Oregonian Editors Fail Credibility Test 3/29/03

Even the editorial headline got it wrong, "A test for the Housing Authority."* This is NOT a TEST. This is REAL LIFE with real consequences for many neighborhoods and thousands of families costing millions and millions of our tax dollars.

In the larger scheme of things an Oregonian editorial supporting or questioning the Columbia Villa remodel will have no more or less effect than its past call to destroy the quality of life for tens of thousands of residents in North and Northeast Portland by building a twenty thousand seat amphitheater at Portland International Raceway. What is somewhat of a surprise was the choice to take a stand without a face to face discussion with the citizen leader who has spent more time engaged in this issue than any member of the press and most people at HAP or any government. A member of your board, Mary Kitch, had invited me to discuss the matter. We were negotiating a meeting date when this editorial appeared. To use a current vernacular expression, "what's up with that?"

"Nick Fish, vice chairman of the Housing Authority's board of commissioners, puts it, "I think, at least for now, we're entitled to the benefit of the doubt." Fair enough."*

No, HAP is NOT ENTITLED to anything including and especially taxpayer dollars and No, it's NOT FAIR enough at all unless you mean fair to those on HAP's payroll or fair to those who get to eat a piece of the publicly purchased greenback pie.

"The project has its critics."*

This is an incredibly lame, insulting and intellectually dishonest response to legitimate, documented and well reasoned arguments of concern which you have ignored yet nonetheless have been in the public domain for more than Two Years. This is the best the Oregonian's top thinkers can come up with? It's embarrassing and shameful.

People in Glass Houses - Elected Public Officials Take Note
The next time the Oregonian accuses you of making a judgment before hearing from both sides of an issue, print out this email, tape it to a stick and wave it in their faces starting with Mary Kitch.

The next time the Oregonian accuses you of voting on an issue without doing your homework or attacks you because you have failed to make a publicly reasoned and defensible case to support your position, print out this email, roll it up and keep poking the first editor you can find until she or he gets the point.

It's my backyard and my ball
During the last presidential campaign, the Oregonian endorsed a candidate despite the obvious inclination of the editorial board to support his opponent. But publisher's prevail in such situations. OK, that's fine. Newspapers are businesses. You own it you get to endorse who you want. Today's endorsement of HAP's Villa remodel project has the same smell. Your choice to quote Nick Fish instead of HAP's chair or ANY publicly elected official in the state of Oregon gives it away.

The problem with this transparent behavior is that it calls past, present and future entreaties by the Oregonian Editorial Board for citizen involvement in the democratic process of local government into serious question. In almost three decades of citizen activism I have found that invitations to citizen involvement are meant only if the issue doesn't really matter. Whenever the stakes get too high and there is the danger of losing the game the powers that be change their public exhortations from "everyone's invited to the party" to "lock the gates and keep the barbarians at bay."

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.

* A test for the Housing Authority - Oregonian Editorial 3-29-03 http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/104894260555400.xml

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