This Week in the Mercury
Monday, July 20, 2009
News Adams Spokesman Nkrumah Follows Through, Sues
Posted by Matt Davis on Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Former Sam Adams spokesman Wade Nkrumah has followed through on his threat to sue the mayor for telling a TV reporter he had quit over "stress" in late January—the O and WW are reporting this afternoon.
Nkrumah quit because of Adams' "lying as a public official," and not stress, according to his tort claim. He is now seeking $500,000 in damages, including $18,750 for unpaid time he says he worked for Adams before he became mayor.
"It is city policy not to comment on pending litigation," says Roy Kaufmann, Nkrumah's replacement—referring the Mercury to city attorney Linda Meng, who repeated the words of Kaufmann's no-comment, exactly.
Kaufmann had no comment when asked whether the mayor would be paying any costs associated with the claim, personally—an issue raised by this reporter in May, in light of Adams' promises to step down if the Breedlove scandal impacted city business.
Nevertheless it appears the city attorney's time and resources will be devoted to fighting the claim.
"We haven't had any exchange of information at all with them," says Michael Hanlon, Nkrumah's attorney. "I don't know what the extent of their investigation has been. I think certainly, if they were amenable to settling, then we would have heard from them by now."
Download a copy of the suit here.
1
Mr. Nkrumah deserves praise for taking action which promotes honesty and integrity, which has been lacking from Adams and the rest of our City Council.
2
500,000 is damages seems a little freaking high. I don't know why I play lotto, when all I really have to do is try to due someone.
3
"Kaufmann had no comment when asked whether the mayor would be paying any costs associated with the claim, personally—an issue raised by this reporter in May, in light of Adams' promises to step down if the Breedlove scandal impacted city business. "
Buddy, it sounds like you're getting awfully close to questioning the mayor's integrity. Here in Portland we call that homophobia.
Buddy, it sounds like you're getting awfully close to questioning the mayor's integrity. Here in Portland we call that homophobia.
4
Nkrumah doesn't deserve praise. When a journalist leaves journalism to go work for politicians, he doesn't get to cry like a baby when his job turns out to be (surprise!) political.
Journalists, don't walk through the revolving door in and out of politics, and you won't be faced with such horrors.
Suck it up, Wade. You played the game and got burned. But it was your choice to play.
Journalists, don't walk through the revolving door in and out of politics, and you won't be faced with such horrors.
Suck it up, Wade. You played the game and got burned. But it was your choice to play.
5
So Nkrumah got pissed and is suing. God I wish I got to sue every time my boss lied. Especially that time when they said they weren't going to lay anyone off and then they layed off 2 of my best friends a day later. I'd like to sue for 500K.
F*** off Wade.
F*** off Wade.
6
Actually, Bix, When someone goes to work in communications whether it is the private or especially the public sector they are still under the ethics guidelines of their profession and associated groups. Or, are you saying it is ok to lie while working in public or private office because that's the "game"?
Ethics in communications is especially important in the public sector - don't you think it's important that public employees follow ethics guidelines?
It's not just that Nkrumah's job was "political." It's that he was lied to by a public official and as a public employee was then coached to lie to the public. When he did the ethical thing, which was to quit and was vocal and honest about that he was slandered by Adams. That's wrong in my book - no matter if Nkrumah was a former journalist, or a hog farmer. Doesn't matter.
Lying to the public while in public office is not par for the course nor a "game". Some of us hold our elected and public employees to standards, and some of us as current and/or public employees hold ourselves to these same standards. I wouldn't lie when I worked for the City and I certainly don't do it now in the private sector.
Nkrumah is correct in calling Adams on his BS. I'd be pissed too.
Ethics in communications is especially important in the public sector - don't you think it's important that public employees follow ethics guidelines?
It's not just that Nkrumah's job was "political." It's that he was lied to by a public official and as a public employee was then coached to lie to the public. When he did the ethical thing, which was to quit and was vocal and honest about that he was slandered by Adams. That's wrong in my book - no matter if Nkrumah was a former journalist, or a hog farmer. Doesn't matter.
Lying to the public while in public office is not par for the course nor a "game". Some of us hold our elected and public employees to standards, and some of us as current and/or public employees hold ourselves to these same standards. I wouldn't lie when I worked for the City and I certainly don't do it now in the private sector.
Nkrumah is correct in calling Adams on his BS. I'd be pissed too.
7
> are you saying it is ok to lie while working in public or private office because that's the "game"?
Nah, he's saying HOMOPHOBE!! ADAMS RULE3Z!! Because that's how he brings his trademark thoughtfulness and level-headed bipartisanship to bear on the situation. Adams Good, Everyone Else Bad. Got it?
Looking at the complaint, it's weak sauce legally -- no 659A statutory torts, which is where the money is for employment plaintiffs. But he's got serious political leverage here - Adams is not going to want to be deposed on this situation, or to have Nkrumah deposed. Nkrumah is hoping Adams is willing to pull a Kwame Kilpatrick and cover up his own sexual wrongdoing with city money. That seemed to work out well for old Kwame, after all.
In the end, he'll get some money - my guess would be $75K.
Nah, he's saying HOMOPHOBE!! ADAMS RULE3Z!! Because that's how he brings his trademark thoughtfulness and level-headed bipartisanship to bear on the situation. Adams Good, Everyone Else Bad. Got it?
Looking at the complaint, it's weak sauce legally -- no 659A statutory torts, which is where the money is for employment plaintiffs. But he's got serious political leverage here - Adams is not going to want to be deposed on this situation, or to have Nkrumah deposed. Nkrumah is hoping Adams is willing to pull a Kwame Kilpatrick and cover up his own sexual wrongdoing with city money. That seemed to work out well for old Kwame, after all.
In the end, he'll get some money - my guess would be $75K.
8
Revolution is nigh, brave swains, because if a FUCKING PENNY of city money is used to defend this claim, there will be political bloodletting the like of which has not been seen in our fair city in our lifetimes. The recall will become a serial event.
Hey, the last six months has grown us a will of steel, and a thicket of rage. Adams' sword sharpeneth itself for his impaling, Japanese style.
Sayonara, sorry sociopath. You will have done us all a favor, ironically, because next up is the quaint oddity of the US political landscape, Portland's cute antique commission form of government.
Hey, the last six months has grown us a will of steel, and a thicket of rage. Adams' sword sharpeneth itself for his impaling, Japanese style.
Sayonara, sorry sociopath. You will have done us all a favor, ironically, because next up is the quaint oddity of the US political landscape, Portland's cute antique commission form of government.
9
Sam's defenders show that they, like Sam, have no ethics. Ethics only matter regarding Republicans. A gay liberal Democrat gets a pass by virtue of being a gay liberal Democrat.
I'm a gay liberal Democrat, I voted for Adams, but I refuse to be a hypocrite: A liar is a liar, REP or DEM, gay or straight.
Sam is unethical and needs to be held accountable. He has ZERO integrity - the Emperor has no 'drag'.
I'm a gay liberal Democrat, I voted for Adams, but I refuse to be a hypocrite: A liar is a liar, REP or DEM, gay or straight.
Sam is unethical and needs to be held accountable. He has ZERO integrity - the Emperor has no 'drag'.
10
Hey gonetorio! The "cute commission form of government" is actually a really good thing if you don't like Adams. If he's done in by this or something else, it will be the commission form of government that keeps the damage down and the gears moving.
Or would you prefer for an embattled mayor, whose integrity is openly questioned, to wield an unmatched degree of power at City Hall?
Just saying.
Or would you prefer for an embattled mayor, whose integrity is openly questioned, to wield an unmatched degree of power at City Hall?
Just saying.
11
Good question,luckymike, but it seems that our commissioners operate in fear of our 'goldenboy' mayor, at lease in this particular case. Their silence is quite loud - obviously fear for political survival is at hand here.
But - we're paying attention to their lack of backbone, or 'complicity', to put it another way.
They are not a very smart bunch and will suffer for their silence regarding Sam's ethical transgressions, not to mention their arrogant vote for renaming 39th Ave AGAINST the will of their constituents.
Portland politics couldn't be more Mickey Mouse!
Sam the Sham
Randy the Thug
Amanda the Clueless (despite her Crystal Ball)
Dan and Nick the Spineless
Ladies and Gentlemen:
THE BOZOs FIVE
(five bad apples DO spoil the whole city)
But - we're paying attention to their lack of backbone, or 'complicity', to put it another way.
They are not a very smart bunch and will suffer for their silence regarding Sam's ethical transgressions, not to mention their arrogant vote for renaming 39th Ave AGAINST the will of their constituents.
Portland politics couldn't be more Mickey Mouse!
Sam the Sham
Randy the Thug
Amanda the Clueless (despite her Crystal Ball)
Dan and Nick the Spineless
Ladies and Gentlemen:
THE BOZOs FIVE
(five bad apples DO spoil the whole city)
12
Lucky Mike,
Mayors in other cities have no other cowering elected officials to share power with. If a mayor in another city performs in a FUBAR fashion, all the secondary powerful players in the city government can pressure him/her into resignation with total impunity, simply because they are not trembling at the prospect of their own political demise.
Just one tiny problem with our commission government. Too many others to mention, but of all of them, rank inefficiency and discombobulation of purpose is the commision government trademark.
That's why Portland is tha last big US city to be encumbered with it.
Keepin' us WEIRD.
Mayors in other cities have no other cowering elected officials to share power with. If a mayor in another city performs in a FUBAR fashion, all the secondary powerful players in the city government can pressure him/her into resignation with total impunity, simply because they are not trembling at the prospect of their own political demise.
Just one tiny problem with our commission government. Too many others to mention, but of all of them, rank inefficiency and discombobulation of purpose is the commision government trademark.
That's why Portland is tha last big US city to be encumbered with it.
Keepin' us WEIRD.
13
gonetorio and others: non-Commission forms of city government come with their own sets of problems and risks. This issue came up at City Club and League of Women Voters who commissioned a year long study on the topic. The results were that Portland's form of government is fine and that other forms are far from infallible. One only need to look at "strong mayor" cities such as Cleveland or New Orleans to see the inherent problems with other forms. This is especially true with the CEO or geography based Council "ward" model where turf wars become par for the course bringing huge inequities throughout different neighborhoods and districts. It also leads to the risk of too much centralized power with one person.
The problem with Portland, as I see it, is not our form of government but with some of the individuals we currently have on Council, and mostly lack of strong leadership. An asshat mayor will still be dysfunctional and ineffective no matter what form of government he or she is set up to lead. It is also a staffing issue. Hire good, qualified staff that balance an elected official's weaknesses and you have a strong team. That's what good leaders do - put people in place that have the skills and subject matter expertise that they themselves do not.
Adams likes to hire his own tribe - the "creative class" and those that uphold his image of youth, hipness and progressiveness. But he doesn't like people that challenge him or offer different perspectives. That's why we see people like Ruiz in his administration and why anyone who points out a different viewpoint generally gets pushed out. That's unhealthy for the City. We don't have a leader in office right now, we have a narcissist.
The problem with Portland, as I see it, is not our form of government but with some of the individuals we currently have on Council, and mostly lack of strong leadership. An asshat mayor will still be dysfunctional and ineffective no matter what form of government he or she is set up to lead. It is also a staffing issue. Hire good, qualified staff that balance an elected official's weaknesses and you have a strong team. That's what good leaders do - put people in place that have the skills and subject matter expertise that they themselves do not.
Adams likes to hire his own tribe - the "creative class" and those that uphold his image of youth, hipness and progressiveness. But he doesn't like people that challenge him or offer different perspectives. That's why we see people like Ruiz in his administration and why anyone who points out a different viewpoint generally gets pushed out. That's unhealthy for the City. We don't have a leader in office right now, we have a narcissist.
15
"This is especially true with the CEO or geography based Council "ward" model where turf wars become par for the course bringing huge inequities throughout different neighborhoods and districts."
Yes, thank goodness that doesn't happen in Portland, as evidenced by the inclusion of NW 21st on the list of proposed streets to be named for Cesar Chavez.
Yes, thank goodness that doesn't happen in Portland, as evidenced by the inclusion of NW 21st on the list of proposed streets to be named for Cesar Chavez.
16
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