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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Election 2012 / City Hall Mayor Adams: Cost of Hosting GOP Debate "Not Worth" It

Posted by Denis C. Theriault on Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 11:59 AM

OPB interviews Mayor Sam Adams about his grumbling over OPBs planned GOP presidential debate.
  • Denis C. Theriault
  • OPB interviews Mayor Sam Adams about his grumbling over OPB's planned GOP presidential debate.
That was interesting.

A day after Mayor Sam Adams balked at the hefty pricetag associated with hosting an Oregon Public Broadcasting-hosted Republican presidential debate in March, OPB showed up in the city council chambers after this morning's meeting to confront kindly ask him about his reasons.

Adams was happy to oblige. He implied the news station and the state GOP were amateurish for not formally consulting with the cash-strapped city before firming up plans for the debate, currently on tap for OPB's remote offices out on SW Macadam.

"This is the first time I've ever experienced," he said in the OPB chat, using his favorite metric, "in my 20 years in government," "when city government hasn't been consulted" about a major political event.

Update January 10: I need to correct the record and note that the interview was technically with the Northwest News Network's Colin Fogarty. The network counts a handful of public radio stations as members, including OPB, but is not strictly OPB.

He also said whatever visibility the debate might bring to Portland—a selling point raised in the interview and also by GOP officers—was "not worth the local cost." And he actually has a point. Portland's name already graces a basic-cable sketch show (that's getting write-ups in big East Coast magazines). It's unclear how, exactly, a little-watched dime-a-dozen debate will make any more of a splash.

"It's the best of intentions in the worst of budget times," Adams said.

Of course, there's nothing much he can do about it. And now he's working out how to keep costs down while bracing not only for an influx of politicians and their staffers, but also a crush of protesters (hello, Occupy Portland!) and counter-protesters.

OPB and the state GOP meanwhile, say it's still game-on, although maybe they'll listen to the city when it comes to finding ways to lower expenses, Adams told me. During the OPB chat he also said he refused an unidentified liberal group's request for a general election debate for the same reasons.

Adams told me the standoff over the GOP debate was "analogous" to his approach to Occupy, which has cost the city close to $2 million in police overtime largely because of the aggressive way the city decided, initially, to monitor protests. Adams would rather not have to spend much money on debate security (which he says will require cuts elsewhere in the budget), but he will if the debate organizers insist on plowing forward without talking to his office or the police bureau.

 

Comments (18) RSS

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1
While the mayor has a legitimate concern, it's hard to imagine there'd be the same level of "fretting" if this were a Democratic candidates' debate in Portland. Also, something snarky/irreverent goes here.
Posted by magnumpdx on January 4, 2012 at 12:23 PM · Report
2
This doesn't make Sam look good. We may not like the Repub candidates (I know I don't), but they have a right to come here and be obnoxious on OPB.
Posted by Todd Mecklem on January 4, 2012 at 12:27 PM · Report
3
You'd think the candidates would be in favor of privatizing the security detail for the debate.
Posted by Commenty Colin on January 4, 2012 at 12:36 PM · Report
4
"We actually thought the mayor would welcome something like this."

You still probably should have asked, though.
Posted by tk. on January 4, 2012 at 12:56 PM · Report
5
@tk, I agree. That pretty much sums up the Mayors POV. Though OPB has been harping on this debate for quite some time.
Posted by Fruit Cup on January 4, 2012 at 12:58 PM · Report
6
Why don't we just not provide much security? Maybe an officer per candidate. How much could that really cost? Or just a couple officers at the event itself?
Posted by Blabby on January 4, 2012 at 1:00 PM · Report
7
By then there won't be many candidates, so one cop should do it.
Posted by Demondog on January 4, 2012 at 1:11 PM · Report
8
Sam is worried that the Little Beirut image of Poorland would look like a cakewalk when the OccuTards show up at the debate with another OccuFail movement and burn the city down.
http://www.facebook.com/events/19283557747…

Sam was lying today when he said Portland's budget this year is smaller than last years.
From page 1 here: http://www.portlandonline.com/omf/index.cf…

Total Net City Budget
2010-11 2011-12 change percentage
$ 2,776,081,347 $ 2,797,348,621 $ 21,267,274 0.8%
Posted by Andy from Beaverton on January 4, 2012 at 1:25 PM · Report
9
I REALLY LIKE SAM'S THREE PIECE SUIT WITH THE LIME-COLORED TIE. IT'S A GOOD LOOK FOR HIM.
Posted by Graham on January 4, 2012 at 1:27 PM · Report
10
@Andy: Your link doesn't work for me, but adjusting for inflation (between 2010 and 2011, it was 3.7%), that $2,776,081,347 in 2010 is $2,880,158,139 in today's money (according to http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/). So it is effectively less.
Posted by tk. on January 4, 2012 at 1:33 PM · Report
11
Hey Denis, you've been punk'd:

http://5440fight.com/2012/01/03/the-portland-mercurys/
Posted by Media Watch on January 4, 2012 at 2:32 PM · Report
12
@#1, I plan on disrupting the proceedings regardless of party, because they're both so fucking absurd. It's going to be a FUCKING PARTY ON MACADAM! Seriously, it's going to be a riot. Who knows, maybe this time someone will be killed? Will there be premature round-ups of political activists? Just on that chance, my AK is going to be next to my front door from Feb 20th on out.

I like #6's idea. Adam's should flatly refuse to provide a large number of Portland Police due to budget problems, and demand that OSP and other agencies "chip in", OPB would simply move this event to Salem cause no one wants to pay, and that would avoid all of the problems with people like me, who are going to smashy-smashy all over the place. Adam's isn't up for re-election, so who is he going to offend? The Republicans?
Posted by fidelity_axiom on January 4, 2012 at 2:40 PM · Report
13
good god, you are all fucking children. Especially that histrionic narcissist Sandini.

Just go play, children! Go play outside!
Posted by Denis=Dan on January 4, 2012 at 3:35 PM · Report
14
OPB can't pay for security in its own facililty? Why not run another week of lame ass fundraising with doo-wap concerts and the same black and white Roy Orbison concert over and over and over....and then bring on the Celtic Women.

That should raise the necessary funds.
Posted by pork chop on January 4, 2012 at 4:20 PM · Report
15
Wow, that Sandini post is the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Sandini, if your narcissistic idiot ass is reading this: maybe next time don't lead with a semantic argument of what "accosting" means. It tends to make it obvious that you really have no legitimate gripe whatsoever to follow.

I'm really, really happy to hear that something so stupid probably completely overshadowed your holidays. If that's what you chose to print, I would really love to hear all the arguments in your head that you decided against using in the intervening couple months.
Posted by Commenty Colin on January 4, 2012 at 4:29 PM · Report
16
Seriously, Colin. That whole thing read like a case study in borderline personality disorder. "He attacked me!" "Everyone is racist!" "They're all out to get me!" "Denis Theriault knows who I am!"

And yes, the cutting room floor must be positively alive with entertainment.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(# on January 4, 2012 at 4:58 PM · Report
17
there's a whole lot of butthurt in that Sandini "article"
Posted by * on January 4, 2012 at 6:33 PM · Report
18
If I'm ever elected mayor I promise to dress like Peter Davison as the Doctor.
Posted by Todd Mecklem on January 4, 2012 at 8:13 PM · Report

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