WW has learned that Mayor Sam Adams will announce later today that he plans to return to work this week and will not resign.
Commissioner Randy Leonard received a phone message from Adams at 8 am today that said “regardless of what you think about me and regardless of what you think about the veracity of what I’m saying, I deserve due process and I’m going to stay on.”
Leonard tells WWire that getting that message from Adams that he would remain on the job as mayor at the same time that the latest revelations were emerging is “surreal.”
He said he has not called Adams back.
“I don’t know what I would say to him,” Leonard said. “I can’t believe what has happened in the last six days.
“Sam seems detached from reality,” Leonard said.
Adams’ decision comes on the same day that this news broke in The Sunday Oregonian that Beau Breedlove says he and Adams exchanged kisses on two separate occasions before Breedlove’s 18th birthday.
Former Mayor Vera Katz, who employed Adams as her chief of staff for more than a decade, said this morning that she had not heard what Adams planned to do later today, but said she was not surprised to learn he would be staying.
Katz said “she didn’t even want to think” about the latest revelation about Adams and Breedlove.
But she added that with the city in a “crisis state financially and economically” -and if Adams has committed no illegality- she thinks he should stay in office.
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: What Ex-Mayor Vera Katz Says About Her Former Chief of Staff Former Ma
- Breaking: Sam Adams Spokesman Wade Nkrumah Resigns (Updated with comment from Adams’ office) Wade Nkru
- What Ex-Mayor Vera Katz Told State Investigators About Current Mayor Sam Adams A few mor
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: Leonard To Meet With Adams At 2 pm (UPDATED) UPDATE: Ma
- Adams Admission Reaction: Oregonian Scoop Leaves Leonard “Numb” (UPDATED with Adams comment) This morn
This is not about Sam. This is about two Portlands: the old one, a narrow-minded, provincial, prejudiced town of rednecks and their golfing, white straight puritan bosses and the new Portland that is progressive, diverse, and urbane. The posts on this site illustrate this divide all too well: Sam-haters are so enraged not so much because of his error, but because the Mayor represents all they find threatening and despise: environmentalism, urban planning, gay rights, bicycling,intellectualism,love of the arts,etc. They feel that they are losing the Portland they know. And it is true. They are.
Sam has violated no law or rule of official conduct (there is no rule saying that elected officials should reveal their sex lives to journalists).
The Mayor will be at work tomorrow and for many years to come. And to those posters who express their happiness at living far outside the city and thus preserving their traditional values: I could not agree with you more. Please stay where you are, this is the best for both you and us.
Yikes.
He did break a law: having sexual relations with a minor.
Wow, you have one really high horse there! I voted for him, I strongly support environmentalism, gay rights, urban planning….I don’t know what you mean by "intellectualism" what does one do to support that? Anyway, I support many of the things you list, I voted for Sam and I strongly support his resignation. Your bigotted view that anyone who doesn’t support him lives in the suburbs with their "family values", which somehow makes them bad people, is completely wrong and narrow minded.
jussaskin;
I agree that there is a place for sexual activity, the only sexual encounter described by Beau B. took place in a private home.
where do you get promiscuity and sexual addiction. The story talks about a kiss, not a blow job. There is absolutely no evidence of out of control sexual behavior. Don’t make crap up. Your post is completely irrelevant since it isn’t based off of ANY facts. Maybe you had a sex dream about it last night, but that doesn’t make it true.
My wife’s daughter was "groomed" by an "Uncle Buck", in a deal where Wife got a job in pdx and daughter didn’t want to leave her high school many miles to the south, so daughter lived with "Uncle Buck" and Aunt Clueless. The end result was divorce of Uncle Buck and Aunt Clueless, and the kid shacked up with Uncle Buck. My wife’s grandkids will have 4 legs as Uncle Buck is sterile, and only 30 some years older. He "groomed" Aunt Clueless, who is only 20 years his junior. Traded up for an 18 year old at 55. Straight or queer, the "groomers" are sociopathic creeps. And that is what Adams is: a known liar and creepy person with situational ethics useful to him and disgusting to me.
Now that Adams has succeeded with his complex & calculated media manipulation, designed to portraying the illusion of majority support with paid shills -it will be business as usual at City Hall.
The new morality will keep just enough of a "cultural skirmish" alive in order to deflect attention and allow for creative new ways to part the taxpayer and his diminishing dollar.
The tabled street maintainance fee will show up on the water bill – and when anyone questions this – Adam’s PR machine will pull out some "scandal coinage" to spread around. Plastic bags will be taxed and curbside recycling will be charged separately and in addition to garbage. Auto’s will be outfitted with gps units and charged a mileage tax as well as bridge toll – and government employee salaries will increase while taxpayer wages decrease.
And the jobs promised?
General contractors are like film production companies -they bring their own people – any promise of jobs from major construction is outright lying – by now though, the mantra will be – everybody else lies – so what?
Anytime anyone dares to question the "vision" they will be labeled as haters – effectivly silenced.
It’s a sad day indeed – 1/25/2009 – The day the music died.
Is it possible that citizens of Portland could focus on public officials’ professional achievements rather than their private sex lives?
And would the first wonderful person who has never told a lie in their career please stand up and be counted?
For all of you still saying this is a gay witch hunt because it was a private relationship between two consenting people, I have a question.
When did we privatize City Hall? Last I checked, it was a public building, paid for by tax payer money. Ignoring the complete lack of judgment on the part of a city commissioner kissing a minor in the bathroom at City Hall, how do you define that location as private? Would you be ok with a 41 year old teacher kissing a 17 year old in the bathroom at one of the local high schools, even if the 17 year old initiated it? If I’m walking down the street and a 17 year old shows interest in me, is it ok for me to duck into a restroom at City Hall (or say perhaps, your office building) with them for a quick make-out session? If I were caught, could I simply say, "hey we’re two consenting people engaged in a private act, nothing to see, move along." Somehow, I suspect not.
Umm City Hall is only a public building if you support our perv Mayor. At the rally for Sam Adams to resign his supporters were allowed in the building and in front of it. If you carried a sign that was not supportive you had to stay on the sidewalk…while we watched Storm Large lead a band of City Hall misfits in a round of Amazing Grace. Of course just minutes prior all the Sam minions were telling everyone to keep religion out of it (I agree) but huh? Last I checked Amazing Grace was a hymn! Its all about the double standards. So the answer is no, City Hall is only public if you don’t mind that our Mayor is a child predator. Geez I couldn’t even use the bathroom in City Hall the day of the rally and all I wanted to do was pee not grope some minor!
2 women were shot and killed on the streets of downtown Saturday night. Let the chips fall where they may on this overblown scandal, and let’s get on with REAL ISSUES.
If you don’t want Sam to stay, sign the recall petitions that are sure to circulate and Fred Meyers, but please, the dye is cast, it’s time to move on!
My thoughts exactly!!!!! awesome!
SAM,
PLEASE PLEASE Return to work and CRUSH RANDY!!!!
He is a little cry baby- bitch and needs less influence over our Water supply and development in the City. You should NEVER have let him get you against the wall with the lies, but now you are free to lead us again.
I say give him one bureau, the Fire Bureau, and just forget about his lame vote and work with the other reasonable folks on Council.
New blog, SAM ADAMS, THE MUSICAL
http://samadamsmusical.blogspot.com
Are the Sarah Palin Sam haters gonna say that kissing is illegal too?
We want you to do your job, Sam, please.
http://www.forgivesam.com/
His "job" now is to resign, guess once again, he’s not doing his job.
Great website, and Sam’s "job" is to lead the city. We support you 100%, Sam.
Sean Cruz brings up the best point I’ve heard yet…our mayor is going to be an advocate for portland public schools? How…in any universe could the mayor be taken seriously regarding any high school in this city as an school advocate when it is now clear he began to sow the seeds of a sexual relationship when the teen was 17. Have I gone insane or are people still defending him and think he can be an effective mayor? The surreal nature of this is truly mindboggling.
Waltnnwpdx writes on Jan 25th, 2009
Sean Cruz brings up the best point I’ve heard yet…our mayor is going to be an advocate for portland public schools? How…in any universe could the mayor be taken seriously regarding any high school in this city as an school advocate when it is now clear he began to sow the seeds of a sexual relationship when the teen was 17. Have I gone insane or are people still defending him and think he can be an effective mayor? The surreal nature of this is truly mindboggling.
This is insanity…and we are watching it, and no one can stop it, and the "mayor" and his sidekick know it.
Once I got a lesson in trusting any elected..ANY OF THEM, about all we can do is network and run him off in the recall, but your going to find, unless you have about 35,000 dollars to hire outside people and a bunch of volunteers, your screwed.
The only thing I hang on is what my Mom said."what goes around,comes around!"
I thought this was it..but in the end,he will get it…. pun intended.
That an attention starved egomaniac would continue to drag the Portland and public trust down with him.
Sad days for Portland.
Sam has made another very bad decision. Like many, I’ll be closely watching for members of Portland’s political and business community that chose to support Sam. I’ll be voting out all public officials that support him and will never again be a patron of any business that edorses Sam.
Why don’t you get a life and stop obsessing over what other peoples’ sex lives, pervert.
I agree, Portland Native.
I am VERY PLEASED to hear that Adam’s will be returning to work.
Randy Leonard started out supporting Adam’s but after a short time he must have found out that he would be mayor if it was vacated.
Boy for a guy that professed to be someones friend he sure got into backstabbing pretty quickly.
Anyone ever look into his private sex life?
Glad to have you back Sam. Make all proud that you are the man.
Hmm, funny how when Randy back stabbed Bob Ball (at the time someone he was a friend to), it was considered standing up to a nasty smear campaign, but now that he’s done it to Sam, he’s being called out for the self-serving, I’m only looking out for myself person it seems he’s been all along.
Bob Ball is still a smear monger. It was none of his business and he only was attacking Adams’ for publicity.
And this comes as a big surprise to whom? What else does he going for him?
Over 200 years ago, in this puritanical nation, our founding fathers had sex with their female slaves (who were younger than Mr. Breedlove). 10 years ago, Bill Clinton and Monica did their thing.
Sam Adams and Beau Breedlove followed this age-old script and had sex together — because they are human beings. Did Mr. Adams use his power and charisma for sexual purposes? Yes. So does everyone with power and charisma.
Guess what? Many people find power and charisma very attractive, including young people like Mr. Breedlove. Many people find youth and beauty very attractive, including older people like Mr. Adams. What happened between Mr. Adams and Mr. Breedlove should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to the human condition.
Times have changed. There is now a much greater desire to publicly vilify a person for private choices and affairs.
If Sam Adams did something illegal, he should be removed from the office as mayor. If he didn’t, then leave him alone.
Portland likes to think of itself as the US’s most European city. In European cities, people might raise their eyebrows or click their tongues at this affair. But that would be it.
Portland should chill out. We don’t have to tar and feather Sam just because the rest of the country would.
You are kidding, right?
Now SAMMY wants to focus on "public safety"?
He was willing to be bullied and/or blackmailed by Ranty Red Faced Randy into just handing over the Police Bureau to him this past summer.
Sammy is into dealing with the non-sticky items -bike lanes, making P-town – Green town… he’s not into dealing with crime, revitalizing the job market, attracting new businesses etc.
Where was he last night with the attack downtown?
Resign & let Sho take over – a wise, thoughtful man.
Finally – Stop justifing his critical mistake – the 17 yr old was an intern – this is not acceptable behavior – if it had been Potter & a 17 year old girl – I don’t think Mr. Dan Savage would be coming to Tommy’s aid. There’s protocol & Sam broke that, then lied repeatedly, disparaged others (Ball) had others lie & pulled favors with those involved in this pathetic tale.
A very sad day for Portland.
Sho? You mean the anti-cycling, pro-Walmart tool? Have you ever BEEN to Portland?
There’s nothing that says dignity quite like a City Commissioner developing new "friends with benefits" by making out with a 17 year old in a City Hall mens room.
Portland, too hip for dignity.
Will somebody please tell me why elected officials (Clinton/Adams…) can have sexual relations with subordinates (regardless of age/sex) while if I did the same thing I would get fired? I don’t get it (literally).
What kind of backwards place do you work that if you date a co-worker you would get fired?
Did anyone honestly think the decision from the ego maniac would be any different? I hope the investigation hangs him then he will not be able reinvent himself somewhere down the road.
Kissing a 17 year old as a 40 something man is grooming him and should certainly be punishable by law. If he stays Portland will be the laughingstock that San Francisco is. And for the record I don’t care what ADULTS do in private. I don’t want them marching and flaunting it. That is simply recruitment.
Sam Adams has a right to a private sexual life just like anyone does. His only real mistake was to answer the WW smeareporter who asked him about it some 16 months ago and doggedly dug ever since, never coming up with a scintilla of evidence of a crime. With no crime, it should have been no issue. My real question about trust and judgment is about WW as a publication with journalistic ethics, not about Sam Adams. It should NOT have been a story without some evidence of crime. Leave the witch hunts for Salem.
Tom Hastings says: "His only real mistake was to answer the WW smeareporter who asked him about it some 16 months ago and doggedly dug ever since, never coming up with a scintilla of evidence of a crime".
Well, he also answered the Portland Mercury ’smeareporter’ who happened to come job-calling at just the right time (Amy Ruiz), Although there were 35 other applicants to choose from, Sam gives the job to "smeareporter" Amy for the Adviser on Sustainability and Strategic Planning position. She admits she has she has no experience in sustainability, planning or government. One can only assume however that as one of those "doggedly digging smeareporters", she probably has a little pile of dirt hidden somewhere to hide the bones.
I believe that the evidence against Mayor Sam Adams requires serious consideration.
Today the Mayor’s glossed over apology statement was followed by a common political diversions: economy, schools, public safety, et al.
What truly bothers me is that at no time either written or oral has the Mayor apologized for making his former rival Bob Ball out to be a homophobe. A character flaw so ugly in Portland, that Mr. Ball had no chance winning.
I would like to title that as lie number one. Lie number two reared its ugly head when he then denied any physical relationship prior to Mr. Breedlove’s 18th Birthday. Now, we know by Mr. Breedlove’s omission they only "made out" no fondling, just kissing…I have some serious doubts.
In giving this serious thought, and trying very hard to listen to each argument objectively, and I have come to the following conclusion on how things could simply make Portland better than other cities, not just another pot marked scandal ridden city instead of the thriving multi-everything city it currently is.
The Mayer could publish an apology to Mr. Ball. The Mayer could step down and never enter politics in this city again. Lastly the laws require special attention regarding the day-to-day operations of city hall regarding interns. Our elected officials could call it as they see it, instead of sugar coating their words in protection of their own careers. If these things occurred I would forgive Sam. I will be happy knowing that each time President Obama’s name is mentioned Sam Adams will remember how his day of witnessing a glorious day in American History was stripped from him because he’s a liar and his lies finally it caught up with him at a moment in history he will not even be a decent footnote.
City of Portland Code of Ethics
Chapter 1.03
1.03.020 Trust. The purpose of City government is to serve the public. City officials treat their office as a public trust.
B. City officials promote public respect by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.
*Explanations and Examples*
1.03.010 Definitions.
1.03.020 Trust. The purpose of City government is to serve the public. City officials treat their office as a public trust. City officials have special powers, along with a special obligation to act only on behalf of the public. {ORS Chapter 244 declares public office a public trust, prohibits certain actions, and provides penalties. An explanatory guide is available from the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission.}
2. Ensure public respect by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. [Public service requires a continual effort to overcome cynical attitudes and suspicions about the people in government. For example, conduct which could appear dishonest to a reasonable observer will undermine the public trust even if the conduct is not illegal.]
There is going to be a time,that SAM,and those that support this crap will pay.
Here lies the problem, the "green jobs" he wants don’t pay crap.
The real costs to get some company here to replace a "FREIGHTLINER" family wage job, would be staggering, tax breaks,and all that usually goes with it.
Portland realistically is broke, he is banking on OBAMA, and how does a new president deal with a cities CEO, that is the topic of JAY LENO’S monologue, is news on AOL, is news in Europe, and none of it is complementary.
How does a PTA here feel good about extending an invite to a school event?
How do parents feel about HIS "HONAR" being a role model?
Why has the real moral fiber of this city sunk so low?
He is repugnant, he let a bunch of people down,(not me, I wrote my name in)
on the ballot, because, I knew this was coming, I told this whole town in one venue or another, if we didn’t send a tough message to all these so-called, trust worthy people, this is what we would get…SURE WISH I COULD PICK LOTTO NUMBERS, LIKE I CALLED THIS ONE.
Now we will see the core of Portland, Oregon, the moral and creditability fiber is now for the whole country to observe…I’m not holding my breath, there are to many others here just like him now.
"There is going to be a time,that SAM,and those that support this crap will pay."
Jesus was all about forgiveness, what’s your problem?
He said an "eye for eye" as well.
WADE N. is my new hero, and a 62, I have damn few.