Right, Randy Leonard and his paymaster Lord Paulson are going to help Lents by privatizing PARK SPACE and turning it into a PARKING LOT. Mr. Novick, save the guilt for something else.

I'm glad that "the environmentalists" weren't in the room or they'd be falling all over themselves to sell the horror that is HB 2001 instead of glumly making excuses and shifting to the passive voice when discussing it (writing things like "the parts we supported were removed.")

Of course, passive acceptance (learned helplessness is more like it) isn't pretty, but it lets Oregon environmentalists keep from having to confront the reality that Gov. K and the Democratic majorities on both ends of the capital don't give a damn about the environment except as a mantra.

What exactly is the environmental problem with a highway?

After all cars use less energy than trains and we can't all take the inter city buses.

Yes, I have to agree, that's the coolest post by a politician I've seen in a good while, taking the time to honor people you disagree with.

But really, the Lents Stadium idea is insane, and an EZ pass system that exempts residents is a great compromise.

"Somehow I do not think that one government can tax visitors to that state/county/city and exclude its own citizens. I am not a lawyer, but I believe that would violate a host of interstate trade laws as well as the U.S. constitution. Could Oregon tax visitors to Oregon and not Oregonians? Could California? I don't think so."

From what I recall of three relevant cases I read in 2nd yr con law I believe a State can discriminate against non-residents over non essential economic activity but not essential activity. So NH can't refuse to admit non-residents to the bar & SC can't charge out-of state shrimp fishermen a license fee 10x higher than what they charge SC fishermen but it MT can charge out of staters a mich higher license for bear hunting than Montanan residents.

Whether charging out of staters a higher rate or a surtax on hotel rooms and car rentals etc would fall afoul of that rule I am unsure. Tourisim is an essential economic activity in many areas-the coast etc.

Wednesday night is discount night at the Takahashi - 104th and Holgate.

The Cora y Huichol taco truck at 82nd and Holgate has fresh handmade tortillas.

If you go to El Pato Feliz, order the Posole.

Vien Huong Chinese restaurant does a good BBQ pork fried rice.

The potato piroshki at Ararat are delicious - and you can dance to DJ Boris.

Le Sorelle isn't open for dinner, but if you go for lunch, try the Lents Burger.

"I hereby promise to go out to dinner in Lents...Anyone want to join me?"

I do!

We will eat a fabulous meal at El Pato Feliz, 5824 SE 92nd Ave.

After work.

You name the evening.

You have my number.

Oh...and I still love you.

Randy, I have to admit I feel a little guilty about my criticisms of you over this Paulson deal. I'm clearly tapping into my overall outrage at the derivatives scandal that is threatening to destroy America. I do feel I'm right about how misguided and wrong this deal is, but I don't enjoy being angry about your performance in office. I actually get a kick out of your demeanor and see you as a true Portland character.

  Steve,
     I also feel a little guilty that I didn't do more to get you elected to the Senate. I did offer to write for you but you had all that covered anyway. Still the right line here or there could have turned the election so it was our loss.
    I did invite you to come on my cable access show, but you weren't interested, even while you suffered from a lack of campaign coverage. I'm still working on a way to feel guilty about that.

  Finally, I sold Jay Leno 645 jokes over the years, so I'm feeling very guilty about the Conan thing.

  There, I think that covers it.

If you're referring to the Casino at Grand Ronde, you may recall the indians original choice was to build it off I-5 and then Gov. Kitzhaber shot that down...

To another poster, as for trains using more energy than cars I would add, "only when they're empty."

:)

Oh and...both you and Randy are invited to my house for brunch anytime. Our house special drink is the Cava and whortleberry mimosa, and I make the best scones in the Pacific Northwest. (I have people that will give sworn testimony that this is true.)

Randy, you may not have a great taste in sites for baseball stadiums, but you do have a great taste in burritos. El Pato is lo mejor in Portland taquerias.

I don't feel guilty for trashing the ballpark idea, or saying that if Randy backs it he's done in local politics. The ballpark is a waste of money we can use for real urban development projects, and siding with the Paulsons in Portland to spend public funds on a boondoggle... well, it's just not a wise move at all.

I think Mr. Calhoun and others are right about the constitutionality and the hidden costs (collecting tolls) for non-Yamhillians in Yamhill County. That said, I believe Oregon is missing a golden opportunity to become a true leader in green fuel development and innovative ways to rake in revenue off that development. One thought that comes to mind is using a decentralized model of algae-based ethanol production (I'm happy to provide details on this if anyone wants the info) and the state getting royalties from any patents state universities or employees thereof on university time come up with in these technologies. That may not solve the Yamhill transportation problem in the next year, but I truly believe Oregon can produce billions -- not a typo, BILLIONS -- of dollars in the new green technologies.

All we need is some of the gung-ho spirit and direction that made logging and farming the state's economic backbone for the first hundred years. I would LOVE to discuss this more. Hmmm, maybe I'll try a new essay for Kari.

Finally, say when and where for the dinners, Steve. I'll bring a tableful of people, too.

PS: Mr. McDonald -- I got the Leno joke. I may not have the guilt issues associated with western religion, but I do love your dry wit.

Martin, Thanks for the kind words. I think he actually opened with my joke on the last night, but I'm going to wait 'til I get the check before I up the total to 646. Oh well, the count lost its meaning for me during the writers strike, much as my relationship with baseball changed when their strike canceled the World Series that one time.

    I did want Steve to win the Senate seat though. Damn, that would have been great. My part in the campaign was not destined to be. I had a break-in at the house the day before he declared, and they even stole my electric razor so I arrived at the kick-off function with serious stubble. That's absolutely true by the way - this all is.

    Randy introduced Steve and I was hoping I was seeing history in the making. Sadly, it didn't work out and that's a damn shame. I admire Novick's brains as well as his soul.

    If Sam gets tossed out I'd love to see Steve as Mayor of Portland. Guilty or not.

Bill McDonald--I for one don't think your anger with Randy Leonard over the screwball Lents stadium deal is misplaced....not one bit. It's just one more scam whereby the public's property is turned over to greedheads, all the while promising "job, jobs, jobs." What a crock of shit.

Regarding the Lents stadium - or anything having to do with stadiums:

PLEASE help me comprehend how this MLS-Baseball Stadium deal in any way pencils out for anyone but Merritt Paulson (whoever his father is). So far, it is my understanding that:

• Taxpayers struggling to meet everyday obligations will be expected to bear the burden (potential or real) of millions of dollars in additional debt to re-develop a stadium for an MLS team when • MLS has a documented history of adding little if any appreciable economic benefit to any community and • The proposed average ticket price of $31 (not including parking or transportation, food, beverage, and souvenirs) is hardly "family friendly" and • The sustainable jobs created will be well below "family wage" and likely require continued supplements from additional taxpayer dollars and • The additional "requirement" that the re-developed park be for soccer-only mandates building of a new stadium for a minor league baseball team that has been fun to watch but marginally profitable at best and • Taxpayers (still) struggling to meet everyday obligations will be expected to bear the burden of even more millions of dollars in additional debt to develop a stadium for said minor league baseball team and • The development of said stadium would require one or more major change(s) to existing URA(s) resulting in other current and/or pending projects being put on hold if not eliminated altogether for the sake of a further taxpayer subsidized property that would provide little if any economic benefit, no affordable housing, and even more below family-wage jobs and • The subsequent average ticket prices (also not including parking or transportation, food, beverage, and souvenirs) to enter the new stadium to see a minor league team would likely be even more prohibitive that the "major league" soccer team and • The siting of said stadium will require thousands if not millions in additional study (taxpayer?) dollars and • The location of said stadium will require additional millions in modification and/or (re)development of infrastructure including parking, transportation, utilities, and relocation and • There has been no meaningful public engagement around this issue much less the thoughtful presentation and careful consideration of a comprehensive and sustainable plan to finance, develop, market, and maintain these two new behemoths.

As a business person, community organizer, and engaged citizen; I just don't see it. I plead with you to provide me with some semblance of rationale that might convince me that this deal is anything but a bad one for Portland.

Hi Steve

If you want to help Lents, how about grilling the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Advisory Committee with tough questions about the economics of this stadium?

I think most of us feel as Steve does attimes. In politics, there is always a legitimate fear of offending someone, be it the voters, your employer, your funders, etc... Unfortunately, some people can't disagree without being disagreeable and are grossly offended if someone, even their friend/ally, disagrees with them. It's often easier to argue with members of the opposing party.

To use a personal example, when working for State Representative Barbara Ross of Corvallis in 2000, I worked hard to help elect Kelley Wirth her successor. During the '01 session, Kelley was one of many the co-sponsors of a bill to spend something like $200 million to bring a Major League baseball team to PDX. Some of the leasding lobbyists like Dave Barrow were working the bill. I knew right away that Kelley's position was contrary to that of Corvallis, where voters actually support education and other services and will actually support revenue for them, but probably not for a losing baseball team (I think the Montreal Expos was the target.)

I typed up a petition opposing the bill and circulated it at a Democratic event, where 60 activists, including elected officials, signed on. I gave copies of the petition to the five Linn/Benton lawmakers. Kelley wasn't at her office when I dropped it of, but, when I saw her at an event the following week, she jabbed her finger at me and snarled "Don't talk to me about baseball!" Still, as I recall, Kelley was perhaps the only co-sponsor to vote against the original version of that bill. I had no regrets in taking a legitimate public policy position even though it offended a legislator. Legislators are elected to listen to their constituents, right?

Steve sets a great example by taking clear public stands on the issues while trying to maintain his friendships with those who might disagree with him. It's not always easy, but it's the honorable M.O. for any genuine public servant.