The Necessary Underlying Discussion Before Charter Reform
We’ve been discussing the BlazerGiftGate scandal that’s dogging Tom Potter in the press today, and our discussion in the comment threads has led me to think more and more about Tom Potter’s “strong mayor” move.
In my mind, why make a person who’s a weak leader a “strong mayor”?
To borrow a thought from commenter “Lady” to my prior post, “I have no respect for Tom Potter as a Mayor. . . What has this guy done, besides having visions, to improve our beautiful city?”
And this seems to encapsulate what many seem to be saying: Potter’s not a good mayor.
So, as we discuss the merits of charter reform as an ideal, we need to also discuss the practicalities of it, especially in light of who we have on the City Council as a whole, and who we have as Mayor in particular.
So, the underlying discussion: Is Tom Potter a good mayor? Please discuss (and please give more than knee-jerk responses and offer some substantive examples of his strengths or weaknesses to back up your opinion)…
Related posts:
Really, the more pressing question for supporters of a strong mayor system, if they actually bother to read the details of the current proposal, is this: Think of the mayor you have most despised, and ask yourself if you’d want him or her to have the powers given the mayor in the proposal.
B!X-
Nicely put. And, readers, please note that if you click on B!X’s name it takes you to the Portland’s Future Charter website so that you can actually take his advice…
I actually like the idea of a strong mayor, I read an interesting article with Vera Katz in whcich she detailed praise for such governance… however she always felt it would reek of self-service if she had promoted such an idea. I very much appreciate Vera Katz and all she did in her 11+ years of service to Portland.
Tom Potter? A good mayor? Not in the slightest… ok well maybe there is some fraction that is acceptable but I would propose you could say that about even the worst of leaders… IMO he is a dim-witted leader that touts “vision” because it is so foreign to him. He’s all talk.
Why? The reasons are many. One blunder that did no one any benefit was his public dismissal of Paul Allen. Regardless of how you feel about Paul Allen… he is the sixth richest man in the world. The potential for future business ventures equating jobs, quality of life, etc. was put in jeporady by Potter’s “could care less” attitude. Even if his position was to be the same… public grace regarding the matter would have gone a long way. If you were Paul Allen deciding on where to put a new millions plus investment that would help the community and the Mayor of Portland had been a dick to you, might you decide to just do it instead in Seattle? Yeah specualtive, I know… but I’m just saying.
His refusal to step in and help Apple Computers get past some trivial issue regarding a Apple store on 23rd shows his further lack of understanding in regards to business. What sits now is a empty ugly building and Apple has given up (even though they bent over backward for the neighborhood asssociation) Lost jobs and lost taxes…
Denial that downtown has a homeless problem and a refusal to support long-time business interests in downtown. Look at the vacanices downtown… not to mention Pioneer Place.
Only recently has he discovered that the permit process burden-laden and is backwards and not friendly to business, which has encouraged many businesses to locate elsewhere… he has finally recognized this (thanks to a committee) and to that I do give him credit. Although, why he needed a committee to figure that out is beyond me.
His dismissiveness of the PPD and his handling of Foxworth has been disgraceful and counter-productive…
Many of my concerns center around economics, vibrancy of the city, livability… much of which I think he has little understanding of.
What about his anti-FBI, the cities being bugged weirdo paranoia. He is a laughing stock.
The list could go on and on… but lastly let me say his forming of committees that at least in my correspondence with his office I was always invited to go to, huh? I just shared my position with the guy and he tells me to go to some meeting… thanks but no thanks that’s what you were elected to do. That’s what I pay you to do.
Countless examples of poor leadership… perhaps as the mayor of Scapoose he would be an ample leader. Just not Portland.