeping the smoky room at Bunk. He can hang with the groundlings while still enjoying his meat."
2.Slow Bar. "If he needs a place where that requires a more cloistered environment," says Coleman. "The booths at Slow Bar are the perfect place to haggle over new city initiatives. Great drink selection and one of the best burgers in town."
3.Andina. "White linen tablecloth, flavorful slabs of meat, hearty fare," says Coleman. "Would do well to help showcase his belief in diversity while maintaining that air of sophistication."
4.Bete-Lukas. "Ethiopian proves he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty," says Coleman. "And that he can stand the heat."
5.Hot Pot, either Beijing Hot Pot or Hot Pot City. "The trick with Hot Pot is that in the end, the flavor of the broth depends on what you cook in it," says Coleman. "If Leonard is dining with a group, he can prove that he’s able to cooperate, collaborate and share."
6.Firehouse. "Is there any better place for an ex fire fighter?" asks Coleman, whose inspiration I think may have been flagging, by number 6.
7.Toro Bravo. "Consistently excellent and much beloved by Portlanders, Leonard being seen here would heighten his social cachet among many of his constituents," Coleman affirms. "Plus, it’s delicious."
8.Portobello Vegan Trattoria. "Again, this is about increasing his good standing among a small but incredibly vocal group of constituents," says Coleman. "I also hear that it’s actually quite good."
9.Higgins. "One of the very first Portland restaurants to think local, seasonal, sustainable, this restaurant serves what Greg Higgins considers good farm food," says Coleman. "In other words, it’s wholesome. Plus, James Bond ate here a couple times."
10.Goose Hollow Inn. "If it’s good enough for Mayor Bud Clark, it’s good enough for Leonard," says Coleman. "He can sit at the bar, drink a pint and converse with very opinionated regulars, or reminisce about the days when Mayors were controversial in a fun way."
Don't mention it, Commissioner. Just make us your "unspecified guests" next time.
Politics / News Your Questions For The Mayor
Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Mayor Sam Adams will make his first "State Of The City" speech today at City Club, just after noon. In honor of the occasion, David Bowie has donned his special blue jacket, is smoking an ostentatious cigarette, and Annie Lennox made a dubious hat choice:
MAYOR ADAMS: Under pressure...
There will be time scheduled after the mayor's speech for media questions, and I'd like to take the time to relay some of your questions to him, if you'd be so kind.
Adams is expected to announce three green strategies in his speech—one aimed at reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 (details yet to be worked out), another pilot program aimed at weatherizing 500 Portland homes for energy efficiency, and a $1500 solar tax credit for business installing solar energy systems in the next two years. The mayor is also expected to reference his draft Economic Development Strategy (pdf here), which Sarah reported on in last week's Mercury.
Yet despite the speech's emphasis on "green" initiatives, Adams is under pressure from his green voter base, following his advocacy for a 12-lane bridge across the Columbia on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Oregonian editorial board today accused Adams of "leading the distraction", instead of "leading the action." An O reporter expects Adams to address the Breedlove scandal in his remarks.
So: Your questions for the mayor, please.
TV Another Reason to Hate Portland (Besides 12-Lane Bridges)
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 9:47 AM
First it was the Sam scandal, yesterday it was the 12-lane bridge, and today this local commercial for Oak Furniture Warehouse is making Portland the laughing stock of the internet. Remember when everyone used to love us? Remember when we used to deserve it?
News Good Morning News!
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 9:09 AM
AUGUST 31 2010 - The day American combat in Iraq will end, according to the big troop withdrawal plan Obama announced this morning.
Surprise #1! Republicans, including war hero McCain, approve of the withdrawal plan.
Surprise #2! America Follows Own Laws: In a huge change from the Bush Admin's policy of indefinitely detaining terror suspects without trial, the Justice Department announced that at least one suspect will finally get a trial.
Photography Legalized for Journalists: The Pentagon decided to change it policy and allow media to take pictures of returning soldiers' caskets... now that the war is almost over.
Oregon Legislators Scramble for Money: Oregonian leads article with weird analogy, "With state revenues falling like a piano out a fifth-floor window"...
Pot Shots: Feds promise to recognize state marijuana laws and stop raiding medical marijuana dispensaries. Anti-pot Drug Policy Alliance member unwittingly warns of a beautiful future: "In 10 to 15 years, marijuana will be available in pharmacies."
Octopus Floods Santa Monica Aquarium: It doesn't get much better than that.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
City Hall / News Green Center: Architects Present Designs
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Four teams of architects and developers have been pitching tonight to design and build the Oregon Sustainability Center, which it's hoped will be built near PSU over the coming years.
Oddly, because it's his idea, Mayor Sam Adams has been absent this evening, even though city hall is packed to the rafters. Instead, Adams' chief of staff, Tom Miller, introduced the proceedings. Last month, Adams announced that the center will be a "living building," aiming beyond platinum status on the government's LEED scale. Tonight, four teams of developers and architects have been talking about their experience in developing sustainable buildings, before they go off and do any actual design work.
SUSTAINABILITY CENTER: BEYOND PLATINUM...
This evening's hearing has been littered with other-worldly expressions. From "passive skin solutions" and "triple net zero" technology, to "triple glazing," "grey water," "substantial daylighting," "reclaiming steam," and even "reducing bird mortality," the world of sustainable architecture is clearly one pushing the boundaries of the postmodern vocabulary.
Gerding Edlen was the first group to present. They built the Casey Condominiums, the Gerding Theater in the Pearl, and many more green buildings both in Portland and across the country. Up second was Holst Architects, which is designing the city's Resource Access Center for the homeless, in Old Town. Holst is looking to collaborate with FXFowle Architects, a prestigious international firm, which designed the New York Times building in Manhattan. Third up was Ethos Project Management, teamed up with Behnisch Architects and Brightworks, which are European and Portland-based design firms, respectively. Lastly, Winkler Development—which built the Adidas Village in north Portland.
Portland Architecture blogger and architecture critic, Brian Libby has some interesting opinions on the merits of the various teams over at his site. "I'm excited to see the combination of local and national/international firms involved," he writes. Although..."I haven't personally decided which of these teams I'd like to see get the job."
The presentations were inspiring, and I was excited to think of all the possibilities that might be presented by this building. The next steps are for each team to be interviewed by an evaluation team tomorrow. Then, a decision on a team will be made as early as next Monday—the decision will be made so quickly, because the building is hoping to take advantage of potential stimulus dollars. We'll track this project as it develops.
Politics The Price is Wrong
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Instead of paying for 12-lane bridges we don't need, how about we buy ONE OF THESE BUTTONS, install it in city hall, and HIT IT every time the council comes up with a plan as fucking stupid as a 12-lane bridge?
Green / News Green Critics Respond to 12-Lane Bridge
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Last February, local economist and activist Joe Cortright submitted a Freedom of Information Act to the Columbia River Crossing task force, requesting any documents or analysis they had done on "traffic projections, tolls or financing of the CRC" since 2007. The reply? "They said they had no publications of that kind," says Cortright. That's unsettling, since the financial landscape has changed quite a bit locally and nationally since 2007.
Disappointed environmentalists are talking about that missing research, as well as other big unanswered questions about the Columbia River Crossing, after City Council approved the biggest option for the $4.2 billion commuter bridge last night.
"The council had promised that they wouldn't move forward without a report on increased traffic demand and greenhouse gases on both sides of the bridge and yet they moved," says Eric Stachon of 1000 Friends of Oregon. "We find that deeply disturbing."
"What's going to happen to that report - is it still in the works?" I asked.
"I think it's not going to happen," replied Stachon frankly.
Cortright and other environmentalists point out that it's an expensive project to have such big, unanswered questions. The CRC's price tag is the same as "80 OHSU aerial trams," noted Cortright last year, which "works out to nearly $2,000 per capita from each of the region's two million residents."
Instead, that money could build 14,000 $200,000 apartments to ease the indefinite waiting list for affordable housing in Portland. "There's a lot of things you could spend that money on and what you're using it for is basically subsidizing people commuting from Clark County subdivisions to jobs in Oregon," says Cortright.
Jill Fuglister, co-director of Coalition for a Livable Future, is disappointed in the Council and somewhat surprised:
"Mayor Adams and [Metro Council President] David Bragdon were as recently as a week ago trying to talk about a smaller footprint. What I think happened is that they didn't think they could get to that and didn't want to hold up a process that had been going on for years... We've seen [the CRC] as a lead project and test case in terms of political will and politicians having to make those tough calls."
It's surprising, actually, given the importance of the CRC as a political will test case, how few environmental groups are willing to publicly criticize Adams for his vote in favor of the 12 lanes. Mayor Adams is supposed to be their man in city hall, right? His big economic plan for Portland's next five years is making Portland "America's most sustainable city" and this morning on our blog, his staff defended the 12-lane bridge as a pro-environment option.
While several environmental groups think that calling a 12-lane freeway "green" is absurd, none have yet called Sustainable Sam out by name for supporting the widest, most expensive, most car-friendly option for the biggest public works project in our region's history. Then again, I think it's tough to criticize one's allies, especially when Sam's under a lot of heat already.
When I asked Joe Cortright whether Adams could still be considered a "green mayor," Cortright responded, "I'm not going to go there. Let's just say it's not a green decision."
Same thing with Jill Fuglister - "no comment" on whether she is disappointed in Sam specifically.
Eric Stachon on whether whether Sam can consider himself an environmentalist: "no comment."
Artsy Arts Funding: On the Chopping Block. Again.
Posted by Alison Hallett on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 4:11 PM
According to an email currently being circulated by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, proposed cuts to the state budget include $211,384 from the Oregon Arts Commission, $350,000 from the Oregon Historical Society, and $64,085 cut in lottery funds from the Office of Film and Television, as well as the recapture of $1.8 million from the permanent fund of the Oregon Cultural Trust—revenue generated by the sale of license plates designed and sold specifically to benefit the Trust. You know, these. Oregon already ranks dismally in terms of public funding for the arts—one of the bottom five states in per capita spending, last I checked (Portland ranks 23rd among metropolitan regions). I listen to OPB, I know things are bad—but I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed in the RACC letter:
The Cultural Trust was authorized by the Legislature in 1999 - ten years ago - to grow and stabilize funding for culture - in good times and in bad. To skim the Trust fund and re-allocate cultural license plate fees for the General Fund is a violation of trust with the buyers of the plates who assumed they were supporting Oregon culture with their purchases. To raid the fund to pay for other state services simply violates the very purpose of the Trust and the intent of the Trust's thousands of donors: to protect and invest in Oregon's cultural resources.
Click here to register your dismay. I'll post the full letter after the jump.
Politics / News Adams' Biggest Fans Upset Over 12 Lane Bridge
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Even Sam Adams' number one supporter has concerns over the mayor's decision to recommend a 12-lane bridge over the Columbia. Hollie Teal is the one who organized the Facebook group in Adams' support last month, and the rally outside city hall to urge him to stay. She ran a remarkably positive interview with Adams on her blog earlier this week. 
TEAL: Photo courtesy of Bikeportland.org
But Teal seems to have turned on Adams over his Columbia Bridge Decision, writing a post on her blog entitled "needing answers" early this morning:
I'm writing concerning yesterday's city council vote for the 12-lane CRC option— it's important that you're aware how this vote sits with your supporters. We counted on you to represent the city of Portland's sustainability priorities in this project, and we felt assured that you would fight for what you've advocated up to this point: the smallest possible bridge. Why did you change your position? The city needs you to be the mayor we elected, who will fight to continue the momentum you helped to generate of building a transportation infrastructure that does not worship at the altar of the automobile.You told me on Sunday that you love Portland and its people, but this monster bridge does not bode well for the future livability of our city. Your supporters need some definitive and focused reassurance that what you've voted for is in keeping with your sustainable agenda and that we're not selling out to large business interests.
A commenter on Teal's blog left a response, linking to Adams' website. Teal responded:
I saw that and thought: "So we're done focusing our resources to promote alternative transportation and now we're back to adding more fucking freeways?"When has adding more freeway capacity ever improved livability or decreased carbon footprint? And where does anyone mention anything about bike/ped lanes on the new CRC? Why hasn't he said anything about how miserable the current bike/ped crossing is and how a big focus for the new bridge will be on wide, safe bike/ped paths?
Reached by phone, Teal said she was feeling "a little frustrated" when she wrote the Cheney-esque expletive about freeways. I asked her what she thought of Adams' reaction, which she's also posted on her blog. "Or his non-reaction, as it were?" she joked.
"I wrote to Sam wanting a more specific addressing of sustainability issues," Teal says. "And I don't feel like he really did give it. I think he's in a tough spot. I'm pretty disappointed. I think it may not be as terrible as people think in terms of sustainability issues, but I'm disappointed."
"I'm seeing a lot of his other supporters turn on this decision," Teal continues. "A lot of supporters thought Adams was about sustainability and that he was very progressive, but we're sort of sliding down a slippery slope, here. I'm not really wanting to call him out loudly at this point, but yeah, this is very disappointing."
Jonathan Maus of Bikeportland is also reflecting on Adams' decision. "I think Sam is playing the cards he's been dealt," says Maus. "He's trying to do what Sam always does, which is trying to make the compromise work so that he can be seen in a good light on both sides. But he's given up a lot, here. And he's raised the stakes considerably on how people are going to see his sustainable progressive credentials."
Maus adds that while Adams' office may be presenting the bridge issue positively, "I think what's important is what the community is hearing, which is that he's caving to 12 lanes."
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