The cafeteria of Lent Elementary School near the site of Merritt Paulson’s proposed baseball stadium was crowded Wednesday night with Lents neighbors who had questions about the proposal and its funding as well as the stadium’s possible impact on the Southeast Portland neighborhood.
And, oh man, was it heated.
Commissioner Randy Leonard was one of the first people to speak at the meeting convened by the Lents neighborhood association. “Having a Triple A baseball stadium would be the best thing we could ever have happen in Lents,” Leonard told the crowd in his introductory remarks. “If I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t support bringing the baseball stadium to Lents.”
Leonard then said he thought opposition to the deal was coming from “downtown” and from people on the westside. “The more they don’t want it, the more I want it,” he said.
He then suggested “downtown” was trying to roll Lents. “I hope you all see through that,” he told them.
The evening basically went downhill from there. And while several people voiced support for the deal, including the neighborhood association president, most criticized the stadium idea, angering Leonard and other supporters of the idea. “It’s going to be real helpful if we respect each other,” Leonard told one man who appeared to Leonard to be interrupting him.
“Don’t get smart with me,” another 71-year-old resident shot back at Leonard moments later. “I don’t like it.”
Neither did Leonard. “Don’t get started with me,” Leonard responded.
Geez. Anyway, for anyone closely following the back-and-forth, few new details emerged about the deal, which is still being negotiated. Leonard seemed to indicate, however, that one of the sticking points was the number of parking spaces for the park. An email from Beavers owner Merritt Paulson’s representatives from this weekend indicated Paulson wants 780 spaces. Leonard indicated he wanted to see only about 200.
Eventually Leonard said he would not support building the stadium in Lents if the community did not support it. That surprised some Lents residents.
But Leonard later tried to block the gathered group from voting (on the spot) on the question of whether they supported the deal. In response to a question from the 71-year-old man who told Leonard not to “get smart,” Leonard said the purpose of the meeting was not to vote on the deal.
“No,” Leonard told him. “You asked me a question. I gave you an answer.”
Of course, Leonard wasn’t running the neighborhood association meeting. So another resident pressed the issue. And finally a member of the neighborhood association asked folks to raise their hands if they supported a new stadium. About 10 people did. When it came time for opponents to raise their hands, the split appeared to be 2 to 1 against the stadium. (Several people had already gone home at the point.)
Before the end of the evening, Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack, who had Leonard’s endorsement when she ran for office in 2008, addressed the Lents crowd to voice her support for the project. (Shiprack’s husband Bob is the head of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council.) “We have an opportunity to play in the big leagues of the city of Portland,” she said. “Let’s all step up to the plate and see what we can do.”
Finally, Leonard declined to address the charges made by the Portland Parks and Recreation board last week that converting Walker Stadium in Lents Park into a boutique stadium for a private company to use 72 nights a year represented “a sea change” in policy. “I think their analysis is wrong,” Leonard said. “It doesn’t strike me as a genuine argument, so it’s hard to respond.”
Photos by Jarod Opperman
- Round Two: Randy Leonard Vs. Lents Neighbors — Why Lents May Be Cheering Today We’
- Paulson on Lents Neighbors: “That Straw Poll Is Worth a Whole Lot of Nothing.” At the end
- Randy Leonard Says City Is Now Exploring The Possibility of A Third Site for Baseball Commissio
- Breaking: Randy Leonard Now To Vote Against Soccer Deal Commissio
- Breaking: Paulson Withdraws Lents Stadium Proposal Merritt P
Tags: Lents, Merritt Paulson, Neighborhood News, portland beavers, Randy Leonard
Why are Sam and Randy working so hard at setting up a war between communities in Portland? First with Sam and that sick “gay/anti-gay” theme, he’s been working hard at selling Portlanders on, and now Randy and his sorry imitation of Sam’s toxic tactics with an East side/West side story.
Clues were seen on the Park Board story here yesterday, when we were swooped down on by the likes of “zaggy, blackedout, and Bradley”, a trio that also brought this “community fire bomb” to the party…with this moronic ploy to persuade Lents into buying into the stadium because of what again???? The West Side didn’t want them to have it? uh sure, that’s it.
Randy and Paulson didn’t have all their facts and numbers together (AGAIN), so Lents should just overlook that part, and go for it to show the West side! BTW, who gets paid for writing these sorry excuses for presentations.
If anybody has an elitist thing going with regards to different sides of the river….Randy, zaggy, and blackedout have too easily showed where they stand…..that they would believe the people of Lents are as simple minded as to buy into an East side West side rivalry, and say “To Hell with the facts of the matter, we’ll show ‘em!”
Randy, personally I think all that peanut butter and miracle whip is damaging your brain cells. You remind me of some kid who calls in a bomb scare to his school because he didn’t study for his math test.
Nice hit piece Beth. I like how you leave lots of things out like the fact the Lents neighborhood already voted in favor of this 2-1.
I also really like how you’re making certain phrases bold just like the right wingers do in their religious tracts. Sort of funny now that the Dems control all 3 wings of govt. the Willamette Week is adopting some sort of right wing religious writing style.
Not you again bonkedout (sorry but you are BORING)…why are you so addicted to being on this site? Your track record to date just sucks. Into masochism?
Besides, with that 2-1 thing you’ve got yourself believing, why not just chill and spend your valuable time on doing something just for you…a nice little hike to the top of Mt. Hood, or a pretty spring drive out the gorge (before the developers try to get ahold of that too), or go do a little shopping at one of the great ideas Retail Therapist and Cheap Skate give us here everyday on the WW.
Boring??
Annie, Pot meet Kettle
It’s sort of hard to argue with a fact that Lents residents support the stadium by a 2-1 margin when there was a survey conducted and there is proof.
http://ilovelents.com/?p=146
Also Annie. I actually am very rarely on this site. I tune in once a week or so but admittedly I have been here two days in a row. It’s sort of funny though because you seem to be pretty good at commenting on EVERYTHING and then accusing everyone who disagrees with you of being a paid Paulson employee.
I’m flattered that you would be checking out my posts, bonkedout. Not quite sure why though…
“I’m flattered that you would be checking out my posts, not quite sure why though.”
Really? It probably has something to do with you accusing somebody of “being addicted to this site”. So you take notice of his posts and then act stunned when he counters with a mention of your deluge of posts. Classic
That survey is flawed and does not apply to the current situation. First of all, only 10% of the neighborhood residents responded to it. Furthermore, over half the respondents claimed to be Beavers fans. That cannot be an accurate representation of the neighborhood. Lastly, the survey was conducted months ago. Many details have changed or emerged since then.
Is it okay with you annie if I voice my support for this plan as a resident of Woodstock/SE PDX or are you going to dismiss me as a Pauslon Employee paid to post on the internet?? LOL
Oh goody, here comes Bradley… seems we’re just missing zaggy (but I’ll set my watch for ol’ zig zag…it shouldn’t be long, you tend to run in a pack), then we’ll have the complete set of the 3 on line Stadium Support Stooges, which should make you ever so much more…something, maybe 3x the boredom factor.
Here is what’s boring Annie.
a) namecalling as a tactic to oppose those with whom you disagree.
b) tweaking somebody’s moniker in an effort at humor and failing miserably.
c) Accusing someone of being paid because your own arguments are weak.
One of my favorite artists once said that “the world is full of crashing bores” and in annie we have stumbled, quite unfortunately I might add, onto one of the world’s biggest. Who are you to launch personal attacks on individuals that simply support an effort?
ah gee… broodley, why’d you have to go and hurt my feelings? Just when I was beginning to think we had a shot at being friends.
What’s really boring…
is the same few Timbers Army trolls monopolizing the comments of almost every website that discusses the MLS deal critically.
What’s really annoying…
is the same people continually spouting half truths [Lents is in favor 2-1] and outright lies [Paulson's gonna pay to replace lost park space] while criticizing the motives, integrity, and professionalism of those that would oppose them. ["WW is adopting some sort of right wing religious writing style" because they bolded the relevant passages? Give me a break. Whose arguments are weak? Geez.]
What’s really hypocritical…
is the feigned outrage ["Who are you to launch personal attacks on individuals that simply support an effort?"] of those who support a rude, patronizing and dismissive bully like Leonard. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Alice,
Does opposing your view mean you are a troll? Does supporting the Timbers mean you are a troll? I work and live in SE Portland so I just see myself as a stakeholder in this city. It would be great if you could make your point without resorting to name calling. I think the Stadium at Lents will work fine and I support and you don’t so it is what it is. There really is no need to get so twisted up about it. I don’t excuse some of Randy’s behavior but I do share his vision for Portland bringing in a Major League Soccer Team. I feel that this will be an exciting sports option for many during the summer months. I just want the city to reach a deal that is fair and allows Portland to retain these franchises and keep some other city from grabbing them because that would be a real loss IMO.
No Bradley, simply opposing my view does not mean you are a troll. But posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages as a lot of the most vocal supporters do continually, is. [Again, see Jeremy's "version" of the meeting last night for a prime example.]
And no, simply supporting the Timbers does not mean you are a troll either. But the relentless, repetitive comments from the same few Timbers fans that monopolize every blog post on this subject in an effort to stifle and generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion, is.
And, BTW, I was not calling you, personally, a troll in that comment. I haven’t seen that many of your comments here or elsewhere (at least not under that moniker). I was referring to blackedout, Jeremy (who goes by the name “Finnegan” over at the Merc’s BlogTown), and a few others whose comments appear almost verbatim on every blog post related to the MLS proposal, whether it’s relevant to the conversation or not. But I guess if the shoe fits… Methinks he doth protest too much.
Really Bradley, can’t you see that your professed sensitivity and outrage to the so-called “name-calling” and personal attacks by those of us who question this deal don’t ring true in light of the behavior exhibited by your most vocal allies like Leonard, blackedout, and Jeremy? I’m sorry, but you get what you give. And these people have been patronizing, dismissive and insulting our intelligence since day one. When you rebuke one of these people for being disrespectful, perhaps I’ll put more stock in your protestations.
You say you “don’t excuse some of Randy’s behavior but I do share his vision for Portland bringing in a Major League Soccer Team.” Great. But if you give those who you agree with a pass on bad behavior while repeatedly lambasting for the same thing those who oppose you, you are attempting to cloud the discussion and your comments ARE off-topic. Suspiciously troll-like behavior.
The only thing I’m twisted up about Bradley, is those who would expect the majority to blindly support this without question.
And personally, it pisses me off more to see the dishonesty and obviously flawed arguments that so many supporters resort to. For example, to watch Jeremy endlessly cite the survey as proof positive that Lents wants this stadium, while ignoring the reasoned arguments disputing the validity of this early survey that keep being presented to him is infuriating to me. Yeah, being railroaded and lied to does “twist me up.”
Look, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We can agree to disagree… as long as everyone is honest and upfront in their dealings with each other. If your position has merit, you shouldn’t have to lie and/or deliberately mislead people to prove that it does. You shouldn’t have to rely on intangibles like the pride of living in the neighborhood where the Beavers play, as Leonard said, to make your case. (Or raising our international profile as Adams said.)
Where you see an “exciting sports option for many during the summer months,” I see a huge (and as yet unquantified) public expenditure for the financing of a private business venture that will subsidize a minority’s preferred choice of entertainment.
When I budget for my household, I make sure the necessities are taken care of before allotting any of my precious and limited funds to entertainment. Being entertained is not a necessity. Paying the rent and utilities is. Likewise, affordable housing, small business development, and public infrastructure is a necessity for all and government should focus on providing the greater good for everyone, not just a select few. You and the Timbers Army are not the only stakeholders here. And your having a sports option for the summer months is not high on anybody’s priority list – especially in this economy – except those who are trying to ram this through.
Your post (s) totally rock, Alice!
Alice,
Thanks for the response and while I do disagree with you I respect your opinion on the issue.
Bradley, I think what you are seeing is people finally pushing back against all the name-calling and extremely rude behavior exhibited by a few Timbers fans such as blackedout who have really embarrassed us. They have played loose with the facts and have acted like they are at a soccer game where yelling obscenities about a player’s mom it supposed to make them screw up. That kind of thing doesn’t and shouldn’t work in a democracy which relies in intelligent examination of the facts and collecting as much information as possible.
FYI Bradley, you might want to put this down in your Troll notes, the next time you troll in the city of Portland.
You keep telling us where you live, “Woodstock”. Thanks but no thanks. People on this site don’t find it necessary to tell people which area of town they live in, as….dear Bradlina, you do OFTEN. We’re ALL Portlanders, dear girl. #2 when you feel the need to follow up informing the rest of us real and true Portlanders, that you live in “Woodstock, SE Portland”….hey! Guess what? We all actually know where Woodstock is located. No need to explain it’s in the SE, unless of course you are posting from outside of Portland and trying to inform us Portlanders, you live in”Woodstock/SE Portland” as opposed to Woodstock, NY.
You protest that you are a troll far and above way too many time, just like Shakespeare said, about the protesting thing.
You failed at your Troll assignment in Portland Oregon. Go get a summer job as a life guard, before all the good summer jobs are taken. You blew it here.
I probably do mention Woodstock too much but that is because I love living here and to be honest wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else. Your child can get a free public education in a Mandarin Immersion program, SCORE. Now THAT is wise public investment and I would hope we can all agree on that. I hope she can can make the UP Women’s team go on to play for the US in the world cup and be able to talk trash with the Chinese team in their own language….lol. Okay admittedly a silly father’s dream and being a diplomat would be okay too.
Between Randy and the Lents NA chair, there sure was a lot of pointed talk from vein-popping red-faced angry bald guys at that meeting.
Good thing they’re both in the tank for this project, or they might’ve grabbed a couple of metal chairs and went all “WWE Smackdown” on each other.
JJ
Who does Randy think he works for exactly? Himself, it seems.
Between this and renaming 39th, I’m seeing a trend of fatcats downtown deciding what’s best for outer neighborhoods, no matter what the people on the ground think.
“I think their analysis is wrong,” Leonard said. “It doesn’t strike me as a genuine argument, so it’s hard to respond.”
That epitomizes Leonard. You disagree with him, so your argument can’t be “geniune.” I didn’t expect this guy to be a bigger liability than Sam, but he’s sure shaping up that way.
It’s going to be funny watching the ultra NIMBYs in Laurelhurst freak the eff out when they rename 39th.
Yeah, watching people get steam rolled and ignored is absolutely hilarious. And forcing the majority to bend to the will of a vocal minority is positively side-splitting.
That explains your obsession with the MLS fiasco… cheap humor.
What a boor.
My point is, why do we have a system that privileges what outside groups want over what neighborhoods want for themselves?
I thought we were supposed to have a wonderful neighborhood-centric planning system here.
I’m confused. How is it that people can ridicule a piece about the stadium debate, but have nothing meaningful to say about a City Council member arguing with and bullying citizens who disagree with him?
or more bluntly, who he WORKS FOR and who pay his salary?
at the very least, wouldn’t you at least say he should be respectful and patient with ALL constituents, not just the ones who like him, since he serves ALL citizens, not just ones that like his pet projects and plans?
Yep, I’ll bet the ol’ Miracle Whipped Commissioner, wouldn’t try talking down to the West Siders like he does to the East Siders, Let’s see you try to talk down to the tax payers in the hills like you give yourself permission to do to the East Side, Mad Dog Randy!
Exactly. it’s the same old bullshit, repeated throughout history by the powerful:
“You DO want PROGRESS, don’t you? You DO want MONEY, don’t you?”
then, the powerful proceed to benefit, to help others in power benefit, and server their own egos.
Are people really so blind that they don’t realize what a tired, bitter, repetetive story this all is?
In other words, readers, Leonard is serving himself and Paulson and a few others. not YOU. YOU will not see meaningful economic benefit. At best, you get some bread and circuses, while Leonard enjoys $345 dinners with Paulson and other power players, and yells in the face of any that might oppose his ego and ideology.
will people ever learn?
that’s a rhetorical question.
I agree with this. The Timbers and Beavers are perfectly fine as they are. I initially was on the MLS bandwagon because it is exciting to be part of a group-mentality cheering on the success of your team, but then I realized that my real team is the city of Portland and all my fellow citizens. That is what civic pride is all about. The Paulson family is from New York. They are not one of us. They are not the Timbers. We should be careful not to confuse the two. They are trying to use our love for our team to hoodwink us. Thinking about it really boils my blood. I really wish someone local would buy the team and do us proud. Let’s get rid of Paulson.
The Lents neighborhood has always said no to Paulson.
Except for when they already said yes.
http://ilovelents.com/?p=146
Wrong. better read more carefully, hidden agenda man.
The so-called “survey” was sent to Lents “and a good part of Powellhurst Gilbert”.
know anything about conducting surveys? I do. the truth is, the MAJORITY of the surveys were sent to Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. there aren’t even *close* to 9,000 homes in Lents, or even 4,500.
and guess what? the survey doesn’t describe how many of the returned surveys came from the Lents neighborhood.
and so on. seriously, man, this kind of “facts” is such a joke.
and you know it. or should.
I just ignore Blackhead. Doesnt live in the neighborhood either.
That survey is flawed and does not apply to the current situation. First of all, only 10% of the neighborhood residents responded to it. Furthermore, over half the respondents claimed to be Beavers fans. That cannot be an accurate representation of the neighborhood. Lastly, the survey was conducted months ago. Many details have changed or emerged since then.
“Many details have changed or emerged since then.”
Like the price tag. 42.3 M and counting.
Thank you TF.
“He then suggested “downtown” was trying to roll Lents. “I hope you all see through that,” he told them.”
Did someone remind Randy where his office is located? Did someone remind him of where his BFF works?
What a clown – He thinks people will fall for this red herring.
Yeah, “Downtown” is trying to roll Lents alright.
Randy Leonard is Exhibit A.
Sounds to me like Randy had adopted the “we (the royal one) knows best” routine. A disappointment to me especially when promoting a proposal that won’t create any family wage jobs or affordable housing but will cost the taxpayers millions (and still counting) while delivering NO real economic benefit to anyone but the Paulsen family. Haven’t we been lemmings long enough?
A possible reason behind Randy not being prepared to give Lents answers and instead substituting with his new brainstorm, the West Side-East Side gimmick. Stand strong Lents. Don’t let this man try talking down to you again. You are what you eat.
http://commissionerleonard.typepad.com/commissioner_randy_leonar/2009/05/another-food-post.html
I suggest they use this 92nd and Harold site: http://www.pdc.us/ura/lents_town_center/92h.asp
I feel the 92nd and Harold site offers a better change of succeeding then Lents Park because of closer transit hubs, latent retail opportunities in the Foster / Woodstock area, fewer homes impacted and without risking 14 acres of prime open space.
Aerial Image: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=45.481363,-122.567661&spn=0.004822,0.00765&t=h&z=17
92nd and Harold is adjacent to the new Max Station (between Ramona and Foster). With the Max Line bordering the outfield there would be symbiotic PR opportunities for Max, baseball and Lents that would not exist with Lents Park separated from Max by blocks of houses.
I-205 has an exit at Foster, by contrast Holgate, which is adjacent to Lents Park, has no exit from I-205, so all the traffic from I-205 to the Lents Park stadium would drive around OR THROUGH the surrounding residential area.
Urban renewal affects with more street and foot traffic should be more synergistic for latent business opportunities in the Foster / Woodstock area then with the suburban style Eastport Plaza Shopping Center, that is closest retail space to Lents Park.
Only a hand full of homes border the 92nd and Harold site, whose residents are used to being across from a baseball park a block from I-205, compared to about 70 homes around Lents Park, whose residents, will be trading their quite neighborhood park for a traffic nightmare 250 days a year.
Traffic and parking would be better accommodated in the Foster / Woodstock area without gobbling up 14 acres of open space, by spreading the business opportunity to provide parking to OTHER businesses in the Woodstock area.
With ever-denser development in Portland, it is not “green” to build a new stadium with half the capacity of the old on THREE TIMES the open space.
I attended last night’s Lents Neighborhood Association Meeting, and I found the process upsetting. Those representing City (PDC, Commissioner Leonard) failed to conduct themselves in a professional manner or even engage the community respectfully. Combined with a combative and inept neighborhood association board, the meeting was a mess.
There was no agenda handed out, and questions from the crowd were not written down or repeated for people in the back. Despite the claim, that stadium planning has been happening for the past year, no planning documents or reports were made available at the meeting. The PDC brought one aerial map, with the new stadium and parking lots superimposed over Lents Park.
The URAC doesn’t reflect the neighborhoods needs or concerns, and the neighborhood association is too weak and disorganized to influence the process. And as much as I would like this to be about a trivial issue, it concerns $42 million of Lents Urban Renewal funds.
Someone on the Timbers message board revealed a cynical ploy by the URAC. It appears that they want to drain the URA of all money in order to kill the affordable housing budget. In other words, they want to screw the current low-income residents and force them to move, and ensure that no new affordable housing is built. That is why the URAC is so combative with residents. The URAC is not representing them and only sees them as pests.
Hey Mitchell- Could you please give me your contact information so that next time the LNA has an emergency meeting and only a few days to prepare for it, (which we have to do before and after the other things that we have to do in order to get by ie work) I can call you and YOU can organize AND run the meeting! I’m sure that you would do just a fabulous job! Afterwards everybody would have all their questions answered, everyone would agree and hell- if you spent 6 straight days fliering the neighborhood- everyone who cares would be there!!
Yeah- it was a mess alright! You’re right- we didn’t even have any agendas!! You’re right- we didn’t do it all that well- and you don’t even know half the story!! In the very little time we actually had to prepare- we had some disagreement as to how we were even going to handle the…. 30? 80? 200? How many people are even going to show up?!!
Well, I have one thing to say to you- we might be inept. I’ll admit, I am a lot of the time! But in the 4 or 5 years that I’ve been working my ass off to try to make a difference in MY neighborhood- what have you done for yours? My guess is next to nothing. How would I know? That’s difficult. One woman after the meeting came up to me and offered some advice- have people write down their questions before hand and… I won’t go into the details, but it WAS a good idea! I’ve actually held meeting where we’ve done that and it works really good. Why didn’t we do that this time? A number of reasons and one- you’re right- is because we’re inept!!
The difference between your comments and the woman’s? The difference is that the woman probably had experience running meetings and MY guess is that she HAS volunteered to make her own neighborhood better. Consequently- she probably appreciates the effort… inept effort that we were making to try to give the neighborhood a chance to do just what they did- express their concerns! Her comments and advice are appreciated- yours really aren’t.
Weak and disorganized? Honestly- you should have seen it before I ran the first time. If you understood where we started from and just how far we have come to get to this point….
To get to the point. As far as I know only one LNA board member has made up their mind on this issue. Myself- I’m struggling with it everyday while keeping my eye on the clock! Am I going to make a quick decision based on almost no real information? Am I going to take what Lents Park Neighbors have to say seriously? Am I going to try to figure out ways it CAN work as well as reasons why it shouldn’t?
Mitchell- I’m going to weigh every tiny little scrap of information I can. I’m going to try to come up with solutions to the parts of the plan that might be trouble. I’m going to try to encourage compromise on BOTH sides and if we can come to a point where I think that the neighborhood has a winning deal- I’ll vote YES. If we can’t come up with a plan that I’m happy with- I’ll vote NO. Period. If you don’t like how I vote- run for my chair position in 6 months!
Between now and then- criticize the idea if you want! Just don’t make a decision about me or any other members of the LNA without the facts. Get off the nintendo and get out in your neighborhood and make a difference!!
Jeff Rose
LNA Communications Chair
jeff@ilovelents.com
Beth points out the stadium would be used for baseball 72 nights a year, but that is only part of the story of neighborhood impact.
Don Mazziotti says, “We would expect the stadium to be used 250 days a year, from 72 Triple A ballgames to Girl Scout Jamborees, high school/college/ adult baseball to community concerts.”
What? So now they’re putting a roof over the top in order to use it “250 days a year”, or does their p.r. firm live in L.A.?
It makes absolutely no sense to put a baseball stadium in Lents. Why not Mollalla or the O.C., while we’re at it? Who will go to a baseball game in a residential neighborhood so far from anything interesting? No amenities, bad transportation options, no parking, etc.. It is a huge downgrade from PGE Park. And it is a ridiculous idea, forced on us by the pointy-headed architects and those who wanted to “preserve” the Coliseum in a permanent state of disrepair. Sometimes this city is just so fucked.
Well, there you go Mr. Voluptuous, as you’ve just typed….”sometimes this city is just so fucked.”
Now that you’ve laid it out like that, please take a minute to consider who it is that is screwing the city of Portland.
My version of how things went down last night:
Complainer: “Why are we only hearing about this now? I live on Lents Park. This effects me”.
NA Leader/Leonard etc: “We have sent you three notices in the mail, a postcard, a survey and have been having monthly meetings about this since last August”.
Complainer: “I don’t check my mail!”.
NA Leader/Leonard etc: “Well, we also have sent out regular email updates and have everything posted on ILoveLents.com with a calendar of events and documents etc”
Complainer: “My internet is broken, I don’t check my email”
NA Leader/Leonard: “Well we also did knock on doors directly around the park about this a while back”
Complainer: “I wasn’t home.”
NA Leader/Leonard etc: “So what are you saying?”
Complainer: “It’s all your fault that I don’t check my mail, my internet connection doesn’t work, I don’t check my email and you didn’t knock on my door at a time convenient to me therefore I oppose this effort.”
On a different note why don’t we talk about the incredible opportunities this gives Lents for the other 250 nights a year?
Ideas – 1)A Lents Farmers Market on the brick parking pavers. 2) Summer Music Festival of some sort. 3) Beer/Food/Wine Fest 4) Friday family move nights at the stadium for free for Lents residents etc. The possibilities are endless.
Right now you basically have a stadium that really can’t be used with people in the stands and a soccer field that is so dangerous that I know a number of teams who won’t play there any more.
You are a disgusting individual, Jeremy Wright. People, this is the leader of the political action committee MLS2PDX. He makes Timbers fans look like a bunch of thoughtless thugs who would throw city residents under the bus in an instant if it means an opportunity to enrich their masters the Paulsons. Unfortunately, a lot of Timbers fans take their cues from them, but some of us realize how toxic this man really is.
And it seems Leonard is taking his cues from this toxic individual as well. Either that or the other way around. They’re both condescending egomaniacs who find shouting down and dismissing the concerns of the people who question their position preferable to honest, respectful dialog.
In a fair world, that alone should doom this deal. I find it difficult at best to hear anything these people have to say because of the offensive way they choose to present it. Nevertheless, I have made the attempt to understand and parse their arguments. Not so Leonard and the Timbers Army trolls.
Newsflash! Treating people like idiots rarely persuades them to agree with you. And experience tells me that when people behave in that manner, their position is either false or very weak.
Timbers forever,
That is a really broad, unecessary and dispicable attack on somebody’s charachter. I sincerely hope that I or my family never have to endure your presence at a game. I suspect you are the kind of coward that is either lying about being a Timbers fan or would not have the courage to speak in this manner publicly. Timbers you are not.
Bradlina, you sincerely will not have to ever endure the presence of Timbers Forever at a Game, since you don’t live here anyway, and I doubt if you should be hired by Paulson’s group, you are paid enough to fly here to enjoy a game anyway, since it appears their company is attempting to freeload off Portland to front their grandiose plans in the first place., and probably take advantage of the low job situation and pay you a pittance.
Here we go again. More of the feigned outrage over what you allege “is a really broad, unecessary and dispicable attack on somebody’s charachter,” followed hypocritically, by multiple ad hominem attacks. Too funny.
And golly, the Timbers Army has never, ever engaged in such tactics right? I guess you failed to note Jeremy’s comment that inspired TF to write his. J’s “version of how things went down” should be the textbook definition of a really broad, unnecessary and despicable attack on everybody’s character. (Everybody who opposes – or even dares question – him, that is.) But I bet you and your family have no problem enduring old Jeremy’s presence at a game. You, sir, are the text book definition of duplicitous.
You have some really stunning logic as well. If TF would indeed, as you assert, “not have the courage to speak in this manner publicly,” what would you have to “endure” if you sat next to him at a game? And, geez, if he’s not even a Timber’s fan, why would he be at any game? Your attempts at discrediting TF and playing the abused victim are pathetic. And oh so very obvious. Seriously, the more you guys blather on, the more ridiculous you sound.
“Timbers you are not,” you self-importantly proclaim. Apparently the criteria to be accepted into the club is blind, slavish devotion to this fiasco? I guess critical thinkers with a mind of their own need not apply, huh?
So to get back on topic if that can be done, will the stadium in Lents not still be public property? This is an honest question I would rather post to you Alice because annie is probably hiding under her dining table trying to avoid the black helicopters. My understanding was that much like PGE is now, the new Stadium in Lents would be public property where Paulson would be charged rent for his Team’s use. This is important because I think it is appropriate for public funding to be put toward improving public property and believe that this would benefit the park since the majority of land use is replacing a stadium in poor condition and a soccer field that is also in poor condition and is frankly located too near the street to be safe. I think the key is how they design the stadium as the focus should be on year round usability and working in conjunction with the park. I would also favor a small scale design as it is uncommon for the Beavers to draw more than 6,000 to a game and hey sell-outs are nice. Again the basic difference between your position and mine may be simply where you want URD money to go. I personally felt that the RQ stadium would have been the best location, however, I do feel that a nice baseball specific stadium could enhance this neighborhood. Having grown up in Washington I think those from Clark County will be more likely to go to games with the easy I-205 access and the new MAX line should make it easy for Clackamas County residents to park and ride from the Town Center. So the stadium will draw folks to Lents, new cheap housing not so much at least imo.
Even though the stadium will be public property it is being built specifically for AAA baseball, a non-essential, private, for-profit enterprise. As I wrote before, professional sports are great, if you’re into that. But admit it, Bradley, it IS just entertainment. Entertainment is not a necessity.
This isn’t like say, building a store, where if the original tenant vacated, lots of others could use the space and the costs could eventually be recouped. If Paulson bails on this thing even 10 years from now, we’ll be left holding the bag unless another AAA (or MLS, in the case of PGE Park) team or owner decides to take his place and agrees to the terms of the original deal. Now, how likely do you think that’d be? (Paulson’s not doing it with PGE Park now.) Even if it did, do you really believe that they wouldn’t have the same kinds of “requirements” that Paulson has now?
As a renter I am not able to dictate to my landlord the terms of our lease agreement nor am I able to require someone to build me a home to my specifications. Likewise, store owners almost always have to pay for any improvements or changes they “require” to the retail space they lease as well even though they don’t own it. Why should we give Richy-Rich such a cushy deal?
Even if he does stick around, the rent that Paulson will be paying won’t even begin to cover operating expenses, let alone the huge initial expenditures or the servicing of the debt that will be incurred. If that’s your justification for this, it’s lacking.
You say “this is important because I think it is appropriate for public funding to be put toward improving public property…” but many stakeholders don’t feel that this is an improvement. See the Parks Board letter for just one example. And just because a stadium will be public property, doesn’t mean it will be available for public use. In fact, per the Parks Board: “[t]hese facilities would eliminate half the site from active public use.”
Which brings me to your next point. You say you “believe that this would benefit the park since the majority of land use is replacing a stadium in poor condition and a soccer field that is also in poor condition..” But Bradley, you’re either not paying attention or are playing fast and loose with the facts. Mazziotti himself stated:
“Based on preliminary studies, we think the total footprint of the facility, including parking, is about 14 acres out of a 38-acre park. The current stadium uses about 5 acres.”
The Parks Board says “the stadium project will take nearly 16 acres of the park,” and “[a]lmost 7 acres is proposed for large at-grade parking lots in the center of the park… Even more park space may be needed for parking than is currently acknowledged.”
So, no Bradley, the majority of land use is NOT replacing a stadium and a soccer field in poor condition. Since, according to the Parks Board, the project also “proposes many non-park uses including office space, a private clubhouse, etc.,” it looks like the largest percentage of the space they want to take is just for parking! Do you really think that is an improvement?
And you’re totally ignoring the whole issue of paying for the replacement of that lost park space, estimated to be $27-29 million. City Council passed The Non-Park Use of Park Property Ordinance in 1997, and the current City Council has stated it is committed to “no net loss” of public park land, so it would seem that they, too, have agreed that a AAA stadium does not replace the public use and benefit that will be lost.
And yes, it would be easier to swallow if it were designed for year round usability and so that the community – as well as the Beavers – could make use of any new facility. But I’ve seen nothing yet that guarantees or even assures us to believe this to be so. From the Parks Board letter:
“The Beavers will have priority use of the new stadium for 72 games (about 55 of them at
night). Community access (i.e., adult baseball groups and the public) to the new stadium
is unclear.”
And short of putting a roof on it, I don’t see how it could be used year-round. I could be wrong there, but I just can’t see it and no one has proposed how this might happen or if it’s even their intention.
So, for all these reasons, I’m sorry, but the basic difference between your position and mine isn’t simply where we want URD money to go.
You feel that “a nice baseball specific stadium could enhance this neighborhood,” but like Paulson, Leonard, Adams and the rest, you’re unable to come up with any real proof that this would be the case. We’re all just supposed to buy into these “feelings” and other nebulous intangibles like kids taking pride in growing up in the neighborhood where the Beavers play. Major financial expenditures should be based on facts and solid evidence.
“So the stadium will draw folks to Lents, new cheap housing not so much at least imo.” I’m glad you qualified that statement as being in your opinion. Besides not being able to prove that a new stadium will indeed bring people to Lents (presumably from outside the area), you don’t say why that would benefit those who live there. And are you really trying to say that AAA baseball (or MLS, or any sport) is more important or beneficial than being able to keep an affordable roof over your head?
ok then Jeremy…hope you and your significant other are able to catch a ride with zaggy, blackedout, and Bradley, to any patronizing party the group your sucking up to, can fit in this summer, with a host bar and winkee lights, all set up to impress you hard working droner bees, just buzzing to get a pat of thanks and your own Mont Blanc. Such a shame if the Paulsons send in party proxies. Know you must be counting on rubbing shoulders.
thank you the truth and sense rings out
Gangster Capitalism on a local scale in the Age of the Parasite. Just wonderful.
[...] the end of last night’s meeting of the Lents neighborhood association, residents took a straw poll by quickly raising their hands to indicate whether they supported [...]
Randi needs to be reminded that bullying wasn’t okay in elementary school and it isn’t okay now, especially when it comes in the form of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Commissioner Randy from firefighter to fire starter? So much for the helping of others and having pride in what you do.
And while several people voiced support for the deal, including the neighborhood association president, most criticized the stadium idea, angering Leonard and other supporters of the idea. “It’s going to be real helpful if we respect each other,” Leonard told one man who appeared to Leonard to be interrupting him.
“Don’t get smart with me,” another 71-year-old resident shot back at Leonard moments later. “I don’t like it.”
Neither did Leonard. “Don’t get started with me,” Leonard responded
WOW…UNREAL!!!
The gross arrogance displayed by Randy Leonard is approaching a point where maybe a 71 year old man, a 55 year old man..hell,maybe a 62 year old man(not all at once) …may ask him to talk his offical hat off,or get his hat and head handed to him outside.
Gentlemen,the guy has no respect for any of us that voted for him, and if you allow him to continue…He will prove the performance at that meeting will get worse.
We all remember from grade school on..THE BULLY.
What you saw was a classic case, take SAM OUT..THEN HIM, THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER.,
Absolutely! Really Good Old.
When is the movement to recall Leonard going to start? I think it’s time to set up a working group.
Put a full page ad in the O advertising a recallrandyleonard.com website, see the tidal wave response, go from there.
When is the movement to recall Leonard going to start? I think it’s time to set up a working group
take SAM OUT..THEN HIM, THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER.,
Yes. It’s unfortunate that Randy’s love of the limelight led him into politics. He’s funny and has pretty good timing. Comedy or local theater would have been a better fit.
Having him at the wheel as Commissioner is like being on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and in that context…it’s not funny at all. Dangerous is the operable word.
it’s not funny at all. Dangerous is the operable word.
So right..not funny, but dangerous, but all things go full circle..I think “KARMA” will catch up soon, one more performance in a neighborhood meeting like that…and it could get ugly.
Not all neighborhood associations are “bobbleheads” though some sure are.
I personally dont think Randy is welcomed back to the old hood.
I would’nt invite him to an election.
Tony Columbo says:
May 22, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I personally dont think Randy is welcomed back to the old hood.
YOO! TONEY..I would not sit with him at a highs chool reunion.
What’s Good Enough For Lents & Buckman Is Good Enough For Portsmouth/North Portland – Right Randy?
“Randy Leonard said he would NOT support building the stadium in Lents if the community did not support it.”
Commissioner Randy Leonard:
The Portsmouth Residents Action Committee, the North Portland Business Association, the Portsmouth Neighborhood Association and others from North Portland have given testimony on several occasions starting in October of 2006 OPPOSING the illegitimate disposition of the public property known as the John Ball School site to the private Bridge Meadows Corporation whose leaders reside in West Linn, the West Hills, Lake Oswego and Gresham NOT in Portsmouth and North Portland.
You supported the Buckman neighborhood’s due process in the disposition of the Washington/Monroe school property which resulted in a $600,000 federal grant to design a community center.
You voted against the resolution on 2006 that gave the 1.4 million dollar John Ball School public property to an unknown, untested private corporation on the grounds that there was no due process involving the neighborhood property owners, business owners and taxpayers in Portsmouth/North Portland.
So the question arises: When will commissioner Randy Leonard publicly persuade mayor Adams, who also voted against the resolution in October 2006, and commissioner Amanda Fritz, who testified against the resolution in October 2006, to join his motion to REVOKE all previous resolutions involving the John Ball School Property and place this public property on the following due process track?
A. Make a public announcement that the city of Portland will hold a series of public meetings to ask for ideas about a future use for the John Ball School site.
B. Make a public announcement that the city of Portland will be accepting ideas about a future use for the John Ball School site by mail and email.
C. Through a public meeting process reduce the number of proposed uses for the John Ball School property to those with the most support and most viability.
D. Submit the final choices to the Portland Planning Commission for review, comment and recommendation.
E. Bring the final choices and the Portland Planning Commission recommendation before the city council for more public testimony and a vote of the council.
FYI
More than 250 Multnomah county print/electronic news media, public policy academics, Portland City Club leaders and the Portland Public Schools board were recently asked to submit any arguments against the proposed public due process for the disposition of the John Ball School site mentioned above. Not a single objection challenged this procedure.
Richard Ellmyer
Portsmouth Residents Action Committee – Leader
Community activist leading the campaign to stop all potentially new public housing (means test + government subsidy + rental agreement) in the Portsmouth neighborhood, especially the following:
1. Hacienda CDC public housing project on N. Newell Street (This was the exemplar of PDC’s unexamined and unyielding commitment to a policy of UNLIMITED neighborhood concentration of public housing. Now directly controlled and supported by mayor Sam Adams.)
2. The former John Ball School site (The Portsmouth Residents Action Committee and the North Portland Business Association continue to campaign for Due Process in the illegitimate disposition of this public property. A mayor Adams vote trading for a soccer field flip flop vote.)
Standards for Equitable Distribution of Public Housing Resolution author and project champion
Writer/Publisher – HAP Watchers commentary – Published on the Internet (http://www.goodgrowthnw.org) and distributed to thousands of readers interested in public housing policy in Multnomah County. To Subscribe: HAP-Watchers-on@goodgrowthnw.org
President, MacSolutions Inc. – A Macintosh computer consulting business providing web hosting for artists and very small businesses. Located in Portsmouth, the neighborhood with the second highest concentration of public housing clients, 30% and rising, within HAP’s Multnomah county jurisdiction of 117 neighborhoods.
[...] on May 20, when Peden and Commissioner Randy Leonard met with Lents residents to update them on the project’s details, it appeared an emergency meeting of the Lents urban [...]
[...] went before Lents residents again to make his pitch for putting minor-league baseball in Lents Park, but the neighborhood’s [...]