There can be no doubt about it: the city of Portland is run by a bunch of nutcases. Well, the Antiplanner knew that long ago, but they keep getting nutsier and nutsier all the time.
Flickr photo by p medved.
The latest is that Commissioner Randy Leonard wants to spend $500,000 to condemn and take over operation of a historic sign. If you’ve ever driven to downtown Portland from the east side, you’ve seen the sign: it has a deer on it jumping through an outline map of Oregon.
As the photo shows, the sign also says, “Made in Oregon,” which is the name of a retailer that has a shop near the building on which the sign is located. But that has only been true since 1996.
Before then, for as long as I remember, the sign said “White Stag,” the name of a Portland clothing company that once occupied that building but is no longer in business. Even before then — from 1940 to 1959 — the sign said “White Satin Sugar,” which occupied that building during those years.
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Now, the University of Oregon has taken over the building. Not surprisingly, it wants to change the sign to read “University of Oregon.” For most of its history, the sign has advertised the occupant of the building, so what could be more historic than that?
But that’s not good enough for newcomers who only remember “Made in Oregon.” They want to “preserve” the sign by changing it to read, “Portland Oregon.” How can that be historic? The city doesn’t own the building and the sign has never read Portland Oregon in its life.
This is the same city council that recently decided to spend tens of millions of dollars to rebuild a local stadium to attract a soccer team — the same stadium that the city recently spent (and still owes) millions of dollars on in a failed effort to attract a major-league baseball team.
Two members of Portland’s five-member commission, Dan Saltzman and Amanda Fritz, oppose the sign proposal. But Leonard’s draft ordinance is co-sponsored by Mayor Sam Adams and the fifth commissioner, Nick Fish, so it seems likely to pass, thereby adding another half million, plus legal bills, maintenance fees, and the cost of changing the sign, to the city’s tax burden.
Curiously, Saltzman described Leonard’s proposal as “bullying,” which was duly reported by Portland blogger Jack Bogdanski. Leonard took the time to comment on Jack’s site, saying, “If anyone knows anything about bullying, it certainly is you. Your hubris knows no bounds.”
Who is the one with hubris here? The one who wants to “preserve” a “historic” (13-year-old) sign by changing it to read something it has never read before? Or the one who vents against a blogger for reporting what another member of the city council said about him?
I’ve listened to Randy Leonard enough to know he has the temperament of a junior high school student. Jack Bog is about the same so seeing the two of them fight is quite fun.
The self importance of Portland leadership is pathetic. I feel for the citizens of Portland and the nonsense they endure. Of course they elect ’em so maybe I don’t feel for them so much.
The Antiplanner wrote:
> There can be no doubt about it: the city of Portland is run by
> a bunch of nutcases. Well, the Antiplanner knew that long ago,
> but they keep getting nutsier and nutsier all the time.
>
> The latest is that Commissioner Randy Leonard wants to spend
> $500,000 to condemn and take over operation of a historic
> sign. If you’ve ever driven to downtown Portland from the east
> side, you’ve seen the sign: it has a deer on it jumping through
> an outline map of Oregon.
There are some old signs that are worthy of preservation as
cultural icons, though I don’t think this one qualifies – especially
not if Commissioner Leonard wants to alter the darned thing!
The Domino Sugars sign in Baltimore, Maryland (seen
sometimes in the late, great Homicide: Life on the Streets TV series)
is an example of an iconic sign. It’s also been around since the 1950’s with
little change.
Let’s try the link to the Dominos Sugars sign again:
Domino sign on Flicr
More on the Domino sign in this Washington Post article from 2000:
Post article
http://www.arabella-and-co.com/25/images/Hollywoodland.png
Only part of the former HOLLYWOODLAND sign still exists today as HOLLYWOOD north of Los Angeles.
http://www.laphotos.com/hollywood_sign.jpg
On a related note, I’ve met people who bought Dodge Sprinters, though later on they changed the grill to the Mercedes-Benz one. It’s the exact same truck just different branding.
the Highwayman [sic] posted:
> Only part of the former HOLLYWOODLAND sign still exists today as HOLLYWOOD north of Los Angeles.
>
> http://www.laphotos.com/hollywood_sign.jpg
Link above does not work.
Portland city commissioners can’t all be insane considering two are against the plan. Although, UO should realize that it is based in Eugene, and that a satellite campus does not warrant such great exposure (especially considering Portland is home to Portland State U and U of Portland).
C. P. Zilliacus said:
the Highwayman [sic] posted:
THWM: Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2CFM4ev-g8
CPZ: > Only part of the former HOLLYWOODLAND sign still exists today as HOLLYWOOD north of Los Angeles.
>
> http://www.laphotos.com/hollywood_sign.jpg
Link above does not work.
THWM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_09_bg_052806.jpg
Caught the announcement about the MLS team, Portland Timbers, last week. How much money is the city looking to give this team?
Dan sez
On a related note, I’ve met people who bought Dodge Sprinters, though later on they changed the grill to the Mercedes-Benz one. It’s the exact same truck just different branding.
If I get one of the transit management jobs I’ve applied for recently and buy any Sprinters for paratransit, I will insist my maintenance department do this. If I must remain an underpaid consultant, I will recommend that clients who buy Sprinters do the same minor mechanical surgery, even if they have to FedEx MB grills and other chrome in from Europe. The image improvement alone would more than cover the cost in added farebox revenues, even if a system is only at 10% farebox cost recovery or less.
The [government] wants to “preserve†a “historic†(13-year-old) sign by changing it to read something it has never read before
That’s almost Orwellian.
Frank said: The [government] wants to “preserve†a “historic†(13-year-old) sign by changing it to read something it has never read before
That’s almost Orwellian.
THWM: The sign is over 60 years old, it just the wording that has changed over time.
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