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