September 03, 2004
Local Candidates Talk Arts And Culture
In Which We Set The Wayback Machine To August 19
Two weeks ago, the first in a series of "You Promised!" forums with the Mayoral and City Council candidates was held at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. It's already been covered by The Portland Mercury and by The Oregonian, and now it's our turn to methodically slog through our twenty-six pages of notes.
Briefly, before we begin: We don't spend any time in the Pearl District, so this was something of a surreal trip for us to make. It's an entirely different planet over there, clean to the point of an almost anti-urban sterility. As it turned out, we're not the only ones at a loss when we're there. A reporter for one of the local papers passed us as we were sitting outside smoking a pre-forum cigarette and asked if we knew of anyplace close by to grab a quick bite to eat. Our explanation that we're never in that part of town was met by, "Me neither."
A final pre-report item. Over on the website of former Mayoral candidate Phil Busse, they offer a much-reduced version of the promises made by the candidates at this forum. To fully appreciate some of the distinctions in both content and approach, readers should check the material (pdf) made available by each candidate. Consider that an assignment.
When the forum began, Busse pointed out that of all four candidates only Nick Fish followed the instructions to the letter. That may be all very well and good, but it should not be ignored that Sam Adams offered an entire page of specifics, Jim Francesconi offered seven bullet points of a full sentence or two apiece, Fish offered five brief bullet points, and Tom Potter offered a full page of five items each broken down into separate bullet points. Busse joked that "all the candidates were trying to brown-nose us a little bit."
At any rate, much as we did for the previous candidates forum on arts and culture issues, we likely will construct much of this item in the form of (as it turns out) bullet points -- balancing the need to reflect as well as possible what each candidate said with our own need to get this damned item written and posted already. As usual when we take this approach, bits in quotation marks are direct quotes, while other bits are either paraphrased from the candidates' words or our understanding of what they said.
Opening Remarks
Fish began by explaining that he was "on a lot of drugs tonight," although apparently they were of the variety one takes when fighting off a cold.
- "Says a lot that ... the two best-attended forums were about arts and culture."
- "Each of us approaches the arts from a different perspective."
- Told a personal story about the arts. "Each of us has such a personal story of connection to the arts."
- "Position the City as a national leader for generations to come."
- "The question we have to ask ... is what public policy decisions are we going to make?"
- Art in the schools
- Ways for the public to support the arts.
- Private sector and philanthropy
- Industrial sanctuaries.
"I too would have followed the rules," said Adams of his extensive material," but I too was on drugs."
- Resources, space, arts education.
- Goal of raising $15 million for the arts in five years. "That's what we need to do to prevent Portland from becoming a has-been arts and culture City."
- 2% for art. "Make sure there's no cheating."
- "Land is currently clear, it's owned by a public agency." (See his list of promises for his pitch to build affordable live/work dwellings.)
- Artists in turn donate time in schools.
- Re: Katz's atempt at fostering creative services. "Sequel to that strategy."
- Portland's smart people "can identify tangible ways" to support arts and culture.
"My hat goes off to Phil and the Oregon Bus Project," said Francesconi of the organizers of the evening's forum.
(Incidentally, during his opening remarks, Francesconi stood up, thereby putting himself mostly out of the range of the microphone before him on the table, making it more difficult to hear him than the others.)
- "Our City that we're creating twenty-five years from now."
- Told his usual personal arts story about his daughter. "Glimpse into a part of our City I've never seen before."
- "Put you [artists] in positions where you can shape the future."
- Explore "looking at the creation of an artists' sanctuary."
- Schools, jobs, neighborhoods.
Potter said that his own personal story "occured in the back row." Our notes don't appear to indicate what it was, unless it's related to the very next thing we wrote down, which was this comment of his about Busse: "[He] still wants to do those 100 things, isn't that great?" His joking first promise: "Every single day, I will give away $100 of Phil Busse's money."
- "I do hope there will be some follow-up venues. ... Bring us back and ask us how we're doing on all these things we're making promises on."
- Re: Centennial Mill. No wrecking ball until there's been a "conversation with the community."
- Re: Support for arts and culture. "Let's make it everyday things."
- Portland is behind other cities.
- Re: Support for % for art program. "That's art that belongs to the people of Portland."
- "Arts and culture as a core value of our community."
Questions
We had a difficult time making out just what our notes say about the first question. They appeared to read: "Face bend or DJ at the Rotary Club." We finally realized that "face bend" in fact was "fave band," but we've yet to decipher what the bit which looks like "Rotary" actually says, because we're fairly damned certain it's not actually Rotary. We also made no notes explaining just what this question meant, although our recollection is that it had to do with Potter being spotted around town during the hours normally associated with some sort of nightlife.
"Actually it's between two of my naps that I did this," joked Potter. "I was actually awake at midnight and I'm really proud of that."
Question about affordable housing for artists and the idea of rent control.
Adams:
- "I don't support rent control. ... I do support live/work space."
- "There are space owned by a public agency." (Referenced a map he distributed at the event showing a specific set of sites that could be used for a live/work project.)
- Construct live/work spaces that will be unique.
Francesconi:
- "I'm opposed to it [rent control] as well."
- "[That's] why I was tlaking about flex space."
- "Start with what's doable.
Question about murals and how to change the current code which interferes with them.
Potter:
- "Important that we have mural art in Portland, Oregon."
- "I suspect I'm the only candidate up here who's donated to the mural defense fund."
- Issues of zoning, changing the sign code. "That doesn't mean we can't work through it."
- "Find out what works and make it work here."
Adams:
- "I've actually been attending the mural defense meetings."
- Draft proposal from the Mayor's office. "Coming forward with that in the next three weeks."
- Dispute over any "burden" on property owners. "I think that's going to be a real challenge."
- Obtained pro-bono legal services to check Mayor's proposal.
- "They [murals] need to be made legal again."
Question suggesting that the current Mayor is "doing practically everything wrong," and then arguing that extending the hours of parking meters "[hurts] people who come downtown."
Fish:
- Increase at the "same time we're trying to stimulate economic activity downtown."
- Sold to businesses as "funding MAX expansion into the Transit Mall" but then "$300 million was taken out of that and given to the Streetcar." (See below for the correction on that figure.)
- What about downtown businesses, in addition to validating parking for shoppers, also asking customers if they came by public transit, and if so giving them a "free ticket for their next trip."
- Mentioned this idea to Barry Schlesinger (of Star Park) and his son. "Barry looked a little queasy. ... His son loved it."
- "Younger people are arriving with an ethic that says puyblic transit is the way to go."
Francesconi:
- "Sometimes in public office you have to do difficult things."
- Increases were part of a "local match to get Federal dollars."
- Money to the Streetcar was to decrease time between cars. "It was $300,000, not $300 million."
Question that our notes simply describe as: "How 'urban design' schoool different?"
Fish:
- Last five years chairing Hatfield School advisory board at PSU.
- Emerging architecture program at PSU. Problem: "It's an undergraduate program."
- PSU wants to partner with other institutions.
- "We keep getting the short end of the stick" compared to the University of Oregon.
- "I've shamelessly stolen this from Randy Gragg." Turning the Customs House (which the GSA wants to turn over) into an architecture and design school.
- "This community has been screwed by the General Services Administration." (Reference to the Pioneer Courthouse.) "This is one where they can pay us back."
Question regarding pop music in Portland, which was introduced as being in the "Jeopardy-style." Candidates were asked to name who Willamette Week readers voted as the best band in Portland.
"I was afraid of this part of the program," said Francesconi. "I only read The Portland Mercury," added Adams. Busse attempted to offer a hint, noting that the band in question played the Candidates Gone Wild! event that all four candidates had attended several months back during the primary campaign. No one had the answer (which was Menomena, and no we didn't know it either).
Question on "vacating" public streets and how often this happens. It either came up earlier (likely during the opening remarks), or the questioner had been reading Adams' list of promises, in which he suggests that Portland work to change to law which restricts it from obtaining compensation when it vacates (relinquishing its possession of) public streets, and put that resulting money into an arts fund.
Francesconi:
- "I thought we usually charge for this, but Sam could be right."
- "It's a creative idea."
Adams:
- Endowment fund.
- "Apparently it's an old, old rule." While the City can't charge for this, the State of Oregon is allowed to do so when it vacates roads it owns.
There was a question on several related topics, including how ti support homeowners or renters who wish to use their home as a practice studio, engaging young people in the arts, and a note we have which says, "What good is music in schools if it's illegal..." -- which we believe might have been a reference to attempts in the past year by the OLCC to keep minor performers from playing in bars and nightclubs (although it would also have simply been a reference to not being able to use one's home as a practice studio for noise reasons).
Adams:
- "In and of itself, music in your home is not illegal." It's the decibel level and noise ordinance.
- There are some practice spaces in residential areas. It is possible for them to co-exist.
- Maybe the City can help the music community by providing various forms of technical assistance.
Francesconi:
- "There's been a lawsuit filed and we have to see how the judge rules on it." (We admit we didn't note what this referred to, but we're assuming it's related to the noise ordinance.)
- Cultural life district? "Is there a part of the City where we can mix it up?" Look at a section of the City where we can change the rules.
- Zoning.
Next question at first was softball: "If elected, would you increase, descrease, or vut arts funding?" It was made a more refined question: Is it more useful to fund individual artists or up and coming arts groups?
Adams:
- "Portland's arts and culture community ... is not this monolithic community speaking with one voice."
- "It's a good question that I don't presume to answer for the arts and culture community."
- Commit to working to answer that question.
Francesconi:
- We need to increase the funding.
- "City's role is to provide infrastructure." Schools, spaces, environment, transportation, density in housing.
- On the Mayor picking who to fund: "I don't think you want to give that power to politicians."
- RACC is empowered to make those decisions.
- "That's why we need you represented." (Francesconi has suggested putting artists on the City's various boards and commissions.)
Question (or comment, really) on the people on the City Council not having done anything for the arts. The questioner referenced Francesconi's criticisms of Potter's Centennial Mill position "instead of talking about the issue." Directed specifically at Francesconi: "What have you actually done for actual struggling artists in this town [and] what will you do in the future?"
Francesconi:
- "My own bureaus contributed to the percent-for-art program when they didn't have to."
- There were arguments to not fund RACC. When we had to cut in order to fund these things, we did.
- Maybe not helped struggling artists "per se," but gave "leadership on more programs for poor kids."
- "It may not be what you wanted to hear for an answer" but for them it was important.
- "As Mayor ... I understand that it does need to broaden."
- Re: Centennial Mill and "what concerns people" about it. "Spending that kind of money and then having to maintain it." Key is the operating costs.
- "That's appropriate for us to talk about."
Fish:
- "There are people in here who know more about Centennial Mill than I do."
- "Big ideas don't always conform to conventional wisdom."
- A unique moment. "A historically important building."
- "We have three competing visions which are pretty powerful." Including an arts complex, a maritime museum, and a park.
- "Concerns over details."
- Has talked to all groups. "Historic opportunity to have all three ideas considered." Feasability study?
- "Let's not demolish the building so we don't have the chance to make that choice."
Potter:
- Interested in arts center because "Portland is known for its connectivity between people." Way for artists to connect.
- "We can have a place that's intentional."
- "Those kinds of things encourage people to stay in Portland instead of leave."
Continuing the questions, "Portland is ready for a large interdisciplinary arts center of some kind." Meanwhile, will Mayor Katz's grants to artists continue? And once in office, what will you do to continue to hear from the community?
Potter:
- Be out of my office at least half the time to talk with the community. "They forget that there's a real world out there."
- "Things change. ... We have to able to change with those issues."
- Good listener.
- All people at the table.
Francesconi:
- "Which is what I've been doing for the past thirty years."
- Walked 23 different neighborhood business districts and another 10 since election.
- "Putting artists in positions where they can advocate fot themselves."
- Ramp up creative services as a targeted industry.
Adams:
- "Yes to individual grants [but] I'm embarassed by the amount." Grow the pot.
- "Policy is important, money is essential."
Question about preparing young people for leadership positions, and on the percentage of staff that is under thirty, and/or women, and/or minorities.
Francesconi:
- "Haven't counted in every office." Have a dvierse staff, have always had a diverse staff.
- "Only Latina... Sam's shaking his head so I culd be wrong."
- WOuld have a Mayor's Leadership Academy.
Potter:
- "In the Mayor's office, there are positions for 20 interns." Use them "to develop the future leaders of Portland." From all over the City.
- Acutely aware ... you will have an all white male City Council."
- (In here somewhere is where he made the remark about "when I leave office in four years or eight years, definitely not twelve years" which made the newspaper recently.)
- Hiring staff. Promoting opportunity.
Francesconi:
- "If I could expand my answer.
- In the Parks and Transportions bureaus, "created an apprenticeship program."
- "That's beyond leadership, that's jobs."
One of the ever-present Mandels (in this case, Lili) asked the candidates to "forget about money" and simply "come up with a unique idea that you would love to do."
Fish:
- "I have an idea, it's one of mt five [promises]. It's called an art card."
- Mike Lindberg asked for it to be put in.
- Endowed by private and philanthropic sources.
Adams:
- "I too want to be a [garbled notes] for innovative ideas." Centennial Mill needs that.
- Credit to the plan for Major League Baseball, but take energy and "focus that on the Centennial Mill site."
- Given the fact that we own the land and own the building "you have a lartge advantage on all levels."
Francesconi:
- "If prvate money shows up for a baseball stadium, terrific. ... If private money shows up for Centennial Mill, then let's talk."
- But not when it comes to public money.
Potter:
- "I like your idea [that] what we need to do is dream big."
- When you hear, "How are we going to pay for it?" it stifles the big ideas.
- "Why can't we dream big and then find the money to make it happen?"
Question and comment directed at Francesconi: "We don't need magic wands, we're not beggars pleading to give us money." (We think the "magic wand" term may have been used earlier.) "Why don't you guys connect the dots?" Utilize talent out of PSU. Why do you think that all these proposals for Centennial Mill are fragmented?
Francesconi:
- "One of Tom's ideas I actually like, and that's Lincoln Hall." (Potter wants a performing arts center "for PSU and the community.")
- Let's focus the magic wans on Portland State.
- If we're going to do this, do it with PSU.
- "I would love to tell you what you want to hear."
Adams:
- "There are many voices in the arts and culture community that need to be brought together."
- Come up with new arts plan.
- Question of big strategies.
Fish:
- "I can promise you I will never assume I have a deeper understanding of these issues than you."
Closing Remarks
Potter:
- "As always when I come to these meetings, I learn a lot."
- Listen and engage the community. "That doesn't seem that difficult."
- "With limited funds, it's not just about giving to the public taxbase [but about] energizing the community."
- "When the City really wants to do something, they find the money to do it."
Francesconi:
- Reinforces sense of optimism and hope about the City.
- Put you in positions where you can act, and provide resources.
- Education, employment, neighborhoods.
- "We haven't talked about the deeper values. We all have visions, but it's values that keep us together as a society."
- "Transforming I's into We's."
Adams:
- "The level of burnout or near-burnout ... is at a high point in Portland's arts and culture community."
- "I want to help raise expectations."
- Either you're going to get serious about making progress, or you can tell us stories.
- "It's not just about arts and culture, although for me that's enough. It's about our future economy."
- "The ecology of a City must be balanced."
Fish:
- Recent Mercury had a thick supplement for Seattle's Bumbershoot. "Man, we gotta promote Portland. We need our own Bumbershoot."
- Asked how many people present had graduated from Pacific Northwest College of Art. "One?"
- Making sure that the next [artist or filmmaker whose name I didn't note down] "chooses Oregon first as the place to live and work."
And that's it. We're done. Finished. Two weeks after the event, you all now have our write-up. Now if we can only get through the 28 pages of notes from a Tom Potter appearance that's also two weeks old before some new major news story crops up and we get buried and behind again.