Many apologies if I went a little too far this morning in my rant against Mayor Sam Adams and the Portland City Council (most of them anyway). I’ve had emails aplenty and a couple of phone calls from a variety of people and I’m a little surprised at the response to be honest. Frankly, I’m still very shaken. Maybe I’m quasi-retarded, I don’t know. I guess I finally realize how a lot of people felt earlier this year – albeit for what are completely different reasons.
There’s simply no excuse for Mayor Adams or the City Council to up and decide to give themselves a raise, not with the city of Portland in such financial disarray. In my mind it doesn’t matter what they’ve earned, it matters what the rest of us are living without right now – jobs, the ability to make ends meet, and our financial futures. Much of Portland is financially devastated by the recession and I’ve known far too many people that have lost nearly everything these past few months. I cannot fathom the arrogance of wanting to hold a vote to give ones self a raise when so much has been lost and there is no recovery in sight. The Mayor makes $118,000 per year already. He’s not rich, but he’s not hurting either. Many of the people in our city are though and anyone with half a brain should know that it’s just plain rude to give yourself more while continuing to expect others to live on less (if anything).
I no longer support Sam Adams. Period. This was the last of it. I’ve disagreed with some of his policies along the way but this smacks of a rudeness and callousness that I can’t even begin to stomach. I regret every last breath with which I’ve supported this man as he obviously has put himself before his supporters far too often and I was just too damn stupid to see it.
A couple of you have pointed out to me via email that Mayor Adams has NOT accepted the raise for himself. Yes, I’m aware of that now and was made aware of it by a few listeners during this mornings show (as of air time this was not the case according to the information I had). Does this impact my feelings? Not in the least, in fact I see it as nothing more than a fancy PR move. My stance is simple – this should have NEVER been put to a vote in the first place.
I’m an ignorant ass Sam, I admit it. Thank you and your cohorts in City Council for helping me to see the err of my ways.
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Wow… Robert…. you’re a man that can put out there that you regret something… (that’s much to be said for btw)… A man that can openly admit that he “regrets ” something….
I heart Robert Wagner…. I look up to you…. ;c)
I agree, Sam has to go. I do not care about his politics, his orentation, or any ot that. It was a 17/18 year old VS a 40 plus year old. If it would have been a women there would have been even more out cry. Let us not make the same mistake a second time.
A pay rase in economic troubling time. A real mayor would not even let it go up for a vote. Yes, just another pr step when he run for re-election if he is not gone before then. I hope he is.
you’re right. I supported him through Breedlove but I don’t support him through this. what a fool.
You might want to get rid of the Sam is still your mayor link in the sidebar, and save that space for when the perfect candidate shows up.
“Our next mayor’s gonna be BETTER.”*
*repeat in 2012
*repeat in 2016
*repeat in 2020
…
Whoops. Thanks for pointing that out.