This Week in the Mercury

Globetrotter

Books

Globetrotter

Pam Houston's Contents May Have Shifted Travels the World with Grace


Geek Out

Film

Geek Out

3D Done Right



  |  

Friday, June 19, 2009

News / Neighborhoods The Lents Uprising: Video

Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 1:19 PM

Shot last night:


WHAT DO ANGRY NEIGHBORS LOOK LIKE? THEY LOOK LIKE THIS...

And here's a statement just issued by the mayor:

First, I want to acknowledge all the hard work that community members, City staff, the citizens serving on the Lents Urban Renewal Advisory Committee, and our partner, Merritt Paulson, have invested into evaluating and discussing the proposal to locate AAA baseball in the Lents community. These discussions are always difficult, complicated and time-consuming. I appreciate the focus and patience people have exhibited in working through the issues.

As I’ve made clear throughout the AAA baseball conversations, this proposal could only move forward with the explicit support of the Lents community. It has become clear in conversations with neighborhood residents that community support for the proposal isn’t there.
To reinforce that fact, this morning, Merritt Paulson informed City Council and the leadership of the Lents URAC that he is withdrawing his proposal to locate a baseball stadium in Lents.

Merritt and the Beavers organization are looking at their options moving forward on siting baseball. In the meantime, the City's mission is clear: focus our energies on guaranteeing that Portland is the new home of a Major League Soccer team.

In the coming weeks, I will lead the effort on working with Merritt to reach agreement on a financial package for renovations to PGE Park that meets the city’s financial and community needs while meeting the requirements of major league soccer.

We have a great opportunity ahead of us now. Major League Soccer is a family-friendly amenity for all Portlanders and soccer fans across the region. PGE Park is the right venue for the sport. And, renovation to PGE Park will create construction jobs at a time when unemployment in the building industry in our region is at an all-time high.

Moving forward, I will continue to adhere to the Citizen’s Task Force principles of protecting the city’s general fund from risk, leveraging maximum private investment, and not impacting in any way funding for City basic services. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on City Council, at the County, and with other key stakeholders to bring professional Soccer to Portland.

 

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
GAWD that opening song was gay. Just say you don't want the stadium and why like that awesome woman in the black shirt that calmly handed Paulson his ASS!
Posted by Abusive on June 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM · Report
2
These morons know the stadium would not take up nearly even half of the park right?
Posted by D on June 19, 2009 at 2:57 PM · Report
3
Hmm..unfashionable yes, but morons..?

I don't think they are primarily concerned with losing precious dog-walking space. I think they are concerned about all the studies showing that the community would be loaning money to a billionaire and would never get paid back.
Posted by spartacus on June 19, 2009 at 3:10 PM · Report
4
Well I can agree with that. But why do protesters have to be so cliche and annoying?
Posted by D on June 19, 2009 at 3:21 PM · Report
5
Seems like about a third of them were informed and had valid objections, and the others thought the whole park was being taken up or something like that.

To my mind, a third of them is still enough to be worth killing the deal though.
Posted by Stu on June 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM · Report
6
I'm totally against the deal, and yet I could only get 15 seconds into that annoying video.

Once again Portland tries to do something charmingly creative and neither creates nor charms.
Posted by Kincardine on June 19, 2009 at 4:40 PM · Report
7
Merritt is Sam's partner?
Posted by Jim Lee on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use