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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

143 Weeks And Counting 5-23-05

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Candidates Respond to HAP Appointment Process 1-19-04

The Rules Of The Game 1-11-04

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

Shame On You Mayor Katz 12-29-03

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

Neighborhood ECONOMIC Diversity Is The Goal 12-4-03

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

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

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

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

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

Letter to Willamette Week 10-4-03

HAP Wins Coveted Rogue Oscar Award 10-2-03

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

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

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

Tilting at Windmills - Defining Business 8-19-03

Kulongoski Gets HAP Map 8-13-03

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

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

Environmental Commitment and Credibility 6-27-03

On Being Impressed 6-22-03

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

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

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

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

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

$20 Million Testimony 5-23-03

Media Mediocrity? 4-28-03

Mow Your Own Backyard First 4-21-03

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

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

Oregonian Editors Fail Credibility Test 3-29-03

BLASTING THE GHETTO 3-17-03

HAP's Institutional Credibility 2-25-03

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

The Cruz Connection 2-12-03

Introducing HAP The Prestidigitator 2-10-03

Not So Fast, Please 2-3-03

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

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

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

HAP Breaks Sixty Year Commitment 1-13-03

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

Not What We Bargained For 12-9-02

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The HAPhazard Committee 9-9-02

HAP's CAC REVIEWed 9-9-02

HAP Portsmouth Project May 2001 Evaluation 5-10-01

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

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