and Green” proposal again on Wednesday.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
As first reported by the Portland Mercury, Commissioner Leonard’s move to pull-back the recently passed “Safe, Sound, and Green Streets” funding plan has resulted in the package being, once again, split into three separate ordinances.
With this recent move, it’s clear that the gloves have come off in this no-holds-barred political wrestling match.
Romain and his coalition of Big Oil backers, convenience stores and gas dealers are crying foul, while Leonard and Adams are doing the same. Adams told the Portland Tribune on Friday that his re-splitting of the ordinance was done because “they have exposed themselves to be completely untrustworthy.”
If you’re taking notes, the funding package began as one ordinance. Then, fearing a possible legal challenge, Adams split it into three separate ordinances. Once a compromise was thought to have been reached with potential challengers (they promised to not refer it), Adams put the ordinance back into one piece. When that promise broke down, Adams split it into three again.
Adams says he’s simply taking every possible precaution to ensure the funding package is not legally challenged.
At this point, the $464 million street maintenance and improvement program is set for a City Council hearing and re-vote this Wednesday (2/6). If it passes again, those who want to refer it would have the seemingly insurmountable task of gathering nearly 60,000 signatures (18,000+ for each ordinance) in less than 30 days.
Will it pass? Leonard — who told the Oregonian he thinks a public vote would “not be a good idea” because “All the oil industry wants to do is pour in a lot of out-of-state dollars to mislead and misinterpret what the proposal really is,” — also told the O his plan has “at least three votes” on Council already.
Will Romain and his allies throw another curve into the mix?
Stay tuned. It should be an interesting week.
[You can stay in the loop with the local media coverage of this story on my Street Fee Newswire page.