Letter to Mayor Tom Potter

Dear Mayor Potter,

I am coordinating the Speakers’ Bureau for the Committee for Accountable Government, the citizens’ group opposing Ballot Measure 26-91 seeking to change Portland’s form of government. When I noticed you are scheduled to speak at the Southwest Hills Residential League’s meeting on March 22, I contacted the Neighborhood Association’s chair to request that a speaker opposing Charter changes also be invited to make a presentation at that meeting. That request was denied. In contrast, former Auditor Jewel Lansing requested time on the agenda of several Neighborhood Associations to present our Committee’s viewpoint, and has yet to receive a positive response. Neighborhood Association chairs are evidently unclear about the rules and desired public process for citizens’ education and discussion of the proposed Charter changes.

Southeast, Northwest, East, Northeast, and Southwest districts/coalitions are scrambling to schedule public forum events in April, where both sides of the four measures will be addressed. Meetings with both proponents and opponents best promote the inclusive public outreach and information campaign you promised when urging the Council to send the measures to the ballot in May.

I request:

1. As Commissioner-in-charge of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI), please ask Director Amalia Alarcon to remind Neighborhood Associations and District Coalitions that their non-profit 501(c)3 status may be jeopardized by inviting one side of a political issue to speak while denying equal time for the opposing viewpoint.

2. You are a man of honor with commitment to good public process. When you are invited to speak at neighborhood meetings where everyone knows you are the Mayor of Portland and Commissioner-in-charge of ONI, please ask those scheduling the agenda to also invite a speaker opposing the Charter changes. I hope you agree that only by having both views presented will audiences be given a fair opportunity for informed debate and discussion, instead of one side being given special access.

Former Mayor Bud Clark and many other eminent citizens are volunteering to attend neighborhood meetings. Your scheduler may call [or] e-mail [me], and I will gladly arrange speakers to attend all your engagements with Neighborhood Associations and districts.

Thank you for your assistance on this important matter of fairness and open public process to allow citizens real engagement in deciding Portland’s future.