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.

There was a great deal of talk about "community" at the Sept. 5th meeting. However, all of it was about the Villa community. One of the goals of this project was supposed to be integration of the isolated Columbia Villa into the surrounding neighborhood. The fortress mentality of HAP staff and the insular focus of the committee members revealed absolutely no interest in this essential aspect of the plan.

It was a mistake for HAP to snub the Portland chapter of the NAACP when it asked to participate as a committee member. However, it probably turned out for the best because the new, savvy, no nonsense NAACP leadership would quickly have caught on to and then rejected a rubber stamp role.

There is a very good chance that the representative of the Coalition for a Livable Future who sits on this committee will not be sending the details of this meeting or seeking comment from all of CLF's members*. It is a good bet that John Blumthal (President of the Portland chapter of the AIA), Denyse McGriff (President of 1000 Friends of Oregon), Jim Rapp (President Audubon Society of Portland), The Rev. Dr. Wesley Taylor (President Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon), Scott Chapman (Chairperson Columbia Group Oregon Chapter Sierra Club), Nik Blosser and Angus Duncan (Board members Oregon Environmental Council) and the leaders of all the other CLF member organizations have not polled their memberships to see if:
A) they want to go on the record as supporting a public policy which would add more than a thousand HAP clients to the Portland neighborhood that already has the highest number of taxpayer supported low-income Housing Authority of Portland clients within HAP's jurisdiction which includes 117 neighborhoods in Multnomah County or any other neighborhood in the entire state of Oregon.
B) they want to be identified with this impotent sham committee.

In addition to CLF members, every neighborhood leader in Multnomah county as well as elected officials in Wood Village, Troutdale, Fairview and Gresham should also pay attention to how HAP is handling this project. HAP's arms stretch across Multnomah county. They can squeeze anywhere. This $200 million project has public policy implications throughout Multnomah county.

In less than a year from now the Portland Planning Commission and then the Portland City Council will make the final decisions. HAP's so-called advisory committee will not be making any substantive changes to the Hope VI plan as submitted to HUD. This process is now a steam roller on auto pilot. If our city's elected officials don't get involved immediately it will be too late. Although HAP is not interested in the public policy considerations related to their $200 million windfall the Portland Planning Commission and the Portland City Council had better be. If this project doesn't get on track very soon it will be time to shut it down. Keep this in mind. Mayor Vera Katz holds almost all the cards in this game.

However, there are some other players. Ted Kulongoski and Kevin Mannix, our gubernatorial candidates, should feel free to join in any time they realize that North Portland is a part of Oregon and that the state of Oregon has committed $ 65,292,656 through Private Activity Bonds and LIHTC to this project. Remember, if HAP's plan is successful it will double the size of OREGON's largest low-income housing ghetto. If either of them are unwilling to put North Portland on the Governor's showcase tour for out of town visitors then they should say so now.

Earl Blumenauer, Ron Wyden, Gordon Smith, all signed a letter to HUD requesting funds for the $200 million Villa remodel project. Now that it's clear that there are other public policy considerations involved beyond getting a free pot of gold from the Feds perhaps it's time for all of them to help get this project moving in the right direction or sign another letter telling HUD to keep the money.

Gary Hansen and Margaret Carter, this is your backyard. When you're finished with the failed obstructionist Republican leadership in Salem please come home and pay attention to the serious business in your districts.

Diane Linn and Charles Becker. You both recommend HAP board members. Are those persons reflecting your views on this matter? It's time to hear from you.

Serena Cruz, whenever you're ready to stop promising every dime of the City of Portland budget to the school system we'd like to hear your thoughts on this issue. Are you willing to take the $20,000,000 contribution of the City of Portland for this project and give it to Portland Schools? If you make the runoff you won't be able to hide from taking a stand (Nick Fish and Randy Leonard take note).

Rick Michaelson, Ethan Seltzer, Ingrid Stevens, Amanda Fritz, Ernie Bonner, Paul R. Schlesinger, Ronald Sykes and Larry Hilderbrand. There will be no excuses about not having enough time to read briefing materials the next time this issue comes before the Portland Planning Commission. There is no need to wait until HAP presents its plan to your group for consideration. We all know what it is.

If any member of the Portland Planning Commission supports a public policy which would add more than a thousand HAP clients to the Portland neighborhood that already has the highest number of taxpayer supported low-income Housing Authority of Portland clients within HAP's jurisdiction which includes 117 neighborhoods in Multnomah County or any other neighborhood in the entire state of Oregon then please tell the citizens of our city your views now. If you want to influence the development of our city, and you should, then you must speak up now. Waiting until it's time for the Planning Commission to vote will render your opinions inconsequential.

The residents of North and Northeast Portland are especially interested in the opinion of Larry Hilderbrand. Larry authored an Oregonian editorial supporting the construction of a mammoth eighteen thousand seat amphitheater at PIR, Portland International Raceway, which would have destroyed the quality of life in many North and Northeast neighborhoods. It was unclear at the time of his editorial whether Hilderbrand knew or had ever talked to anyone from that part of the city or whether he had actually ever set foot in North Portland. The Portland City Council unanimously rejected Hilderbrand's advice and voted 5 to 0 to kill the amphitheater. In fairness it must be said that Mayor Katz gave her best shot and then some to support Hilderbrand's anti-neighborhood dump the crap in North Portland because I don't live there views.

And high praise to Mike Burton, Rex Burkholder, and Bill Atherton, amazingly all from Metro, for being three enlightened publicly elected officials who see the folly of trying to herd an overwhelming number of HAP's clients into one neighborhood. It gives us hope.

To find out what's really going on here please join me in late October (details will follow in a couple of weeks) for a presentation and public discussion. It will not be boring and there will be refreshments. Thank you.

Richard Ellmyer

Articles by and about Richard Ellmyer
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* http://www.clfuture.org/members.html