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Is Wheeler Ready to Be Mayor?
It is refreshing to see a person who actually wants to be a public servant rather than a politician ["Reinventing the Wheeler," WW, March 30, 2016].
Ted Wheeler is willing to try new approaches, fail and apologize, succeed and not fight over the glory. Portland's future is about change.
It's time for a public servant who does his homework and is humble enough to say "sorry" if there is a better way. Portland may again be the city that works.
—"spdxcyclist"
Wheeler, when discussing his business enterprises, says he didn't get "a dime" from his parents. Never mind the immense privilege in coming from a Fortune 500 family, or attending all the best universities, or the fall-back plan of working for his brother's investment companies.
Anyway, it's not a bad thing to be born wealthy, but it makes me cringe to hear people try to sound like they know struggle because they refused some monetary backup here or there.
—Benno Lyon
Oh, Wheeler is not schooled in the art of the deal? He sounds like a real public servant and not just another slimy politician.
Also, he has run a top-performing investment portfolio as state treasurer for six years. He's smart and he listens. He's got my vote.
—Jamey Duhamel
The "smartest guy" tag caught my attention, but it would be hard for anyone who watched the OPB mayoral debate to go away thinking Wheeler was the smartest guy in the room.
Neither front-runner performed even adequately, in my opinion. I watched as a probable Jules Bailey voter, but am now strongly reconsidering that position.
To me, the only smart person emerging in this race is Sarah Iannarone. I was genuinely surprised by her candor and her knowledge of how the city operates—something all other candidates fell short on. More about her please?
—Michael Oliver
No innovative public servant anywhere has gotten anything done without ruffling a few feathers along the way. Wheeler is a guy with an incredible background who's candid about his track record and open to new ideas.
—Oliver McCoy
New Homeless Shelter
If you read the extensive assessment of San Francisco's efforts to address rampant homelessness there, you'll see it provides a rich array of services, like the navigation center and transitional housing, but all of that has not reduced homelessness ["Homeless Campus," WW, March 30, 2016].
Homeless folks use the services, including apartments and hotel rooms, but continue to spend all of their time on the streets, with their chosen family/social world.
If the goal in Portland is to reduce homelessness, I'm not sure that emulating San Francisco is the way to go. If the goal is to reduce chronic health conditions and otherwise help the continuing homeless to be more comfortable, go ahead with the navigation center.
—"FWIW"
Reading Venerable Properties president Craig Kelly's concern—"Do I need to add more security to my building so I can sleep at night?"—I couldn't help mentally adding, "…in my nice, warm bed, in my comfy room, in my expensive, security-alarmed home."
—"Just Sayin'"
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Email: mzusman@wweek.com.
Willamette Week