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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2014)
5 street roots Jan 31, 2014 AUDITOR, from page 3 a level of concern on a number of fronts. He is the mayor. He needs to send a message to the a settlement with the Department o f Justice. rest of the council that he understands the W hat effect do you think those changes will have? changes, understands the system as it exists now, understands how it will change, and he L.G-V.: We’re very happy. One of thfe most was not able to do th a t That sends a rewarding parts of this job is ta make a confusing message to Council. Some had a different point of view of how significant change in the civilian authority of the changes should come about. police oversight in the city. Those changes, Commissioner (Amanda) Fritz wanted to coming on the heels of very dramatic changes convene a stakeholder group to talk about we made in 2010, significantly strengthened each and every change. I was not prepared to IPR’s oversight authority. When I first arrived here, there was no right for IPR to controvert do that. It didn’t seem appropriate to me. We a finding — essentially challenging* the finding had already spent a year following the DOJ — which gave us the authority to send requirements and the city’s requirements, and investigations back. Spending enormous amounts of Nqw, we are voting time communicating with members on the different stakeholders. Police Review Board. " I f tbere's anything that So, she had a different point We have a stronger of view. Some were supportive can be said about sue, it say, we’ll participate not particularly vocal at would be that the level of but that first hearing, and that was in investigations in; a discomfort that has hard to take. And the city more fundamental way. g traditionally been part of attorney wasn’t there, and we the auditor's office has 5 had been promised that* A.W .: In October someone would be. In that been blown out of the 2013, you wrote a memo, I was willing to speak very frankly and harshly about pretty blistering memo water a couple times." z to City Council when a process that didn’t work for they delayed voting on our organization, but was changes to police important to the community. I oversight, writing that there were “alarm ing can tell you that some Council members took lapses” in police accountability. You also wrote that very seriously. I don’t do that very often. that, “l am concerned by council’s apparent lack o f understanding o f the gravity and urgency o f moving forward with DOJ’s required changes.” Generally speaking, the City Council has been criticized lately as being lackluster, and I wonder i f you think this is symptomatic o f lacking the political will to enact big policy changes and reforms? L.G-V: I’m definitely not ready to say they don’t have the political will. I think it’s easier to focus on and enact things that seem to be something everyone wants. Everyone wants clean air. Everyone wants sustainable green buildings. I’m exaggerating a little bit, but that’s become a Portland value. Things that are a little more politically charged, it’s a little more difficult. These are tough decisions, 'sometimes, that council members have to make, particularly with limited resources. Hopefully, ottr work helps them make smarter decisions. The mayor and Commissioner (Steve) Novick were not part of the body that approved the agreement with the DOJ, so that is a piece of i t I also think there isn’t anyone on the council who had any interaction with the DOJ when they were here. That was the way DOJ wanted to handle it. Frankly — and I don’t mean to be crude — but it’s been some time without a high profile shooting or in-custody death which calls into question the credibility of the police bureau. In terms of the changes to IPR that we brought before the council, my memo speaks for itself. The mayoris the commissioner in charge of the police bureau, and he lacked engagement in this matter, and that should be Connection by janelle Jeffries I’m looking for that connection Connect the dots Things are scattered Really? Oh, did you not get the memo? Seriously? Bo what’s a professional college student? Well, now on job applications for over five years or so, They ask: “Have you ever committed a crime?” It used to be: “Have you ever committed a felony?” I could mark no for that one. Times have changed, Now I try to sell newspapers for change; I even donate plasma. Making the connection is hard When you’re not in the competitive pool. .. One two-year degree, three bachelor’s degrees, Now almost a master’s degree with over $100,000 in student-loans. Connect the dote Things are scattered Really? Oh, did you not get the memo? Seriously? A.W.: W hat do you hope to get done in your • last year in office? L.G-V.: We still have a few more changes to make to IPR’s code in order to fully roll out ‘ the DOJ’s agreement. We have some extremely important audits in our audit schedule. Among them is.auditing the city attorney’s office — that’s not been something done in many jurisdictions, including this one. There’s always been the concern that it needs some expertise that auditorsjfon’Lhayfe. L , don’t think it does. We’ve foundsome guidance from audit shops on how to do it There is an odd relationship that we have to maintain with the city attorney’s office, v- because they represent us if need be. There’s always been a level of discomfort But if there’s anything that can be said about me, it would be that the level of discomfort that has traditionally been part of,the auditor’s office has been blown out of , the water a couple times. Historically, the auditor hasn’t been willing to do that..but I looked at our city code, and it doesn’t say anything about it. I hope to be able to make some changes to the internal bureaucratic processes that impact all the bureaus, including mine, through these audits of the city attorney’s office; the .budget process and the human resources office. The work of this huge organizations impacted by all those various functions in many, many ways. It was something that was not particularly well received, but an important decision. Maybe it can get Portland a little closer to being the city that works. Stories by'G.B. Your story, my story, the world’s story Each momentholds millions of stories from the smallest: ant to the largest plant We are the hero, we are the villain. Welisten, we share. They are silly and fun. And they are sad and sorrowful. They inspire, causing the heart to pound and the mind to face. They bring together diverse worlds; Burst forth with creativity, express beauty of humanity. Risk, exposure of the heart. For a second, hold your breath, waiting for acceptance or pain, applause or boos. Sigh of relief, “I know what you mean. I’ve been there too.” Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for the stories. Thank you for the risk. Thank you for the words. THE MAGIC IS IN THE HOLE! 2 2 SW 3RD & BURNSIDE 1501 NE DAVIS SUPPORTING STREET ROOTS SINCE 2 0 0 3
