City Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Amanda Fritz have hit out at a proposal by City Commissioner Randy Leonard to use the city's condemnation process to take control of the "Made In Oregon" sign on top of the new University Of Oregon building at the West end of the Burnside Bridge.

"I think this is basically absurd," says Saltzman. "And it's a textbook example of Randy Leonard trying to bully a process. He couldn't get what he wanted from his own appointed historic landmarks commission, so he's chosen the most draconian tack available."

The move, which Leonard announced in last Friday's Oregonian, has drawn controversy since, with the Oregonian's own editorial board describing the move as "civic bullying," this morning. Leonard would use the city's condemnation process, and $500,000 in taxpayer dollars, to take control of the sign for the city.

"Putting aside the financial issue, condemnation is one of the strongest tools we have, and I'm always loathe to take people's property," says Saltzman. "This is an institution that's invested millions of dollars in the toughest part of downtown. This isn't how a city should reward somebody who spends millions of dollars and creates jobs and higher education opportunities for students."

Saltzman says he feels the University of Oregon may well have a legitimate case for putting "University of Oregon" on the sign, after all. Although the ultimate decision is up to the quasi-judicial historic landmarks commission, he says. Then again, there's also the financial issue. With the city facing an $8.8m hole in its general fund, and the likely closure of two police precincts, should we really be considering spending $500,000 on this issue, now?

SALTZMAN: STRAIGHT-SHOOTER...

"Is this really the most pressing issue for the city at this point?" asks Saltzman. "When we're cutting back on personnel and resources, we're at the same time talking about finding half a million dollars from somewhere. It creates low morale, and I've had several people in the city tell me that. It creates low morale."

Leonard has the co-sponsorship of Nick Fish and mayor Sam Adams for his resolution on the issue, although Adams is out of town all week for a conference, so Wednesday morning's council session appears to be shaping up into a two-on-two battle for the first reading. Adams will be back in council by the time the resolution moves to a vote next week, however.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz says of Leonard's proposal: "I think it might be illegal." "If we condemn private property it has to be for public purposes," she says. "Whereas there appear to be some private donations going into this."

"Regardless," Fritz continues, "spending time and money on this at a time when we have so many other things to do is of concern to me."

Fritz has posted more about her concerns on her city hall blog.

"We should be welcoming the University of Oregon to Portland," she writes. "Rather than implying we love Portland State University less if we celebrate the new arrival—or worse yet, comparing the good name of one of our great public universities to that of an adult business."

(Leonard told the O he was worried the sign might end up reading "Porno Palace," last week.)

Here's more from Fritz:

The Council has just spent three painful weeks listening to budget worksessions at which bureau after bureau presented needed cuts to programs, services, and staff serving citizens. An increase of 18% in water rates is proposed. More than one hundred City employees are likely to lose their jobs in July or before. We don't know how we're going to pay for the Resource Access Center that will provide housing and services to people experiencing homelessness, helping them train for jobs and return to productive lives. We don't know how we're going to help Multnomah County pay for the new Sellwood Bridge. We don't know how we're going to pay for staff to help the Human Rights Commission improve police-community relations. We don't know how we're going to fund night shelters for homeless youth, parks programs for people with disabilities, sidewalks to schools in neighborhoods. I see all those needs as much higher priority than buying a sign. Even if private money is raised to buy the sign, I believe there are many more worthy causes we should be asking philanthropists to fund.