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Multnomah Village
resident ventures to
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Celebrating 21 years of continuous Southwest news coverage!
Volume No. 22, Issue No. 6
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
– Page 5
April 2014
Mayor Hales and Commissioner Novick
lead transportation town hall
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
By Erik Vidstrand and Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
“Roads are like teeth; if not flossed
and brushed, there is decay,” said
Portland City Commissioner Steve
Novick in his opening remarks at a
transportation town hall meeting at
the Multnomah Arts Center Feb. 27.
Novick was referring to the fact
that the annual cost of maintaining
all improved streets is about $97
million per year and only about
10 percent of that is currently bud-
geted.
According to Novick, gas taxes
haven’t changed in years. People are
driving less; fuel efficiency has im-
proved; electric and hybrid vehicles
have been introduced; and the city
has one of the highest number of
cyclists, if not the highest number of
cyclists per capita. Revenue is down,
gas taxes are down, and federal sup-
port has been cut back.
Greg Jones, assistant director of
transportation, said the city’s goal
was to come up with a six-month
plan and the highest priorities need
to be decided.
In April revenue options will be
defined; and finally, a specific bud-
get plan will be proposed.
Maintenance includes pavement,
signals, street lights, bridges, signs,
and markings. Mayor Hales said
that street maintenance is a compli-
cated issue. The goal is to have 100
miles of paving this year.
Wes Risher of Hillsdale said he
was concerned that, “we are not
using our revenue smartly,” when
it comes to transportation.
Jessica Wade of Multnomah asked
why the stretch of Capitol Highway
between Taylors Ferry Road and
Garden Home Road was being ig-
nored after so many years.
Jill Crecraft of the Multnomah
(Continued on Page 6)
Sen. Wyden’s town hall topics include
energy, environment, tax reform
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (Democrat-
OR) held a town hall March 1, at
the Multnomah Arts Center, listen-
ing and responding to over 100
southwest citizens on a variety of
subjects.
“This is my 688th town hall,” an-
nounced Wyden. He was elected
to the Senate in 1996 in a special
election to fill the seat vacated by
former Republican Sen. Bob Pack-
wood. He’s been there ever since.
Sen. Wyden is the new chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee.
He’s also on the energy, taxation,
and international trade subcom-
mittees. Wyden also serves on the
Senate Select Committee on Intel-
ligence.
Portland City Commissioner
Steve Novick, a Multnomah neigh-
borhood resident, introduced the
senior senator.
“I’ll be talking the next 90 min-
utes,” Wyden explained, as many
first timers groaned, He immedi-
ately grinned and asked, “How
many are new to this?”
Half the crowd raised their hands.
“You’re doing the talking and I’m
going to listen.”
After sighs of relief and without
further ado, the questions began.
Questions ranged from climate
change to corporate money in the
political system to the Hanford
nuclear site cleanup. Energy con-
cerns, the environment, and tax
reform topped the discussion.
“I have proposed a campaign
fund disclosure bill,” Wyden said.
This bill would be an effort to keep
an eye on undisclosed corporate
contributions, currently unlimited.
Despite the recent Supreme Court
decision, Wyden maintains that
corporations are not people and
thus certain rights do not apply to
the businesses. He wants to amend
the Constitution to limit campaign
spending.
Trudy Raz-Frengle (left) and Don Baack pose next to one of the new signs at
Stephens Creek Nature Park (SW Bertha Boulevard at Chestnut Street), March
15. Completed in 2007, the boardwalk bridge which connects Multnomah and
Hillsdale was named Raz-Baack Crossing for legendary trailblazer Werner Raz
(Raz-Frengle's father) and SW Trails president Don Baack.
Baack and Raz-Frengle joined a group of neighbors, trail builders, and local
officials including Metro Councilor Bob Stacy and Portland Parks & Recreation
Commissioner Amanda Fritz for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new trail in the
park. The trail was funded in part by a Metro “Nature in the Neighborhood” grant.
(Post photo by Don Snedecor)
Surprisingly, only a few questions
came up related to local matters.
“There have been 15-20 years of
projects stalled with regards to local
infrastructure,” Jessica Wade stated.
“What can the federal government
do? All the money seems to go to
downtown projects.”
Wyden explained that the country
is in an enormous infrastructure
crisis. He supported the Build
America Bonds bill with over $181
billion of bonds sold.
“What has to happen is that the
city, Metro, and state need to take
it from there,” Wyden said. “I will
get a chance to meet with all these
leaders while I’m out here.”
Wyden lives with his family in
Eastmoreland when not in Wash-
ington.
As for the tax system, Wyden
declared, “The current tax system
is a dysfunctional, rotting carcass!”
Applause erupted.
Wyden went on to say that there
are thousands of special interest
perks. Over 15,000 changes have
been made to the tax law since the
last tax reform.
There were a few elected officials
on hand; it is an election year. The
crowd was made up of mostly el-
derly citizens and some business
folks. Youth were not present and
Wyden’s staff was there to make
sure any other issues would be ad-
dressed at a later time.
Exactly ninety-minutes into the
town hall it ended but Wyden hung
around to shake hands and meet
the crowd.
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Portland, OR 97206