News Metro Auditor Suzanne Flynn released today a review (PDF) at how efficiently the regional government uses its 94-vehicle fleet (we thought everybody at Metro took public transit?). The results were pretty routine: the agency could do a better job. But here's one noteworthy section about the Oregon Zoo, which uses more vehicles than any other part of Metro: The Zoo did not track mileage, ...   More

News The man responsible for running some of the city's largest venues—the Oregon Convention Center, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts and the Expo Center—is in the crosshairs of Metro Council President David Bragdon, the man who approves his budget. But through an unusual governing structure, Bragdon lacks the authority to fire him. David Woolson is the Chief Executive Officer ...   More

News Two members of the seven-person Metro Council have joined Council President David Bragdon in a move to take firmer control of the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission, which is part of Metro. The commission has a $40 million budget, owns assets worth $500 million and has an independent board. But that last fact—the independent board—is where the current conflict lies. Although ...   More

News Our previous reports that 1000 Friends of Oregon executive director Bob Stacey was considering a run for the $114,000-per-year Metro Council President's job next year have advanced a step. Stacey made his candidacy official last week, when he quietly filed a committee with the Secretary of State, as candidates are required to do. The job, which entails heading an agency responsible for land ...   More

News UPDATE: Woolson resigned Thursday evening, as reported here by the Portland Business Journal. Below is the original story WW ran earlier Thursday. Next Thursday, July 9, will bring the next round in the face-off between Metro Council President David Bragdon and Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission CEO David Woolson (above). As previously reported, Bragdon wants to oust Woolson. Through ...   More

News U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is back with a bill proposing to rename the U.S. Postal Service office at 630 NE Killingsworth Ave. the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Post Office. The measure failed to pass in the last congressional session. But Blumenauer spokeswoman Erin Allweiss says the Oregon Democrat is “feeling optimistic” the bill he introduced last Friday will pass this ...   More

News Metro Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan has "regretfully" filed [PDF] a "formal notice of termination" with the group hired to develop a "headquarters hotel" adjacent to Metro's Oregon Convention Center. This notice on Tuesday formalizes what elected officials had already concluded. But like dandelions, kudzu and Freddy Krueger, the proposed hotel —which has been in some stage of ...   More

News Two top officials at the Oregon Zoo stepped down abruptly last Friday, just days ahead of what is expected to be a negative audit of the zoo's management of capital construction projects. Metro spokesman Jim Middaugh confirmed today that the second ranking zoo manager, deputy director Carmen Hannold, who was in charge of maintenance and guest services, is no longer employed by the zoo. And neither ...   More

News Former Hillsboro Mayor Tom Hughes told WW today that he is entering the Metro Council President's race. Hughes, a 66-year-old retired school teacher, served two terms as Hillsboro mayor. He finished his service in January 2009 and is currently employed as a lobbyist at the Tonkon Torp law firm. "I won't do an official announcement until the new year, but I'm in the race," says Hughes, who ...   More

News No, we are not going to report every endorsement handed out this election season. But the Oregon League of Conservation Voters carries weight in the Metro race, since many of those who follow the regional government are environmentally conscious. And, OLCV is clearly looking to raise its profile after the hiring last October of Jon Isaacs, who formerly ran FuturePac —the Oregon House Democrats ...   More