FIVE YEAR LEVY TO RESTORE PARK SERVICES, REPAIRS, RECREATION PROGRAMS.
QUESTION: Shall Portland repair, continue to maintain parks, playgrounds, pools; levy $.39 per $1,000 assessed valuation for five years beginning 2002? (This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.)
SUMMARY: This measure may be passed only at an election with at least 50 percent voter turnout.
Since 1997 Portland Parks and Recreation has had to reduce maintenance, repair, safety in parks, playgrounds, play fields, community pools and recreation centers, and reduce park restroom hours because park usage has increased, facilities have aged further, and resources haven’t kept up.
The five-year serial levy will repair, restore safety at parks recreation facilities, natural areas, trails; restore previous cuts and prevent additional cuts to recreation programs.
Levy funds will:
- Restore basic park maintenance including litter removal, restroom cleaning, mowing;
- Correct urgent safety problems with playground equipment, play fields, community centers, pools;
- Repair some playing fields around schools in Centennial, David Douglas, Reynolds, Parkrose and Portland school Districts;
- Prevent additional cuts to after-school tutoring, recreation activities, and summer playground program – providing kids safe, constructive places to go.
If levy fails, park cleaning, repairs, recreation programs will not be restored.
Levy produces an estimated $48.4 million over 5 years, averaging $9.7 million per year. Levy is $.39 per $1,000 assessed home value. A typical home pays $59 per year,
$5 per month.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Portland Parks & Recreation: Part of our lives, every day. Few things offer as much direct benefit to Portlanders as our Parks and Recreation system. This levy offers a chance to maintain and restore it.
Taking care of our parks and recreation facilities is a big job:
- Inspecting playground equipment everyday at 110 sites;
- Picking up litter (1,000 cans emptied daily, 924 annual tons of garbage);
- Cleaning 150 restrooms;
- Mowing almost 1300 acres of grass;
- Caring for 150 miles of trails and pathways and 17 miles of paved roads;
- Ongoing maintenance and repair for 13 community centers, 14 swimming pools, one music center, one arts center, The Children’s Museum, one cultural center, two tennis centers, one dance studio, and Pittock Mansion.
Parks & Recreation is unable to keep up with demand. Park & Recreation usage is up. We have a larger park system and more to mainain. Resources have not kept up. Services the public depends on have been reduced.
The Parks Levy will stop these cuts, and protect what we have.
The Parks Levy will help local parks and recreation facilities in every neighborhood:
- Restoring basic maintenance like litter removal, restroom cleaning, path-clearing, stream protection and grass upkeep – in all 115 Portland parks;
- Allowing urgent safety repairs to playground equipment, including replacement of 41 swing sets with lead-base paint;
- Renovating playing fields by restoring mowing, aeration, top-dressing, and fertilizing;
- Ongoing maintenance of community centers, swimming pools, and picnic facilities;
- Restoring recreation programs for all ages, serving 10,000 additional children with organized summer activities;
- Expanding programs for seniors by 25% to meet demand for classes, field trips, and intergenerational events.
Three important neighborhood facilities will receive one-time major renovations:
- East Portland Community Center renovation will add a public swimming pool;
- Wilson Pool will be renovated for temperature control, eliminating leaks and upgrading mechanical systems;
- University Park Community Center will be renovated for Loaves and Fishes program and after-school activities.
The Parks levy will help all five Portland school districts.
Better maintenance will be provided for play fields around schools in Portland’s five school districts – Centennial, David Douglas, Parkrose, Portland Public, and Reynolds.
The Parks Levy will prevent budget cuts slated for this summer. If the levy fails, budget cuts will mean:
- Closing most after-school programs;
- Reducing maintenance so playgrounds lose daily safety inspections;
- Decreasing litter removal and restroom cleaning;
- Tall grass in parks;
- Closing two public swimming pools;
- Shortening hours at recreational facilities and possibly increasing fees.
What does the Parks Levy cost?
An additional 39 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value in property taxes. If approved, the typical homeowner pays an additional $5 per month for five years. (Portland’s average home is assessed at $126,000 with an average market value of $177,000.)
Money collected from the Parks levy – approximately $48 million, averaging $9.7 million per year – can only be used for purposed stated in the ballot language.
Submitted by:
Jim Francesconi,
City of Portland
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
A Special Message from
Former Governor Victor Atiyeh and
Former Governor Neil Goldschmidt
One of us is a Republican. One of us is a Democrat. There are many things we see differently.
But here’s something we have in common: We are both proud to have spent an important part of our lives building a better community and protecting the things that make Oregon and Portland special.
That is why we both enthusiastically support Measure 26-28 — the Portland Parks Levy — and hope that you will too.
There are many things that make Portland great. There is the strength of our neighborhoods. Access to and reverence for our natural heritage. But most of all, this city is about people – and nothing provides more direct benefit to Portland’s families, kids and seniors than the system of parks and recreation.
Portland’s parks are a jewel, but one that we cannot take for granted. Over the past few years, we have fallen behind on maintenance and repair. Our parks and rec facilities are like any investment: if you don’t keep them up, they will lose their value. And the value we would lose is far beyond property or buildings. It is the value of a city of trees and green. It is the value of strong and attractive neighborhoods. It is the value of safe places near home for all of us to have fun, or just a little peace and quiet.
These things are what make Portland a great place — and they are worth protecting. The way we can do that is by passing the Portland Parks Levy, which will touch every part of Portland, and benefit all of its neighborhoods.
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, that’s something we all can agree on.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON MEASURE 26-28.
Sincerely,
Victor Atiyeh Neil Goldschmidt
(This information furnished Portland Parks Foundation)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Two Reasons This Grandmother is Voting Yes on the Parks Levy
Dear Fellow Portlander,
I use the parks all the time, including with my grandchild and my great-grandchildren. The time we spend there together is priceless.
But for all the things I appreciate about our parks and for all the things the Parks levy will do for them, two things are enough to win my enthusiastic yes vote.
Garbage and bathrooms.
That might sound funny, but think of the last time you tried to stuff something into a litter basket that was far beyond overflowing. That happened because the Parks Department doesn’t have enough money to empty them often enough.
And when you are with a child who desperately needs to go to the bathroom, there is no more sinking feeling than pulling on the door of a Park restroom, only to find that it is locked. Right now, many of them are, because there aren’t enough resources to keep them open.
Passing Measure 26-28 will mean that litter will be picked up more often, and that bathrooms will not only be open, but clean. As I said, it will do a lot more than that. But those two things are enough for me.
Let’s keep our Parks open and clean. Vote Yes on the Parks Levy!
Sincerely
Dot Barnes
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
PORTLAND’S POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE
URGES A YES VOTE ON MEASURE 26-28
Safer Kids, and a Safer City
There are many reasons to support our Parks & Recreation. But one that might not come immediately to mind is the role they play in offering kids a better future, and making Portland a safer city.
My name is John Freeman, and I am the President of the Portland Youth Football League for the Police Activities League. PAL is a partnership of youth, the police, and the community, serving more than 3,400 young people each year through athletic, recreational and educational programs. PAL focuses on youth that live in high-risk neighborhoods, are low-income or classified as high-risk. But all kids can face challenges, so PAL rarely turns a child away.
Reaching out to young people and providing them with constructive alternatives is a critical way of keeping them out of trouble. But we cannot do that job without a healthy Portland Parks and Recreation system. The past few years of service cuts in Parks & Recreation has made that job more difficult.
And if we do not pass this Parks Levy, it could become next to impossible.
Parks & Recreation programs’ ability to serve kids is directly connected to the kind of community we have. Parks & Recreation help keep kids engaged in positive activities, especially during times they are at risk of getting into trouble – like after school hours.
By passing Measure 26-28, we can help restore and protect the programs young people count on, and the facilities that PAL need to help Portland’s at-risk children.
By voting yes on Measure 26-28, you are investing in parks that make Portland’s neighborhoods liveable. But you are also investing in a city that is safer and a more successful future for our children.
Vote Yes on Measure 26-28
(This information furnished by Police Activities League)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Elders in Action Supports Measure 26-28:
PORTLAND’S PARKS ARE IMPORTANT TO SENIORS
My name is Charles Kurtz, I’m the Chair of the Elders in Action Commission, and I urge you to vote Yes on Measure 26-28 – the Portland Parks Levy.
For over 30 years, the Elders in Action Commission has worked as a non-profit organization to improve the quality of life for Portland’s senior citizens.
And few institutions in our community are as important to seniors as our parks and recreation system.
Of course, parks are important to all of us. But seniors really rely on them – every day and in every corner of the city:
- Senior Recreation, a program specifically designed for adults over 55 years of age and sponsored by Portland Parks and Recreation, serves thousands of seniors every year.
- All Portland Parks & Rec classes and activities for seniors fill up, usually with waiting lists.
- Portland Parks and Recreation offers many classes and programs at Senior Centers and Loaves & Fishes locations throughout Portland.
What will the Parks and Recreation Levy do for Seniors?
The demand for seniors programs is far more than the Parks Bureau can keep up with. Voting YES on Measure 26-28 means:
- Portland Parks & Rec will be able to serve 25% more seniors
- Transportation from Senior Centers and Loaves & Fishes locations to swimming programs.
- Additional van excursion programs will be available such as hiking, performing arts programs, intergenerational, ethnic and cultural events.
- Additional courses will serve the needs of those on the wait list.
- Courses will be more accessible by offering them in more locations.
- At University Park Community Center, the kitchen serving Loaves and Fishes will be renovated.
If the levy fails, maintenance and repairs will be cut, making facilities and activities less enjoyable and less welcoming to our senior citizens.
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 26-28
Important to seniors. A good value for all of us.
(This information furnished by Elders in Action)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Sports Teams and Swimmers Say
Pass the Parks Levy!
We are Portland Youth Soccer, Little League represented by the Portland Amateur Baseball Association, and the swimmers at public pools all around Portland.
Thousands of kids and adults use the sports fields in over 200 Portland Parks and school fields cared for by Portland Parks & Recreation.
The fact is that our local play fields and facilities are hurting.
In the last several years resources have not kept up with the demand for sports fields. The result: they’re sometimes actually dangerous for kids and adults to use, with rocks sticking up out of the soil, holes 6 inches deep causing injuries like sprained ankles, and turf care reductions making fields unplayable in non-summer months
Passing the Parks Levy will stop the deterioration. It will restore basic field maintenance. Fewer fields will need to be taken out of play per season. All fields will be safer places to play.
And the same will apply to play fields at local schools. If the levy fails, those fields will essentially become maintenance orphans.
Our public swimming pools also urgently need Measure 26-28.
If the Parks levy passes, pools will both remain open with regular hours. East Portland Community Center add an indoor swimming pool – the only public pool in Portland east of 82nd street. The eight existing neighborhood swimming pools will be better maintained through the installation of HVAC control systems to improve temperature control and energy conservation, and address breakdowns more quickly. Buckman and Metropolitan Learning Center pools will re-open for public use.
If Measure 26-28 fails, MLC and Buckman pools will likely be drained and mothballed by Portland Public Schools, which cannot afford to keep them open. East Portland will continue to be seriously under-served. And leaks, obsolete mechanical systems and aging facilities will threaten the operation of others.
Sports and swimming are important for kids,
families and the neighborhoods of our city.
Keep them going – Vote Yes on Measure 26-28!
(This information furnished by Portland Youth Soccer Association)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Portland’s Parks Levy Is Good for EAST PORTLAND
Measure 26-28 will benefit every corner of Portland, and will stop the long slide in maintenance and repair that threaten the future of our parks and rec facilities. But as East Portland residents and community activists, what will the Parks levy do for our East Portland neighborhoods?
The answer is –plenty:
- The East Portland Community Center will have an indoor swim pool added, the first full-time public pool east of 82nd Avenue. This indoor swim pool will provide 3,000 lessons per year, provide 50,000 people of all ages with drop-in swimming opportunities, water exercise and fitness swimming and senior citizens with a warm water pool.
- Powel Butte Nature Park in east Portland is home to wildlife- including 160 species of birds, coyote, and deer. People enjoy it too, for hiking, viewing wildlife, biking and horseback riding. This 700-acre nature park will benefit from the levy through increased trail maintenance, litter removal, habitat restoration, control invasive growth, and work on the tree and plant collection.
- Schools in East Portland will benefit as well: David Douglas, Reynolds, Parkrose, Centennial and Portland Public School Districts will get help maintaining their play fields, provided with support for after-school programs and have playground equipment evaluated for safety.
- And 43 Portland Parks and Recreation sites east of I-205 will benefit from the Parks Levy, with services such as restored litter removal, restroom cleaning, path-clearing, care for grass and turf, including Ventura Park, Ed Benedict Park, Knott Park, Springwater Corridor Trail and Lincoln Park and many others.
VOTE YES FOR OUR PARKS
VOTE YES ON 26-28
Grace Fitzgerald, Treasurer, Cherry Blossom Seniors
(meeting & events at East Portland Community Center)
Tamra Dickinson, Member, Friends of Powell Butte Park
Tony Palermini, former Superintendent, David Douglas School District
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Keep Our Parks and Neighborhoods Safe
I am a retired Portland Police Captain – having spent 27 years keeping Portland a safer place to live, work and raise a family.
I still do that, by working for a private company that provides park security. Parks can be a neighborhood’s greatest asset. But unless you keep them safe, they could become a neighborhood’s biggest problem. That is one reason it is so important to vote yes on the Parks levy.
There are two very important elements of park security:
Preventing and intervening in crime, disorder, violation of parks rules and misuse of park facilities – basically making sure people behave themselves. That includes solving the wide range of park user conflicts that can come up. When it comes to taking care of these areas, the police are stretched thin, and park security is stretched even thinner.
Preventing safety hazards, accidental injuries of illnesses. Sharp edges, lead paint or exposure to other toxins and “slip/trip/fall” hazards are all real problems in parks. Right now, we don’t even have the resources to inspect for these dangers, much less fix them.
These are both urgent needs. Once a park gets a reputation as being an easy place to get away with crime or misbehavior, the neighborhood pays a heavy price. And do we really want kids playing on equipment and on playfields that pose a hazard to their health?
For far too long, the Parks and Recreation Bureau has been unable to keep up with these two very basic safety functions. Measure 26-28 is our chance to turn that situation around.
Let’s make sure our parks remain an asset to our neighborhoods’ safety. Take it from me, a yes vote is the safe vote.
John Hren, retired Portland Police Captain
Portland Patrol Inc.
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
HELP OUR PARKS & HELP OUR SCHOOLS
Vote Yes on Measure 26-28
We are parents from each of Portland’s five school districts, and we can tell you that all five face serious challenges. Passing the Portland Parks & Recreation Levy will help our schools meet those challenges.
Here are two important ways the Parks & Recreation levy works with schools to serve kids:
- Organized activities for kids – After-school activities in schools (funded by Parks & Recreation) as well as those in parks and community centers keep thousands of kids out of trouble. They also provide homework help, sports activities, arts instruction and mentoring to help make young people more successful.
- Easing schools’ financial burden - Parks & Recreation currently inspects playground equipment for safety and assists with maintenance of sports fields around some school buildings. That helps schools save resources for the classroom; it helps young people play on safer, better-maintained fields; and it helps neighborhoods keep up property values.
At a time our schools need help, our Parks system provides it. And if the Parks levy passes, after-school programs will continue, and add sites and programs so more children will be served. Passing the Parks levy also means unsafe playground equipment will be repaired or replaced.
But if the Parks & Recreation levy fails, much of this help will disappear.
- Parks cannot replace unsafe playground equipment.
- After-school programs helping kids succeed academically will serve far fewer children.
- Many after-school programs in schools will be cut, or closed altogether.
When it’s time to vote on the Portland Parks Levy, please think about our schools, the kids that go there and the community that counts on them,
Please Vote YES on the Portland Parks & Recreation Levy!
Mark Kramer, parent
Portland Public Schools
Holly Gillette, parent
Parkrose Schools
Laurie Ernstrom, parent & school principal
Centennial Schools Annette Mattson, parent
David Douglas School District
Amy S. Roeha, parent
Reynolds School District
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
A Message from Portland Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Wilson
You might not be expecting to hear from your Fire Chief about a levy for parks and recreation. But if you think about it, the Fire Bureau and parks have some important things in common.
Both are in every part of Portland, with 27 fire stations and 115 parks and rec facilities in just about every neighborhood. And both of have a lot to do with kids.
Firefighters work with kids every day, teaching fire safety and first aid in the schools and at the firehouse. And, of course, when there is a fire we work to save their lives.
But parks save kids’ lives too. The recreation opportunities and programs they provide keep young people healthy, active and on the right path during the times they are most likely to get into trouble. We see it every day, in every neighborhood.
Firefighters work hard to protect Portland. Parks help make it a place worth protecting. I hope you will join me in voting yes on Measure 26-28.
Ed Wilson
Chief, Portland Bureau of Fire and Rescue
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Parks Volunteers Know:
Our Parks Need Measure 26-28
We are just some of the volunteer organizations who use the parks, and help maintain them. We do walking, hiking, jogging, wildlife viewing, tree-planting and offer local produce for sale. We help restore natural areas and habitat for wildlife. We help clean the parks, clear natural areas for public use, and our members volunteer in the parks.
One of the great secrets of Portland’s Parks and Recreation system is how much is done on a volunteer basis. It is a lean and efficient operation: Nearly 1/2 of their budget comes from non-tax sources. And 23% - nearly one-quarter- of parks maintenance, operations and recreation workers are volunteers.
We are proud of the contribution we make. But as people working in the parks every day, we can tell you that it is not nearly enough.
We have painfully watched our parks slip farther and farther behind due to deferred maintenance, repairs lost programs and services. We are at a crossroads between our parks continuing to be a jewel and losing one of the things that makes Portland a truly wonderful place.
Measure 26-28 will cost the typical homeowner about $5 a month. Given the amazing benefits we all get from our parks, it’s hard to imagine a better deal.
Please join us – vote yes to keep our parks clean, open and safe!
Audubon Society of Portland
Friends of Forest Park
Friends of Hoyt Arboretum
Friends of Powell Butte Nature Park
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Oregon Environmental Council
Oregon Humane Society
Oregon Trout
Friends of Trees
1000 Friends of Oregon
Portland Farmers Market
Trust for Public Land
(This information furnished by Friends of Hoyt Arboretum)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Portland’s Parks & Recreation:
An Important Safety Net for Kids
Portland’s Parks and Recreation improve the quality of life for all Portlanders, making this a great place to live. But for many young people, Parks & Recreation mean much, much more.
All of us have been deeply involved with organizations that work with troubled and at-risk youth, to turn their lives around. We see the places in the community that are a danger to them, and we see the places that are a safety net.
Parks & Recreation is one of the most important parts of that safety net. It provides opportunities for healthy, constructive and safe learning and fun. It gives kids the chance to engage in positive activities, learning the value of working together – and that their community values them.
That’s a critical resource, and a vital message.
Measure 26-28 is absolutely necessary to keep our parks safe, clean and open. If we cannot maintain a healthy parks & recreation system, a lot of children will fall through the cracks. And that will come at a price all of us will have to pay.
We hope you will think about our community, think about the kids that need us most, and join us in voting yes on the levy for Portland’s Parks.
Tom Potter, former Portland Chief of Police
Tony Hobson, Self-Enhancement Inc.
Anne Peterson, resident, Outer Southeast Portland
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
BEV STEIN supports the Portland Parks & Recreation Levy Measure 26-28.
BEV STEIN lives next to and uses Portland’s Forest Park. Bev understands the importance of upkeep and maintenance in all our neighborhood parks.
BEV STEIN knows if the Parks Levy passes, city parks will receive restored, focused maintenance such as path clearing, habitat and stream restoration, and ivy control. This support is urgent, as basic maintenance has been reduced in recent years and park use has increased.
“Our Parks and Recreation system is an essential investment to maintain. City parks are important for our neighborhoods, local kids and local families – our quality of life. The convenience of a local park or rec center, with free or low-cost activities, close to home – is especially important in these insecure times. Please join me in preserving the park assets we all treasure so much in Portland.” -- BEV STEIN, Democratic Candidate for Governor.
(This information furnished by Neighbors for Portland Parks)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Nobody knows the importance of Measure 26-28
better than the people who make our parks work.
The maintenance and operation of our city’s parks, green spaces and community centers is critical to making Portland’s neighborhoods great places to live. The members of Laborers’ Local 483 are proud to provide this maintenance and proud of our role in Portland being one of America’s most livable cities. And we can tell you, our parks and recreation system needs help – and needs Measure 26-28 to help reverse years of deferred maintenance and lagging repairs.
But there is another reason we support the Parks Levy: We live here.
Local 483 supports this levy because it is
- Good for Neighborhoods
- Good for Families
- Good for Kids
We hope you will too.
(This information furnished by Paul B. LaCroix, Laborers 483)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure 26-28 | Jurisdiction
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Please follow along this two stop journey showing what City Council does with your parks, money and rights. Follow the web WWW.preservehistoricwashingtonpark.org. or lets go driving.
First a Washington Park “meadow” for plans to remove tall trees. Go past Lewis & Clark Memorial at the Park entrance and past statue of Sacajawea created for the Lewis & Clark’s 100th year anniversary. (Bicentennial next year.)
Next take two right turns at stop signs to narrow Wright Avenue. Across the street from the second home stands a stately pine over 8 stories high and nearby six story oak.
This pristine meadow is targeted for nearly a half block long holocaust memorial of stone. Eliminating trees makes more room, but not enough.
Second stop, two miles away, is between old OMSI and Forestry Center near the zoo MAX Station. This was landscaped park area torn up for a temporary parking lot. Money was put aside to restore it. Now the City doesn’t want to.
Shamefully the city has been in costly legal battle against Portland citizens for both the “meadow” and parking lot. Council’s motives appear to appease special interests.
Instead the parking lot money should be used to help pay for holocaust memorial garden in its place. The “meadow’ should be left pristine.
Two years later neighbors learned about the “meadow”. Legal action began to enforce City policies ignored. The City got a second chance to submit new found facts. They met May 24th with the audacity to bar public testimony preventing “new” facts being refuted. A new ‘fact’ was the Viet Nam Memorial was in the general area of the “meadow” so the holocaust was compatible with surrounding area. The Willamette River is also two miles away! The holocaust memorial conflicts with the adjoining Oregon pioneer theme.
Vote against injustice, squandering of park open space, destruction of trees and conflict with the unified Pioneer historical theme for the area.
See: WWW.preservehistoricwashingtonpark.org.
(This information furnished by Robert M. Butler)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.