News In last Wednesday's cover story on Mayor Sam Adams' finest moments, Corey Pein pointed out that the mayor's copious use of Twitter allows him to keep connected to the day-to-day concerns of constituents. Adams put those Twitter skills to work this weekend in the face of catastrophe. Or maybe inconvenience. Anyway, Adams faced a boil-water notice after a Washington Park reservoir tested positive ...   More

Murmurs Mayoral candidate Eileen Brady continues her torrid fundraising—she’s brought in $486,000 to Charlie Hales’ $294,000 and Jefferson Smith’s $171,000. But Brady returned two contributions this w   More

News As a notorious skinflint who bikes through the winter, I sympathize with the spirit of these "cheap ways to stay warm and dry on a bike" tips from the Portland Bureau of Transportation. But when it comes to the particulars of the city's well-meaning winter biking tips, I'm left cold. Consider this advice to reuse rubber dish-washing gloves as rain gear: "While not breathable," the city's Commuter ...   More

City Hall A new audit questions recent decisions by the Portland City Council to spend funds collected from water and sewer users on city programs    More

News Commissioner Randy Leonard's proposal to make Water Bureau security guards armed police officers requires City Council approval, which could come this month. Commissioner Dan Saltzman is on record calling the idea —first reported Wednesday in WW— "totally unnecessary." What follows is the email exchange among Leonard; David Shaff, the Water Bureau director; John Minnis, former Republican ...   More

News Commissioner Randy Leonard -- lead negotiator in Portland's deal with Merritt Paulson to bring Major League Soccer to PGE Park, the go-to-guy on the "Made in Oregon" sign debate, prime mover behind the leasing of McCall's Waterfront Cafe, champion of the Loo and all things duct tape, and a newly minted proponent of armed Water Bureau guards -- has a new project: earth-friendly homebuilding. Look ...   More

News First things first about Portland City Council's weekly meeting today. There was a lot of hand-clapping that's usually verboten, which just goes to show you can clap about things Mayor Sam Adams wants to acknowledge, but not about things he doesn't. Item No. 1 was a lengthy report on Sunday Parkways, which can be summed up in four words: bikes and happy kids. Here's what I didn't hear mentioned: ...   More

News Last week, Commissioner Randy Leonard's plan for a "water house" built by the Portland Water Bureau got its first nod of approval from his colleagues on City Council. Thanks to that council decision to accept donated supplies to build the house, residents in outer Northeast Portland will soon have an eco-friendly home in their neighborhood. The pictures above and below are what this house would ...   More

News In response to the news that Commissioner Randy Leonard wants Water Bureau security guards to become armed peace officers, Commissioner Dan Saltzman today issued an eight-page memo [PDF] outlining all the reasons he opposes the effort. Saltzman, of course, oversees the Portland Police Bureau that Leonard at one point wanted to manage. The document, which proposes giving security guards less lethal ...   More