OregonLive.com: Portland City Hall

• City Council 2010: Slaughter drops out

  Jacob Slaughter withdraws from campaign, citing residency problems. He'll be back. ' [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 3:49pm EST
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• City Council works Portland's budget, Part 1:

  Portland City Council starts on 2010-11 budget. Mayor Sam Adams wants to shelter the city's reserve fund and cut at least 3 percent from bureau budgets. [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 6:33pm EST
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Tonight: Celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall, at City Hall

  Portland City Hall, Mayor Sam Adams and the German American Society toast the fall of the Berlin Wall with a photo exhibit and beer. [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 4:34pm EST
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• 3Q lobbying reports online: So that's how much the mayor's Taiwan trip cost!

  Third quarter lobbying reports are online and Mayor Sam Adams' trip to Taiwan in July cost $6,120. The mayor was on official sister-city duty, although Portland taxpayers did not pick up the tab. ' [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:32pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• And Sam's off ...

  Portland Mayor Sam Adams is on a travel whirlwind, flying to D.C. then Vancouver, B.C., this week to talk economics and sustainability. [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 11:02am EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Leonard stands up for firefighters, extra apostrophes and all

  City Commissioner Randy Leonard just stopped by to show off his newly refurbished baby: A mounted ax on a wooden back that now holds his fire commissioner's badge. The accompanying plaque thanks Leonard, a former lieutenant with the Portland Fire... ' [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Fritz hires river clean-up leader

  Commissioner Amanda Fritz announced that she's hired Ann Beier to head the new Office of Healthy Working Rivers. Beier comes from Milwaukee, Wis., where she was Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability. She is a graduate of the University... ' [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2009, 12:18pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Rose Quarter redux

  Mayor Sam Adams has picked 32 people to wade though ideas for redeveloping the Rose Quarter. The Rose Quarter Stakeholder Advisory Committee includes a cross section of community interests that eventually will help decide the fate of the Memorial Coliseum.... [...]
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  Posted: August 21, 2009, 11:51am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Save BDS!

  City councilors heard a heartfelt plea this morning from workers at the Bureau of Development Services. As a result of the economic downturn, the people who make sure your new bathroom meets city code and that that new building downtown... [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 4:10pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Remember Lents? PDC picks developer for mixed use project

  After a public flogging at the hands of Lents residents opposed to a minor league baseball stadium in their neighborhood, Beavers owner Merritt Paulson took his baseball team (and his millions of dollars) went to Beaverton. But progress continues on... [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 2:08pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Take that, San Francisco

  Portland Mayor Sam Adams crowed over news Wednesday that Oregon will be one of five states selected to test market Nissan's new plug-in vehicles. Not on the list: San Francisco, where mayor Gavin Newsom also has pledged to make his... ' [...]
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  Posted: August 05, 2009, 4:44pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Businesses on 39th Ave: An offer you can't refuse

  A politically connected Portland printer is trying to make peace over the renaming of 39th Avenue, spread goodwill -- and maybe pick up some business in the process. Witham & Dickey, which prints direct mail pieces for candidates and... [...]
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  Posted: August 03, 2009, 2:02pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Adams frolics in City Hall garden, kind of

  Spotted among the vegetables and roses in front of City Hall this morning was Mayor Sam Adams, posing for photographs with a trio of visitors. Adams explained they are with the International Association of Culinary Professionals. The group is scheduled... [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 11:47am EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Another blast from Adams' past: The grocery bag fee

  Associated PressBags outlawed in San Francisco in 2007. Foes of plastic shopping bags plan to make another pitch this Wednesday to ban the ubiquitous carriers inside city limits. Mayor Sam Adams had pushed the issue last year, when he was... [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 5:04pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• So very warm in Portland

  With triple-digit weather nearly upon us, the powers-that-be (our editors) wanted to know how much water the city is using and whether the water folks have any advisories out. Jennie Day-Burget, the public information officer for Portland's water bureau, says... ' [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 2:21pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Water: Commissioner Leonard to take on beer makers - or is it the other way around?

  dreamstimeBeer is 95 percent water. The hot issue in city council next week will be what to do with Portland's drinking water. Just about everyone in the building agrees that Bull Run water is pristine, clean and has never shown... ' [...]
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  Posted: July 24, 2009, 1:15pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Adams visits with the EU ambassador to U.S.

  One of the perks of being Portland mayor is you get face time with important foreign dignitaries. On Thursday, that was John Bruton, former prime minister of Ireland and the European Union's current ambassador to the United States. Bruton was... ' [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 4:04pm EDT
  by jhar

• Adams, Wheeler and Portland's high school dropout rate

  Suited up and ready for cameras, Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Multnomah County Commission Chairman Ted Wheeler together pitched their Summer Youth Corps Program at a press conference this morning. And they got plenty of applause from the Reynolds High... [...]
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  Posted: July 22, 2009, 12:01pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Mayor Adams in Taiwan, a Buddhist blessing to boot

  So what if your predecessor just called you a serial liar with a serious lack of judgment and a complete lack of integrity? While Portlanders spent today chewing over Tom Potter's assessment of current mayor Sam Adams, Adams spent the... ' [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 5:01pm EDT
  by Janie Har, The Oregonian

• Adams will make goodwill trip to Taiwan

  Mayor Sam Adams heads to Taiwan for four days next week. Taiwan is Portland's sixth largest trading partner, generating $1.1 billion annually. Adams will meet Kaohsiung city officials and U.S. government representatives for discussions on sustainable development, environmental protection, and... ' [...]
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  Posted: July 08, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Baseball debate heats up

  Reporter Ted Sickinger and I have a story in today's paper about the city financial consultant's review of the deal to build a baseball stadium in Lents Park. The consultant concluded that the business would do better if the stadium... [...]
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  Posted: June 12, 2009, 9:41am EDT
  by Mark

• How about a little truth in advertising?

  For regular folks who might not read Portland City Council agendas regularly, we here at The Oregonian's City Hall Blog like to make sure the good folks at City Hall aren't trying to slip one by you. Here's one. Without... ' [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 12:06pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Lents Park memos circulate at City Hall

  My Saturday print story about the Portland Parks and Recreation Bureau's concerns about the proposal to build a minor league baseball stadium in Lents Park is based largely on a couple of memos making the rounds at Portland City Hall.... ' [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 7:00pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams' commissioner web site goes offline again

  The Web site that housed the four-year record of Mayor Sam Adams' term as city commissioner has gone offline for a second time since he acknowledged in January that he'd lied about his relationship with Beau Breedlove. The blog, www.commissionersam.com,... [...]
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  Posted: June 04, 2009, 1:03pm EDT
  by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian

• Beavers must move out of PGE Park, soccer league says

  Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber reiterated what he said in March after awarding an expansion franchise to the Portland Timbers: The Triple A Beavers baseball team must find a new home. In a letter to Commissioner Dan Saltzman yesterday,... [...]
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  Posted: May 29, 2009, 12:17pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Swimmin' pools, movie stars...

  file photoTimothy Hutton and Mary Tyler Moore, a long time ago, in "Ordinary People." Usually when you see smoke in the corridors of power, (admittedly it doesn't happen often) your first instinct is to panic. (Flash here to the recent... ' [...]
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  Posted: May 27, 2009, 4:59pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Lawyer issues statement about suit against Adams

  A little follow-up this morning to the tort claim filed by Wade Nkrumah, Mayor Sam Adams' former spokesman. You can read the full story here. His attorney, responding to media requests, put out a statement last night. Here it is.... ' [...]
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  Posted: May 21, 2009, 9:45am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Children's Levy cash doled out

  The Portland Children's Investment Fund on Monday allocated $12.3 million to 30 after-school and mentoring programs. The three-year investments that begin in July will help students stay engaged in school and safe after school through programs promoting academic achievement, music,... [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2009, 2:02pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Housing advocates criticize Lents stadium proposal

  The negotiations between the city and Merritt Paulson are set to continue today over the financing package for a new Triple A baseball stadium in Lents Park and the renovation of PGE Park for the Portland Timbers' 2011 Major league... ' [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2009, 12:57pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• From the "Too much time on my Hands" Bureau

  Salad days at City Hall. I'm sure Randy Leonard's recipe for a Caesar (Chavez, anyone) salad is a good one. I'll admit, I'm tempted to try it myself. But I'm wondering why someone named Luanne posted this on the Portland... [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 3:48pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Political Action Committee formed to recall Adams

  A political action committee has formed to recall Mayor Sam Adams. The 'Community to Recall Sam Adams' will not use paid signature gatherers, according to a press release this morning by Jasun Wurster, one of the organizers. Come July, the... [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 10:26am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• How does your garden grow?

  Under a warm drizzling rain, Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Nick Fish planted organic broccoli in a new garden in front of City Hall this morning during an event commemorating the "Better Together Garden." A few dozen people, mostly the... [...]
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  Posted: May 05, 2009, 10:53am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Recall effort ramping up

  The Recall Sam Adams campaign announced today that it has posted its first video calling for the Portland Mayor's ouster. The low-tech cartoon features two birds sitting on a branch with the city skyline behind them. The branch turns out... [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2009, 2:19pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• NIke takes no position on Rose Quarter

  Nike has issued a statement clarifying that it has taken no position on locating athletic facilities in the Rose Quarter. "Nike has made no commitment to participating in any development within a redeveloped Rose Quarter area," said spokeswoman Mary Remuzzi.... [...]
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  Posted: April 24, 2009, 2:01pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• "Save the Coliseum" messages rolling in

  The U.S. Green Buildings Council is getting into the act, calling on the Portland City Council to save the memorial Coliseum rather than tear it down to build a minor league baseball stadium. I've included the letter sent by the... ' [...]
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  Posted: April 23, 2009, 1:41pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Citizen Campaign Commission report is out

  Portland's seven Citizen Campaign Commission members have released their second biennial report detailing their thoughts on the 2008 election cycle. The report acknowledges a "relatively smooth" election of the City's first publicly funded City Commissioner for an open seat, Amanda... [...]
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  Posted: April 23, 2009, 12:42pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Wheeler: Adams wants to trade support for hotel, bridge

  Portland Mayor Sam Adams said he'd support city funding for a new Sellwood Bridge if Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler agreed to support a government-owned convention center hotel, Wheeler said today. In a meeting this afternoon, Wheeler asked Adams to... ' [...]
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  Posted: April 22, 2009, 9:01pm EDT
  by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian

• County commissioner delivers jab at soccer stadium deal

  Another guest blogger today -- Nikole Hannah-Jones -- coming to you from Multnomah County government's hallways ... Looking for some guidance from the citizenry on priorities in a tough budget year, Multnomah County joined with the city of Portland in... [...]
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  Posted: April 21, 2009, 7:10pm EDT
  by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The Oregonian

• Adams pitches Interstate on Rose Quarter funding

  This is Ryan Frank trying to fill the ample shoes of Mark Larabee here. I'm over on Interstate Ave. for the Interstate Urban Renewal Advisory Committee meeting. Meeting just started with introductions but the big news doesn't come until 7:30.... [...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 6:08pm EDT
  by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian

• Paulson, MLS and economic impact

  Bruce Ely/The OregonianMerritt Paulson with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, left, and Mayor Sam Adams, right. Merritt Paulson says his proposal will create 300 new jobs for Portland. In reality, his own economic consultant says his teams will create about 160... [...]
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  Posted: April 17, 2009, 3:00am EDT
  by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian

• Fish rides into mountian bike trails issue

  File photoJavad Simonsen of Southeast Portland, who competes in mountain biking, cyclocross and road races for the Portland Velo Race Team, hits the trail at Powell Butte in June 2008. Commissioner Nick Fish will hold a meeting tonight with mountain... [...]
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  Posted: April 06, 2009, 2:40pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• And the prize for shameless self promotion goes to...

  Advocate.com broke the news today that Beau Breedlove, the former legislative intern that Mayor Sam Adams got himself into trouble over, will be signing copies of Unzipped magazine at Portland's Fantasy for Adults Only store over the weekend. Breedlove posed... [...]
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  Posted: April 02, 2009, 3:32pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Leonard, U of O, discuss "The Sign"

  It seems there is detente in the sign war. Commissioner Randy Leonard says his hour-and-a-half meeting today with Jan Oliver from the University of Oregon was fruitful. The pair discussed several new options for the "Made in Oregon" sign atop... [...]
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  Posted: April 02, 2009, 3:04pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Seattle voters will vote on bag fee in August

  The Seattle City Council decided today to go to the ballot box to see if city residents wanted to tax themselves as a way of forcing the conservation-minded use of reusable grocery bags. Portland Mayor Sam Adams last year considered... [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2009, 4:26pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Water day for the city council

  The council took two actions Wednesday with regard to the city's future water supply. In the morning, the council approved spending $13.2 million for excavation and grading work at Powell Butte, where a second underground water storage tank will be... [...]
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  Posted: March 25, 2009, 2:18pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Portland could furlough employees to save money

  In the coming fiscal year, city workers may be asked to take time off without pay to help balance the budget and save jobs. The City Council on Tuesday briefly discussed the idea with Human Resources Director Yvonne Deckard. While... [...]
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  Posted: March 24, 2009, 3:00pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Leonard cranks up the heat on 'Made in Oregon' sign

  When it comes to the University of Oregon's plans to brand its new downtown campus, Commissioner Randy Leonard is pushing back. On his office blog, Leonard says the university's proposal to change the infamous "Made in Oregon" sign to... [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2009, 2:23pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams visits Tesla

  Mayor Sam Adams says he visited Tesla Motors recently to make a pitch to locate some piece of the San Carlos, Calif.-based electric-car company in Portland. Adams says he got to drive a $130,000 electric Roadster. "It's very quiet, and... " [...]
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  Posted: March 19, 2009, 11:04am EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Council hears Greek Cuisina owner "hit squad" complaint

  Greek Cuisina owner Ted Papas took his complaints about being a victim of Commissioner Randy Leonard's "hit squad" to the council today. The squad, a partnership between police, fire and building code inspectors that deals with hazardous buildings, has one... [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2009, 4:03pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Fritz weighs in on Soccer deal, east side frustration over Rose Quarter baseball

  I asked Commissioner Amanda Fritz on Tuesday to comment on a story I was reporting on the frustrations of Lloyd District civic leaders over the City's Council vote on Major League Soccer. Bottom line is that some east side business... [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2009, 10:35am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• No fix for this tix

  Commissioner Randy Leonard says he gets no special treatment from Portland's finest. During a hearing today on the Portland Fire Bureau budget, Commissioner Nick Fish teased Leonard that a rescue unit that was being shut down was the one closest... [...]
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  Posted: March 17, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Leonard-Wheeler slugfest goes another round

  Last week's public throw-down between Portland Commissioner Randy Leonard and Multnomah County Commission Chair Ted Wheeler is still simmering. Wheeler and Mayor Sam Adams are lining up behind the scenes to kick off a cooperative process that would take into... [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2009, 12:49pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Council to consider Ross Island No Wake Zone

  If you've ever tried to canoe around Ross Island, you'll want to pay attention to this item on the council agenda next Wednesday. It's a request to join in a petition to the Oregon Marine Board to create a No... [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 5:59pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Chavez street renaming reaction

  So far, I have received only a handful of comments on my InPortland story today about the latest effort to rename a street in Portland for labor leader Cesar Chazev. As this story evolves, I'm sure many more readers will... ' [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Vera hot and cold on soccer

  Former mayor turned soccer-team lobbyist Vera Katz came out this morning for her protege's press conference on the proposed deal over city-back funding for Major League Soccer. Mayor Sam Adams, who was Katz's chief of staff, and Commissioner Randy Leonard,... [...]
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  Posted: March 10, 2009, 4:21pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Frits plays budget game well

  Commissioner Amanda Fritz may be the council rookie, but she's learning fast. Fritz packed the council chamber today for a presentation on her Office of Neighborhood Involvement budget. It was not a public hearing -- that will come later-- but... [...]
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  Posted: March 10, 2009, 1:52pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Abandoned cars owner offers explanation

  Bruce Cushman is probably like a lot of other folks who get their cars tagged as abandoned autos in Portland. It's just the latest chapter in a tale of bad luck. "I'm in a bad way at the moment," Cushman... ' [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 12:35pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Soccer sidelights: How do the Blazers fit in?

  Despite a snag in talks Friday, Merritt Paulson and Randy Leonard continue to negotiate how the city will help the sports team owner finance two proposed stadium projects. From my vantage point, the bigger the snag the better for the... [...]
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  Posted: March 06, 2009, 2:07pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• County auditor files for city post

  Multnomah County Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade has made it official. Griffin-Valade Griffin-Valade filed paperwork this afternoon, officially declaring her candidacy for the Portland City Auditor's post. She has said publicly that she would run for the office. So far, she is... [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2009, 2:21pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Palau will give money to Portland programs

  On Thursday, Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Housing Commissioner Nick Fish are scheduled to accept $100,000 from religious leader Luis Palau on behalf of area churches. The money will go toward the Home Again Mentoring Project and the Portland Schools... [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2009, 1:26pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams picks "green" engineer for PDC board.

  Mayor Sam Adams is floating Steve Straus, president of building engineering and design firm Glumac, for the fifth seat on the Portland Development Commission. In a Thursday email to the City Council, Adams said Straus' experience and leadership in green... ' [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 4:16pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams staffer moves to Portland Schools Foundation

  Mayor Sam Adams' Education Strategies Youth Coordinator has resigned to join the Portland Schools Foundation. In his new post, Nate Waas Shull will be the Community Engagement Director for the "Connected by 25" initiative, an effort sponsored by the Bill... ' [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 1:02pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Mr. White goes to Washington

  Will White, director of the city's Bureau of Housing and Community Development, will go to work for Sen. Jeff Merkley. White, an expert on housing and homeless policies and programs, made the announcement Wednesday morning as the Portland City Council... [...]
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  Posted: February 11, 2009, 10:13am EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Budget cuts coming up. Get used to it.

  The Portland City Council is set to meet Tuesday morning to hash out how they're going to cut $7.1 million from the general fund budget for the current year, which ends June 30. In other words, the council has to... ' [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 4:33pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• The governator tweets water bureau

  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger apparently has time, when he isn't busy trying to keep his state from going down the budget drain, to follow the goings on in the Portland Water Bureau. The social messaging site Twitter notified the bureau... ' [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2009, 3:21pm EST
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Adams: "Living this lie has been torturous."

  Randy RasmussenPortland Mayor Sam Adams responds to critics Jan. 28 at City hall. Portland Mayor Sam Adams, in a interview with the website Out.com, believes he offers at least nine months of stability to the city, and he hopes to... [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 1:41pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Where's the fire, Randy?

  Former firefighter, now-Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard walked into his City Hall office this morning carrying a yellow fire-resistant coat and a white Portland Fire Bureau helmet. The new gear will serve him well as the city's newest fire commissioner... [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2009, 3:00pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Council launches volunteer program

  For everyone who asks, "Where do I start?" "Who do I call?" or "Where do I go to get help?" -- you now have a one-stop volunteer phone number and Web site. Dial 503-823-4000 or go to portlandisbettertogether.com, if you... [...]
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  Posted: January 15, 2009, 4:44pm EST
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Council skeptical about lowering public financing for auditor's race

  A recommendation by the Citizens Campaign Commission to lower the amount of taxpayer money available to candidates in the special election to replace resigning Auditor Gary Blackmer got a skeptical reception Wednesday in the city council. Commissioner Randy Leonard... [...]
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  Posted: January 14, 2009, 1:34pm EST
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Sam's gala attracts a celebrity

  Actress and lesbian celebrity Heather Matarazzo will make an appearance at the Mayor's Winter Gala on Jan. 31, according to the Q Center. The gala commemorates the swearing in of Mayor Sam Adams. Musical entertainment will be provided by the... [...]
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  Posted: January 14, 2009, 9:27am EST
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Commission to recommend less taxpayer cash for auditor's race

  Auditor candidates in next spring's special election would be eligible for $50,000 in taxpayer money, rather than $150,000, under a recommendation the Citizen's Campaign Commission will make to the city council on Wednesday. The council will also consider a... [...]
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  Posted: January 13, 2009, 3:11pm EST
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Union files grievance over snow day pay

  The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189, which represents more than 1,000 city workers, filed a labor grievance today stemming from an incident that happened during last month's snow storm On Sunday night, Dec. 21, then-Commissioner... [...]
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  Posted: January 12, 2009, 4:03pm EST
  by James Mayer

• Adams will roll out economic stimulus plan Tuesday

  As a way of pushing back against the recession, Mayor Sam Adams will unveil the nuts and bolts of his economic stimulus plan Tuesday. A draft of the document, obtained by The Oregonian today, shows that the mayor's efforts will... [...]
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  Posted: January 12, 2009, 3:09pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Mayor Adams needs help gavelling first council meeting

  Sam Adams, presiding over his first council meeting as mayor today, was faced with an immediate crisis: the lack of a gavel. Former Mayor Tom Potter made off with the gavel he used for the last four years, so Adams... [...]
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  Posted: January 07, 2009, 12:52pm EST
  by James Mayer

• Ruiz to join the Adams team

  Amy J. Ruiz, the Portland Mercury's crackerjack City Hall reporter, has been hired by mayor-elect Sam Adams to be his strategic planning and sustainability policy adviser, according to a posting on the Mercury's blog this morning.... [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 1:53pm EST
  by jmayer

• Portland Council meetings canceled

  The Portland City Council Meetings for tonight and Thursday afternoon have been canceled because of weather. The council was set to meet at the Midland Library tonight at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the East Portland Action Plan and at 2... [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2008, 11:25am EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams announces new council priorities, bureau responsibilities

  Mayor-elect Sam Adams held a press conference at City Hall this afternoon to announce bureau assignments for his City Council colleagues and to explain a list of organizational changes he hopes will help Portland run more effectively and with greater... [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2008, 2:43pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• VisionPDX wins award for public outreach

  VisionPDX, Mayor Tom Potter's citizen-based, picture of the city's future, has received the American Planning Association Award for Public Outreach. "VisionPDX is a city-supported initiative to create a vision for a better community, provide a new opportunity for all Portlanders... [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2008, 10:38am EST
  by James Mayer

• Chico Fire Chief continues to dispute being reassigned while working for Portland

  A former Portland Fire Bureau division chief who was reassigned for "unacceptable conduct" in May has continued to contest the discipline after leaving the bureau and taking a new job as fire chief in Chico, Calif.... [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2008, 4:21pm EST
  by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian

• Council takes up parks, guns, and prostitution

  The City Council approved a master plan Wednesday for Thomas Cully Park, a 25-acre former construction debris landfill in an area of Northeast Portland that lacks parks and recreation opportunities. The plan calls for baseball, softball, and soccer fields, playground,... [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2008, 4:23pm EST
  by James Mayer

• Leonard suggests design review for new homes

  Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard wondered aloud Tuesday "what it would take" to require design standards for new single-family homes. Leonard brought up the idea as the council held a work session on the Portland Plan, a three-year effort... [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2008, 12:18pm EST
  by James Mayer

• Portland Council OKs settlement with controversial cop

  The Portland City Council Wednesday voted 4 to 1 to support a disability and pension settlement for former Central Precinct Sgt. Rocky Balada. Commissioner Nick Fish said he did so reluctantly, calling Balada's case "the poster child" for why recent... [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2008, 11:25am EST
  by Maxine Bernstein; The Oregonian

• Sanctuary for active duty war protestors has a long way to go

  Testifying before the Portland City Council this morning, members of several area peace groups called for passage of a resolution that would declare the city a sanctuary for AWOL service members. The idea would be for the council to tell... [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2008, 10:49am EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Leaf Tax Reax

  Since my article appeared last Thursday about Mayor-to-be-Sam Adams' plan to create leaf districts to pay for cleaning autumn leaves from Portland streets, my phone calls and e-mails have been running almost unanimously opposed to the idea. Of course, that's... [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2008, 10:40am EST
  by James Mayer

• Economy, education, environment top of Portland's list for lobbying Salem

  The Portland City Council has its own ideas for what Salem lawmakers ought to dive into when the Legislature convenes next year. The council plus one -- newly elected member Amanda Fritz sat in even though she won't be sworn... [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2008, 4:09pm EST
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Mayor Tom Potter withdraws proposed settlement for controversial sergeant from agenda

  Mayor Tom Potter has removed a proposed settlement for a former Central Precinct sergeant from the council agenda, recognizing he doesn't have the votes to pass it. "He didn't want to risk bringing it back and having it fail," said... [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2008, 5:07pm EST
  by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian

• Chavez naming group submits signatures

  A group of Latino activists who want to rename a prominent Portland street in honor of political activist Cesar Chavez have turned in more than 2,700 signatures to the city in support of the idea. They hope the city will... [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2008, 3:16pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Tax abatement report

  The city terminated property tax breaks for 47 residences this year, and denied applications for 28 more, Portland officials reported Wednesday. Multnomah County asked for the report, which for the first time also details how the programs meet city goals... [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2008, 1:04pm EDT
  by James Mayer

• Vision Online

  The VisionPDX report, spearheaded by Mayor Tom Potter and adopted by the council a year ago, is now available on line. Two years in the making at a cost of $1.5 million, the report harnessed the views of 17,000 Portlanders,... [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2008, 3:45pm EDT
  by James Mayer

• Fracas between Leonard and Sizer heats up again

  Even though Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard told Mayor-elect Sam Adams this week that he was no longer interested in overseeing the Police Bureau come January, the personal and political unrest between Leonard and Police Chief Rosie Sizer has not... [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2008, 2:54pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Portland approves rules banning sweatshop clothing

  Portland became the first Northwest city to get into the fight against overseas sweatshops when the city council approved strong rules for suppliers of city uniforms on Wednesday. The 4-0 vote -- Mayor Tom Potter was absent -- establishes a... [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2008, 3:29pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• MLS: A tough financial sell in Portland

  Thomas BoydMerritt Paulson Merritt Paulson's proposal to tap taxpayers for $85 million to help recruit Major League Soccer will not be an easy sell, as Mark Larabee and I reported today. Paulson talks about the public benefits of a big-league... [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2008, 3:00am EDT
  by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian

• Is Portland ready to eliminate one-time-use grocery bags?

  For those attending the forum on the topic tonight at City Hall, the answer was a resounding "yes." But the panel sponsored by Portland-based Recycling Advocates was really preaching to the choir. The panel included mayor-elect Sam Adams, who has... [...]
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  Posted: September 23, 2008, 9:11pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• A chance to see council candidates side by side

  Portland City Council candidates Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis will debate each other Oct. 8 at a free event organized by the Oregon League of Minority Voters. The debate will focus on poverty issues that challenge low-income citizens and people... [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2008, 10:31am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Potter reaches out to Southern Oregon

  Mayor Tom Potter leaves tomorrow for his fourth and final leg of a statewide tour he started in 2005 to build stronger connections, partnerships and understanding between Portland and communities across the state. The four-day trip will include stops in... [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2008, 11:34am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Portland Council appoints new Human Rights Commission

  The Portland City Council today appointed 15 members to a new Human Rights Commission and 11 members to its Honorary Advisory Board. The appointments follow two years of development. In March, the council established the commission and the Office of... [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2008, 11:33am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• I'm back ...

  This is my first day back in the office since a cerebral hemorrhage knocked me off my spin class bike at 24 Hour Fitness last March. Since then, I've had three brain surgeries: one to fix the initial leak, the... [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2008, 4:13pm EDT
  by James Mayer, The Oregonian

• Fritz gets a little help from the Big O

  The Oregonian is always in the right place at the right time. This is Amanda Fritz, whose running for Portland City Council, doing some community clean-up work. The photo is posted on her blog. Guess the step ladder wasn't tall... [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2008, 1:38pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Adams endorses Fritz for council

  Labor day is over, the presidential conventions have passed, and so it time to turn to the two candidates running for the city council seat being vacated in January by mayor-elect Sam Adams. Apparently, Adams has endorsed Amanda Fritz to... [...]
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  Posted: September 08, 2008, 10:00am EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

• Council OKs free TriMet passes for two high schools

  The city council today approved a pilot program that will give all students at Franklin and Jefferson high schools free TriMet passes now. If the program succeeds, it will move to other high schools in the district in January. The... [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2008, 1:46pm EDT
  by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian