Oregon's Public Housing Policy Debate

Is there anyone in the state of Oregon who believes that improving the quality of life in their neighborhood is achieved by OVERLOADING their own neighborhood with low-income public housing?


Some of the ideas for quantifying public housing location policy described below in the draft Standards for Equitable Distribution of Public Housing Resolution (formerly 3-6-9) have been included in the Analysis of Impediments To Fair Housing Report which has been adopted by Portland's Housing and Community Development Commission and also sent to HUD. These ideas need to be discussed by the Portland city council, the Gresham city council, the Multnomah county commission and others involved in public housing location policy and implementation.

DRAFT
Declare 5-10-15 Neighborhood Percentages As Transparent, Understandable and Accountable Distributive Public Housing Policy Goals - Provide Compensation To Neighborhoods Above 15%


WHEREAS the city of Portland has an established policy that public housing clients should not be concentrated into a few select neighborhoods but rather distributed throughout Portland’s neighborhoods,

WHEREAS it has become necessary to quantify the policy of distribution of public housing clients in order to assure that public expenditures are being spent in furtherance of these objectives,

WHEREAS it is necessary to adopt neighborhood map based accounting as a reporting and decision making tool regarding public housing policy and expenditures.

WHEREAS it is necessary to compensate neighborhoods that shoulder greater social responsibility than other neighborhoods by including more than 15% public housing clients.

WHEREAS for purposes of this resolution public housing shall be defined as requiring means test + government subsidy + rental agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the city of Portland shall establish as its primary public housing client goal in each Portland neighborhood a target of ten (10) percent of that neighborhood’s population. Goals for minimum and maximum shall be established so that no neighborhood shall have fewer than five (5) percent and no neighborhood shall have more than fifteen (15) percent of its population as public housing clients.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the office of the Portland City Auditor shall coordinate the collection of data and report annually on the status of accomplishment toward the 5-10-15 goal.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the city council shall fund the City Auditor’s 5-10-15 related activities by whatever combination of funding sources from HAP, PDC, BHCD or other revenue sources it may chose.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, all appointments for PDC, HAP and HCDC commissioner shall be made during the regular city council calendar.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the mayor shall determine that all nominees to become HAP, PDC and HCDC commissioners agree to support the 5-10-15 policy goal before being formally nominated for council approval.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, during the confirmation proceedings the mayor shall publicly instruct the appointee of his or her obligation to use the office to which they are appointed to further the 5-10-15 policy goal.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, neighborhoods with more than 15% public housing clients shall be considered “overloaded” and subject to compensation according to the following schedule:
$1,000/client/year from 15%-16%
$1,100/client/year from 16%-17%
$1,200/client/year from 17%-18%
Increasing $100/client/year for every additional percentage point.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, payments for compensating 15%+ “overloaded” neighborhoods shall be made annually to the affected neighborhood associations. Compensation funding may only be used for Arts related activities e.g. purchases of artwork, performances, classes etc. Compensation funding may not be used for any social services activity or purpose.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement shall annually issue a Neighborhood Art Card to every address in those neighborhoods which qualify for “overload” compensation. The card will allow four persons to participate in any activities sponsored by the neighborhood named on the card. The card shall contain the neighborhood budget for the year of issuance and an explanation of why it has been issued.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this resolution is binding city policy.

67% of Multnomah County Neighborhoods Already Meet the 3-6-9 Guidelines
HAP Clients as % of population
Neighborhood
Total # of HAP Clients
52.75
Hollywood
613
18.39
Portsmouth
1463
13.15
Cathedral Park
359
12.37
Northwest District
1374
10.28
Reed
283
9.03
Humboldt
444
7.61
Eliot
211
7.55
Irvington
506
7.26
Glenfair
170
6.71
King
387
6.59
Boise
226
6.11
Sellwood-Moreland
634
3.35
Hollybrook-G
228
3.33
Rose City Park
294
3.08
Russell
106
3.08
Hayhurst
144
3.07
West Portland Park
115
3.04
Mt. Hood-G
228
2.97
Northeast-G
262
2.96
North-G
228
2.87
Laurelhurst
128
2.85
Sunderland
2
2.64
Maplewood
60
2.56
Hillsdale
195

To see the complete table for all neighborhoods in Multnomah county go here: Complete Table

All percentages and totals are estimates based on the best available information. For more accurate data contact mayor Potter and support the 3-6-9 Resolution.

Click Here to SEE LARGE MAP,

a graphic representation of the Estimated HAP Client Population By Neighborhood In Multnomah County

Estimated HAP Client Population By Neighborhood In Multnomah County
HAP Classifications
0-30 % Median Income
31-50 % Median Income
51-80 % Median Income
Neighborhood Totals
Multnomah County
HAP Property
Section 8
Total
Total
% of All
HAP Property
Section 8
Total
Total
% of All
HAP Property
Section 8
Total
Total
% of All
Total HAP
Total
Total All
% of All % of All
Multnomah County
Neighborhoods
# Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
0-30 Clients # Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
31-50 Clients # Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
# Clients
$ Costs
51-80 Clients
Qualified
# Clients
$ Costs
Clients
$ Costs
Neighborhoods
1 Portsmouth 824 2113734 344 882434 1168 2996168 4.79 186 318086 63 107739 249 425825 5.59 30 25652 16 13681 46 39333 4.04 5566 1463 3461326 4.88 4.86 Portsmouth 1
2 Northwest District 714 1831561 438 1123562 1152 2955123 4.72 98 167594 81 138521 179 306115 4.02 22 18812 21 17956 43 36768 3.78 7103 1374 3298006 4.58 4.63 Northwest District 2
3 Centennial 52 133391 641 1644300 693 1777691 2.84 16 27362 118 201797 134 229159 3.01 4 3420 31 26507 35 29927 3.08 10396 862 2036778 2.87 2.86 Centennial 3
4 Lents 16 41043 627 1608387 643 1649431 2.63 4 6841 116 198376 120 205217 2.69 0 0 30 25652 30 25652 2.64 10163 793 1880300 2.64 2.64 Lents 4
5 Powellhurst-Gilbert 54 138521 554 1421127 608 1559648 2.49 14 23942 102 174434 116 198376 2.6 8 6841 27 23087 35 29927 3.08 8974 759 1787952 2.53 2.51 Powellhurst-Gilbert 5
6 Hazelwood 0 544 1395475 544 1395475 2.23 0 100 171014 100 171014 2.24 0 26 22232 26 22232 2.28 8816 670 1588721 2.23 2.23 Hazelwood 6
7 Sellwood-Moreland 200 513042 345 884998 545 1398040 2.23 8 13681 64 109449 72 123130 1.62 0 0 17 14536 17 14536 1.49 5600 634 1535706 2.11 2.16 Sellwood-Moreland 7
8 Cully 26 66695 471 1208214 497 1274910 2.04 12 20522 87 148782 99 169304 2.22 2 1710 23 19667 25 21377 2.2 7628 621 1465591 2.07 2.06 Cully 8
9 Richmond 150 384782 349 895259 499 1280040 2.04 28 47884 64 109449 92 157333 2.06 8 6841 17 14536 25 21377 2.2 5652 616 1458750 2.05 2.05 Richmond 9
10 Montavilla 0 499 1280040 499 1280040 2.04 0 92 157333 92 157333 2.06 0 24 20522 24 20522 2.11 8092 615 1457895 2.05 2.05 Montavilla 10
11 Hollywood 522 1339040 45 115434 567 1454475 2.32 32 54725 8 13681 40 68406 0.9 4 3420 2 1710 6 5130 0.53 732 613 1528011 2.04 2.15 Hollywood 11
12 Unincorporated Mult. Co. 0 495 1269779 495 1269779 2.03 0 91 155623 91 155623 2.04 0 24 20522 24 20522 2.11 8023 610 1445924 2.03 2.03 Unincorporated Mult. Co. 12
13 St. Johns 48 123130 385 987606 433 1110736 1.77 28 47884 71 121420 99 169304 2.22 12 10261 19 16246 31 26507 2.72 6244 563 1306548 1.88 1.84 St. Johns 13
14 City of Troutdale 0 425 1090215 425 1090215 1.74 0 78 133391 78 133391 1.75 0 21 17956 21 17956 1.85 6889 524 1241562 1.75 1.74 City of Troutdale 14
15 Brentwood/Darlington 24 61565 393 1008128 417 1069693 1.71 10 17101 72 123130 82 140232 1.84 2 1710 19 16246 21 17956 1.85 6366 520 1227881 1.73 1.72 Brentwood/Darlington 15
16 Irvington 182 466868 231 592564 413 1059432 1.69 36 61565 42 71826 78 133391 1.75 4 3420 11 9406 15 12826 1.32 3751 506 1205649 1.69 1.69 Irvington 16
17 Concordia 44 112869 360 923476 404 1036345 1.66 14 23942 66 112869 80 136811 1.8 4 3420 17 14536 21 17956 1.85 5832 505 1191113 1.68 1.67 Concordia 17
18 Humboldt 160 410434 206 528433 366 938867 1.5 26 44464 38 64985 64 109449 1.44 4 3420 10 8551 14 11971 1.23 3342 444 1060287 1.48 1.49 Humboldt 18
19 Downtown 10 25652 338 867041 348 892693 1.43 2 3420 62 106029 64 109449 1.44 4 3420 16 13681 20 17101 1.76 5479 432 1019244 1.44 1.43 Downtown 19
20 Buckman 18 46174 300 769563 318 815737 1.3 2 3420 55 94058 57 97478 1.28 0 0 14 11971 14 11971 1.23 4873 389 925186 1.3 1.3 Buckman 20
21 King 66 169304 249 638738 315 808041 1.29 8 13681 46 78666 54 92348 1.21 6 5130 12 10261 18 15391 1.58 4036 387 915780 1.29 1.29 King 21
22 Creston-Kenilworth 14 35913 298 764433 312 800346 1.28 4 6841 55 94058 59 100898 1.32 0 0 14 11971 14 11971 1.23 4827 385 913215 1.28 1.28 Creston-Kenilworth 22
23 Kenton 42 107739 256 656694 298 764433 1.22 6 10261 47 80377 53 90637 1.19 0 0 12 10261 12 10261 1.05 4150 363 865331 1.21 1.22 Kenton 23
24 Cathedral Park 202 518173 107 274478 309 792650 1.27 22 37623 19 32493 41 70116 0.92 4 3420 5 4275 9 7696 0.79 1747 359 870462 1.2 1.22 Cathedral Park 24
25 Mt. Tabor 0 285 731085 285 731085 1.17 0 52 88927 52 88927 1.17 0 14 11971 14 11971 1.23 4618 351 831983 1.17 1.17 Mt. Tabor 25
26 Foster-Powell 0 279 715694 279 715694 1.14 0 51 87217 51 87217 1.14 0 13 11116 13 11116 1.14 4529 343 814027 1.14 1.14 Foster-Powell 26
27 Rockwood-G 82 210347 185 474564 267 684911 1.09 20 34203 34 58145 54 92348 1.21 4 3420 9 7696 13 11116 1.14 3007 334 788375 1.11 1.11 Rockwood-G 27
28 Multnomah 60 153913 200 513042 260 666955 1.07 16 27362 37 63275 53 90637 1.19 4 3420 9 7696 13 11116 1.14 3247 326 768708 1.09 1.08 Multnomah 28
29 Hosford-Abernethy 0 263 674651 263 674651 1.08 0 48 82087 48 82087 1.08 0 13 11116 13 11116 1.14 4273 324 767853 1.08 1.08 Hosford-Abernethy 29
30 Woodstock 0 254 651564 254 651564 1.04 0 47 80377 47 80377 1.05 0 12 10261 12 10261 1.05 4118 313 742201 1.04 1.04 Woodstock 30
31 Argay 50 128261 165 423260 215 551520 0.88 36 61565 30 51304 66 112869 1.48 16 13681 8 6841 24 20522 2.11 2673 305 684911 1.02 0.96 Argay 31
32 Mt. Scott-Arleta 0 246 631042 246 631042 1.01 0 45 76956 45 76956 1.01 0 12 10261 12 10261 1.05 3985 303 718259 1.01 1.01 Mt. Scott-Arleta 32
33 Sunnyside 0 245 628477 245 628477 1 0 45 76956 45 76956 1.01 0 12 10261 12 10261 1.05 3973 302 715694 1.01 1.01 Sunnyside 33
34 Piedmont 0 239 613085 239 613085 0.98 0 44 75246 44 75246 0.99 0 11 9406 11 9406 0.97 3875 294 697737 0.98 0.98 Piedmont 34
35 Rose City Park 0 239 613085 239 613085 0.98 0 44 75246 44 75246 0.99 0 11 9406 11 9406 0.97 3880 294 697737 0.98 0.98 Rose City Park 35

Click Here To See Complete Chart of All 117 Neighborhoods

Methodology

Introduction
Every attempt was made to extrapolate from the available data a reasonable, consistent and publicly defensible estimate of the total number of HAP clients and costs by neighborhood in Multnomah County.

HAP Property Data
The construction of this table began with data provided by Steve Rudman, HAP Executive Director, which listed a significant number of HAP owned properties and the total occupancy by household and HAP category.

The address of each property was used to assign it to a neighborhood.

Each household was assigned a value of two persons.

Section 8 Data
Since there was no Section 8 data provided by HAP it was necessary to construct a formula to determine the number of Section 8 clients per neighborhood.

Total Section 8 clients must equal 30,000 (HAP’s total client population) minus the number of clients living on HAP property.

Each of HAP’s three separate client categories, Low Income 51-80%, Lower Income 31-50% and Lowest Income 0-30% were used to calculate the relative number of each group compared to the total for all groups. Low Income 51-80% = 4%, Lower Income 31-50% = 15% and Lowest Income 0-30% = 81%.

The total number of HAP eligible households per neighborhood was determined by using information provided by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement Web Site Neighborhood Demographics pages.

The Formula: maximum number of HAP eligible households per neighborhood * group percentage (4,15,or 81) * .07624 (this number will cause the total Section 8 clients to = 30000 - total number persons living on HAP property.

For consistency the same formula was used to calculate the number of HAP Section 8 voucher clients for every neighborhood in Multnomah County. (It is most likely that the number of HAP Section 8 clients, 7.6% of eligible households, was overestimated in the low HAP client percentage neighborhoods and underestimated in the high HAP client percentage neighborhoods.)

Costs
HAP’s budget for FY 2001 was $71,200,000.

It was assumed that the cost of housing a client on HAP property or Section 8 voucher would be the same within each of HAP’s three economic groupings.

It was assumed that HAP’s cost would increase with client need so that Low Income would get X dollars of support, Lower Income would get 2X dollars and Lowest Income would get 3X dollars support.

Low Income per person = $855, Lower Income = $1710, Lowest income = $2565.

Own Versus Rent
Home Owner
Renter
United States of America
68.0%
32.0%
State of Oregon
64.3%
35.7%
Multnomah County
56.9%
43.1%
City of Portland
55.8%
44.2%
Portsmouth Neighborhood
48.0%
52.0%

***********************************************************************************************

A History of HAP Watcher Commentaries, Reports, Relevant Emails Etc. From February 26, 2001 To The Present

Richard Ellmyer De Facto Multnomah County HAP Nominee 5-5-08

During the FIVE MONTH vacancy for a Multnomah county HAP seat, not a single candidate has been recruited nor recommended for the job by any Multnomah county commissioner nor any candidate for Multnomah county commissioner. 

Public housing is a $200,000,000 a year enterprise in Mutlnomah county. HAP spends about $90,000,000. The citizens of Multnomah county are due their representation on the HAP board from someone who will serve their interests. Unfortunately, there is NO REPRESENTATION for the interests of Multnomah county property owners, business owners, neighborhoods and tax payers on the HAP board nor, for that matter, anywhere in the dark labyrinth of the public housing cult of beneficiaries.

Portsmouth Neighbors And Board Unanimously Oppose Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Plan 4-24-08

The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association opposes the use of the former John Ball School site for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation. The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association wants to be more involved in finding a more suitable use for the site.

Nick Fish Hides His History And Real Public Housing Policy Goals From Supporters And Voters 4-16-08

Nick Fish supports the discredited and abhorrent public policy of unlimited neighborhood concentration of public housing.

Nick Fish opposes the rights of Multnomah county taxpayers, voters and citizens to access public housing statistical data from the Housing Authority of Portland.

Nick Fish, a lawyer trained as a professional wordsmith, continues to purposely mislead the public by using the amorphous term "affordable" when he speaks about what he knows is, in fact, PUBLIC housing.

Erik Sten's Legacy Of Darkness Soon Changing To Light 4-3-08

Erik Sten, the Darth Vader Overlord of public housing policy and policy makers in all of Multnomah county, is retiring to the dark side. Many years ago Sten astutely commandeered the public housing policy portfolio and turned it into a constituency builder by throwing as many taxpayer dollars at the public housing special interest community as he could find. The wider social and economic consequences of his political scheme on property owners, business owners, neighborhoods and taxpayers of Multnomah county were of no interest to him. Sten brilliantly substituted the word "affordable" for the word "public" whenever he talked about public housing to obfuscate his real intent. Erik Sten was the smartest and smoothest/slickest member of Portland's city council since Neil Goldschmidt.

HAP Nemesis Richard Ellmyer Declares Reasoned Candidacy For HAP Commissioner 3-31-08

I recently challenged the Portland city council to stop voting for HAP nominees based only on the candidate's presumed interest and history of public service but rather their positions on public housing policy. Without so much as a hint of acknowledgment to my testimony they proceeded to appoint a novice politico with no evidence of experience or even interest in public housing policy who had the intellectual cowardice and political hubris to publicly announce that he would NOT reveal his views on public housing policy until after he was confirmed. Of course, since his appointment he has not "revealed" his views nor can he because he has none. The Portland city council knowingly hired a carpenter who owned no woodworking tools and was unfamiliar with the difference between hard and soft woods. Would you make that kind of decision in your home or business?

In response to this disturbing and disgraceful public conduct, I, Richard Ellmyer, am provoked into placing my 33 years of political activism - including serving as campaign manager and personal staff advisor to Multnomah county commissioner Gladys McCoy from 1981 to 1984 -  and, more importantly, my reasoned and defensible positions on public housing policy on the public table before the Multnomah county commission for consideration to serve the interests of Multnomah county as one of its HAP representatives.

Public Institutions Clash Over Public Housing Policy - Citizens Versus Bureaucrats And Appointed Officials 3-19-08

First, dear reader, ask yourself: Do I believe that public institutions in Multnomah county should use tax moneys to concentrate public housing clients (means test + government subsidy + rental agreement) into a few select neighborhoods in Multnomah county effectively building low income housing ghettos?

Showdown At The HAP Corral - March 19th 10:30 AM 3-10-08

Every vote by the Portland city council to confirm a citizen appointment to the board of the Housing Authority of Portland is a public affirmation of public housing policy in Multnomah county.

The time to vote for HAP nominees based only on their presumed interest or background in public service is past. The job of HAP commissioner is to make public housing policy which guides the spending of $90,000,000 in public funds every year. No vote should be cast by any Portland city commissioner without knowing the nominee's positions on a range of public housing policy issues.

Mike Bennett And YOU Could Be HAP Commissioners - Interested? 1-31-08

Despite the fact that the job of an appointed commissioner to the Housing Authority of Portland is to discuss, debate and develop public housing policy, in the last seven years that I have been closely following the Housing Authority of Portland not a single nominee for the HAP board has ever been asked publicly to state his or her opinions on public housing policy, before, during or after the nominating process. This is a seriously flawed process and must be changed. That change will start with consideration of the next HAP nominee whose role is to serve the interests of the city of Gresham, Mike Bennett.

Meadows Misleads, Saltzman Sequesters Kellogg Foundation Disconnect Data 1-21-08

"The Kellogg Foundation is not a funder of the Portland Hope Meadows project. We have not given a past or current grant/loan to Portland Hope Meadows."

1-17-08 Ted H. Chen - Program Director, Youth & Education - W. K. Kellogg Foundation

The distortion, disrespect and disregard for process and the truth continues to envelope this ill conceived project. The Kellogg Foundation has no direct financial connection to the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation. This is news.

Bertha Ferran Targets East Multnomah County And Gresham With New Segregation Plans 1-7-08

My colleagues, the times they are a changing. That annoying light of public housing statistical data Richard Ellmyer has been shining on our activities for almost seven years keeps getting brighter. Ellmyer's "sunshine" is finally exposing us by name as the citizens most responsible for perpetuating what Ellmyer calls the discredited and abhorrent public policy of unlimited neighborhood concentration of public housing in Multnomah county. Most disturbing are the increasing number of elected officials, candidates for public office, voters, taxpayers and now even some in the press that are awakening to Ellmyer's call to moral and fiscal accountability. Our days in the dark are numbered. It's time for a new strategy.

ICURAAC Sets 15% Cap On Neighborhood Public Housing - Asks PDC To Stop Overloading Portsmouth 11-7-07

In a recent email vote a majority of the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area Advisory Committee recently endorsed the following letter:

Dear Portland Development Commission:
We, the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area Advisory Committee, support a public housing location policy of equitable distribution of public housing (defined as requiring three components: means test + government subsidy + rental agreement). This is consistent with the public housing location policy of the Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development's published public housing location policy which is:
1. Maximize housing choice, especially for low-income people who have traditionally been limited in the location of housing that they could afford; 
2. Discourage the concentration of low- or no- income households in any one area of the city; 
3. Encourage the creation of additional housing resources for low-income households integrated throughout the community.

Adams, Leonard, Branam Support The Sharff BRAC Oregon National Guard Option 11-6-07

Portland city commissioners Sam Adams and Randy Leonard as well as John Branam, a candidate for Portland city commissioner, have demonstrated leadership abilities that we citizens crave, but rarely find, in our elected officials or candidates for public office. When they show it they need to be recognized and applauded. Thank you and Bravo!

US Senate Candidate Frohnmayer Supports The Oregon National Guard 10-15-07

John Fronhmayer, candidate for US Senate, has lead the way by being the first candidate for public office or holder of a public office in Oregon to publicly support the Oregon National Guard's need to own and occupy the decommissioned Sharff Army Reserve Center. Here is Frohnmayer's letter to our governor:

DA Schrunk Buries Equitable Distribution Public Housing Policy With A Word - "Disagree" 9-25-07

The practice of democracy requires that citizens have access to public records in order to hold those who wield power in government accountable. The Oregon Public Records law was created by our legislature to assure Oregonians their right to oversee the government employees that execute our laws and spend our money. Mike Schrunk's decision to protect the Housing Authority of Portland from divulging public data is not in keeping with the spirit or the letter of the Oregon Public Records law.

Is Rhonda Meadows Smarter Than A Seventh Grader? 3-19-07

Unless the president of the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation, Rhonda Meadows, is a complete ignoramus (noun - an ignorant or stupid person.), she knows the difference between literal and figurative speech especially as written and distributed to 13,000 readers and published on the Internet as political commentary. Her recent complaint to the Portland police can only be seriously interpreted as a pathetically naive call for protection, not from physical harm but from the pain of public ridicule, shame and embarrassment which is the result of public exposure to the facts, truth and evidence of her own self-inflicted actions of ill repute: 

PDC's Kadri Joins Adams, Cogen and Wheeler In Search Of Public Housing Statistics 3-1-07

PDC Commissioner Sal Kadri stands out as deserving attention and commendation for two enlightened acts of political courage.

Rhonda Meadows Dispatches Husband To Public Meeting With Personal Agenda 2-26-07

Confronting UNLIMITED neighborhood concentration of public housing was the subject of a three hour public meeting February 21 attended by more than thirty Multnomah county voters genuinely and seriously interested in public housing policy. However, there was one person in attendance who came with a less than authentic civic minded concern about public housing policy. That person was, Erik Blythe, husband of the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation chair, Rhonda Meadows.

Governor Kulongoski Equivocal On Support For Oregon National Guard? 2-13-07

The winning public policy statement for the governor is to say that he not only supports the Oregon National Guard's need for the facilities at the Sharff ARC, he also supports a public housing policy of equitable distribution not unlimited neighborhood concentration of public housing clients. The governor will find that there is overwhelming public support for both of these policies and that it is in his and the public interest to publicly endorse both of them.

Morrison Center - Support For Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Will Jeopardize Your Reputation 1-29-07

The reputation of the Morrison Center for doing good works will be publicly challenged and repudiated if it does not immediately withdraw its support for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation's plan to build public housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland.

Carlton Hart - Support For Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Will Jeopardize Your Reputation 1-29-07

The reputation of Carlton Hart Architects for doing good works will be publicly challenged and repudiated if it does not immediately withdraw its support for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation's plan to build public housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland.

Hope Meadows - Support For Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Will Jeopardize Your Reputation 1-29-07

The reputation of the University of Illinois and Hope Meadows for doing good works will be publicly challenged and repudiated if it does not immediately withdraw its support for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation's plan to build public housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland.

Oregon DHS - Support For Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Will Jeopardize Your Reputation 1-29-07

The reputation of the Oregon Department of Human Services for doing good works will be publicly challenged and repudiated if it does not immediately withdraw its support for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation's plan to build public housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland.

Kellogg Foundation - Support For Portland Hope Meadows Corporation Will Jeopardize Your Reputation 1-29-07

The reputation of the Kellogg foundation for doing good works will be publicly challenged and repudiated if it does not immediately withdraw its support for the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation's plan to build public housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland.

Feb. 21st 6 PM - Confronting UNLIMITED Neighborhood Concentration Of Public Housing 1-25-07

The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association has arranged for one of its members, Richard Ellmyer, to coordinate and moderate a public meeting on Wednesday February 21 from 6-9 PM at the Historic Kenton Firehouse in North Portland, 2209 N. Schofield, to discuss public housing policy in Multnomah county and specifically the following agenda items:

Oregon Public Records Law Reveals Potter, Saltzman, Sten Gave $1.4 Million Of OUR Public Property To Complete UNKNOWNS 12-19-06

Tom Potter, Dan Saltzman and Erik Sten gave $1,400,000 of OUR public property to persons that did not even reach the level of strangers to them. Potter, Saltzman and Sten stampeded over due process in order to give away public land to UNKNOWN individuals who would support the discredited and abhorrent public housing policy of UNlimited concentration of public housing in any neighborhood in Multnomah county.

Mayor Potter Nominates Silence and Darkness To Serve Him On HAP Board 12-3-06

HAP commissioners serve at the pleasure of the mayor of Portland (ORS 456.110) much as the Secretary of Defense serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States of America. EVERYTHING these appointees do they do with the approval of their masters.

Oregon Public Records Law - Portland Hope Meadows Board Identities - Enforcement Request 11-11-06

On November 3, 2006 I made an Oregon Public Records Law demand for public documents from mayor Potter and commissioners Saltzman and Sten. To date there has been no response. More than sufficient time has passed to either produce the requested documents or affirm that no such documents exist. It is highly probable that mayor Potter and commissioner Sten have no documents matching my request. It is highly probable that commissioner Saltzman has fewer than half a dozen.

Rhonda Meadows - President, Portland Hope Meadows Corporation 11-7-06

The letter below signature was mailed to Rhonda Meadows in a continuing and aggressive effort - including a Public Records Law demand - to dislodge public information regarding the members of the Portland Hope Meadows Corporation as well as its funding and financial data, all of which MUST be put on the public table for further examination and future action. 

Public Records Law Demand For Hope Meadows Board Information 11-3-06

Mayor Potter, Commissioners Sten and Saltzman:
I have asked you twice, on October 23, 2006, before the John Ball school vote on Wednesday October 25, 2006 and after, on October 27, 2006, for the names and contact information for those on the Portland Hope Meadows board of directors, with the same results - No Response. You leave me no choice but to invoke the Public Records Law to prod from you what should have been placed voluntarily on the public table.

You Are Now Part Of The Portland Hope Meadows Misadventure 10-30-06

Brenda Krause-Eheart, Generations of Hope and the University of Illinois are all now complicit in support of Portland Hope Meadows' bullying attempt to force its way into a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon that doesn't want it. You are now part of a political imbroglio that will, in time, attract national attention. That focus will expose your willingness to trample on a fair and open political process thousands of miles from your homes. The reputations of the University of Illinois, its president, its sociology department, and its institute with ties to Generations of Hope will be tarnished.

Potter Pummels Portland's Priceless Process Policy 10-30-06

The cost to give away two acres of public land to unidentified strangers - 1.4 million dollars. The cost to destroy a city's reputation for commitment to transparent, fair public process for decision making - Priceless.

Potter/Saltzman Subvert School Site Development Process - Demean Democratic Process 10-24-06

Congress has a 16% approval rating because political tactics supersede the democratic process which involves well documented public debate on issues before a vote is cast. This deeply flawed and repugnant congressional model has been chosen by Tom Potter and Dan Saltzman who have made a back room deal involving the disposition and development of public property on the former John Ball school site. They are now trying to jam through Saltzman's pet project before there are competing plans on the table and without a full public discussion with all the proposals and data presented to the Portland Planning Commission, the public and the press for review. Does this behavior have your approval? Is this the kind of Oregon local government you can be proud of? 

Hope Meadows - The Distant Illinois Parent 10-21-06

On Wednesday October 25 Portland city commissioner Dan Saltzman will try to shut off debate on the disposition and development of public property located at the John Ball school site before any competing proposals are allowed and before any serious analysis of the merits of his proposal are considered by the neighborhoods involved, the Portland Planning Commission, the press and the general public... If all of you do not act to STOP this reprehensible behavior, Brenda Krause-Eheart, Generations For Hope and the University of Illinois will be brought into the national spotlight.

HAP Demands $10,000 For Public Statistical Data 10-16-06

The Housing Authority of Portland has officially informed Richard Ellmyer that he must deposit $10,000 in HAP's bank account before it will begin looking for public documents which contain statistical data on the age, gender, neighborhood, income and total number of its clients.

City Attorney Can't/Won't Answer City Auditor's Question About Control Over PDC 10-11-06

When an elected official(s) turns over the keys of the public treasury to UNelected citizens the voters and taxpayers of that community have a right to know who the elected official(s) is/are that have statutory oversight responsibility so that THEY can be held accountable for the financial decisions of those UNelected public officials who are spending the people's money.

Cogen, Pung, Leuenberger Ask for Answers - Becker, Bemis et al. Seek State of Denial 10-9-06

There is an extraordinary amount of well documented evidence that American president Geroge W. Bush and Portland mayor Tom Potter have both chosen self-inflicted ignorance to make decisions, respectively, about the engagement and prosecution of a war in Iraq and a location policy for public housing clients in Multnomah county. More troublesome is that these elected officials continue to use their power to deny their constituents and colleagues critical information necessary for voters and other public officials to make informed, educated decisions. American democracy cannot thrive with this kind of public "leadership."

Tom Foolery 9-18-06

At a gathering of North Portland leaders last week, Jeff Cogen, candidate for Multnomah county commissioner, asked the question that a growing number of people in Multnomah county and Washington D.C. are asking, "Why is Portland's mayor, Tom Potter, continuing to withhold HAP's public statistical data from citizens, voters, taxpayers, elected officials, candidates for public office, academics, politicos and the press? It makes no sense." Exactly right Jeff. It makes no sense - unless it's a coverup of incompetence or wrongdoing.

Columbia Villa Crime Predictable 8-3-06

HAP, PDC and HCDC will continue to contravene the city's so-called but non-existent policy of distribution not concentration of public housing clients by OVERLOADING the same certain few of the 117 neighborhoods within their jurisdictions until the Portland City Council tells them to stop.

When Potter Fails The City Council MUST Intercede At PDC and HAP 7-30-06

The only thing standing between the unelected PDC and HAP commissioners from annually spending hundreds of millions of dollars of the public treasury on the wrong policies is Portland's mayor. Tom Potter has a fiduciary obligation to the citizens who elected him and those east of Portland who can't vote for Portland's mayor to guide, monitor and supervise how his appointees are spending our money.

Will Kulongoski Acknowledge The Bottom Line - 33,000 Clients DEMANDS 33,000 Records? 6-5-06

HAP claims that it has 33,000 clients. Therefore, HAP MUST produce 33,000 client records that include age, gender, neighborhood and income.

Potter Opens HAP Data Spigot - But ONLY 10 of 32 Thousand Pour Out of the Computer 5-1-06

After 16 months in office mayor Tom Potter has finally asked/ordered HAP to release a computer file with HAP's public data on it only to find out that he and HAP had LOST, that's right - LOST - 22,000 client files that are NOT on HAP's computer. That translates into about $66,000,000 of unconnected financial transactions with taxpayer funds. This is no longer merely mismanagement by HAP's board nor lax oversight of HAP's obviousoly abysmal bookkeeping practices, this is official evidence of a potential scandal that could push the alleged theft of $1.4 million by West Linn's former finance director right off the front page. Tom Potter may toss West Linn's mayor into the footnote category and bring home the olympic gold to Portland for most negligent and irresponsible public official in Oregon.

Wheeler & Cogen On Board. Diane Linn - Overboard 4-17-06

Oh Happy Day. Two candidates for the Multnomah County Commission, Ted Wheeler - County Chair, and Jeff Cogen - Commissioner District 2, have already sent requests for public housing data by neighborhood to HAP, the Housing Authority of Portland. They are ready to put the 3-6-9 Resolution on the county's public agenda to start the discussion of location policy of public housing clients. Jeff Cogen believes that every voter in Multnomah county should have they opportunity to vote for the person that appoints HAP commissioners who have control over placement of tens of thousands of public housing clients throughout Multnomah county. That means transferring the power from the mayor of Portland to the Multnomah County Chair.

Sten Is Bad But Is Burdick Better? 4-5-06

No public official is more responsible for violating our public housing policy of distribution NOT concentration of public housing clients into a few select neighborhoods in Multnomah County and taking extraordinary and long term efforts to cover up the data that would reveal his fingerprints then Erik Sten.

A Young Student Questions Tom Potter's View Of Education 3-21-06

Dear Mayor Potter:
My parents and teachers say that a good education teaches a student how to gather data then analyze the information to come to some conclusions about the subject. They said that the pupil could then use this research as the basis for informed discussions with others and the basis for personal action such as voting. Do you believe this? My father said that when you were a candidate for mayor you said that you believed that public officials needed good data to make good decisions. Do you still believe this?

Potter Allows Kandis Nunn To Insult Legislators And Candidates For Public Office 3-8-06

Multnomah County Public Housing Czar and Portland Mayor Tom Potter has authorized the continued withholding of public housing data by neighborhood from elected public officials and candidates for public office. Shame on you Tom.

Adams, Burdick, Cogen and Robison Ask Nunn/Potter For Housing Data By Neighborhood 2-13-06

Ginny Burdick - candidate for Portland city council, Jeff Cogen - candidate for Multnomah county commission, Jim Robison - candidate for House Rep.#44 joined Sam Adams - Portland city commissioner in asking Housing Authority of Portland Chair Kandis Nunn to send them the following:
An authentic, accurate, complete and timely record for every HAP public housing client in the form of a tab delimited text file with the following four fields: neighborhood, median income range (0-30,31-50,51-80%), age and gender.

Tom's Tax 1-27-06

 Like it or not, the reality is that those districts that are satisfied with their share of school funding and those public employees satisfied with their health care benefits are not going to easily or willingly change what they feel they "DESERVE." 

It's Time For Public Housing Policy To Come Out Of The Closet 1-18-06

As it turns out, the Multnomah County Public Housing Czar is actually Portland's mayor. Why is that? More importantly, Why should that continue to be?

Mr. Mayor - With All Due Respect - Your Letter Is A ... 12-6-05

Mayor Potter:
With all due respect, NONE of the information I requested has been provided. You are ill informed if you think so. Your staff is doing you a disservice and misguiding you on the facts as they have since you were elected. Neither you nor any of your staff have been willing to discuss this issue with me publicly or privately for almost a year. This is not the behavior of a mayor or staff that knows what they are doing and has the confidence to defend their positions in the court of public opinion. Your failure to send a letter to HAP immediately after your directive of January 26, 2005 to provide public housing data by neighborhood, made in front of HAP's Chair, Kandis Nunn, and two other HAP board members, Katie Such and Shar Giard, is damning evidence of incompetence or public disingenuousness.

Potter's Unchecked Authority Must Be Stopped 11-21-05

"The mayor's office has contacted the housing authority of Portland to determine the feasibility of providing housing data by neighborhood association.  I understand that's feasible.  We'll send them a written request to follow up on that.  That's another idea coming from Mr. Ellmyer.  We appreciate that." Mayor Tom Potter, Portland City Council meeting January 26, 2005

Potter Lies - HAP Denies - Day 295 11-16-05

The biggest mystery, however, is Tom Potter. Who is this man that as candidate sought votes by saying he supported public housing data by neighborhood, as mayor announced that HAP can and should provide public housing data by neighborhood and then NEVER followed up to make sure that his campaign promises and his orders as mayor were carried out?

HAP Public Data - By Neighborhood Or Not 11-14-05

The letter's language is still dancing around the same old tree. We need to move on. I do not hold you in any way responsible for this dilemma. You are staff. You do what you are told by your boss, Steve Rudman, and he does what he's told by his boss, Kandis Nunn and she does what she's told by our mayor, Tom Potter. This data standoff is really between Richard Ellmyer - and the 700,000 citizens of Multnomah county that he represents in this matter -  and Tom Potter. In the end, Potter will either order, again, Kandis Nunn to deliver public housing data by neighborhood or he won't. It's that simple.

Don't Poke The Bear. Stop Humiliating Your Boss 11-14-05

Not a single reader of HAP Watchers has written to me and made a case that my quest for public housing data by neighborhood is illegal, immoral or without justification. To the contrary. Many respond with a "keep up the good work." Most, however, simply cannot understand why HAP and the mayor haven't made this public data available ages ago. They are baffled by what they see as a no brainer.

Public HAP Data Held Hostage - Day 53 11-14-05

Urban League of Portland leaders Charles Wilhoite, John Epstein, Lois Davis, Isaac Dixon, Karen Williams, Sonja Henning et. al. appear powerless to free public housing records by neighborhood as evidence to stop the concentration of low income public housing clients into a few select neighborhoods. May ask former ULP president, state senator Margaret Carter, to intercede and invoke Oregon Public Records Law.

Public HAP Data Held Hostage - Day 49 11-10-05

Political writers Ryan Frank, Renee Mitchel, Nick Budnick, Anna Griffin, Nigel Jaquiss, Les Zaitz, Doug Bates, Jim Redden, Mark Zusman et. al. locked out of HAP's public data vault.

Public HAP Data Held Hostage - Day 46 11-7-05

Neighborhood leaders Amanda Fritz - West Portland Park, Trudi Rahija - Hollywood, Scott Jensen - Portsmouth, Rick Sandstrom - Cathedral Park, Frank Bird - Northwest District, Cameron McCredie - Reed, Nancy Clark - Humboldt, Robin Plance - St. Johns et. al. denied access to their own neighborhood data.

Public HAP Data Held Hostage - Day 42 11-3-05

Candidates Ted Wheeler, Diane Linn, Ginny Burdick, Erik Sten, Jeff Cogen, Jim Robison refused access to prisoners.

Review - DRAFT Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Report 10-24-05

You missed the most important potential impediment to fair housing - Multnomah County's Public Housing Czar - Portland's mayor, Tom Potter.

Tom Potter came to the mayor's job with the same amount of knowledge, experience and interest in public housing policy as George W. Bush came to the president's job with knowledge, experience and interest in international affairs. Their willingness to honestly report the status and effects of their policy decisions as well as their actions purporting to deal forthrightly with the reality of the circumstances are not dissimilar. Their vulnerabilities are inevitably exploited by others with access to the seat of power.

It's Time To Deliver The Goods 10-20-05

Mayor Potter:
It's been four weeks since I made the request below. I haven't received so much as a Post-It note with scribbled text and numbers on it. I'd consider this neglect of duty, misconduct in office and inefficiency as defined in ORS 456.110. How about you? HAP's refusal to provide public housing data by neighborhood can only continue with your approval. It is most unlikely that your colleagues on the Portland city council or officials at HUD will be able to accept the upcoming AI report as credible, accurate and complete without the availability of public housing data by neighborhood from HAP. In addition, the Multnomah county press, candidates for public offices in Multnomah county and 700,000 citizens in Multnomah county - to use language from a past popular TV commercial, want to know, "Where's The Beef?" 

Mayor Potter Joins Peter Pan And The Lost HAPsters In Never Never Land 9-26-05

Mayor Potter's disinterest in enforcing his own directive of January 26, 2005 to make available to the citizens of Multnomah county HAP's public housing data by neighborhood is now understandable. Shortly after that date Tom Potter joined the HAPsters in Never Never Land where there are no neighborhoods. There is obviously no need to provide monthly updates because nothing ever changes in HAPland. No need to provide data to others who don't reside in this intelligently designed realm of believers because those who live on the outside just wouldn't understand. It all makes perfect sense now.

HAP Commissioners Singe Their Boss - Tom Potter 9-19-05

So the question arises, does Portland's mayor, Tom Potter, know any more about what his appointed housing commissioners at HAP are up to than America's president, George W. Bush, knew about what his appointees at FEMA were thinking before hurricane Katrina?

Neighborhood Public Housing Map Celebrates 3rd Birthday 9-6-05

You are invited to witness a brief 3rd birthday celebration for Multnomah county's first and only public housing data by neighborhood map at Portland city hall about 9:30 AM Wednesday September 7, 2005. At that time Richard Ellmyer will present to mayor Potter and commissioner Adams a large cake with the image of the map decorating its top.

Linn, Becker, Sten et. al. Oppose Neighborhood Housing Data and HAP Accountability 7-25-05

Portland Mayor and Multnomah County Public Housing Czar Tom Potter has only one ally, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, in his announced, albeit unfulfilled, commitment to provide public housing data by neighborhood and to hold appointed public officials at HAP accountable for their actions. The Gresham City Council, the Multnomah County Commission and three of five members of the Portland City Council say NO.

Mayor Tom Potter Fails Public Housing Policy 101 - A Bad Omen 7-5-05

Mayor Tom Potter's 29 Housing Commissioners spent $100,000,000 of our money on public housing in Multnomah county during Potter's first six months in office and Tom doesn't have a clue how or where it went.

In The Game - In The Crossfire 6-24-05

Commissioner Sten:
Although you have no authority to compel, as the mayor can, any action from any of the twenty-nine housing commissioners that govern HAP, HCDC and PDC you (and your colleagues on the Portland and Gresham city councils and the Multnomah county commission) can still request action. Therefore, I am asking you to publicly request the following:

HAP CANNOT Produce Neighborhood Data - Time For A Trial 6-20-05

In a rare moment of stunning clarity HAP was recently forced to admit the secret and disturbing revelations that it does not keep individual computer records of every client nor does it include in every record that it does have a field of information which identifies the client's level of median income - a basic requirement for HAP status. As a result of this inexcusably inadequate record keeping HAP CANNOT produce accurate and meaningful public housing data by neighborhood

Apples Oranges and a Tsunami 6-16-05

When I previously suggested that perhaps the reason HAP wouldn't provide public housing data by neighborhood was because their records were in shambles and they couldn't, I was half joking. This is serious. This is a disaster. This is a scandal.

The Consequence of Computer Ignorance - HAP Cons Mayor 6-15-05

Mayor Potter has been conned by HAP's Chair, Kandis Nunn, into believing that it will take from nine months to a year to add a neighborhood field to each of HAP's client records in its computer database. Total Crap.

Public Housing In Multnomah County Is Primarily The Mayor's Responsibility - By Statute 6-13-05

The mayor can assign all the bureaus to other members of the city council. But, he cannot assign his statutory authority to nominate and dismiss (ORS 456.110) the twenty-nine public housing commissioners at HAP, PDC and HCDC, which are responsible only to him and serve at his pleasure.

Answers to June 1st Queries Due Soon 6-11-05

TO: HAP Director, Policy and Public Affairs

On or before June 14th, a reasonable and sufficient time for you to respond to my request, I will expect to receive from you one of the following:

What Did They Know And When Did They Know It? 6-10-05

On September 7, 2004 HAP Chair Kandis Nunn and the entire board of the Housing Authority of Portland were informed that WHOEVER became mayor on January 1, 2005 would require HAP to provide public housing information by neighborhood. That data could have and should have been on the mayor's desk the day he arrived at city hall.

A Second Opinion - Not Nine Months But An Hour 6-9-05

It is not very difficult to geocode the addresses onto a GIS layer and assign the neighborhood name by location. I would not be surprised if the Portland city staff who operate portlandmaps.com could complete the entire task in under an hour. Sorry Tom, but there must be some reason other than technical capability that is delaying HAP's ability to provide this data.

Converting Addresses To Neighborhoods - Process and Costs 6-8-05

There are only TWO ways to produce the minimally acceptable public housing data by neighborhood. Method one - Manually. Method two - By Computer Script.

Please Help Tom Potter Pass Public Housing Policy 101 6-6-05

Portland's mayor, Tom Potter, is headed for an embarrassing failure of HAP scholarship and elected leadership. Without your help it is likely that by the Potter administration's six month anniversary and deadline for his Public Housing Policy 101 final exam, June 30, 2005, what little credibility Tom had with respect to his role as Multnomah County Public Housing Policy Czar will have been squandered.

Promises, Proof and Public Housing Policy 6-3-05

Multnomah County Journalists:
As all of you well know, I have been in a battle with the mayor of Portland and the Housing Authority of Portland for more than four years trying to get the fundamental information required to defend Portland's policy of distribution not concentration of public housing clients into a few select neighborhoods in Multnomah county. On January 26, 2005 mayor Potter publicly told HAP Chair Kandis Nunn to prepare HAP's public housing data by neighborhood. Does it concern or interest you that after eighteen weeks there is no available public evidence that this data is now or will be accessible anytime in the foreseeable future to the press or the public? 

The Voice Of Neighborhoods In Public Housing Policy? 6-2-05

My Fellow Neighborhood Activists:
For more than four years I have been trying very hard to persuade the Housing Authority of Portland and Portland's mayor to provide public housing data by neighborhood. I have written more than eighty HAP Watcher commentaries to keep you informed of my progress

Gresham's Voice In Public Housing Policy? 6-2-05

Over more than four years of writing HAP Watcher commentaries I have often received questions from readers asking about public housing data from Gresham neighborhoods. A recent increase in those inquiries has prompted me to answer that question to those of you who are leaders in the Gresham community.

Potter and Public Housing Policy - Your Views 5-31-05

To: Journalists of Multnomah County - Sometime after July 1st I will be writing a HAP Watcher commentary focused entirely on mayor Potter's record regarding public housing policy during his first six months in office. I would like your help in pulling this article together.

143 Weeks And Counting 5-23-05

What we need is less invitation to citizen participation from Portland's mayor and more demonstration that Multnomah County's Public Housing Czar knows and shows that he is in control of his twenty-nine subordinate public housing appointees

Kandis Nunn. Provide The Data, Resign or Face Dismissal 5-9-05

To: Kandis Nunn, Chair, Housing Authority of Portland
On January 26, 2005 you were told by mayor Potter during a public Portland City Council meeting to provide HAP's public housing data by neighborhood. As of May 9, 2005 there continues to be no public evidence to prove that you have complied with that order.

Mayor Potter Stuningly Fails First Public Housing Policy Exam - Scores O Points 5-2-05

120 days and 67 million taxpayer dollars later, Portland Mayor and Multnomah County Public Housing Czar, Tom Potter, has failed to prove that he knows what he's doing or can handle his statutory responsibility with regards to public housing policy in Multnomah county.

Potter/Folsom - Public Housing Policy 101 - Exam#1 2-21-05

In January I sent you an email listing a number of questions regarding Mayor Potter's handling of public housing policy that needed to be answered next May. Since then many people have asked me, "How's Potter doing?" In response to these numerous legitimate inquiries I have rephrased my concerns into a test format that should make it easier for everyone to evaluate the mayor's performance with regard to public housing policy.

Such and Giard - Tom's Troops or Vera's Leftovers? 1-31-05

Catherine Such and Shar Giard are now Tom Potter's appointees. So the question arises, will either or both of these public housing commissioners fail the standards set by statute, "neglect of duty, inefficiency etc." or by whatever standards Mayor Tom Potter has personally set ("homophobe?, pedophile?, child rapist?" [see public testimony 1-26-05]) to continue in office?

It's Showtime - A Fork In The Road 1-22-05

On Wednesday January 26th at 9:30 AM we shall see if Tom Potter starts down the right public housing policy path by establishing his authority over HAP, HCDC and PDC and taking responsibility for the actions of the twenty-nine housing commissioners that serve at his pleasure or if he choses to continue with business as usual, ignoring history and following in the failed public housing policy footsteps of his predecessor.

Nick Fish Fails Fear Factor, Sam Adams Successful Survivor 9-7-04

Below are the answers to some fundamental public housing policy questions by candidate for Portland city council Sam Adams. You will not find answers by candidate Nick Fish. The ubiquitous Mr. Fish is happy to dispense platitudes to the crowd and cheerily hit the odd softball lobbed by inexperienced and ill-informed journalists. But when it comes to facing the music with someone who knows the score better than he does, Nick Fish swims away as if frightened by a predator.

Mayoral Candidates Potter and Francesconi Talk Public Housing Policy 9-7-04

On September 3, 2004 I spent an hour or more with each mayoral candidate, Tom Potter and Jim Francesconi, discussing a single subject, public housing policy in Portland, Multnomah county and Metro's regional jurisdiction. The responses below are either quotes or paraphrases that catch the spirit of their answers. The most gratifying result of these conversations was the realization that both candidates emerged with a greater understanding of their potential role as mayor regarding public housing policy.

Dodging the voters - Politicians and the Press 8-8-04

Asking candidates for public office where they stand on public policy issues is YOUR business. It's YOUR job to ask the questions and then tell us the answers. It's what readers expect. And you're not delivering any more than the politicians you chastise. The Oregonian's reluctance to examine the issue of public housing policy, both within (editorial) and without (reporting) is indefensible, unprofessional and a disservice to your readers and our community.

Paradigm Shift Challenges Public Housing Decision Makers 7-26-04

If you vote to spend a new dime of public funds in any neighborhood that already has six percent (6%) public housing clients you will be identified as voting for concentration of public housing and against the livability standards of the neighborhoods that have already done their fair share.

Hollywood is #1 - Beats Portsmouth 52-18. Gresham Neighborhoods Below Par 7-18-04

I welcome any elected or appointed official in the state of Oregon or any member of the Oregon press corps to publicly challenge my table with one of their own.

HAP Watchers Suit Up, You're Now In The Game 7-12-04

This summer citizens of Multnomah county will have the extremely rare opportunity to speak out and influence a public policy matter normally made inaccessible to them. For the first time Multnomah county voters will have a chance to "cast a vote" in favor of a public housing policy which is transparent, understandable and accountable to taxpayers.

Planning Director Kellley Tricks Auditor - Housing Data "Disappears" 6-14-04

Government accountability for connecting public housing goals with expenditures turns out to be a shared objective of Gary Blackmer, the Portland City Auditor, and myself. On June 5, 2002 City Auditor Gary Blackmer issued an immensely important ground breaking report on the relationship between housing goals and public expenditures at BHCD, PDC and HAP.

You Want To Be Mayor - OK, What Will You Do NOW With This Issue ? 6-1-04

Hi Tom Potter, Jim Francesconi, Sam Adams and Nick Fish:
Below is a Bill of Particulars regarding the removal of HAP commissioners which was formally presented to mayor Katz on April 27, 2004. ORS 456.ll0 states that a commissioner can be removed by the mayor, "For inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office." The arguments at the end of this email make the case.

Round Two - Public Housing Visibility? 5-19-04

Hi Tom Potter, Jim Francesconi, Sam Adams, Nick Fish:
Congratulations on making it to round two of our election process on the path to Portland's City Hall. In the next five and a half months you will have ample opportunity to discuss and debate the one major subject noticeably and disturbingly absent from the first part of your campaigns, namely, public housing.

PGE, HAP And Katz Spurn Greening Of Columbia Villa 5-3-04

The question is not what WAS built at Columbia Villa but rather what COULD have and SHOULD have been built.

HAP Commissioners Failing Accountability Test Must Be Fired 4-27-04

Mayor Katz:
This is a formal request to remove from public office the following Housing Authority of Portland commissioners:
Jeff Bachrach, Harriet Cormack, Richard Fernandez , Shar Giard, Chris Lassen, Lee Moore, Kandis Brewer Nunn, Howard Shapiro, Antoinette Teixeira.

Public Officials "Vote" on $217,000,000 Public Housing Accountability 4-26-04

It is a given that citizens who chose to be elected or appointed to public office want to make public policy. That is the job. Public housing policy involves the lives and businesses of 700,000 citizens in 117 neighborhoods in Multnomah county. More importantly, it involves the expenditure of $217,500,000 of public funds, i.e. taxpayer dollars. You are a player in this game and your constituents, your colleagues and the press expect you to have and to express an opinion on this subject.

HAP Watcher's Quiz #3 - Candidates All Say Kerry Best For Portland 4-13-04

Do you support a public housing policy goal for all of Multnomah county's 117 neighborhoods that establishes SIX PERCENT of the total population of any and every neighborhood to include public housing clients with no neighborhood having fewer than THREE PERCENT and no neighborhood having more than NINE PERCENT of public housing clients?

Francesconi, Potter and Leonard Ignore Public Housing Issues 4-12-04

We no longer rely on a page in the Voter's Pamphlet and a postcard from candidates to tell us where they stand on the issues. A candidate's web site can and should now tell us everything we need to know to make an informed choice.

How Green Is My Villa? 4-4-04

There is absolutely no reason to believe that HAP will build all, most or even some of the hundreds of structures at Columbia Villa for low-income public housing clients to the highest "green" standards without the pressure of a third party overseer.

The decision to sell public land, the number, size and cost of the for sale homes is entirely the product and responsibility of the HAP board. These were and are ALL PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS relating to real public property.

HAP's Changing Of The Guard 3-29-04

Kandis Brewer Nunn is now the public official in charge of the Housing Authority of Portland. Ms. Nunn is Chairperson of a quasi-governmental organization that affects the lives, property values and businesses of 700,000 residents in 117 neighborhoods of Multnomah county and 35,000 HAP clients. Ms. Nunn presides over a $90,000,000 publicly funded budget which is larger than 70% of the counties in the state of Oregon (25 of 36). Ms. Nunn presides over a $90,000,000 publicly funded budget which is larger than 95% of the cities in the state of Oregon (229 of 240). Ms. Nunn, an appointed public official, has more budgetary power than about 1,000 elected officials in the state of Oregon. Any public official, elected or appointed, with a $90,000,000 checkbook of taxpayer dollars must be held accountable.

"Don't Bother Me With Public Policy" Complains HAP Board Member Fernandez 3-18-04

You are a public official. You have been appointed to the board of the the Housing Authority of Portland, a quasi-governmental public body which has the authority to spend $90,000,000 of taxpayers money in FY2004. You are the board Treasurer of an organization that has a bigger public budget than 70% of the counties in the state of Oregon (25 of 36). You are the board Treasurer of an organization that has a bigger public budget than 95% of the cities in the state of Oregon (229 of 240). And you want to remain anonymous and shielded from the public? Preposterous.

Mayoral hopefuls get a heads-up 3-12-04

Candidates should expect to be asked this question during and after the campaign until such time as the EVIDENCE proves that program results and policy goals do, in fact, match. Keep in mind that without neighborhood map based accounting there can be no evidence.

Candidates should expect to be asked this question during and after the campaign until such time as the EVIDENCE proves that program results and policy goals do, in fact, match. Keep in mind that without neighborhood map based accounting there can be no evidence.

Round Two - Candidates Take 2nd HAP Quiz 2-17-04

Sam Adams and Tom Potter's answers support public policy positions that are clearly in the interest of the citizens of Portland and Multnomah county. They support free speech and citizen access to government leaders. Adams and Potter quite correctly and responsibly say they want government to provide evidence that the results of its housing practices match the goals of its public housing policies.

Candidates Respond to HAP Appointment Process 1-19-04

Contrary to the protestations of Ralph Nader, the election of George W. Bush proved with frightening clarity that it does make a difference who gets elected to public office. Or, in this case, who gets appointed to public office.

The Rules Of The Game 1-11-04

On Wednesday January 7th I asked all of you, candidates for public office, for "your reactions to the recent stealth nominating PROCESS (NOT the appointee) of Harriet Cormack to the HAP board." The deadline for responding is 2:30 PM Tuesday January 13th.

HAP Stealth Nominee Sneaks In Under The Radar 1-5-04

The Portland City Council, Vera Katz - Erik Sten - Jim Francesconi - Dan Saltzman - Randy Leonard, has committed a dishonorable and unethical act by surreptitiously appointing Harriet Cormack to the board of the Housing Authority of Portland during a major holiday week without notifying the public the press or those who made written requests to testify.

Shame On You Mayor Katz 12-29-03

There are very few members of the press, politicos or HAP watchers in the state of Oregon who did not know that Richard Ellmyer twice requested an opportunity to testify before the Portland City Council regarding the appointment of a new board member to the Housing Authority of Portland. It is undemocratic and an insult to me that all of you have ignored my legitimate request and attempted to deny my basic right as a citizen to testify on a public matter. Shame on all of you.

HAP VP FISH FAILS First Candidacy Credibility Test 12-15-03

The city of Portland does not need a dishonest slippery tongued lawyer/politician on its council. Portlanders, like everybody else, want women and men to lead our community who will honestly tell us what they believe before we decide to vote for them. There are many many more legitimate inquires to be made about Nick Fish's behavior as a HAP board member. We hope his answers to those questions bare a greater resemblance to the truth. So far Nick Fish doesn't make the grade.

Neighborhood ECONOMIC Diversity Is The Goal 12-4-03

I welcome to become new neighbors in my Portsmouth neighborhood every race, every ethnic minority, every sexual orientation, every gender, every person with or without a religious belief - including Arab Muslims, every height, every weight, even Republicans, in fact, absolutely any person or family, natural or extended, that can comfortably afford to buy a $200,000 and up house. The diversity I support at the Villa and throughout my neighborhood is ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.

HAP Board HEARS The Case For Neighborhood Maps 11-19-03

At a public Board meeting on November 18, 2003 from 6:15 PM to 6:18 PM the entire Housing Authority of Portland Board HEARD the following testimony:

I look forward to a public motion by HAP Commissioner Nick Fish to direct the HAP staff to construct a neighborhood based map of HAP client locations which will be placed on the HAP web site and updated quarterly and letters from HAP Commissioner Nick Fish to the Portland city council and the PDC board requesting similar actions.

Some Of My Best Friends Are Porcupines 11-3-03

Renee Mitchell, Oregonian columnist, continues to renew our american faith in the value of a free press. Mitchell does her homework, gets the facts right, shows insight, demonstrates a genuine commitment to the well being of our community and tempers a sharp style with humor. Her recent column regarding Richard Ellmyer's role in bringing the issue of public housing policy to the public agenda, If you dismiss messenger, you miss the point, is an excellent example.

Leonard Wants Light For Planning, Shadows For HAP 10-20-03

In a move to bring cameras to commissions* that will certainly add "hypocrite" to "bully"* and other pejorative descriptors used by some to define a certain Portland City Commissioner, Randy Leonard has just "awakened" to the notion that public Boards and Commissions need more public access. Hallelujah Brother Randy, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Oregonian Wants More Housing $$ - But Doesn't Say WHERE 10-13-03

Homelessness is a disgrace upon America. It should be the first priority for every housing authority or related agency in Oregon. The Oregonian is right to call attention to this tragic yet fixable problem. However, before any more federal or any other kind of public housing dollars are spent in Multnomah county our community needs to have a public discussion entitled, "Where Do We Put Them."

David Austin-Budget for homes plan needs OK 10-9-03

Several people have asked me recently how a $150,000 million project that loses $6.4 million results in a $135 million project.

Letter to Willamette Week 10-4-03

Over a sixteen month period I requested and presumably got thirteen minutes of staff time to forward email messages to HAP's board of directors. On the BS meter, with 10 = Whopping Pile of S..., HAP's complaint about taking "too much employee time" ranks 11.

HAP Wins Coveted Rogue Oscar Award 10-2-03

On October 1, 2003 Willamette Week bestowed its "prestigious" Rogue of the Week award upon the Housing Authority of Portland, ( http://www.wweek.com/flatfiles/News4382.lasso ). Their point, democracy is a messy business.

HAP Boss Crown's Himself Chief Censor 9-18-03

In an email dated September 17th, HAP Chair, Howard Shapiro, announced a new HAP policy that will prohibit certain citizens from communicating directly with the Housing Authority of Portland's government appointed Board of Directors. These "chosen" ones must funnel all their messages intended for the HAP board through Howard Shapiro.

HAP Denies Public Access To Its Board 9-16-03

In a disturbingly undemocratic and unprofessional action, HAP's Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Shelley Marchesi, choose to personally censor an email communication intended for HAP Board members.* Ms. Marchesi deliberately deceived the sender into thinking the messages had been delivered to the intended audience then, when the misdeed was discovered, refused to acknowledge it. This type of behavior is dishonest, unethical, and a gross dereliction of duty.

The HAP Board Must Answer This Question 9-5-03

You may remember the great umbrage taken by Howard Shapiro when HAP was challenged in an Op-Ed piece in the Oregonian. Howard was very quick to demand equal time from the Oregonian and yet he never offered nor allowed anyone equal time to rebut the tens of thousands of dollars HAP spent and continues to spend on its print propaganda in my neighborhood. It is totally disingenuous, indeed ludicrous for HAP to say that it doesn't have nor will it spend a few thousand dollars to provide important public information.

Tilting at Windmills - Defining Business 8-19-03

Most businesses choose to move or establish themselves in a certain location for a myriad of reasons very few of them having anything to do with a city public relation's fund or the ease of getting a building permit.

Kulongoski Gets HAP Map 8-13-03

It turns out that the ONLY elected official or member of the Press in the entire state of Oregon interested or even curious enough to ask the Housing Authority of Portland WHERE it puts its clients is the governor of the state, Ted Kulongoski. Way to go Ted! Bravo! Unfortunately, the format of HAP's client maps are politically useless.

Is There No End To This? 7-22-03

Earl Blumenauer has been asking people around town what they want for their neighborhoods and their city. Well, here is some advice for Portland's next mayor. Put a conversation about population growth and public housing on the agenda. Then make sure that the city and its handmaiden's HAP and PDC stop crowding all the low-income housing into the same few neighborhoods.

Missing Methane? - Don't Ask Me. It's Not My Job 7-21-03

During the Watergate era the predominant question was, "what did you know and when did you know it?" The query has resurfaced today with regard to real, imagined or manipulated preemptive war justifying "intelligence", WMDs and major presidential speeches. To be sure, the issue of the missing methane project at Columbia Villa does not raise to the level of presidential malfeasance. However, this story does add yet another example to the volume of evidence for regime change in both leadership and structure of Portland city government.

The Buck Doesn't Stop At BES 7-2-03

All five members of Portland's city council voted to support HAP's Villa remodel project with $20 million. Four of the five members and their staffs have all known about HAP's support of the methane and water distribution proposals and Commissioner Saltzman's $2 million contribution for more than TWO YEARS. So what happened? That is the question. An explanation is required from each member of the city council that voted to spend $20 million of taxpayer's money on HAP's Villa remodel project. A similar explanation from HAP's board would also be welcomed, but not expected. They are not accountable to the voters or taxpayers. Katz, Saltzman, Sten, Francesconi and Leonard are responsible. It is they, each individually, who must explain their actions on this matter.

Environmental Commitment and Credibility 6-27-03

Several friends of mine who are environmental activists have recently started to ask me about the project to convert the 30% excess methane at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant into a usable energy source for Columbia Villa. These folks may have some interest in public housing issues but their primary focus is on environmental and conservation issues. They, as I, have been bewildered by the unexplained apparent dismissal of this plan to turn a wasted natural resource into a valuable and usable source of energy.

On Being Impressed 6-22-03

I would have been impressed with Commissioner Francesconi if he had said, "You know folks, I'm running for mayor and I don't think our city should support a policy of concentrating all our low-income clients into certain neighborhoods. As a lawyer I need the support of evidence I could take to court. Guesswork and blank slates do not qualify. So today I'm going to ask HAP to make a map like Ellmyer's but one that is not an estimate but relies on real accounting data so that I can have an authentic defensible foundation on which to base my public housing policy recommendations during my mayoral campaign. "

The Term "Institutional Arrogance" Comes To Mind 6-12-03

In a mood approaching jubilation the Portland Development Commission was about to proceed to vote to award the Housing Authority of Portland seven million dollars. The joyousness of this institutional public love feast was shattered when a voice in the back of the room shouted, "excuse me, but there are citizens who would like to be heard on this matter." Dead silence.

Renee Mitchell Reveals Randy Leonard's Flaw 6-2-03

When Randy Leonard left my home a few weeks before the election for city council he opposed the Villa remodel project. He got my public endorsement. The minute he arrived at city hall the so-called "mountain" Leonard said that HAP would have to climb to change his mind became something closer to a "bumpy" in the road

Fiscally Responsible Democrats - First Answers Then Funding 6-1-03

Democrats lose credibility and therefore jeopardize those in need of help when they blindly support social service institutions without demanding fiscal accountability. In the late 70's I served on the board of a multimillion dollar Community Action Agency, The Portland Metropolitan Steering Committee. It had a so-called blue ribbon board. I was among the leadership that persuaded a majority of the board to close the place down because it was corrupt beyond repair. There was a great public fuss and most Democrats ran for cover. The director went to federal prison.

Fiscally Responsible Republicans - First Answers Then Funding 6-1-03

Your party controls the House. It is obviously essential to have its support. Please contact your colleagues and persuade them to demand fiscal accountability and provide the legal tools for housing authorities in Oregon to balance the placement of taxpayer funded low-income clients throughout their jurisdictions.

The Math Makes The Map 5-30-03

Once again Housing Authority of Portland's chair, Howard Shapiro, wearing his "we help the needy" band on his white hat, proclaims HAP can do no wrong. Shapiro was quick to demand equal time from the Oregonian* but not so fast to offer or allow equal time to a different view in publications where Shapiro wears the publisher's hat, namely HAP's newspaper and HAP's newsletter which have been spewing unchallenged propaganda in my neighborhood for two years.

Like Enron, HAP flunks public duty 5-28-03

Shielded from accountability to taxpayers by mayoral appointment rather than election, board members of the Housing Authority of Portland have steadfastly refused to answer the most fundamental questions relating to how HAP does business with taxpayers' money.

$20 Million Testimony 5-23-03

In June of 2001, without fanfare or serious public discussion, the Portland City Council, without identifying the funding sources, committed $20 million of scarce public resources to a highly controversial project in social engineering at Columbia Villa. Two years latter we can identify the sources

Media Mediocrity? 4-28-03

No government budget or policy, from the military to public housing, is sacrosanct.

If you don't ask the right questions then it doesn't matter what the answers are
.

Yet another newspaper, The Portland Tribune, and another reporter, Janine Robben, have tried to play catch up and tell today's version of the Housing Authority of Portland's Columbia Villa remodel story, http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=17765 . HAP says this, some opponents say that, blah, blah, blah, same old, same old. If you just want to state the party line send your readers to HAP's Internet site, http://www.hapdx.org/inititives/hope6.html or an alternative view, http://www.goodgrowthnw.org

Mow Your Own Backyard First 4-21-03

Senator Wyden: In June of 2001 you signed a letter to the Director of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development supporting a $35 million grant of taxpayers' money to the Housing Authority of Portland to remodel the Columbia Villa. You persuaded others in our Oregon congressional delegation to support a project in a place, North Portland, which most of them had never heard of much less set foot in. Since that time you have not been involved nor have you persuaded any of your colleagues to follow up and see if what they signed on to was good public housing policy. All of you have been AWOL for almost two years. There is often a penalty for such behavior.

County Tax Plan Hit By Friendly Fire 4-7-03

Despite the success of a looming election measure being based on financial trust and without regard for the label of fiscally irresponsible, Multnomah County has recklessly decided to spend some of its scarce money, staff time and credibility to plan for a new library when there is no money to build it and the community it should serve overwhelmingly opposes it.

No Audit, No Debate, No Money 3-31-03

In the middle of a war the Pentagon is more willing to tell the citizens of America and the world where its troops are than the Housing Authority of Portland, at any time, has been willing to divulge information about where its clients are located.

Should the City of Portland, Multnomah County, the state of Oregon and the United States of America give taxpayer's money to a quasi-government institution that steadfastly refuses to release basic information about its operations to the public or the press?

Oregonian Editors Fail Credibility Test 3-29-03

Because HAP's Villa remodel project is supported by millions of tax dollars promised but not yet paid by the Portland City Council, the Multnomah County Commission, the Oregon legislature and the Federal Government it should have ignited a public discussion throughout our state on what makes good public housing policy and does this project fit into our definition of good public policy. The Oregonian Editorial Board could and should have encouraged such a debate. Instead of rising to the occasion you failed your profession, your readers and the citizens of our great state.

BLASTING THE GHETTO 3-17-03

Our city prides itself on its neighborhoods just as we used to do with our school system. Candidates for public office orate endlessly on the importance of and their support for neighborhoods. Yet neither press not politicians start from the question, Is this Villa remodel project in the best interests of the people that already live or own businesses in North Portland neighborhoods? Will this Villa remodel project enhance the quality of life for those families that own property, vote or send their children to public schools in North Portland neighborhoods? Will this Villa remodel project enhance the quality of businesses in North Portland neighborhoods?

This issue is primarily and fundamentally about NEIGHBORHOOD stability and community balance NOT HAP's institutional housing agenda.

HAP's Institutional Credibility 2-25-03

Dear Reporter:
To accurately and fairly report to the public on HAP's institutional credibility regarding the Columbia Villa remodel project a journalist must include HAP's behavior over the past two years of their project. In our recent phone conversation I told you that HAP has NO INSTITUTIONAL CREDIBILITY when it comes to the Columbia Villa remodel project.

Library, School, Now State Funding - UNcommitted 2-17-03

Qualified Applicant Does NOT Mean The Check Is In The Mail
Attachment 16 page 57 of the Housing Authority of Portland's Hope VI grant application lists a commitment by the state of Oregon to HAP's Columbia Villa remodel project for:
Private Activity Bonds - $20,500,000
Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) $44,792,656
Neither of these funding sources has been applied for much less authorized by anyone in the state of Oregon.

The Cruz Connection 2-12-03

Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz's family is about to be awarded a $58 million government contract .

Introducing HAP The Prestidigitator 2-10-03

You will all remember the phantom $4 million dollar contribution from Multnomah County for a branch library at Columbia Villa which has never been funded or sited*, yet to this day remains an apparitious entity within the Housing Authority of Portland's plans arousing not so much as an "Oh Really!" from any member of the Multnomah County Commission or Library Board. Exceedingly curious. But that's old news. For its next magic act HAP has included in its official Hope VI grant revision of December 20, 2002 a set aside of 4 acres and a rudimentary proposal for a new elementary school at Columbia Villa without commitment or funding from the Portland Public Schools

Not So Fast, Please 2-3-03

"Portland and Multnomah County leaders say they will temporarily increase business taxes to keep schools afloat next school year if the state Legislature or a potential regional tax fail to provide enough money."*

Before you folks decide to ratchet up taxes you need to have a serious talk with some public school principals and administrators about the role of tax-payers' rights to participate in the education of our young people.

Katz and Company NOT Taking Care of Business 1-27-03

On June 9, 2001 the North Portland Business Association REFUSED to endorse the Housing Authority of Portland's Hope VI plan*. Since that time HAP, Mayor Vera Katz and the Portland City Council have ignored and buried the letter of rejection by the organization that represents the business community of North Portland.

Showdown At The Public Housing Policy Corral 1-21-03

If you pay taxes in the city of Portland or Multnomah County or the state of Oregon or the United States of America you have a right to express your opinion on a public housing policy supported by your tax dollars. http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/publiccomment.pdf

Is there anyone in the state of Oregon who believes that improving the quality of life in their neighborhood is achieved by OVERLOADING their own neighborhood with low-income housing?

But WHERE Do We Put Them? 1-15-03

Janet Christ reported in today's Oregonian, Affordable housing added to city's goal* 01/15/03, that "The Portland Development Commission has raised the city's goal for building affordable housing from 10,000 to 13,550." What the Oregonian did NOT report and what the PDC did NOT address is WHERE THEY PLAN TO PUT ALL THIS ADDITIONAL LOW-INCOME HOUSING?

HAP Breaks Sixty Year Commitment 1-13-03

On December 20, 2002, in a startling and disturbing new development, the Housing Authority of Portland sent a revised Hope VI grant to HUD announcing that it would SELL perhaps as much at 25 acres of the 70 acre Columbia Villa to developers. This is the first time since the Villa's creation as war time housing in 1942 that HAP has chosen to sell portions of this publicly owned property

"Trust Us" Says Vigilante Francesconi 12-16-02

Without meaningful public consultation or debate the Portland City Council committed $20 million to the Columbia Villa remodel project in June of 2001. It's time to reevaluate a trust busting, back door, illegitimate process and reject the bad public policy inherent in the project. Jim, you should be leading the effort to garner the trust you seek by withdrawing support from the neighborhood destabilizing Columbia Villa ghetto building project and redirecting whatever portion of the $20 million you can to aid the Portland Public Schools.

Not What We Bargained For 12-9-02

In early May 2001 I personally called the offices of Wyden, Smith and Blumenauer and told their staffs about the federal $35 million Hope VI grant application of which they were unaware. I asked them to work together in support of the project.

Today, December 9, 2002 I ask you to come and talk to me within the next 60 days so that I can demonstrate why it’s time to write another letter to HUD. However, this time the request will be to take the money back because it clearly is going to do more harm than good

Changing the RATIOS of low, lower and lowest HAP clients at Columbia Villa does NOT qualify as a mixed income community 12-8-02

It is VERY important that a distinction be made between what HAP considers a "mixed-income" neighborhood and what the rest of us would consider an economically integrated community.

Architect says, "Not In My Backyard - Thank You" 12-2-02

Portland AIA Architect, Kenneth Hattan of Hamblin Hattan Architects* believes that compliance with architectural ethics is determined by the heart and that low-income public housing clients should be kept in their place.

The Ethics of Architecture 11-25-02

The architectural firms of Robertson Merryman Barnes* (Portland) and Mithun** (Seattle) have just been awarded a contract to design the next generation of Oregon's largest low-income housing ghetto.

An Honest Appraisal Or Rubber Stamp? 11-13-02

Members of the Portland Planning Commission:
Sometime during March 2003 you will be evaluating the first of several requests for a subdivision, type III review or street vacation related to the Housing Authority of Portland 's $200 million Columbia Villa remodel project. Because this is such a massive and contentious government building project you will need to take extra care in presenting your opinions. It is essential that your prejudices, preconceived notions, previous commitments and public housing policy preferences all be put on the public table long before you review and pass judgment on the merits or demerits of a project which will have an indelible affect on tens of thousands of lives in a very large section of our city for decades to come.

Francesconi Says, "It's A Done Deal" 11-12-02

Tired after a long day Portland City Commissioner Jim Francesconi let slip to a recent meeting of neighborhood leaders that the $200 million Housing Authority of Portland's Villa remodel was already decided by the Portland City Council. Never mind that the issue will not come before them until the Spring or Summer of 2003. This is an excellent example of what newly elected City Commissioner Randy Leonard calls "city think." In a Portland Tribune article, Leonard slams ‘city think’*, Leonard says, “The decisions are made before the public is asked about them.” Randy Leonard certainly got that right

HAP Falsified $3.7 Million Multnomah Co. Contribution In Federal Grant Application 10-23-02

On Attachment 28 page 65 of the HOPE VI grant submitted to HUD by the Housing Authority of Portland is a listed financial commitment by Multnomah County of $3,758,500 for a branch library to be sited on HAP's Columbia Villa property. However, today the office of Multnomah County Executive Diane Linn confirmed that Multnomah County has made NO such commitment.

Looking for leverage in the HUD grant submitted June 22, 2001, HAP choose to deliberately misinterpret a letter of support from a single Multnomah County Commissioner into a line item commitment of $3.7 million dollars from the government of Multnomah County apparently hoping that HUD officials wouldn't notice.

Leonard Listens and Learns. You Can Too. 10-12-02

Randy Leonard has shown courage in the legislature, on the campaign trail and as a firefighter who has had first hand experience dealing with problems at Columbia Villa. Political courage is always in short supply. I'm going to vote to bring more of it to the Portland City Council.

October 23rd Public Policy Discussion
On October 23rd, 7 PM at the historic Kenton Firehouse there will be an opportunity for every Oregonian interested in the $200 million Villa remodel project to get the real story. As the main speaker I will explain the history, status and consequences of this massive housing project. The Arbor Lodge and Kenton neighborhood associations are jointly sponsoring this event. Neither the Housing Authority of Portland nor its wholly owned subsidiary, The Community Association of Porstmouth, will be participating. This event is for the rest of us. (Call Ronna Seavey at the North Portland Neighborhood Office for directions and details, (503)823-4524). And yes, there will be refreshments.

$200 Million Tail Wags Oregon Public Policy Dog 10-6-02

Until August 26, 2002 none of the contributors to the $200 million Columbia Villa remodel project knew how many Housing Authority of Portland clients were in each neighborhood throughout Multnomah County, HAP's area of responsibility. On August 26 an email, Let The Debates Begin, was sent to a very large constituency of interested parties listing the number of HAP clients by neighborhood in Multnomah County. In addition, a web site was established which published this information, a map and other background information, http://www.goodgrowthnw.org . It is now necessary for every participant to reevaluate their contribution in light of the newly revealed public policy implications

The HAPhazard Committee 9-9-02

Twenty-six good intentioned but under informed members of HAP's Villa remodel citizens committee will travel down a road for several months advising HAP on what color to paint the new kitchens. What they will NOT be doing is soliciting wide public input from all stake holders in the city of Portland (or Multnomah County for that matter) NOR will they be presenting alternative visions on how to spend $200 million to enhance the quality of life, maintain neighborhood stability and community balance for a large section of the city of Portland. At the committee's second meeting on Sept. 5th it was made abundantly clear by HAP staff that this committee would have no substantial input. HAP has raised the draw bridge and manned the battlements.

HAP's CAC REVIEWed 9-9-02

I was dismayed at the response that Richard Ellmyer received when he got up to speak at the meeting. Eyes rolled, a few CAC members got up and left, others spoke out of turn, one lady was actually rude and defensive. I was appalled that a group of professionals who are there to make incredible changes to a large portion of North Portland forever, would be allowed to act in this manner. I have never seen such a display

HAP Portsmouth Project May 2001 Evaluation 5-10-01

I am pleased to announce that the HAP Portsmouth Neighborhood Enhancement Project is headed in the right direction. After extensive and productive conversations with Denny West, HAP Executive Director, Ron Johnson, HAP Portsmouth Project Coordinator, Julie Livingston, HAP architect and William Hart, Principal of Carleton Hart Architecture who also represented Mahlum Architects, I was persuaded that all of the major players, both staff and contractors, of the Housing Authority of Portland supported the fundamental principles which are required to make this project a success for HAP and my neighborhood

Remodeling My Neighborhood - Opportunities And Dangers 2-26-01

Although we are only in the vision phase of this project it is very important to set the right tone from the beginning. This project must seek to be outstanding not ordinary. It must not "blend" into the neighborhood but become an outstanding example, a national showcase. It should be a creation to which other construction in the neighborhood will aspire.

Articles related to this subject by and about Richard Ellmyer

When Politics and Spam Intersect by Rob Manning, Oregon Public Broadcasting, March 23, 2004.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=619289

If you dismiss messenger, you miss the point by Renee Mitchell, Oregonian, November 3, 2003.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/renee_mitchell/index.ssf?/base/news/106769134736900.xml
http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/RMitchel2.html

Housing Authority of Portland -Rogue of the Week, Willamettee Week, October 1, 2003. http://www.wweek.com/flatfiles/News4382.lasso

Like Enron, HAP flunks public duty by Richard Ellmyer, Oregonian, May 28, 2003. http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1054123777167470.xml

Razing a neighborhood to save it by Janine Robben, Portland Tribune, April 25, 2003. http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=17765

When you open a window, stuff tends to blow in by Renee Mitchell, Oregonian, April 4, 2003. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/renee_mitchell/index.ssf?/base/news/1049461558217020.xml

Blasting The Ghetto by Aimee L. Curl, Willamette Week, March 12, 2003. http://www.wweek.com/flatfiles/News3694.lasso

Community activism - Getting involved to make a difference by Gayla Whitman, The Review of North Portland, September 13, 2002.
http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/Review.html

Columbia Villa faces transformation by Gordon Oliver, Oregonian, July 24, 2002.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news/1027511760296551.xml

Zoning issue handled badly by Richard Ellmyer, Portland Tribune, July 9, 2002.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=12383

Measure tips balance away from citizens by Richard Ellmyer, Portland Tribune, May 7, 2002.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=11325

People, like gardens, need help to act right by Renee Mitchell, Oregonian, March 13, 2002.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/renee_mitchell/index.ssf?/xml/story
http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/RMitchel.html

Housing boon or blight? by Cristine Gonzalez, Portland Tribune, October 9, 2001.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=6899

Contact Richard Ellmyer: richard@goodgrowthnw.org

This site copyright © 2002-05 Richard Ellmyer