Not bad- but who needs TV ads (or Vera Katz, for that matter), when The City of Portland has decided to sue Sho Dozono?

Good point Taylor, watching the lead for KGW's Sho story "Deadbeat Dozono?" should be the nail in Sho's coffin. But complacency can lose an election ala Gore. My criticism of this ad is that it left out Latinos and Asians. Don't they count?

I am of course joking. I think ads should focus and this one seems to be trying to cover all the base constituencies and so ends up saying less than it could.

It sounds like Adams is running for school board.

Unfortunately Amy Ruiz got really excited about the whole Portland Suing a mayoral candidate issue that she didn't wait for everything to pan out before posting that. Dozono already paid the city and announced it as such at the press conference. I think the city should treat businesses fairly and straight forward. How would you feel if your landlord told you that you had to switch to a month to month lease and endure the road to your front door being closed for construction. And what if you wanted to talk to your landlord about this crazy situation, but they refused to even talk to you about it. Sounds a little shady on the city's part if you ask me. I hope Sho wins so he can right these basic wrongs that he understands and deals with. Only because he's running for public office does this come up.

How nicely timed this is to coincide with the Sauvie island bridge relocation approval by 3 of the 5 city commissioners; which means it passes by the slimmest margin. And the public doesn't even get to vote on it! Outrageous! Why isn't there more news about this injustice that the public will have to pay! I can't believe people are complaining about a few thousand dollars in back taxes while 5 million dollars are being approved for a project due for an over budget crisis. They aren't even quite sure how they are going to move the old Sauvie island bridge around the new Sauvie island bridge.

I'm hopeing we can get our priorities straight and vote for Sho!

How nicely timed this is to coincide with the Sauvie island bridge relocation approval by 3 of the 5 city commissioners

There are, of course, only four city commissioners right now.

"Unfortunately Amy Ruiz got really excited about the whole Portland Suing a mayoral candidate issue that she didn't wait for everything to pan out before posting that. Dozono already paid the city and announced it as such at the press conference. "

If reporters waited for "everything to pan out" before ever publishing, those newspapers and blogs would be pretty empty. We often go with what we know at the time—and then publish more information as it becomes available.

Which I did today. After hitting Dozono's press conference, I put up another post, where I reported that the restaurant's general manager had two checks for the city in hand at the press conference. I also reported that as of 4:45 pm—minutes before the close of business, and over an hour after I saw the checks at the press conference, a few blocks away—the city had not received them.

Since KATU broadcasted the story on Sho's city tax matter, I think it's now fair game to report on and talk about Sam Adams' bankruptcy. How can we entrust fiscal matters to one who walked away from his financial obligations?

OPB reported this morning that it was Sam Adam's flunkies who paid for the investigation into the Sho's restaurant.... is this the kind of mayor we want? Someone who will do anything to get elected? Who will misuse governmental power for his own ends?

Anybody but Sam!

Since KATU broadcasted the story on Sho's city tax matter, I think it's now fair game to report on and talk about Sam Adams' bankruptcy. How can we entrust fiscal matters to one who walked away from his financial obligations?

Since you're so informed you know that the reason Sam filed for bankruptcy was because of a medical issue he had when he was young and couldn't afford insurance right? You also know that he paid back all of his creditors and apologized to all of them for having to file for bankruptcy right? So yes he did file for bankruptcy but no he didn't walk away from his financial obligations. Get your facts straight there David.

I can't believe that Sho wants to run a city that he owes money to. The City had already given him a big break on rent, and he still didn't pay it. Maybe he should have his mayoral salary withheld to pay property taxes.

Sheesh. Ridiculous, but apparently a pattern of Dozono's business work where he plays fast and loose with other people's money.

If he wasn't running for mayor, you can bet he wouldn't be paying Portland citizens what he owes us.

Remember the old bumpersticker "Sizemore - and Dozono - Owes Me Money Too"

Media Checker and Mike D, so its okay that Sho ILLEGALY withheld taxes and fees because someone (its called opposition research by-the-way) connected to the Adams campaign was smart enough to do a public records check? The act was still illegal and if Sam has anything illegal the Dzono campaign would release any information they had (everyone does opposition research).

Media Checker also fails to note that this city more than halved rent for Bush Garden in recognition of the fact that construction might impair business. Do you suggest that the city should not do construction work? That the on-going downtown building boom is not a positive thing for city revenues and ultimately tax payers? Is Sho going to complain about construction when the city revives the Galleria with a new development on top of the SmartPark garage? I doubt it.

I missed this I think, has Sho pledged to divest himself of his businesses, all of which have either city/state contracts or are regulated by the city?

He must have right? Cause that would be the ethical thing to do, right?

The word to describe this situation is 'bizarre'.

It is really difficult to imagine how Sho as a candidate for mayor even contemplated it being a good idea to withhold rent payment or any debt to anyone, let alone the FRIGGIN' CITY!!! For crying out loud, it makes me wonder if Sho isn't an Adams supporter too. He seems to be doing everything he can to hand this one to Adams. It's either that or he badly needs lessons in how to behave like a responsible adult. You'd think he could at least pretend for the duration of this election, but even that apparently is too much to ask. Is Sho's endorsement for Adams around the corner???

Opposition research?

Yes, I guess there's not much to research when you've spent your entire life getting paid by taxpayers while making backroom deals with developers to ruin this city.

I hope Sam does get elected so we can all find out what a lousy mayor he'll be and be done with it and him.

I hope Sam does get elected so we can all find out what a lousy mayor he'll be and be done with it and him.

Could it be worse than the last 4 years of nothing happening? With the way Sho rambles I can't imagine paying attention to 4 more years of that in City Hall. Although it would be mildly entertaining to watch the color of Randy Leonard's face while Sho was mumbling about something else unimportant or dodging a question.

Not only do I doubt "tax 'em Sam" Adams' ability to fiscally manage taxpayer funds, I also think he is interested in burdening Portland with more taxes/ higher taxes, more fees/ higher fees; he wants to fund all these UNNECESSARY ideas, such as the Sauvie Island bridge debacle.

It seems to me that Sho will be better suited to reign in Portland city hall spending. Adams just wants to spend and spend and spend and spend.....

Ben, voting to paying unnecessary millions of dollars moving the sauvie island bridge to nw portland just for a bike/pedestrian use is not 'street maintenance' - it is fiscal insanity, and Adams enthusiastically voted for it. People in east portland are waiting for sidewalks that were promised to them twenty years ago!

If you want to klnow how portland will run under Adams, just look at how he has managed transportation in portland - try driving, try walking, try using the max/bus in portland and see how safe you are - the portland transportation system has become very, very risky and unsafe under Sam Adams.

And lets not forget it was Sam Adams who just a few weeks ago wanted to heave a new tax burden on EVERY portland household, costing each household hundreds of dollars each year, in his insane "utility tax", to pay for sidewalks that were promised by Portland city hall, and paid by Portland households back in the 1980s!

People in east portland are waiting for sidewalks that were promised to them twenty years ago!

The money for the Sauvie Island bridge move can't be used for sidewalks in East Portland. If you had paid any attention at all you would know this.

try driving, try walking, try using the max/bus in portland and see how safe you are - the portland transportation system has become very, very risky and unsafe under Sam Adams.

What? Are you kidding me? Where is your proof there champ? You can't just make something up without stats. I can't remember the last time I was afraid I was to get on the Max or the Bus. I bike responsibly but I understand the risk and the same with walking. I don't think it has got any more unsafe than it was before Adams took it over. Biking may have got safer in the last 4 years and will be ever more safe when the bridge is installed. So please...your facts to back up your statements. I'll be waiting for them.

And lets not forget it was Sam Adams who just a few weeks ago wanted to heave a new tax burden on EVERY portland household, costing each household hundreds of dollars each year, in his insane "utility tax", to pay for sidewalks that were promised by Portland city hall, and paid by Portland households back in the 1980s!

Yeah cause it's Sam's fault former councils spent money for sidewalks years ago. I doubt it will cost hundreds of dollars...maybe over the course of a few years but I use the roads so I'm cool with paying for their upkeep. Are you not?

One thing that I keep figuring out about Sho supporters. They may have even less of a clue that Sho does. They spew uninformed opinions and cry about higher taxes like they're some sort of conservative neo-con that thinks infrastructure just happens when you give everyone a giant tax cut.

If we have to pay more now in taxes to fix our infrastructure it's because it was neglected in the past. In the words of Reverand Wright, "our chickens have come to roost." Now we have to own up for it and pay for it. So either pony up your fair share pal or get the hell out of my city.

If we have to pay more now in taxes to fix our infrastructure it's because it was neglected in the past.

And Garrett who neglected them? Sam Adams did when he was Vera's chief of staff and as commissioner. He was too busy giving tax breaks to condo developers.

I pay over $3000/yr in property taxes... unlike Sam's friends in the Pearl, many who were given tax breaks....all of which just spreads their burden to those of us on the eastside... but of course, who cares about east Portland?

So Garrett, I "pony" up plenty in taxes... just to watch them squandered on trams and trains and now bike bridges... and F*ck you too.

Mike D wrote "Opposition research?

Yes, I guess there's not much to research when you've spent your entire life getting paid by taxpayers while making backroom deals with developers to ruin this city.

I hope Sam does get elected so we can all find out what a lousy mayor he'll be and be done with it and him."

If Sam were complicit in so called backroom deals then he would have been in violation of the sunshine laws and the Merc and Willy would have been all over it. The research on Sam turns up a dedicated public servant who is also good at winning elections (for himself and others).

Mike your groundless vitriol marks you as either a troll or a lunatic. Blaming Sam for decisions made before he was even Katz' CoS is just stupid. Moreover the money to be used for the Flanders street overpass is tied specifically to a limited geographic area, it can not be used to pave sidewalks on the eastside.

Your research would also show that Sam lives in North Portland, hardly a posh section of town (yes I know there are some very nice areas). If Sam were in cahoots with developers would there not be some evidence of gain? Or do you plan to say that its political support hes been getting for his dealmaking? Wake up Mike D the mayoral race isn't the slush fund that a senate race is, Sam is limiting his spending and does not run surpluses to roll over for new campaings.

I care about East Portland, I live in NE and have lived all over the east side; but economic development in urban settings has, for fifty odd years now focused first on the CBD and then moved outward. The rapid development of the Pearl and South Waterfront have kept something of a cap on housing prices in the inner ring old suburbs. If the condos and apartments downtown had never been built the demand for housing would be even greater than it is now in areas within twenty minutes of downtown.

Your research would show that as transportation commissioner Sam has been more than even handed in the distribution of funds to all areas of the city, with the whole east side getting its fair share. Your street? Maybe not. Look at the projects on to see where the money has gone.

As for safety on Max or trimet, think metro government first off as having the primary responsibility and second, don't believe the hype. Show me that Max is less safe than any other metropolitan light rail system of similar size?

I understand we are all partisans here but geesh at least our criticisms of Sho are based on his performance and the facts, not class resentment and know-nothing convictions.

Funny how if you disagree with the greatness of Sam Adams how you are labeled a "lunatic" and told to get "the hell out of my city."

I guess once Sam is mayor we can expect to have his minions start to round up any dissenters.

No one told you to get the hell out of the city, and I call you a lunatic because you keep bringing up unfounded criticism of Sam, said criticisms are demolished by fact and yet you continue. One is left to conclude that your dislike is personal. Which is fine, but not debatable. If you simply dislike the person Sam Adams, fine. But don't try to justify your prejudice with flimsy allegations of fiscal indiscretion and conspiracy theories about turning stumptown into a enclave for the wealthy.

And Garrett who neglected them? Sam Adams did when he was Vera's chief of staff and as commissioner. He was too busy giving tax breaks to condo developers.

Yeah cause he cast votes on city council then so he can be blamed for Vera Katz's decisions? Remember the Pearl District before it was the Pearl District? It was a wasteland where people were afraid to go unless you were buying drugs so boo hoo that some people got tax breaks for moving in there and making it livable.

just to watch them squandered on trams and trains and now bike bridges

There are plenty of cities that they don't spend money on things like urban renewal projects and public transportation. Consider yourself lucky you only pay $3000 in property taxes. It's pretty easy research to do and you will find there are a lot of cities with less amenities where you will pay a lot more.

Funny how if you disagree with the greatness of Sam Adams how you are labeled a "lunatic" and told to get "the hell out of my city."

<h2>I didn't say that. I said get out of my city if you don't want to pay your fair share of taxes. Redcellpolitical said your groundless claims were "lunatic." By no means did anyone say that you were a lunatic or to get the hell out of my city because you don't support Sam.</h2>