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

"I am astounded by the lack of neighborhood based public housing data."

"The charges laid out in your bill of particulars warrant investigation. Appointed public officials especially those that spend public funds are responsible for their conduct of public business. However, there are usually at least two sides to every story so those accused must be allowed an opportunity to refute these allegations. After both sides have had a chance to present their cases it would then be incumbent upon the mayor to act by dismissing the charges as insufficient or meritless, issuing a reprimand or removing the appointee."

"I'm sold on the general thrust and intent of the 3-6-9 resolution. I believe that you must have good public housing neighborhood data to determine if you have accomplished your distribution goals. Setting the 3-6-9 percentages need more examination. I would withhold support until I had throughly investigated the consequences of these minimum, maximum and target numbers. Good training yields good results in schools, at the police academy and can yield good results in the behavior and accomplishments of those the mayor nominates for positions as appointed public officials. As the 3-6-9 resolution is revised it should include training and guidance as an important element."

"Outreach is important. The community of responsibility for public housing stretches beyond Portland to the entire region. I am interested in working with Metro and the surrounding communities on the issue of solving public housing issues on a regional basis."
Candidate Tom Potter, HAP Watchers interview published 9-7-04

Hi Folks:
Over almost five years of intense personal involvement with the Housing Authority of Portland I have come to the conclusion that the SINGULAR power of Portland's mayor to control 29 public housing commissioners and the annual spending of $200,000,000 must be balanced with a countervailing force. In our american tradition of government by checks and balances I propose that the Multnomah County Auditor be given the authority and resources to regularly audit and authenticate HAP's books for accuracy, completeness and timeliness. In addition, the Multnomah County Auditor should conduct an annual performance audit to determine if HAP's yearly expenditures are in support of or opposition to Multnomah county's public housing policy.

Sufficient evidence has now accrued to join mayor Potter and his predecessor, Vera Katz, with complete abandonment of their role as Multnomah County Public Housing Czar including the irresponsible oversight of the annual spending of $200,000,000 on public housing in Multnomah County and the overloading and concentration of public housing clients into a few select neighborhoods. Potter mislead (lied to) voters about his positions as a candidate for mayor on four counts:
1. He promised to make available public housing data by neighborhood.
2. He promised support for and a willingness to introduce the 3-6-9 Resolution.
3. He promised to investigate documented charges of dismissible behavior by HAP board members.
4. He promised to support the transition of public housing policy and its operation to our regional government, Metro.

After almost a year in office Tom Potter has failed to do EVERYTHING he said he would do if elected with regard to public housing policy.

There must be a counterbalancing force to the SINGULAR power of Portland's mayor to control 29 public housing commissioners and the annual spending of $200,000,000. That power should be given to a public official elected county wide, namely the Multnomah County Auditor. Being elected by voters throughout Multnomah county brings a trust and connection to all the voters in Multnomah county not just those who live in Portland. Those voters can have confidence that their interests, not just those of the Portland public housing establishment, will be looked after by an elected official who cannot make nor enforce public housing policy but who can shine a bright light and bang out a loud warning if those with the power are misbehaving or just not doing their jobs.

In the coming months, these candidates for various public offices within Multnomah county, Amanda Fritz, Jeff Cogen, LaVonne Griffin-Valade, Jim Robison, Ted Wheeler, Ginny Burdick, Bruce Broussard, Steve March, Erik Sten, Diane Linn, Dan Saltzman et. al., as well as Portland city commissioner Sam Adams will need to express their views on this matter and the other public housing policy issues Tom Potter disingenuously addressed as candidate for mayor.


Richard Ellmyer
3-6-9 Resolution author and project champion
President, MacSolutions Inc. - A Macintosh computer consulting business providing web hosting for artists and very small businesses.
Writer/Publisher - HAP Watcher commentary - Published on the Internet and distributed to 4000 readers interested in public housing policy in Multnomah County.
Portsmouth - formerly the 18%, currently the 8% and rising solution neighborhood, North Portland
http://www.goodgrowthnw.org