November 11, 2003
Semi-Random Unsupported Musing: Does Katz Want Control Of ONI?
Last week, I mentioned a column which suggested that Mayor Katz would be re-assigning City bureaus amongst members of the City Council next year. I wondered what would become of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, since Commissioners Francesconi and Saltzman have already headed that bureau, while Leonard does so currently.
If I can indulge in some completely unsubstantiated musing, I'm beginning to suspect that it might indeed be possible that the Mayor will give herself control of ONI.
First, an email message posted to the mailing list for Friends of the Reservoirs argued that recent comments the Mayor made regarding parking garages in Northwest Portland (the Mayor's backyard) suggested concern for threats to neighborhoods.
Specifically, the message quoted the Mayor as saying, "I maintain the special interests have won. I hope that we all realize that the message this sends to other neighborhoods is that they all are in peril." See the message for longer excerpts, as well as an attachment which includes the entire statement in question, which has a small amount of history regarding neighborhood organizing.
Then, in today's Oregonian story on the end of talks with Clear Channel, the Mayor's spokesperson is quoted as saying, "You shouldn't underestimate her commitment to process and public involvement and for keeping Portland unique."
Now, none of this is to assert the Mayor does not have her own critics when it comes to public involvement issues and various development projects around town -- but that debate isn't my point here.
With ONI on track to deliver recommendations for citywide public involvement standards, as well as working on the required review of the guidelines which govern Portland's system of neighborhood associations and coalitions, I can't but wonder if the Mayor might not want to be the one in charge of that bureau when those committees produce their results.
Not to mention that with the resurrection of a higher public profile for community policing -- and the repeated reference to "neighborhood livability" as part of that -- having both the Portland Police Bureau and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement for her final year in office might appeal to the Mayor.