Scary, indeed

With the May primary not so far away, the campaign for City Council is beginning to warm up, and a certain incumbent is refusing to go softly into that good night.

Last week, Her Honor outlined her priorities for the remainder of her term. As Jack Bogdanski suggests, her “to do” list is long on goodies, but short on funding.

Only a day after the mayor's in-print fantasy, the Daily O disclosed the mayor's klempt over the tenor of the current political debate between candidates for City Council:

She opines:

Both candidates, Katz said after the debate, are "bereft of ideas" as they dish up what she termed a government-bashing message to voters. Adams spent 10 years working in City Hall as her chief of staff and has won the mayor's endorsement.

"I think it hurts the public's trust in government by having candidates who should know better run against government," said Katz, who is retiring when her third term ends in nine months.

During the hourlong forum sponsored by the City Club of Portland, Fish criticized City Hall for doing too many closed-door deals, and Adams disagreed with the mayor's frequent statements that Portland's reputation for business unfriendliness is an "urban myth."

Katz said she is still endorsing Adams, who stepped down as her chief of staff in August, in the May 18 election to replace Jim Francesconi, who is running for mayor. She said Adams missed opportunities during the debate at the Multnomah Athletic Club to take credit for the successes they worked on together.

She also said remarks by Fish criticizing closed-door deals would "come back to haunt him" if he's elected because negotiations involving confidential information can't start out in public.

Is there no end to the importance Vera Katz places on her own legacy?

Just a few days ago, Jack broke out into song over candidates running for mayor. In the same spirit, Worldwide Pablo comes back with his own little ditty. Let's call it an ode to the incumbent.

The Scarecrow Song
[Sung to "If I Only Had a Brain"]

I could furl my brow in furrows
While shiftin’ all the bureaus
And wonderin’ what to do.
Yes, the Beavers would be catchin’
And the potholes would be patched in
If I only had a clue.

I’d defy my personal history
And try to solve the mystery
yon Water Avenue.
And the neighbors of Mount Tabor
would acclaim my civic labors
If I only had a clue.

On the council I’m the Venus
Among the boys, a genius
A mitzvah to the crew.
Want that Randy stop the bulls**t
I could be another Goldschmidt
If I only had a clue.

Oh I – can’t tell you why
The city costs galore.
I could think of goodies never dreamt before.
Then Homer calls – we spend some more!

Now my legacy’s a-spoilin’
Despite my years of toil in
The City by the Slough.
I’d be headin’ for the grandeur,
Be more famous than Portlandia
If I only had a clue.

[Words & Music by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg & Harold Arlen. Deepest apologies to the memory of Mr. Harburg.]

Comments

[Betsy]

Love it!