BLOG: My welcome home
Sam Adams
I worked as a day laborer in New York City during the summers of 1981 and 1982. Last night, I got back from a week of vacation visiting old friends in Long Island and the City. I enjoyed the break but it’s good to be home.
My welcome home was a stack of the recent media clips left under my doormat by my staff. This morning I thumbed through them at breakfast. I take pride in my work and the work of my staff, so the positive reviews of my first 100 work days in office made for pleasant news.
The Oregonian editorial page, for instance, had my back: "…Some have even criticized his frenetic quest to fulfill his campaign pledges, though it's a little hard to see the problem. Maybe Adams could quote his colleague's critiques on a future campaign brochure: ’Sorry, voters: I apparently tried to fulfill my campaign promises too swiftly!'" The critique that I am pushing my agenda too fast came from City Hall insiders.
Today, as I got caught up on household chores, I ruminated on this insider critique. I think I’ll stick with my pace. I will, however, do a better job of discussing why I feel some issues are most urgent.
To be clear, what keeps me up at night is that not only are some of Portland’s problems manifesting in ever more virulent forms, but with the right action now, they are solvable, or can be significantly improved.
So for my first blog entry—I had a week off, so don’t expect all my blog entries to be this long—here are four of our toughest problems, each with one action that I think would help trigger needed reform and lasting solutions:
Jobs
Problem: Portland incomes are slipping. More Portlanders work with no benefits at low wage service jobs. Too many local living wage jobs are being shipped overseas, chased out of town by perception and reality of local fees and taxes or simply evaporate when a business owner says ‘enough’ to small or no profits.
Action: Enough “nannering” back and forth between government and business leaders over what needs to be done. Business and government must agree on some concrete and accountable goals for business success and individual/family prosperity. This has never been done! Then, build public and private partnerships to reverse engineer the goals and determine how best to achieve them.
Schools
Problem: Families are leaving the city for the seemingly greener educational pastures of Clark, Washington and Clackamas counties where home ownership is cheaper. Other Portland public-school families are moving their kids to private schools.
Action: No new local taxes except to fund schools.
Crime
Problem: You already know it. Drug abuse is surging, along with drug-related crimes. The deadly feel-good drug methamphetamine disfigures the lives of a growing number of Portlanders and swamps our jails, police and social services. Hiding in methamphetamine’s front page shadow is the growing abuse of the ‘old economy’ drugs like cocaine and heroin. An average of $360 million is spent each year separately by the City of Portland and Multnomah County to address this problem.
Action: Partner with Multnomah County to jointly manage the problem and save dollars by squeezing out unnecessary administrative costs and put savings into jail beds, drug treatment and police on the street. This partnership needs annual commitment.
City Services
Problem: In bureaucratize, it’s called a “structural deficit.” Portland’s basic infrastructure like parks and streets are falling apart (one estimate says it will take an additional $880 million over the next 10 years to stop the deterioration) and local government services do not meet community needs.
Action: Grow the economy; see “Jobs” above. Make sure our kids have the education to invent the unexpected for Portland’s successful future; see “Schools” above. Collaborate with other local government institutions for services and funding.
Posted by Sam Adams on June 6, 2005
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Comments by site visitors
Jessica, I will continue to work on these issues no matter which city bureaus I am assigned -- they are just too big to ignore. No matter what I am assigned, I always have my "bully pulpit." Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Jun 16, 2005 2:37:26 PM
Sam, I enjoy your blog. It's such a good idea tht I wish I had thought of it first. We need another meal to talk about what you learned in your business visits. I look forward to working with you.
Tom
Posted by: Tom Hughes | Jun 18, 2005 2:41:08 PM
I completely support all your efforts for our city. It is very good to read about all these good things that you are doing for us.
Thanks for coming to our Miss Teen Philippines party last week. Sam keep up the good work.
Posted by: Jaime Lim | Jun 27, 2005 10:03:17 AM
Yo Sam , about your "big box stores" rant , I personally like having Walmart close by, most people I know in Portland love Walmart. You arrogant social engineers from Portland and Multnomah county want us all to ride bicycles and visit the local coffee shops. How about spending more time putting some criminals in jail, oh by the way how about opening up that new jail sitting empty...
Posted by: Steven Stickney | Jul 28, 2005 5:34:08 PM
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Sam, I am of course supportive of the initiatives and concerns you list. I'm wondering, though, what you'll see as your appropriate role in working on these issues if you do get the Transportation Bureau assignment, as well as what your transportation-related priorities will be.
Posted by: Jessica Roberts | Jun 9, 2005 6:28:19 PM