| The Oregonian
(Portland, OR)
January 19, 2008
RACE ISSUES NEED AIRING, MAYOR
SAYS
Portland Mayor Tom Potter gives his final State of
the City speech
By Andy Dworkin
For a while, it seemed the loudest applause at Mayor Tom Potter's
last State of the City speech would go to a sixth-grade girl.
Lane Williams stood in the auditorium at Jefferson High School,
where she attends an all-girls academy, delivering a prize-winning
speech "on behalf of the kids of Portland." She
talked about the need for more crossing guards and safer routes
to school, closing with a zinger.
"Portland has its drawbacks, just like any other major
city," she acknowledged, stalking her rhetorical kill.
"But here, problems get fixed."
After booming applause, Potter joked about the dangers of
following a child on stage. He started to prove his case,
following a long list of thank-yous by reciting praises for
Portland's green attitude, "safer and more welcoming
streets" and "welcoming" business climate,
even mentioning the new IKEA. Assembled students and City
Club members clapped politely.
Then Potter hit the heart of his speech and of his administration,
now entering its last year.
Portland is growing diverse, he said, and must not only accept
that diversity but embrace it. He listed his efforts toward
that end, from popular steps such as creating an Office of
Human Rights through his VisionPDX community polling process
to such controversial moves as a planned center for day laborers
and the failed plan to rename Interstate Avenue for labor
leader Cesar Chavez.
"Many mayors measure their time in office by what they
have built. But my focus has always been in increasing the
number and diversity of voices that shape our city,"
he said.
"As we welcome these new voices, we must also find a
way to begin a conversation in our community about race. It
is an uncomfortable topic for many, but I believe race remains
an ugly, open sore on the body politic. And until we start
talking honestly with each other, and listening, it will remain
that way."
The applause was long and loud.
Potter's efforts to put new people in touch with city government
crescendoed with last year's "visioning" process,
now rolling into a new committee to advise planners, and with
the City Council's approval Wednesday of groups to promote
human rights and support immigrants.
He spent the week at North Portland's racially diverse Jefferson
High School talking to students about their concerns and ways
to work for the city.
"When you came through the front doors of Jefferson
today, I hope you looked around this school and said: Is this
good enough for the people who are the future of Portland?"
Potter asked.
He closed by discussing the need to fund building improvements
and better educational offerings at all school districts in
Portland. Potter suggested people back school bond measures,
several of which are expected on November's ballot. But he
didn't propose a new tax or any other source of city funding
for schools, as he did in 2006.
As he has throughout his term, Potter focused less on specific
goals than on praising and including people. His speech made
just three concrete pledges: Asking the City Council to fund
the Office of Human Relations, asking the council for $13
million for a new emergency communications system and other
safety improvements, and pledging to hold community meetings
on race.
Potter spent as much time talking about Jefferson's great
girls' basketball team and its inadequate school-uniform budget.
"I can tell you right now," Potter said of his
days at Jefferson, "this has been the best week of my
tenure as mayor."
The applause was long and loud.
Andy Dworkin: 503-221-8564; andydworkin@news.oregonian.com
Copyright 2008 - The Oregonian
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