I finally managed to catch up with Portland Commissioner Randy Leonard, the tip of the spear when it comes to the MLS deal that has apparently precipiated the awarding of an expansion franchise to Portland beginning in 2011. However, we pretended that the news of yesterday wasn't official, formal or obvious--and in any case, we talked mostly about other issues surrounding the process, including his ongoing debate with Ted Wheeler about City and County finance, why he thinks the Blazers did an about face, and what should go into the proposed entertainment district for the Rose Quarter.
The whole audio file of our 39-minute interview is available here, so that you can hear precisely the questions asked, and Leonard's full responses. Be warned that it's a 20MB .mp3 file, and as such may put a strain on your PC if you are using older equipment. But it's worth the full listen.
However, so that you don't HAVE to listen to it, I've transcribed readable versions of some of the questions and answers that yielded the most interesting parts of the conversation. I would call the transcript "close to verbatim;" while I've edited some things out for readability and length, the edits do not change the meaning of the responses, and once he gets into the meat of his answer his words are almost 100% as he said them. And of course if you're skeptical about that, listen to the audio for yourself.
So with that, let's hear what Randy had to say on the eve of what shapes up to be an historic announcement in Portland tomorrow!
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What do you think Chair Wheeler is expecting from the "new covenant" suggested to bring the County and Portland Public Schools more closely to the table in the Urban Renewal District (URD) discussions for the PGE Park area?
He was referencing a broader conversation he and I have had with reference to Measure A, a resolution adopted by the county in 1984, that was a document that reflected the division of responsibilities between the City of Portland and County of Multnomah. Basically what Resolution A said was the county will do jails, the county will do human services, and the city will do police, fire, parks, infrastructure services because up until 1984, there really was no core delineation who did what, who was responsible for what.
Since 1990 and the passage of Ballot Measure 5 the County has had diminishing resources, then they've had administrations in the White House who've cut various funding for human resource programs, aging programs--that money has diminished at the state, and the state has diminished it to the counties. The County has found itself in the position of having all these responsibilities stay and even increase as we've had a growing aging population and in some case a growing poverty population where the resources have diminished.
What Ted was talking about yes, I think let's talk about URAs and the impact on us, but also this broader discussion--should Multnomah County really be saddled with repairing all the bridges anymore? Shouldn't they be the City's responsibility? Should we be funding Hooper Detox anymore, when really primarily the people that are being served by that are Portland people? I know that's what he was saying, because he and I have had that discussion before.
First things first, you'll want to take note if you are an early riser--Novick will be doing KPOJ on the morning show this Thursday the 6th, in Thom Hartmann's local hour at 8:35AM. Stream it live, or catch the podcast later that day. Thom is a supporter, and he'll play to the strengths of a friendly, but he asks solid questions that make for good answers if the person is honest. (Which Steve tends to be).
This also just came through the virtual door--video of Novick, AuCoin, Sten and Cogen on endorsement day. Nice of the weather to take every reporter with a pair of boots.*
This morning, a legion of Oregon progressives stood up for Steve Novick. Led by former Congressman Les AuCoin, these nabobs for Novick laid out why Steve is the strongest, most progressive, most dynamic choice for U.S. Senate.
Some endorsements are better than others. With the possible (and bizarre) exception of Sen. Avel Gordly, the "Democrats for Smith" list of endorsements was in some cases not even of Democrats, or a Democrat actually for Smith. Other endorsements are better; the two governors that Merkley got, and got early, were strong sentinels to party Democrats around the state that this was the guy to back. Some are in between--it's impressive that so many colleagues of Merkley's back him for Senate...except that they're all colleagues (and in 30 cases really subordinates to) Jeff Merkley.
But the Novick campaign has prepared folks for what they term a "significant" endorsement, and if my belief in who it is turns out correctly, it could indeed be significant. I think they've bagged some kind of maverick with a good history in state politics, someone who will signal to all the people looking for a sign to be bold with their vote and choose the change candidate--a guy (or woman!) who says "no, THIS is the guy to back, and it starts with me."
I'm not going to voice my guess because I could be wrong, and if I turned out to be right I'd screw up Steve's day if I spoiled the surprise early. Novick will be at PSU 11AM Monday to announce who it is--but he'll also be joined by a local maverick's gallery (which is why I think the big fish is sort of a topper in the same mold) headed by
Portland City Council members Randy Leonard and Erik Sten, Multnomah County Commissioners Jeff Cogan and Maria Rojo De Steffey and Washington County Commissioner Desari Strader.
The Novick campaign will also release a list of nearly 100 public officials, civic leaders and political activists from across Oregon who are supporting his campaign.
Good list, eclectic list. Any list with Randy Leonard on it carries a plus mark with a lot of people around Portland, IMO. Glad he's aboard, that he took the plunge.
But why should he have to be seen as plunging at all? The whole notion that complaints about DSCC are reflective of the money advantage is really somewhat of a ruse--Novick will make it to May without the logoed RV and the stage bunting, I think. What's bothersome is the influence, particularly the negative influence exerted--intentionally and not--on the non-favored candidates. It's one thing to compete straight-up for donors on a level playing field, but people in politics know where their bread is buttered, and where their future and career lie--and who they lie with--if they are liberals or progressives: the Democratic Party.
When the machine says to pull lever A and you start handing money to lever B (so to speak), the machine notices, and remembers. How many Democratic House members want to go into 08 session having backed Novick in the primary? Awwwk-ward! The national and state elites have signalled their choice, and that means that going against the choice is a consciously subordinate act to the party leadership. When you are hampered in your free choice by an imbalance of personal-social returns from the institution as a result of who you support, democracy suffers. More simply put, people have to go out on a limb a little bit in many cases, just to support Steve. That shouldn't have to happen.
But it does make those who are courageous enough to follow their convictions good character witnesses for the person they end up backing. So it will be interesting to see who that profile in courage turns out to be.
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