"It's in the best interests of the city," Saltzman said. "It's not necessarily in the best interests of my political campaign."

Thank you Dan, it's been enjoyable watching the BoJacks freaking out all over themselves.

However, I'm absolutely appalled that the boJacked seem to be praying this thing will fail, fall, and lead to the deaths of the doctors and patients riding the tram. They are even referencing the tragic accident in the late '90s when an American fighter jet clipped the cables of a ski-tram in Italy.

More than just appalled, it might be time to serious consider allowing Randy Leonard to represent Portland. It is okay that he is opposed to this tram, however, he needs to be mindful of the other comments being made and not join in, or at least distance himself from previous comments. Randy can’t win every vote and associating with people that are calling Saltzman a liar, jerk and cheat compromises his ability to work effectively with his own council. Even more so, after the BoJacked were talking about laughing at the destruction the tram "might" cause, Randy still commented in that thread.

These are some of the comments made before Randy chimed in, and they are still coming in.

"We'll have lots of new laughs in the years to come as one disaster after another occurs" -Jack Bog

"How true. I can think of many things that can and will happen to this tram since they already happened to trams elsewhere: 1-Air Force jet tail fin slices suspension cable. 2-Cargo dropped by construction crane onto cable car. 3-Kids throw bricks out the window, hitting people below." -Harry

laughs?

"To be fair, it was a US Marine jet that sliced that cable in Italy. We don't have any of those nearby. And the Air National Guard is busy elsewhere and probably will be for some time.

I personally think we'll see headlines like this:

"Tram Malfunction Turns I-5 Into Parking Lot" "City/OHSU Squabble Over Who Foots Bill For Rescue" "Tense High-Wire Standoff With Psych Patient" "27th Shut Down of Tram for 'Mechanical Problems'" "OHSU Demands City Pay for OHSU Shuttle" "$85 Million Tram Closed Due to Safety Concerns" (June 2008)" -godfry

and Randy chimes in "I obviously do not know Dan as well as I thought I did." -Randy Leonard

"Oh snap" -Dave J

"With a twist!" -Randy Leonard

I hope, Randy, you weren’t trying to be cute and referencing the cables. Your judgment is seriously being called into question by myself and many other not so radical Portland haters on BoJack. Do you represent us, or the large % of people commenting on BoJack that aren't Portland citizens?

Today, in April 2006, what cheaper choice did the city really have anyway?

The "city's share" will be just $8.5M, a $5M dollar increase. As many previous posts have noted the minimum taxpayers true hard costs for the tram was at least $21M before this latest increase. Now the taxpayers will be paying minimum $27M.

Once again, the costs left out by the City, PDC, Oregonian are: Financing; Design Competition costs; Land Costs; PDC, Planning Bureau, PDOT staff/administrative costs; $5M given to OHSU; reduced interest rate for OHSU's Tram LID; and other "benefits" given to OHSU. The list goes on. Even Sam Adams admitted to $11M in pubic costs for the tram over six weeks ago.

Many people who have posted aren't necessarily trying to stop the tram, but are trying to present the true facts and costs figures for the tram; and how much the taxpayers are really paying.

The above post does nothing to enlighten the facts.

"The above post does nothing to enlighten the facts"

don't be so smug Lee, the comments on BoJack weren't trending towards "enlightening" anyone. They were nasty, and I'm assuming since Mr. Leonard commented with them, he is in agreement of the disgusting diatribe.

"The above post does nothing to enlighten the facts"

I think most people understand the actual costs unless you think we are all daft. However, the good that is projected to come from the OHSU connection are over 150 times the TOTAL costs of the tram, not just the city share.

"aren't necessarily trying to stop the tram, but are trying to present the true facts and costs figures for the tram"

like, hmmm... "We'll have lots of new laughs in the years to come as one disaster after another occurs"

"How true. I can think of many things that can and will happen to this tram since they already happened to trams elsewhere: 1-Air Force jet tail fin slices suspension cable. 2-Cargo dropped by construction crane onto cable car. 3-Kids throw bricks out the window, hitting people below."

"To be fair, it was a US Marine jet that sliced that cable in Italy. We don't have any of those nearby. And the Air National Guard is busy elsewhere and probably will be for some time.

I personally think we'll see headlines like this:

"Tram Malfunction Turns I-5 Into Parking Lot" "City/OHSU Squabble Over Who Foots Bill For Rescue" "Tense High-Wire Standoff With Psych Patient" "27th Shut Down of Tram for 'Mechanical Problems'" "OHSU Demands City Pay for OHSU Shuttle" "$85 Million Tram Closed Due to Safety Concerns" (June 2008)"

"the USAF EA-6B that severed the cable in Italy was "prohibited" from flying as low as it was too"

and lets not forget the personal attacks on Saltzman too. Jack Bog is allowing this to go TOOO far. They wont be happy until the damned thing fails at Portland's expense. That's not activism, that anit-Portland BS craziness.

1. who is bojack/jack bog?

2. saltzman did what needed to be done, and has won my vote.

3. this whole tram ordeal has been ridiculous, and i can't help but wonder how it would have played out in a not election year. this is exactly how funding for infrastructure should work in an practical world: city pays for (a portion of) infrastructure costs, city recaptures costs through increased property tax revenue owing to the benefits of said investment. if the cost cannot be recaptured, it perhaps should not be made in the first place. in this case the costs will be recaptured many times over. it is a win, win, win.

4. i don't know anything about/have any opinion on opposition to the tram based on non-financial reasons, but i don't see how the two issues are connected other than politics.

5. oh yeah, it's really too bad the city did not place strict requirements for low-income housing in the deal. that was really a mistake.

Who is Bojack?

Bojack likes to throw stones from on high, at whatever he thinks gives him the biggest splash. But he's careful to avoid the adage about people who live in glass houses -- if you disagree with him, or dare to point out his inconsistencies or nastiness, you get banned from his site, as I did. I displayed the temerity to point out his inconsistency (as his law students certainly know better than to do), when he said one day that there was one or two viable candidates against Saltzman, and then then next day launched an attack against the City Club, for it originally concluding that there was only one viable candidate against Saltzman.

So on the Tram, he's concluded that it's a combination of stupidity, waste and graft, and so anyone who dares say otherwise, or even think otherwise, needs to be splayed. I like to see courageous politicians (like Randy, frankly), and Saltzman has shown some courage here, to do what makes the most sense, not to cowtow to polls or pundits.

Correction -- his launch against City Club related to Sten, since Bojack's candidate (Lister, calling himself the "East Side Guy," as if Sten isn't from the east side???) hadn't been invited to the debate.

For once, and it's been a long time since I've been in this position, I find myself applauding Saltzman for doing the right thing. The Tram needs to get built. Finishing it will allow the rest of the South Waterfront development to proceed. And $57 million really isn't all that much to pay for it, given the benefit... sure, OHSU needs to pony up, and the developers, but the money isn't coming from the general fund, it's coming from the LID/TIF, so it's basically money that is being generated by the fact of the development, which in turn hinges on the tram to provide access.

I agree with colorless green ideas, it does seem to be a win/win/win. Sure, it wasn't handled properly, politically. Yes, the true cost could have been predicted earlier.

But, Portland isn't alone in experiencing cost over-runs on a major capital proejct, and needing to bite the bullet to get the thing built.

Look at the new East Span of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.

Orignal estimate to retrofit the existing bridge: ~$750 million. Original estimate to replace the existing bridge: $1.3 billion. Updated estimate for building a new bridge: $2.6 billion Current estimate, cost to complete the new bridge: $5.6 billion.

That's billion with a B, kids.

And it will be built.

Bridge tolls will hit $4 (up from $2), but it will be built.

I'd say, given the global construction market and the way costs are going....

Portland's getting off easy with the Tram!

In TrueBlue fashion, the posters on this site nearly unanimously want to ram Voter-Owned Elections down the throats of the voters without a vote, hang a tram over the heads of the residents of Lair Hill who overwhelmingly oppose it, and prohibit drilling in ANWAR where the residents overwhelmingly want it. Seems more elitist than democratic to me.

"ram Voter-Owned Elections down the throats of the voters without a vote"

That's like saying congress is raming immigration reform down our throats without a vote. We voted for the leaders, if you don't like their decisions we have charged them to make, than it is your turn to express your frustration in November. We don't vote on every decision that is made by the council, we do get to vote on whether or not they are representing our wishes during their elections or recalls.

If your other two points to prove we are "elitist" is a tram and ANWAR (because those two go hand in hand), your attempt is both sorry and pathetic. ANWAR...this is BlueOregon buddy, not BlueAlaska.

The real consequences of this tram business, VOE, the Water Bureau, and the other random projects run through PDC and elsewhere, are much bigger than anyone wants to say. Portland TV goes much further than Portland, out to where the voters aren’t yellow dog Democrats or reading this blog. And this City is the new poster child for bad government.
We are facing a TABOR initiative in November, and Portland is helping to pass it. Look at their website: http://www.sosoregon.com/tramsham.html. Do you think most Oregonians segment budgets for Government? So what if no state money is involved in the Tram or VOE? All they hear is government flushing money down the tubes. It’s all the same money to most voters. When TABOR passes, and this state turns into freaking Alabama, write a thank you note to Sten, Potter, and the rest of the council, because they are doing more to pass these right-wing initiatives than Dick Armey and Jason Williams ever will.

Bob,

Regarding TABOR, the proponents behind that movement will misrepresent any issue to advance theirs, because they have no respect for truthful outcomes. As stated above, the Tram is actually a deal for the city in how it has spurred $2 billion of construction, new housing, jobs that would have left the city, etc., whereas TABOR is a a fraudulent scam.

If the people who oppose TABOR can't point out its manifold deficiencies, in particular that it's being repealed in Colorado after just a few years for bankrupting the state, then the progressive movement should just give up trying to promulgate the truth and let the greedy bastards run amok.

Frank,

That is easily explainable. OHSU owns a ton of land at its West Campus site in Hillsboro/Beaverton. If it couldn't connect its "Pill Hill" campus to the nascent "Riverfront" one easily, then it would have built everything out West. That's a crapload of jobs that would have easily been moved out of the city and into the burgeoning hi-tech center out West. And without OHSU as an anchor tenant, there was no inertia to do anything with the urban wasteland that was the North Macadam district. The streetcar never would have connected it to the rest of the city, and it would very probably remained abandoned and isolated for a long time, instead of generating tons of revenue for the city.

Hello This is the story line you hear and see whenever you hear the word tram. Council member Samuel Adams said that they will vote on April 27th to decide if the project will come to a halt. If we look at the figures, it's easy to see that the project will never be within any kind of figure that was originally budgeted.

15 Mil. was the first number. then...... 22 Mil. is the current number. Do I Hear 75 Mil. (you get the picture.)

The other issue that these intellegent individuals have left out is, IF this tram is completed????? HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO OPERATE IT!!!!!!!!! Now it seems only logical to have a figure of operating costs written within the budget. Ya Think. Another Stupid observation, Why would Portland need a tram to begin with? Is this another attempt to leave Portland scarred with a debilitating legacy? Does anyone remember Kitzhabers Tunnel? especially when Roads and more money needs to go to portland public schools and at a time when we are at war???and have war cost you talk about wanting to build a tram boy you democrats are communist you care more about building a tram than homeland security and or public schools needs.

Hello Than I shouldn't hear another complaint about portland teachers going on strike for more tax dollars....should I

Hello Is it right to build this tram when Ron wyden is doing this Senator Ron Wyden has demanded that the President come to Congress and ask for authorization to continue the War in Iraq. He's also called on Congress to vote up or down, if the President refuses to seek the authorization.

From the AP:

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden on Friday called for Congress to vote on whether to keep American troops in Iraq for at least three more years, as President Bush has said he intends. Wyden, a Democrat who voted against the war in 2002, said the vote would hold Bush accountable for presenting a realistic war plan and a budget for securing peace in Iraq.

"I rise today to offer a simple proposition: Congress should act like a coequal branch of government and vote on whether or not to keep American troops in Iraq for at least three more years," Wyden said in a speech on the Senate floor. ...

Wyden said Bush must address how the United States can help make the Iraqis self-reliant so that they can defeat the insurgency, how Bush intends to break the sectarian impasse in Iraq over forming a unity government, how he will rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure, and when he intends to bring U.S. troops home.

I think that We should call for a budget on the whole tram thing as well untill the schools get the money they need to operate and the roads themseleves get fixed and Hurricane Katrina flood get stablelized now is not the time for operating a tram

Does anyone know what will NOT be done in South Waterfront, with PDC allocating additional money to the tram? I haven't seen reported which pot is being raided to pay the extra cost. Affordable housing? Greenway improvements? Do those in favor of more tram money from the city not care where it's coming from? To me, that should be a major factor in the discussion of weighing the costs and benefits.

Commissioner Saltzman reached his decision outside of the public process. Who had access to him, to influence his vote? Peter Kohler and Steve Stadum of OHSU, we know that. Anyone from the Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill neighborhood? Anyone from the public at large?

The public hearing on this matter is this coming Wednesday. I am very concerned about the increasingly common practice of the Council announcing the outcome of proposals before taking public testimony, based on "the ability to count to three". This week's tram decision continues to make a mockery of Portland's citizen involvement principles. Is the Council accountable to all the people of Portland, or only to those with money, power, and access?

[Editor's note -- off topic foreign policy comments deleted.]

[Editor's note -- off topic comments about foreign policy and Jason Atkinson deleted.]

[Editor's note -- off topic comments about foreign polciy, illegal immigration and John McCain deleted.]

verasoie, Apr 7, 11:47:17 PM And without OHSU as an anchor tenant, there was no inertia to do anything with the urban wasteland that was the North Macadam district. JK : Except, of course, there were plans to develop that area WITHOUT PUBLIC WELFARE. Katz & Klowns rejected them. Had they allowed the landowners to do as they wished, we would now have a new neighborhood, paying taxes. Instead we will not see full taxes for, perhaps, 40 years from that area. To bad we didn’t have M37 back then. If we did the city would be saving a good chunk of a billion dollars by not being able to dictate high density to the land owners at city expense.

verasoie, Apr 7, 11:47:17 PM The streetcar never would have connected it to the rest of the city, JK : What’s wrong with that -the streetcar appears to be a massive waste.

verasoie, Apr 7, 11:47:17 PM and it would very probably remained abandoned and isolated for a long time, instead of generating tons of revenue for the city. JK : No, Katz blocked development several years ago because she wanted it to be denser. What an idiot, that she ever became mayor shows just how bad our system is.

Frank Dufay, Apr 8, 6:38:23 I know the argument, but a huge chunk of land, close in to downtown, on the river...no one would develop this without a tram? C'mon... . . .It's been the perversion of the market --that waiting for massive PDC subsidies-- that's kept this area from development. JK : Actually it was Katz stopping the original landowner’s plans, not waiting for PDC subsidies. PDC subsidies only became necessary when the city wanted things that were NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. Brainstorm reported this story a year or so back. I think I also saw mention in WW. And I verified the story with a Zidel person who worked on the project.

Thanks JK

Let's give Dan the credit he deserves. He understood the importance of the City sticking to agreements. And he knew that the impact of $20+ Million out of the City's general fund would have been a disaster. Thanks for showing leadership Dan!!

And, time to get Randy back on his meds. You might recall in the July 3, 2003 Oregonian article concerning our dear Mr. Leonard. "Leonard said he has attended several briefings adn other council discussions on the project adn categorized any delay as "maybe the way Portland needs to agonizingly stretch out everything." He said there was no time to waste during an economic downturn to create construction jobs and other economic activity. "What would be the benefit of waiting?", Leonard asked. "How many times do you go over a particular issue before you have a grasp of it? I feel comfortable making a decision.""

Mr Leonard likes to move fast, as long as he can blame everyone else for any problems that go with his decision.

JK: Except, of course, there were plans to develop that area WITHOUT PUBLIC WELFARE. Katz & Klowns rejected them. Had they allowed the landowners to do as they wished, we would now have a new neighborhood, paying taxes.

<h2>Don't quote it if you can't provide a source. I have been told (since I don't have the original source I don't go around speaking out of my behind) that the "turned down" plan you say existed actually did require PDC money. Supposedly that is part of how the PDC SoWa vision got started, you ask for $$$ for new development, you get refered to the PDC, the PDC than has to determine the best use of the money they are going to invest.</h2>