Blog
BLOG: "I would like to believe we have nothing to hide..."
Sam AdamsMy thanks to Mayor Tom Potter for bringing to light the startling revelation that the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation sought to establish a city staff informant inside Portland City Hall. I would like to believe we have nothing to hide and the FBI is welcome to...
Posted by Sam Adams on May 24, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Public Safety
BLOG: Freight Master Plan: It's About Time!
Sam AdamsIt’s about time! Portland is the nation’s 4th largest domestic and international freight hub comprised of 12,500 areas of industrial land, which includes: marine; rail; air modes; highways; and pipelines. One out of 9 jobs in the Portland area are in the transportation and logistics sectors. Until now, we have...
Posted by Sam Adams on May 3, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
BLOG: "I am the product of subsidized, affordable housing..."
Sam AdamsThis is a summary of the comments I made at today's City Council meeting regarding the housing resolution that I co-sponsored with Commissioner Erik Sten:
I am the product of subsidized, affordable housing. My single Mom raised four wily and independent kids while she attended college. She was able to do so because of affordable housing programs and other public benefit programs we were fortunate enough to be eligible for...
Posted by Sam Adams on April 26, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Housing
Bicycle Expenditures with Some Context
Guest AuthorFrom time to time, we ask city staff members and others to write on subjects on behalf of the office. For this article, we asked Paul Smith, a Planning Manager at the Portland Office of Transportation, to write about a recent budget analysis he performed on Sam's request. The findings are rather striking...
Posted by Guest Author on April 20, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Office of Transportation, Transportation
BLOG: Fixed Costs on Tram Contracts and More Funding for Affordable Housing, Parks and Transportation Are Reasons Why I Voted to Move Forward SoWa
Sam AdamsMy comments today at the Portland City Council meeting today: I am pleased—and yes, a little bit relieved—to support this resolution. This is not necessarily the easiest resolution to support, as it represents an agreement that is less than perfect. However, at the end of the day, it’s one that has earned my support. As the stakeholders will attest, I have been a demanding participant on behalf of taxpayers during these negotiations. But I’m convinced this is the right thing to do...
Posted by Sam Adams on April 12, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Tram, Transportation
BLOG: An interesting discussion on school funding
Sam AdamsAn interesting discussion about school funding took place at a City Council meeting this morning that I would like your feedback on… …should the City Council add another $5 million to the $10 million in one-time City resources yesterday pledged for schools in Portland? The proposed additional $5 million would be used to allow more time for public input before the decision is made to close schools.
Posted by Sam Adams on March 17, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page
Blog: 200+ Attend Tram Town Hall
Sam AdamsAbout 200+ people attended the tram town hall meeting tonight, hosted by Mayor Tom Potter and me. Participants asked about 60 questions that covered a lot of ground. Staff representatives from Portland Office of Transportation, Portland Development Commission, Office of Management and Finance and the City Attorney’s office answered questions...
Posted by Sam Adams on March 14, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Tram
BLOG: East Burnside/Couch Couplet Moves Forward
Sam AdamsThe City Council just approved my request today authorizing preliminary engineering and outside review of cost estimates for the East Burnside/Couch Couplet project. This action distinguishes decision-making for the proposed East and West Burnside/Couplets.
Posted by Sam Adams on March 9, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
BLOG: Little has been done recently to help Oregon’s GLBTQ community
Sam AdamsMy remarks to the Oregon Queer Youth Conference, Saturday February 25, 2006, 10:00 AM, Catlin Gabel School: In the past year, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community (LGBTQ) has achieved strides in acceptance with the popular movies like, “Brokeback Mountain” and with critical recognition for other queer-themed movies...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 25, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Equality, Front Page
February 24th BLOG Update: Oregon's Irish Famine Memorial Foundation Complete
Sam Adams
Surrounded by soggy green hills and shrouded in fog, it was a perfectly Irish morning for us to break ground on Oregon's Irish Famine Memorial. Victor General Father Dennis O'Donovan along with Father Joseph Brown blessed the gathering. Tim Birr played the bagpipes. City Commissioner Randy Leonard and I said...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 24, 2006
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Front Page
BLOG: A very interesting idea to promote bike-oriented development
Sam AdamsHello All: Jim Labbe recently emailed me with a very interesting idea to promote bike-oriented development linked to existing and future trail and bike paths. I thought I would post it to gather your comments. Sam Commissioner Adams, I had a policy brainstorm this weekend whilst out dreaming and scheming...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 24, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
BLOG: Third Columbia River Crossing Instead of Replacing I-5 Bridge?
Sam AdamsThe I-5 bridge is a major lifeline for our community, linking Portland and Washington and carrying the freight, commuters, and traffic that support the economy and vitality of the region and the entire West Coast. While it has served us well over 88 years, the bridge has been stretched far...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 22, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
BLOG: Leave No Brick Unpainted...
Sam AdamsThis morning, the Oregon Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Measure 37, thereby ensuring that Measure 37 will continue to have a powerful impact on land use regulations in Portland. City Council has recently seen what I think was a terrible unintended consequence of Measure 37: applications for larger-than-life billboards...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 21, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Good Government, Livability & Environment
BLOG: The Plight of the Working Poor Gets Some In-Depth Newspaper Focus...In Seattle
Sam AdamsTo learn their plight firsthand and help put a spotlight on Portland's working poor, this summer I worked 100 hours at Portland's lowest paying jobs. I worked as a cashier, retail salesperson, waiter, receptionist, hotel maid, janitor and more. [Read More...] Based on what I learned, my staff and I...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 20, 2006
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Filed Under 100 Hours, Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy
BLOG: We Must Stop Lurching From One “Temporary” Local School Funding Crisis To The Next...
Sam AdamsToday’s Education Summit at the Convention Center identified some of the raw materials for our school funding solutions: • one-time local government contributions;• limited school districts budget cuts;• business tax surcharge with tax reform;• local property tax levy in the fall;• new funding source for schools, like a cell phone...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 16, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page
BLOG: Local household budgets are exhausted...Mayor Tom Potter is right to call an Education Summit
Sam AdamsPortland’s median family income has taken a beating in recent years, while our cost of living has gone up, up and up. In the 11 years and three local school funding measures that I've worked on, I always wondered how low average incomes would have to decline before voters would...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 9, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page
Proposed Budget for PDOT Submitted
Sam AdamsThis week, I submitted to Mayor Potter my proposed budget for the Office of Transportation (PDOT). You can read the cover letter of PDOT's proposed budget here. As you might already know, after I was assigned the commissioner-in-charge of PDOT 7 months ago, I learned that I was inheriting a...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 9, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Office of Transportation, Transportation
OREGONIAN OP ED: Support for tram is not a blank check
Sam AdamsFriday, February 10, 2006 The Oregonian By City Commissioner Sam Adams Support for tram is not a blank check I make plenty of mistakes. You can ask anybody. Prematurely announcing the resignation of the Portland tram project's executive director was a pretty visible one. But while I am happy to...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 9, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Tram
PORTLAND TRIBUNE OP ED: Accountability counts most
Sam AdamsBy SAM ADAMS; Issue date: Fri, Feb 3, 2006 The Portland Tribune As a promoter of local public-private partnerships, I read with interest your Jan. 27 editorial, “Building trust takes long time.” I strongly agree with your editorial statement that “economic and community development best occur when municipal, private and...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 3, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Tram
Tram staff changes complete; tram audit results expected in February
Sam AdamsThe tram project has been the source of a lot of news these past weeks, and rightly so. I want to give you an update, as well as provide a forum for discussion around the recent events. Today Vic Rhodes resigned as the Executive Director (PDF) of Portland Aerial Transportation,...
Posted by Sam Adams on January 20, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Office of Transportation, Transportation
BLOG: "...regarding Tryon Creek Farm...I will never, ever vote for you again..."
Sam Adams
I thought you might find this recent email exchange about the Tryon Creek Farm interesting. For background information...
Posted by Sam Adams on January 8, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Livability & Environment
BLOG: "Hello, Bentonville Calling..?"
The OfficeRecently, my friend David received a call from someone who mispronounced several things such as 'Fred May-er' 'Hot-thorne' 'Mee-walkie' 'Tree-met'. There are a few things that I don't remember the exact context they were presented in but she suggested there was ample room up the road for a transit center,...
Posted by The Office on December 20, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Wal-Mart
BLOG: Last Saturday, I visited 4 porn stores, 5 strip clubs and 7 bars in 5 hours…
Sam Adams
…walking along West Burnside and NW Couch streets. I personally canvassed business-by-business, door-to-door to invite owners and managers to a meeting January 4th, 5:00 pm, Port of Portland Building, to discuss the need to either (1) slow down the traffic on West Burnside or...
Posted by Sam Adams on December 19, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Downtown Portland, Front Page, Northwest Portland, Southwest Portland, Transportation
From My In-Box: I was disappointed and, frankly, annoyed, to hear that the city is calling the Christmas Tree simply a 'tree'...
Sam AdamsCall it what you want; it still looks great. -----Original Message----- From: Mary Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 6:04 PM To: Commissioner Sam Subject: ? Tree Dear City of Portland, I was disappointed and, frankly, annoyed, to hear that the city is calling the Christmas Tree simply a 'tree'. As...
Posted by Sam Adams on December 11, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page
BLOG: Portland’s Sewer Commissioner (Me) Visits “Urinetown”
Sam Adams
The United Nations declared 2005-2015 as the decade of “Water for Life.” Although planet earth is 75 percent covered in water only 1 percent of it is drinkable – and that is disappearing fast. That bottled water you drink? If it comes from an aquifer you could be drinking water from the IceCorey_and_hope Age that is not be replenished with a good rain. “Urinetown, The Musical” is comedy about a town so short on water that people have to pay to urinate.
Posted by Sam Adams on November 26, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Front Page
BLOG: Support Proposed Portland Freight Master Plan
Sam AdamsInitiated in January 2003 by then City Commissioner Jim Francesconi, the Proposed Portland Freight Master Plan provides strategies to address the relationship, conflicts, and needs for local delivery and freight movement within the City of Portland. It deserves your strong support. We need this plan! Portland boasts modern port facilities...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 25, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Office of Transportation, Transportation
BLOG: “Alms for a poor City?”
Sam Adams
The Oregonian newspaper described this trip as "the odd couple goes to Washington DC." My traveling companion City Commissioner Randy Leonard, feigned umbrage at this newspaper description believing that it stereotyped him in the Oscar Madison roll (please, he has an axe mounted on his office wall!) and me as the urbane Felix Unger...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 15, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Environmental Services, Front Page
BLOG: Thank You, Portland Area Veterans
Sam AdamsThanks for participating in today's 31st Veterans' Day parade. I am honored to be here today. Thanks to the Hollywood Boosters for helping to put on this parade. Thanks also to Jerry Wiley, Sr., the Ross Hollywood Chapel and Veteran’s Day Planning Committee for their efforts on this event. My...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 11, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Public Safety
BLOG: I Meet Dino the Patron Saint of North Portland's Feral Cats
Sam AdamsI bring the garbage cans and recycling bins back to the side of my house. It was a busy day of tram meetings. I change out of my suit. My house is dark and quiet. Its Friday and it feels good to be home. I go to the front porch...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 7, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, North Portland
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part IV)
Sam Adams
Up early the next morning we toured the plant where Portland’s next three streetcars are being built. On site, it is clear that streetcar manufacturing is a unique skill. The guts of these cars are raw metal that is cut, pounded and assembled piece-by-piece, weld-by-weld, section by section the old fashioned way...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 30, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part III)
Sam AdamsOutside the train windows, the rural Czech countryside quietly whizzes by at 60 miles per hour. Our destination of Ostrava is 3 hours away. I am in one of 6 seats facing each other. In the seat in front of me and immediately across the isle, I am listening to...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 30, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part II)
Sam AdamsAs I last wrote, Portland’s economy stands to benefit from Ostrava… ...if only a business deal can be struck. Let me fill you on in some more pieces of this story so you know exactly what I mean. The federal ‘Buy America’ Act: transportation projects (like streetcars) supported with federal...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 29, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part I)
Sam Adams
Ostrava. I never knew this place existed, much less foresaw that a piece of Portland’s economic future could be tied to this faraway city. Dominated by industrial parks, smokestacks and housing projects...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 28, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Smoldering Argument over West Burnside Couplet
Sam Adams
As the City’s new transportation commissioner, let me pull back the proverbial curtain at city hall to give you a glimpse at a smoldering internal argument I have inherited. It is time to air it out. I want you and others to join in the discussion...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Downtown Portland, Front Page, Northwest Portland, Office of Transportation, Southeast Portland (inner), Transportation
BLOG: Why Arts!
Sam AdamsIt's the early 1980s. Melbourne is being “out-festivalled” by cities within Australia and around the globe. The state Premier (Governor) wants out of this shadow. He sends scouting parties and researchers to check out 100 annual art events in other cities. They report back saying a Melbourne arts festival would...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Melbourne, Regional Arts & Culture Council
BLOG: 300 Miles of Tram Tracks
Sam Adams6 miles of Portland streetcar tracks compared to over 300 track miles in Melbourne is hardly a fair comparison. While Portland paved over its streetcar tracks in the 1950s and 60s, Melbourne's streetcar system expanded.Melbourne has the 3rd largest streetcar network in the world. Over 141 million trips were taken...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Melbourne, Transportation
BLOG: "Let Knowledge Serve the City" Better
Sam Adams
Portland is lagging behind other cities in implementing an aggressive city/university/labor/ business-driven “knowledge city” strategy. Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and other cities have strategies, Portland doesn’t. Knowledge cities show a strong investment...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 13, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page, Melbourne
BLOG: "...Melbourne and Portland share a similar outlook on what should be city life..."
Sam Adams
Melbourne is a port city like Portland, big handles more freight. Its land mass is bigger than Portland’s but its population is only 57,000 compared to Portland’s 535,000. It is the center of a region with 3.3 million people; our region is about 2 million...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment, Melbourne
BLOG: More Street-Level Innovations from Melbourne
Sam Adams
As Portland's new transportation commissioner, I've been keeping an eye out for street-level innovations I have encountered in Melbourne. Here are a few to consider..
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Melbourne, Transportation
BLOG: World Class Melbourne, Arts Funding and Streetcars
Sam AdamsThe London-based magazine The Economist last week ranked Vancouver, British Columbia; Melbourne, Australia; and, Vienna, Austria as the world’s ‘best’ cities to live and visit: Portland ranked 42nd. By coincidence, I’m in Melbourne this week. I am here as a guest of the City of Melbourne and the Portland Institute...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 10, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Front Page, Melbourne, Transportation
BLOG: Above the "Flat" World
Sam AdamsI’m on my 11th of 15 hours on a Qantas flight from Los Angles to Melbourne, Australia. I think its 2:36 am Portland time. Every seat on this 747-400 is sold out. Mine, a window seat, 53C, is almost being shared by a Grey-haired and good-natured Australian woman in front...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 9, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Economic Dashboard, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Melbourne
BLOG: Notes on Discussion of Jobs, Taxes, and Budget Reform at City Council Retreat
Sam AdamsToday the City Council held a budget planning retreat for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Given that last year we were dealing with a $19 million two-year deficit, the good news is that more money is coming into the City’s coffers because of an uptick in transient lodging taxes and business...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 7, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Good Government
BLOG: To 'TOD' or Not to 'TOD'?
Sam AdamsThe Portland region helped pioneer the transit oriented development (TOD) concept with the construction of Pearl District, The Round and the emerging South Waterfront district. What are the lessons learned? How can we improve the TOD of the future? The Pearl, Orenco and South Waterfront were built on nearly vacant...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 11, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Housing, Livability & Environment, Transportation
BLOG: Transit Placemaking
Sam AdamsHello again from Salt Lake City, Utah. Outside of the Pearl and the emerging South Waterfront districts and a few other transit stops, I would like improve upon our local efforts at what planners call “placemaking” around transit stations. Transit stops and stations can help the surrounding neighborhoods and business...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 9, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Livability & Environment, Transportation
BLOG: "The High Cost of Free Parking"
Sam AdamsToday I am attending the three-day 10th Rail-Volution Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The
Conference founded by then-City Commissioner and now U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer seeks to address nearly "every aspect of building liable communities with transit...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 8, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Transportation
BLOG: Art and Cultural Next
Sam AdamsEarly this summer, I attended a gathering of arts and business leaders who met to discuss mutual concerns and ideas. More recently, I met with the Arts Caucus, a group of people from across the creative services sector dedicated to strengthening the role of arts and culture in the Portland...
Posted by Sam Adams on August 31, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Regional Arts & Culture Council
BLOG: Whew! Give Your Comments on Providence Bridge Pedal 2005
Sam Adams
With more riders than ever, the Providence Bridge Pedal 2005 was (almost too) successful this year!
Posted by Sam Adams on August 14, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
STORMWATER IN AUGUST?
Guest AuthorBy: Dean Marriott Why are Sam and I talking about stormwater when we haven’t felt a raindrop in over a month? Besides a short question about my buying a skateboard, our meeting was everything about stormwater. We started with PDOT’s reconstruction of Naito Parkway Project along Waterfront Park. Sam wants...
Posted by Guest Author on August 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Environmental Services, Front Page