SO EASY TO SECOND-GUESS
It’s very easy to go back after the fact and review transactions like this [“Shipracked,” WW, Sept. 17, 2008] and make everyone look bad. In reality, this story is not that unusual in many nonprofit development projects where everyone is trying to make something happen which, in a normal marketplace environment, wouldn’t happen.

If you support the mission these projects are intended to serve, you should accept the fact that some of them will not be successful, and when they aren’t it is easy to scapegoat the people involved.

This certainly does not sound like a story where anyone lined her own pockets at the public’s expense. I’m guessing a lot of readers (and voters) will applaud Judy’s effort and make allowances for her (and PDC’s) less-than-perfect execution.
“Jack Roberts”
via week.com

SHE’S NO JACK ROBERTS
This is the kind of sad affair that makes voters think everyone who runs for office is either crooked or can’t make it without government deals. Shiprack got out of posting a modest 2% of the value—shades of the current mortgage crisis—defaulted on a loan, ran significantly over budget, even then put up a building with defects serious enough to spur lawsuits that had to be settled (and that is NOT something that happens in most construction), and repeatedly delayed or ignored PDC and its attempts at oversight. The legitimate question is how this record reflects on how Judy will perform in office, and the conclusion is sobering to anyone who isn’t looking to excuse this performance. I hope our standard for county commission is more than “she didn’t line her own pockets.” Fortunately, I know that the lax approach Jack Roberts has taken to this story does not reflect his own, far superior, performance in government.
“Saddened voter”
via wweek.com

Ed note: Jack Roberts headed Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries from 1995 to 2003, and ran unsuccessfully for the state Supreme Court in 2006.

(ACTUALLY, THEY WERE “MEAN”)
Supporters of Shipwrack can’t be serious!! This type of irresponsible managerial and economic action is exactly why we’re seeing the taxpayers of PDX scratching their heads in disbelief of the abundance of incompetence. Bad Girls, part II? Geez, I hope not.
“Frank”
via wweek.com

---

WW welcomes letters to the editor via mail, email or fax. Letters must be signed by the author and include the author’s street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words.
Submit to:2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210.
Fax: (503) 243-1115
Email: mzusman@wweek.com