If Mayor Sam Adams hoped for progress overnight in his effort to save his reputation and his political life, it seems things have only gotten worse.
This morning I awoke to both of our local daily newspapers — The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune — calling for him to resign immediately.
Friends of Eric Davidson — the 36-year old man who was the victim of a hit-and-run in Northeast Portland last May — are putting on a benefit dance to help defray his medical expenses.
Here’s the info:
In celebration of the almighty power of love, Nemo Design and Infinity Images will be hosting a Valentine’s Day dance and benefit on February 14, 2009 to raise money for our good friend Eric Davidson. The benefit will take place between 9pm and 1am at 1875 SE Belmont St. Portland, OR 97214.
As we shared last week, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) provided free bike valet services at today’s Inaugural event.
Jeff Peel with the DC-based League of American Bicyclists was on the scene this morning. Jeff sent over a few photos and this comment:
“WABA staff and volunteers valet parked over 2,000 bikes! I still saw hundreds locked up or being pushed/ridden around outside of our parking stations. Pretty impressive…resembled Amsterdam bike parking except with nicer bikes.”
Reader Stephen Upchurch sent us an email today wondering if a threatening note he got about bike parking was legit.
Stephen locked to a gas pipe in front of the Brew House & Tower Building in Northwest Portland last week and when he returned to his bike he found this note:
Mega-company SRAM has stepped up big to support the national bike movement with the announcement yesterday of a $400,000 grant to the Thunderhead Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists.
Great news on the advocacy front: SRAM has announced a $400K grant to the Thunderhead Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists. Here is the press release:
SRAM Cycling Fund Awards $400,000 to the League of American Bicyclists and Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking
SRAM has announced a grant of $400,000 to the Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists to boost the advocacy capacity of local cyclists.
This is a surreal day. While I watched our new President’s moving inaugural speech this morning, it took all of my focus to not keep thinking about the big story I’d heard about the night before involving our leader here in Portland, Mayor Sam Adams.
In case you haven’t heard, yesterday afternoon Adams admitted to the Willamette Week’s Nigel Jaquiss (the same reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for his investigative reporting on a scandal involving Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt) that he lied about a relationship with former intern Beau Breedlove.
I won’t go into detail on the story, but I did want to share my thoughts and give you an opportunity to express how this news makes you feel.
Portland Design Works has been busy since we broke word of their arrival back in September. Erik Olson, the former Planet Bike GM who moved from Wisconsin to Portland to launch the company, has now joined forces with former Planet Bike co-worker, Dan Powell.
Powell and Olson have finalized their initial line of products (grips and inflation accessories), launched their website, and moved into a new office in Southeast Portland.
This was sent to us from Blumenauer’s office on Saturday. We’re hoping for some photos and will likely put something on the Front Page if/when we get them.
Biking for Obama Riders Finally Arrive In DC Joined by Rep. Blumenauer after Month-Long Bike Trek Cross-country for InaugurationBlumenauer and Becerra Answer Cyclists’ Plea for Inauguration Tickets
Washington, DC – Tomorrow, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, will join Ryan Bowen, Founder of Biking for Obama, and over fifty riders as the Biking for Obama team bikes the final leg of their cross-country bicycle trek into Washington, D.C. for Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration. Bowen and fellow cyclists left Los Angeles on bike over a month and 13 days ago, with no inauguration tickets, on what they called “the Highway of Hope”.
Last time we checked in with ex-Portlander Doug Ollerenshaw he was recovering from a heart-breaking crash at the end of the Twilight Criterium. Also that night, he broke the news that he was retiring from racing and leaving Portland to go to graduate school in Georgia.
Ollerenshaw is the consummate good guy so it was sad to see him go — not just from Portland, but from the racing scene. Thankfully, according to CyclingNews.com, he couldn’t stay away for long:
Retired pro Doug Ollerenshaw will lead the Southeastern US regional Team www.myogenesis-racing.com presented by United HealthCare, the team announced this week. Ollerenshaw… will be mentoring and racing [although not seriously, as he explains below] with the team. Ollerenshaw raced his final year with the Rock Racing squad after seasons with Health Net and Jelly Belly.
Welcome to the weekend (I know it’s still Friday but so what)! I hope you’ve got some riding in your plans. Here’s a quick guide to a few velo-options.
Some folks are out there right now on this month’s Kidical Mass ride. If you did it, please chime in and let us know how it went.
Also tonight, if freak bikes are more your cup of tea (and if you own some very warm clothes), check out the Dropout Freakbike ride.