Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2009)
22 JUStpUt FEBRUARY 6, 2009 100 Days and Counting and political acumen to forward her cause. "He can fund programs for queer strategies director Carolyn Becic. Becic, youth and talk about his experience as who leads Oregon Mentors, reportedly a queer youth. People in all walks of life backed out of the new position Jan. 22. make mistakes." Adams told The Oregonian Jan. 31 Adams' plan to stimulate the economy that he has "remapped" his role in and create jobs involves the formation of a the education agenda to a less visible citywide retail action strategy, the launch position. He will remain co-chairman of of work force training for green jobs and the education committee while Multnomah evaluating whether bringing major league County Chairman Ted Wheeler assumes soccer and baseball to Portland would the public role. fuel the economy. Community and Parents for Public Business owner Lanagan supports Schools of Portland also removed Adams' Adams' goal of streamlining the business name from next month's parent leadership permitting process, but he expects the conference, where he was scheduled to mayor to encounter static sparked from speak. the scandal. "I think it's going to be more But Favor Ellis, executive director of the difficult for Sam to get things done as Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center, efficiently as he could have before," he believes Adams has the life experience said. Another policy area was potentially tainted when the qualifications of Adams' planning and sustainability policy adviser, Amy Ruiz, were called into question. Willamette Week suggested that Ruiz, who is a lesbian and former Portland Mercury news editor, was hired to take her off the story. Lisa Libby, Adams' planning and sustainability director, disagrees. "We have a strong and committed team, and Amy is an invaluable part of it." Adams' interest in greening the city predates his campaign. His vision includes taxing plastic grocery bags, laying the groundwork for an eastside streetcar and exploring wind energy. In his first 100 days, Adams plans to appoint a cabinet that can discuss climate change Speculation over former Portland Mercury news and establish a Northwest editor Amy Ruiz's qualifications as Adams' planning Progressive Cities Coalition. and sustainability policy adviser has not slowed down her ability to stick with the 100 Days plan. Libby's team ticked the Continued from Page 19 We cover both sides of the fence. We'll find you a home and get you the loan. Shea Steel Re.dtot 50.>-2N2-9(M)0 Ext I 12 sheasteel remax.net Signal ti re I 'ropcrt ics Daw nie Grubstein Mortgage Broker 50 55 7-9100 Jaw nie ©nioxieinortgage.com Close your transaction with Shea and Dawnie and receive $200 off your closing costs! first item off the list Jan. 23 by promoting the Urban Growth Bounty, which bolsters urban agriculture. Other priorities include smoothly merging the newly formed bureau of planning and sustainability according to the Portland Plan, and accessing City Hall's own green practices. According to Libby, the 100 Days plan is actually ahead of schedule. "We plan on wrapping up a lot of our efforts in April. We look to be on track at this point," she said. To openly gay Metro Councilor Robert Liberty, the sustainability and transportation plans come down to policy and funding. When the scandal broke Jan. 19, Adams was attending Favor Ellis, executive director of the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center, has faith in Adams' ability the Conference of Mayors in to promote queer youth mentoring. Washington, D.C. He cut his trip short and flew home the following day to hold a press conference. in Portland where all of the arts leaders of "To the extent that being at the the community were in one room together. Conference of Mayors was important I think this scandal has mobilized the for him to move his agenda forward, arts community in an unprecedented, the scandal has had an impact on his cooperative way." work to secure more money or change Emergency management and city policy," said Liberty. "But it is hard for improvement are the final items in me to imagine that missing part of that Adams' 100 Days agenda. Establishing conference would have any effect on his communication protocols for emergency efforts to raise money or change policy at management situations and reforming the the federal or state level." budget process do not appear impeded Acito, one of several high-profile artists by the scandal. who organized a Jan. 23 press conference From Lanagan's point of view, the city and rally in support of Adams, viewed the and the man may emerge stronger from 100 Days arts plan as a step in the right the scandal. direction. "It seems like he is determined "I think the end result is going to be a to move us forward by transforming us more compassionate, more understanding from a do-it-yourself community to a do- Adams," he said. "I think we will end up it-ourselves community. I don't think that with a better mayor than we had, one who's we've capitalized on our relationships and able to understand challenges, problems coalitions, and I'm feeling that synergy and difficulties on a much more personal with Sam taking the lead." level. Sam's been our golden boy for so According to Acito, the scandal long and has had a very unimpeded ride. might have been "the best thing that I don't think encountering an issue like this ever happened to the arts community. is necessarily a bad thing. It might be very I personally have never been to an event grounding to a talented individual." © want action that's all -shocks ask/tell about HIV status - then decide how to heat things up Mult Co. Health Dept. STD Clinic 1 503.988.3700 • Always confidential I
