Let’s be clear at the outset – there is no such thing. Public process done properly can be messy, contentious, and fail to result in consensus. What works in one situation may fail…

I just read the comments on a BlueOregon post by Russell Sadler on billionaires pushing their agenda on public education via philanthropic grants and political action for “school reform”. As often happens, I…

The Oregonian carried an interesting, fact-filled article yesterday about the young child bitten by a rattlesnake in Monument, Oregon, with subsequent treatment and recovery. The creature above is just some random snake Steve…

Michelle Cole in today’s Oregonian covers pending legislation in Salem addressing the issue of unused gift cards – y’know, those things that look like credit cards, with a specific dollar value to be…

Slow week – no Citizen Communications, and no Wednesday afternoon or Thursday meeting on next week’s Portland City Council Agenda. There are three Time Certain items – two to raise fees for development…

My son called me a little while ago, from Newark Airport. Seeing his photo pop up via Caller-ID on my cell phone made me smile, then worry. “There’s a problem”, was my immediate…

The Citywide Parks Team, an ad hoc group of citizens (that is, whoever wants to show up) meeting every third Thursday to talk about issues concerning Portland’s parks, had its review of Portland…

Steve’s father took him fishing last Friday. They were hoping to bring home salmon for dinner, but all they caught were squawfish, which they threw back. Steve had only his old camera with…