Murmurs: Lowballing the Willamette Cleanup

1. The coalition of property owners potentially on the hook for a Portland Harbor cleanup (see “What the Muck?,” WW, March 28, 2012) are pushing bargain-basement proposals. The companies say the proposals, ranging from $169 million to $398 million, would have “less impact on the community.” At best, about a quarter of the acreage of contaminated river sediment would be cleaned up. The Lower Willamette Group’s feasibility study is the result of 10 years and $96 million—including more than $24 million from city sewer ratepayers.

1. Scratch the soda tax for now: Proponents of a countywide 1-cent-per-ounce  tax on “sugar-added” drinks have decided not to try to put their measure on the November ballot. “We have been working to make more progress on kids’ health and fitness,” says campaign manager Rich Rodgers. “We are especially focused on restoring cuts to PE, Outdoor School and Parks & Recreation maintenance. The best way to do that is to take a little more time.” Rodgers says the campaign didn’t do a poll—nor, he says, was it deterred by the competition of other money-raising measures, a county library levy in May and a potential library taxing district vote in November.

1. In bracket politics, you’d better respect the sports fans. That’s the takeaway from the Sweet 16 of Mayoral Madness, where Blazers broadcaster Mike Rice wiped the court with once-cocky radio host Victoria Taft (she beat Carrie Brownstein, after all). Rice now takes on Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton, who continued his Twitter campaign past Patty, the Magic Garden bartender. University of Portland soccer phenom Micaela Capelle used a push from a message board at Brigham Young University (the Mormon vote!) to defeat PHAME Academy director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. Capelle faces Pink Martini singer China Forbes, who managed a 12-vote victory over auteur Gus Van Sant. Blogger and professor Jack Bogdanski squares off against divorce lawyer Jody Stahancyk, while Columbia Sportswear “tough mother” Gert Boyle hopes to chop down famed outdoorsman Paul Bunyan. The 31-foot statue has declined to explain exaggerations in its résumé that claim it’s 37 feet tall.

1. Back in real life.... Elieen Brady, Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith, the top three candidates for mayor of Portland, face off in a live televised debate sponsored by WW and KATU on Sunday, April 22, at 7 pm. The debate will be held at David Douglas Performing Arts Center, 1400 SE 130th Ave. To attend the debate, get your free tickets at KATU, 2153 NE Sandy Blvd., or at WW, 2220 NW Quimby St.

WWeek 2015