BLOG: Cuttin' the grass
Sam Adams
It's ten thirty in the morning. I've got on my Norton motorcycle black t-shirt, a pair of jeans, a baseball hat and my iPod Shuffle around my neck. It's Sunday and I'm mowing my front yard.
I'm just getting to the edging when a truck pulls up. The window rolls down, and the man at the wheel flags me out into the street. I pause the music.
"When you're done here, would you mind doing my yard?"
I'm a little stunned. He gets out of his truck, walks me over to the corner, points across Kenton Park to a house with a 'For Sale' sign.
"That's my yard right there." He asks if I'll mow it. He's speaking loudly, and enthusiastically. I realize he's not joking. He says he'll pay me $30. "Sure," I say.
I finish up my yard. I push my electric mower weed whacker to his yard and knock on the door. He comes out and shows me around the yard. I get started.
He's having an open house today, so people are coming and going. Every once in a while he comes out and gives me the thumbs up. Apparently, I'm doing just fine. I am sweating an awful lot when he brings orange juice. In an hour and a half, I’m done.
"You did such a good job, I'd like to hire you again in a few weeks. What's your name?"
"Sam," I say. He pays me $30—cash—and I leave my home number.
Our city prospers when local businesses thrive. Our city thrives when families prosper. I have been in public service long enough to know these as policies. But I want to understand this in action.
I spent my first 100 business days in office talking to over 100 business owners and managers because they know how business is doing. Before Labor Day, I will spend around 100 hours working alongside Portlanders because they know how families are doing.
Last Sunday, I got a head start on these 100 hours. Last Sunday, for a little more than an hour, I was a groundskeeper.
If you're in the market to buy a house with a well-manicured lawn, might check out 2421 N Delaware.
I'm giving my $30 to Sisters of the Road Cafe. In a couple of weeks—who knows--I may have another $30 to spend.
Posted by Sam Adams on June 13, 2005
(23) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (4)
Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Our Initiatives
Comments by site visitors
Sam,
There's a yard on NE Wasco street you can have on a regular basis. I think it was about ten inches tall when I finally got to mowing it last night.
Dave
Posted by: Dave Lister | Jun 14, 2005 3:34:05 PM
Did the guy pay withholding and social security taxes on that money?
Posted by: Smarty McJones | Jun 14, 2005 3:34:48 PM
If I had a yard I would definitely check out your services.
Posted by: Jessica Roberts | Jun 14, 2005 3:39:53 PM
Be sure to include that $30 as taxable income on your 2005 Multnomah County income tax return.
Posted by: ERISAweasel | Jun 14, 2005 3:41:31 PM
That's nice -- taking jobs away from undocumented workers. Lars would be proud.
BTW, you got a permit for your business? 8c)
Posted by: Jack Bog | Jun 14, 2005 11:29:53 PM
Sam,
How about visiting 100 families to see how families are impacted by the changes in Portland?
Posted by: Paul Gronke | Jun 15, 2005 2:00:37 PM
Sam-
I a more than a little disappointed that you choose to use a corporate backed mower powered by toxic coal fired electric generation plants.
How about ditching that pollution machine and jumping on board with a fine, American made hand mower.
Please...quit helping Enron keep its foot on the throat of the children....they are already having enough trouble breathing because of insensensitve people like you.
Can you say pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?
Posted by: Randy Leonard | Jun 16, 2005 2:33:39 PM
To my honorable City Council collegue Commissioner Leonard,
I suspect in an effort to conserve your energy for more inportant tasks, you read only every other word of my blog entry. If you had read each word you would have seen the word "electric" before the word "mower."
Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Jun 16, 2005 2:51:30 PM
Randy,
PS: I have PGE Blue Sky Habitat power. I included the link in case you needed it.
Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Jun 16, 2005 4:14:13 PM
To My Very Close and Personal Friend and Colleague, Sam:
Electricity is generated by a bunch of huge magnets surrounding copper wire. The electricity is created when those magnets move very fast around the copper wire. The challenge is:
How does one spin the magnets?
The electricity in your mower is created when coal is burnt to boil water to create steam to turn the big magnets.
Thus, the little children who breathe the air that contains the pollution caused by the coal that creates the electricity that powers your lawn mower are suffering from the condition known as To My Very Close and Personal Friend and Colleague, Sam:
Electricity is generated by a bunch of huge magnets surrounding copper wire. The electricity is created when those magnets move very fast around the copper wire. The challenge is:
How does one spin the magnets?
The electricity in your mower is created when coal is burnt to boil water to create steam to turn the big magnets.
Thus, the little children who breathe the air that contains the pollution caused by the coal that creates the electricity that powers your lawn mower are suffering from the lung ailment known as
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Posted by: Randy Leonard | Jun 16, 2005 4:23:07 PM
"I have PGE Blue Sky Habitat power"
Oh No! I did not read this until after I posted my last comment.
You have got me.
I feel much better about your lawn mower now.
Posted by: Randy Leonard | Jun 16, 2005 4:26:24 PM
Somewhat tangentially...
Have the various City departments been allocated to commissioners, as in the past? Will you be involved with the Parks Dept? I would love to get into a debate about how their actions typify exactly the attitude we don't want from city government.
Posted by: Harold Cade | Jun 16, 2005 7:55:42 PM
Sam
If you want to talk to some Portlanders to "find out how families are doing," (and if you want to have a really fun time,) bike on up to NE 9th Ave. & Ainsworth this Sunday, June 19th. We're having a BLOCK PARTY from 2-10pm.
I organized the party to try to get to know the neighbors on my block, to try to create a more tight-knit super-local community, and to find out what their (our) needs are as a block. I think you and I are doing the same thing here, just on a different scale.
It's going to be a lot of fun, with music, sports (play some foursquare with us!), vegetarian friendly BBQ, art projects for kids of all ages, a paper-airplane contest, an outdoor movie, and lots of awesome Woodlawn locals. Right up your alley, no? Come hang out, dude. You'll like us, and if you are in work-mode, you can talk to people about some of the issues we face in this part of the city. Or you can just chill out with some sidewalk chalk. Up to you. Hope you can make it, it would be great to meet you.
Devin
Posted by: Devin Harkness | Jun 17, 2005 11:09:47 AM
And yes, in case you were curious, we do have street-closure and noise permits.
Devin
Posted by: Devin Harkness | Jun 17, 2005 11:12:21 AM
There doesn't appear to be a 2421 N Delaware. Did you mean 2421 N Argyle? I was planning on going by and checking out your work.
If I were to hire you to mow my lawn would I have to sign up as a lobbyist under the proposed rules? It might be worth it if it meant I didn't have to nag you as much as I currently have to to nag my kid to get her to mow the lawn.
Posted by: doretta | Jun 17, 2005 4:27:38 PM
Now boys! Sam and Randy you behave yourselves. Don't make me comeback to city hall and paddle your behinds.
Posted by: Vera | Jun 17, 2005 6:03:12 PM
Now boys! Sam and Randy you behave yourselves. Don't make me comeback to city hall and paddle your behinds.
Posted by: Vera | Jun 17, 2005 6:03:19 PM
Sorry, Vera. I didn't know you would be watching. I promise to be nice to Sam from now on...
Posted by: Randy Leonard | Jun 17, 2005 8:45:30 PM
Sam,
Nice touch on the Blue Sky wind power (we're using it in our new City Hall) but you must have one hell of a long extention cord if it reaches to your neighbor's yard.
Tom
Posted by: Tom Hughes | Jun 18, 2005 6:45:38 PM
Sam,
I agree this is Awesome and my first time that I Have done anything like this in my entire Life I am looking forward to more visits here in the future
Posted by: sherrie | Jun 19, 2005 12:06:29 AM
This story made my day! I do find it very interesting how people can get so critical of the details...they miss the big picture. I guess I will leave it at that
Posted by: karri | Jun 27, 2005 4:07:21 PM
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sam - this is awesome :)
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 13, 2005 6:26:08 PM