April 18, 2004

The Latest Francesconi Switcheroo?

One Month Before Election, Now Opposes Reservoir Burial

In the latest installment in Oregonian coverage of the Mayoral campaign, which focuses on the difficulty voters are having with both Jim Francesconi and Tom Potter, the following appears:

And both blame the other in part, Francesconi alleging that Potter's ideas lack details and Potter contending that Francesconi's positions shift with the polls.

It will come as no surprise to readers that in essence we agree with both assessments. For the moment, we're going to focus on the latter because of something Francesconi said at Friday's forum for Mayoral candidates sponsored by the City Club of Portland:

I do not believe any longer that unless that citizens task force comes back with something I don't expect that we can cover the reservoirs. The issue is $85 million that it would cost.

During this entire dispute over burial of the Mt. Tabor reservoirs, the central argument of proponents has been that it was necessary for reasons of safety and security. While we are amongst those who dispute that need (and continue to have those lingering concerns over suspect links between the Water Bureau and contracots and consultants intimately involved in the project), this new position from Francesconi perplexes us.

Earlier this year, when the City Council created the Mt. Tabor Reservoirs Independent Review Panel, Francesconi (according to The Oregonian), "listed safety and cost as top considerations for the committee, followed by preservation of the reservoirs' historic nature."

So our question becomes: Given that he apparently believes that burial is necessary for reasons of safety, does Francesconi believe that its not worth the money in order to provide for that safety? If the cost were, say, one-third his $85 million figure, would it then be worth it to address the safety concerns that he and others have expressed about the open reservoirs?

Now, don't get us wrong. We firmly believe, as we always have, that the reservoir burial is not necessary, for reasons of safety or any others.

But isn't at least a curiosity that in the midst of a primary campaign in which nearly every other candidate running for Mayor (and for City Council) is firmly opposed the reservoir project -- and as polls reportedly continue to show that "undecided" remains in the lead -- Francesconi suddenly announces a change of heart, a mere month before votes are counted on May 18?

It reminds us at least a little of another moment when Francesconi suddenly decided to address the clear constitutional problems with the City's parks exclusions law -- but only after both a judge and an editorial (from a newspaper whose endorsement he'd need) slammed the exisiting law.

Recent weeks have begun to show what we think is fair to say are the beginnings of a kind of desperation from the Francesconi camp. While that will inevitably be disappointing in terms of the quality and authenticity we can expect in the final weeks of the Mayoral campaign, it should also perhaps reassure many Portlanders who support other candidates.

Disclosure: PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE accepts political advertisements, and currently runs ads from the Francesconi campaign.

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