“If I was not running for Mayor and challenging City Hall’s spending, my opponent would have continued to ram-rod this pet project through”
–Sho Dozono
Not surprisingly, Commissioners Adams’ opponent in the race for mayor, Sho Dozono, has issued a statement in response to Adams’ decision to pull the plug on the plan to re-use the Sauvie Island Bridge span as a bike/ped bridge in Northwest Portland.
Here’s the statement (emphasis mine):
“For the sake of the taxpayers I am pleased that my opponent came to his senses and ended the Sauvie Island Bridge project. This proposal is the most recent, in a long list of projects that are completely out of synch with the City’s core priorities. If I was not running for Mayor and challenging City Hall’s spending, my opponent would have continued to ram-rod this pet project through,” Dozono said.
“With recent media accounts of the $18.5 million cost overrun to the city’s new payroll computer system and the doubling of the cost of the Eastside Streetcar Burnside/Couch Couplet project, Sam Adams knew that spending $5.5 million on a bridge for the Pearl District and NW Portland was not going to make Portland taxpayers happy,” Dozono said.
“I have consistently communicated my opposition to the Sauvie Island Bridge project. I support safe alternative for pedestrians and cyclists. There are so many other pressing priorities such as safe sidewalks for all of Portland’s school children and the lack of affordable housing for Portlanders who are one paycheck away from losing their homes,” Dozono said.
“Commissioner Sam Adams indicated that his “flip-flop” on the Sauvie Island Bridge project is due to rising energy prices. How can anyone not be aware of rising gas prices? Since the beginning, Commissioner Adams has manipulated City Hall to spend money on his projects without the scrutiny of the general public,” Dozono said.
“Portlanders have the opportunity to send a clear message to Sam Adams, one that says you want a City Hall that is accountable to taxpayers. As Mayor, I will focus the City on providing core services to Portlanders,” Dozono said.
“My campaign is focused on prioritizing spending. I have promoted a rainy day fund to weather downturns in the economy. I have proposed a $50M set aside specifically for infrastructure and public safety so that core services will not face budget cuts in budget-cutting years. I have the experience to lead in challenging economic times.”
Just to be clear, in addition to uneasiness about the cost estimates of the Sauvie project (and all of PDOT’s projects) due to higher fuel prices, Adams made it clear in his press conference this morning that his decision to pull the plug had to do with how those higher prices would impact the competitive bid portion of the project.
$3.9 million from the total project estimate of $5.5 million was at a “guaranteed maximum price” that the contractor (Kuney Construction) could not go over (or they’d have to pay the difference). The remaining part of the project would have gone to the lowest bidder.
What Adams said is that given how high fuel prices are making projects like this more expensive, he did not think that those bids would come back at $1.6 million or less — which is the difference between his stated estimate of $5.5 and the $3.9 guaranteed max to Kuney.
Read more commentary and coverage of Dozono’s statement at the Willamette Week and the Portland Mercury.
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Dozono\’s claiming responsibility for Peak Oil? I\’m not sure if that will help or hurt his campaign…
\”Do Nothing\” Dozono. Sho sure is slow. Listen to what he says. Sho sure don\’t know…
Spin this however ya like. Sam looks pretty bad to me. Not that Sho looks any better.
If Sam is concerned about over-runs and rising gas prices now, why not yesterday? Why not last week?
His explanation is obviously baloney.
Steve,
I assure you, as public records will attest, that Sam received updated revenue and cost forecasts from PDOT yesterday.
Within hours, we called the press conference for this morning.
steve –
Simply because someone knows that something is going to happen, they might not have the details on how that is going to affect a specific project. Yes, anyone on the street can tell you gas prices are rising, but they cannot tell you the exact effect that the increase will have on any other facet of industry. ODOT revenue projections are a new revelation, a revelation that Sam acted on accordingly. In a network as complex as our government it sometimes takes time for information to circulate to the necessary areas.
Sure, it\’s always nice to have more bike infrastructure, and on the surface it met the feel-good criteria of recycling and investing in alternative transportation infrastucture.
This project made no sense given that there are multiple ways to cross over and under I-405. How many accidents have happened 4 blocks north or south of Flanders that would justify such a costly project?
If the funding is used in manner that belies sensibility, other projects will lose support from the common taxpayer.
When I worked at the USEPA (on alternatice transporation projects) there were a number of criteria that had to be met in order for projects to get funded. \”Feeling nice\” was not one of them.
WAIT!!! You are telling me Sho is STILL running for mayor? I thought with all those lawn signs and Sho signs in business window disappearing around Portland, the revelation that he is a deadbeat business owner, the many other mishaps that have recently come to light, that he had ended his run.
Sho must not get it?
This statement is ridiculous and infuriating.. Sho isn\’t responsible for rising gas prices, which caused this pullback by Commissioner Adams. Sho doesn\’t know the first thing about transportation funding or improvements. Sho sure can get you a plane ticket to the Bahamas though.. Sho should stick to his travel agency business..
Sho needs to get his facts right…
Tom Potter is in charge of OMF. Which in charge of the new HR payroll system…
Dozono is a joke.
so dozono would take PDOT funds to save home mortgages? also i need to find out where i can magically get a $50 million rainy day fund during a recession. and again with the sidewalks – i mean i\’m pro-sidewalk but aren\’t we like 99% ok on the sidewalk front?
So Sam is damned if he does (push for this project) and damned if he doesn\’t (when he decides money is too tight and it can\’t be done)?
That rings hollow with me.
Anybody who thinks the city can solve the home mortgage crisis, all while cutting back on city spending, and focusing on providing core services, clearly hasn\’t got any semblance of a grasp on reality.
Oh, the intoxicating effect of running for public office. Seems like Sho Dozono already has an advanced case of that. At least you can\’t say he isn\’t doing anything to make the mayoral race interesting or funny.
\”…If I was not running for Mayor and challenging City Hall’s spending, my opponent would have continued to ram-rod this pet project through\” Sho Dozono
Potter\’s the guy that initially sidelined the Flander\’s project from proceeding. Did Dozono have anything to do with Potter\’s stance then?
It\’s kind interesting to speculate what might have happened if Potter had not withheld his support for the project that day. Would the PDOT have then refrained from releasing the details of their report the night before city council was to meet to approve proceeding with project?
Assuming that happened, if the budget for phase two of the project had then spiraled above the $1.8 million remaining in the budget for phase two, would Adams have continued to push for the project?
I doubt it, because if phase two\’s cost had not been restrained similar to the way phase one of the project had, I think the grass-roots support for the project would have vanished almost completely. Without that support, it\’s doubtful that Adams would have proceeded to support the project.
Dozono has never offered any input that I\’ve heard, on the specifics of the Flander\’s crossing deal using the Sauvie Island span. He\’s got that phrase; \’fiscal responsibility\’, and that\’s about it.
I call bull honky on Sho.
I wonder if Sho has the same definition of fiscal responsibility for his business as he will have for the city? That is to say, will he hand over his personal money to build sidewalks?
Doesn\’t make sense to scrap it due to rising fuel costs – only…hmmmm. And if that\’s the case on this project, wouldn\’t fuel prices also affect the street and sidewalk repair projects, or any others for that matter? Seems then that we\’d be getting a good deal now, with re-using the bridge, since Kuney was already earmarked for the front 3.9 mill. as a cap.
This is a pretty weak display by Sho..capitalizing on a political issue and claiming that his opponenet is somehow misguided or \”weak\” due to factors out of Adams control…
that\’s old school, lame politics and rings really hollow…
I have yet to hear anything of substance come out of Sho\’s mouth..somebody should tell the guy to get on board the change in politics that is happening across the country.
Yep. And Al Gore invented the internet 😉
And if Dozono was not running for Mayor, he\’d still owe the city the rent he hadn\’t paid them, and the city would have to spend time and money pursuing him to get him to pay it.
Are there ANY Sho Dozono supporters out there who can give me ONE item of substance that this guy is running on.
If there was truth in advertising, his signs would simply say, \”Are you unhappy with your life and wish to blame Sam Adams for everything? Then vote for this guy. He\’s NOT Sam Adams.\”
Man, everyday there is one more reason to be embarrassed about the Sho sign my roommate/landlord put on our house. I really feel icky after reading this.
I\’ve been less than enthusiastic about Commissioner Adams. Randall O\’Toole\’s policy analysis doesn\’t necessarily name names, nonetheless Portland\’s urban growth boundary, tax-incremental financing (Can you say, \”Orenco\”?), and some other well intended debacles have caused me to pay close attention.
Through it all, Adams has been forthright and flexible when called upon to be so. Furthermore, his actions regarding this project are spot-on, and just the kind of thing we need in a mayor. I dare say I can see a learning curve here, and a steep one at that. He strongly supported this project at the behest of his constituency, and when he was given the slightest inkling that it may be cost prohibitive after-all, he changes course and does what\’s necessary, political consequences be damned.
That\’s hardcore.
I doubt this is an open and shut thing, so hopefully my condolences to those who were working for this aren\’t premature. I wouldn\’t know but the Commissioner\’s job looks pretty rough, and in the end it is all about intentions. Adams\’ seem to have the intentions of the genuinely righteous.
Nothing personal Mr. Dozono, but you seem entirely too political for City Hall. You might feel right at home in Salem, but running P-town is not a politician\’s job.
Sho me a reason…or at least a pulse!
I\’m not a Portland resident, so have no say in the upcoming mayoral election but….
From what I\’ve read both here and elsewhere, Sho doesn\’t get it.
He\’s a bad business owner, he\’s stolen money from a child\’s trust account that he was in charge of (unethical!), and now he\’s claiming responsibility for things he shouldn\’t.
What\’s next, Sho? Gonna claim you invented the question mark?
I think it\’s a bunch of hubris. Sho is so out of touch with Portland and clearly is an old style political candidate. We need leadership that is different and Sam is THE guy to get us there as evidenced by this difficult decision in light of all the facts.
Sho\’s a stooge of the PBA, who couldn\’t stand the idea of Sam getting elected without any significant opposition. So, they ran good ol\’ Sho out there. But, he\’s proven to be a hollow suit with feet of clay (to mix metaphors).
As much as it sucks to see the Sauvie Is. bridge idea dropped, I think Sam is correct in not pursuing it, given the circumstances. You can call it politics if you like; I see it as leadership. All the more reason I\’m glad I checked the \”Sam Adams\” box on my ballot.
Sho\’s arrogance makes me cringe. so what if Sam was forced to make a tough decision and Sho may have been a contributor. the fact that he\’s so proud of himself and even claims responsibility for canning a project that so many pople were excited about show\’s he\’s not the guy for Portland.
When you can\’t take credit for anything you have done, at least try to take credit for what your opponent didn\’t do. The best he could come up with, I guess. Confirms my discomfort with the idea of Sho in charge of anything.
Both are Full of it.. Sho\’s full of himself,
Sam\’s not the friend to PDX y\’all think he is. Lived downtown over 15 years. He tries harder to look good, than do good.
I never thought the Sauvie bridge plan made much sense. Re-using something is supposed to be cost effective.
That bridge would make a great offshore reef habitat.
All in all Sam still seems like he\’s best suited for the job, Making a tough decision like this is what it takes at times. he\’s made some bonehead moves (can you say \”back in angle parking only\”)..
(I have to smell cagers exhaust ON the road)..backing in pushes exhaust directly to the sidewalk too.Not to mention back up lights & tail lights are useless..Duh.
I hear Sho is also responsible for that warm sparkle in Sam\’s eyes, the spring in his step, and his great sense of fashion.
Bollocks. Portland City Council is notorious as a place where good ideas go to die. Sam did the right thing by exploring what could have been an incredible project and I won\’t fault him for doing the due diligence. Dozono, on the other hand, doesn\’t have the guts to do the dirty work and get into the details before making a decision. That may work in some cities, but Portland\’s form of govn\’t requires someone who\’s going to get into the trenches.