Sam Adams seems to have a penchant for withholding the truth during elections. Whatever his explanation turns out to be this time it will no better than his "self-interest" excuse last time.
As a candidate for state senate district 22 I will be presenting to the voters, i.e. the Multnomah County Democratic Party and the Multnomah County Commission, my public policy legislative proposals for the 2011 legislative assembly. They will include several plans related to Public Housing (means test + government subsidy + rental agreement) which is totally under government control.
In order for those voters and other candidates to evaluate, support or challenge my public policy legislative proposals it will be necessary for all of them to have authentic, accurate, complete and timely public housing statistical data from the Housing Authority of Portland. Mayor Sam Adams has the authority to remove any member of the HAP board at will. The mayor of Portland has the authority to remove control of city bureaus from any commissioner at will. Given these powers it is the mayor of Portland, Sam Adams, who is ultimately responsible for withholding the requested public housing statistical data.
Here are the specific legislative public policy issues that are on the table:
Support Equitable Distribution Of Public Housing.
a) Senate district 22 has the highest total and the highest concentration of Public Housing clients in the state of Oregon. This intentional overloading by the state of Oregon, Multnomah county, the Portland Development Commission and most egregiously by the mayor and the Portland city council has serious consequences on public safety, public schools, property values, local businesses' ability to survive with diminishing disposable incomes in their potential customer base, the ability to attract and hold middle class families when their children reach school age and the quality of life of everyone in senate district 22.
b) I would submit legislation requiring state agencies that provide funding or staff support to organizations that administer public housing programs anywhere in the state of Oregon to annually acquire comprehensive public housing statistical data from those organizations that will show at least the number of public housing clients in every neighborhood, median family income, gender and age within their jurisdictions before sending any state funds or services are provided to those organizations.
c) I would submit legislation requiring state agencies to deny funding and staff support to any public housing project in a neighborhood that has 15% or more public housing clients.
d) I would submit legislation requiring state agencies to use the term, "public housing" in all official documents whenever this formula/definition, Public Housing = Means Test + Government Subsidy + Rental Agreement, defines the circumstance of the text.
e) Public housing is a regional issue that should be managed by the Metro Regional Government. I would submit legislation giving the Metro Regional Government authority over all housing authorities in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties and a statutory mandate to be guided by the principle of Equitable Distribution of Public Housing. Guidelines would set 15% public housing clients per neighborhood as a cap and 5% as a minimum target.
Regardless of whether I am appointed to the district 22 senate seat this list of public policy issues will remain on the table. I will challenge whoever becomes the senate appointee to move these legislative issues forward. That will require the appointee to have authentic, accurate, complete and timely public housing statistical data from the Housing Authority of Portland.
In addition, I will challenge the Portland City Commissioners to instruct the lobbyists for the city of Portland to move these legislative proposals forward. That will require the Portland City Commissioners to have authentic, accurate, complete and timely public housing statistical data from the Housing Authority of Portland.
Citizens and members of the press who support mayor Adams' suppression of public housing statistical data from those seeking public office, voters and taxpayers as well as his total lack of accountability related to the annual spending of a sum approaching $200,000,000 of taxpayer dollars are welcome to come forward and defend Sam Adams who is currently in hiding on this issue as he was the last time he was confronted with not telling the truth about election issues of importance.
If you haven't signed the recall petition now would be a good time
Richard Ellmyer