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Monday, August 31, 2009

News City Staffers Telling Public Tomorrow's Sit/Lie Meeting Is Closed

Posted by Matt Davis on Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 4:42 PM

City Commissioner Amanda Fritz's staffers have told the organizer of a 340-strong Facebook group against the renewal of the sit/lie ordinance that tomorrow's meeting on a "sidewalk management strategy" in the Rose Room at 1pm is for "commissioners and stakeholders only."

Defense attorney Chris O'Connor, who organized the group, asked if he could attend the meeting.

"It doesn't look like it is open for the public," said 'Sara' from Fritz's office, leaving a voicemail for O'Connor. "It's mostly for the elected officials and the stakeholders."

O'Connor, like the Mercury, is yet to hear back from the mayor's office about attending the meeting.

"But I would encourage everyone to come down tomorrow to the meeting and find out if they are a stakeholder in this issue or not," says O'Connor.

The Mercury is also anxious to find out whether its three years of reporting on this issue make it a stakeholder.

"I'm just concerned about who they are defining as stakeholders," says O'Connor. "If they are going to invite these people for an update, I'm concerned that they are going to get the opinions they want to hear, or get the opinions from people they have no choice but to invite, because they have already been involved in the process."

The list of invitees includes Street Roots, Soapbox Under The Bridge, Sisters of the Road, and other homeless activists.

"It's not bad to invite these folks," says O'Connor. "But let's not just hear from the same old crowd, let's have a discussion, since the city has had its chance with its select, hand-picked committees in the past."

"If they really want to have a new discussion about this topic, then they need to be willing to hear from all people," O'Connor continues. "But they certainly aren't seeking any actual input from additional stakeholders."

"I guess you have to go to the secret meeting to find out what your elected officials really think about this issue," says O'Connor.

 

Comments (14) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Uhmm, Oregon Open Meeting law?

How exactly do the commissioners, (who can't even sit 3 at a time in the same office together,) expect to exclude people?
Posted by Matthew D on August 31, 2009 at 5:04 PM · Report
2
There are numerous loopholes. Ask a lawyer.
Posted by Matt Davis on August 31, 2009 at 5:06 PM · Report
3
I walk on the sidewalk. I am a stakeholder.
Posted by J_Renaud on August 31, 2009 at 5:16 PM · Report
4
Join the club. I'll be sure to take the Flip tomorrow and record the precise reasons for our denial of entry. I'm wondering: Will they have security do it? One of their peons? Or will the mayor himself explain why he doesn't want the press at the meeting. He still hasn't answered my Tweet.
Posted by Matt Davis on August 31, 2009 at 5:21 PM · Report
5
Matt if you are a stakeholder than by definition you forfeit any semblance of journalistic independence. The term alone implies you have a stake in the outcome.

Real journalists never have a stake in the outcome of the things they are reporting on (unless you are Fox News but are they really journalists?)

If you fancy yourself a journalist than my definition your role is to report and most certainly are not a stakeholder.

Which is it?
Posted by Finnegan on August 31, 2009 at 7:14 PM · Report
6
Finnegan,

The Mercury's stance on journalism has always been that the idea of "objectivity" is a pretense. Of course I have a stake in this issue, and it would be ridiculous to pretend otherwise. The Oregonian has a stake in it, too, as evidenced by the total absence of coverage.

I'm a proud stakeholder in this issue, as are all Portlanders, and so should you be.

Matt
Posted by Matt Davis on August 31, 2009 at 7:44 PM · Report
7
Cronyism is alive and well.
Posted by real_life on August 31, 2009 at 7:59 PM · Report
8
as an official "stakeholder" I must say I am a bit worried about being asked to a meeting where certain people are not allowed... especially when numbered in those people are other stakeholders and the media.

I am also worried about the terms:
"City Council's latest developments on the Sidewalk Management Initiative."
and
"This will be an opportunity to provide your feedback on these developments"
which seems to imply that I, and others, are there to hear what the plan is, or be swayed, rather than be part of any process.
Posted by Patrick Nolen on August 31, 2009 at 9:09 PM · Report
9
Finnegan, can you really imagine what journalism would be like if it was *really* written by people who didn't have a stake in the outcome? You could only have journalists who didn't have families, didn't have kids in school, didn't participate in any meaningful way in the community in which they live, and held no values, other than "objectivity" (itself an absence of value).

You're an imbecile. I'd expect more from someone who's run three successful initiative petition campaigns including one that was entirely volunteer.
Posted by Murrowbot on August 31, 2009 at 9:28 PM · Report
10
Finnegan, it's "then" not "than." Jesus tapdancing Christ.
Posted by GLV on September 1, 2009 at 8:31 AM · Report
11
They can't have a bunch of people at the meeting since Patrick will be there and eat ALL the donuts and other meeting finger foods, leaving none for anyone else. And Patrick, you don't need to tell us your fat sob story again, so save your breath for another twinkie, ya ding dong!

And as for Matt, if i were Mayor I would ban you from City Hall. You are NOT a reporter, as you do nothing but write opinion pieces that are ALWAYS on the wrong side of EVERY issue!
Posted by FIRE MATT DAVIS NOW & PUT PATRICK ON A DIET NOW! on September 1, 2009 at 3:56 PM · Report
12
FMDN&PPOADN, (is it ok to call you that or would you prefer something else?)
you will be happy to know that I did not eat one donut, cookie or other snack... I am always happy to see people interested and willing to put forth their ideas of what needs to happen in order to solve homeless issues... I would assume you are for less donuts and more healthy food?
thanks
Patrick
Posted by Patrick Nolen on September 1, 2009 at 4:29 PM · Report
13
Mooooo!!!! A farmer in Tillamook called, he said you escaped his pasture.

Try dressing up for a meeting for once Patrick! T-shirts are so slobby. Omar the Tent Maker does wonderful work!
Posted by FIRE MATT DAVIS NOW & PUT PATRICK ON A DIET NOW! on September 1, 2009 at 5:01 PM · Report
14
Dude,
whatever, just keep your Omar to yourself...
"Omar-the-tent-maker
A slang expression for a person experiencing an erection that raises the cloth (trousers or sheet) covering his genitals much like a tent. "
thanks
Patrick

Posted by Patrick Nolen on September 1, 2009 at 8:42 PM · Report

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