I have earned endorsements from major newspapers, labor unions, business owners, elected officials, community leaders, workers, and hundreds of Portlanders. Last week, I also won the endorsement of the Multnomah County Republican Party, adding to my previously-announced endorsement by the Multnomah County Democrats.

Amanda Fritz is the only candidate for the Portland City Council to be endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Is that surprising? What on earth could the leaders of the two main parties in Multnomah County have in common, with so much polarization at the national, state, and local levels? Why would both Democrats and Republicans endorse the same candidate for Portland City Council?

In fact, Portlanders of all parties – and none – care about spending taxpayers' money wisely, providing city services fairly and efficiently, and treating one another with respect. I will help Portlanders avoid traditional patterns of divisive political scheming pitting Eastside against Westside, business against workers, developers against neighborhoods, and City staff against the citizens they serve. As a Public Campaign Finance Fund candidate, I am in a unique position to focus on civic needs, creating a new way forward for Portland that transcends political labels.

In another nice endorsement last week, the Portland State University Daily Vanguard called me "a refreshing alternative" to "stagnant Portland politics". I am glad that my Council seat is nonpartisan, and proud that both Democrats and Republicans know that I will help Portland prosper when voters elect me to the Commissioner #1 position.

Note: According to County Elections data, Portland has approximately 377,000 registered voters - Democratic: 50.8%; Republican: 20.1%; Non-Affiliated: 24.3%; Other: 4.8%.

Super-Volunteer Dennis Jaffe models the nifty Amanda Fritz bike flag. Photo by Robert Wilson.

Stop by our office at 3525 NE Broadway, and get one of these spiffy flags installed on your bike, while you wait, for the super-low price of FREE (with Public Campaign Financing).

This next week sure would be a good time to fly the colors as you ride :)

It has been a busy couple of weeks, and as I surface to take a gulp of air, I realize I haven't yet posted thanking Willamette Week for their endorsement. Very sweet. My younger son chided me for my answer in the interview to the question of, "Where would you get a tattoo and what would it be?", saying, "C'mon, Mom, you don't actually have to get a tattoo, just pretend, go along". Happily, apparently the response to that question wasn't a major determinant in the decision.

From the Willamette Week endorsement:

"Fritz has convinced us she may be the only candidate in this race who won’t carry a rubber stamp into the Council. More likely, she’ll bring a magnifying glass and a red pen.

Fritz trumps all her opponents when it comes to knowledge of the city budget and its programs. She obsesses over detail and can be tenacious. She will make bureaucrats lose sleep. We foresee Council meetings grinding to a halt while Fritz and Randy Leonard get testy over the finer points of item 382a on the weekly consent agenda. But that’s OK: Let the bureaucrats sweat a bit. City Hall isn’t a clubhouse."

Thank you, Willamette Week!

Photos by Debbie Kaye

A dog, ruby slippers, a bicycle and a zebra car - illustrating the parade theme of "There's no place like home" in Portland, Oregon.

Thank you to everyone who marched/rode/drove with me, and to all who waved, clapped, and shouted encouragement along the route. Good work, organizers and volunteers of the parade!

Do you or did you ever have a mother? Then Sunday afternoon's Meet-and-Greet is for you!

Stop by

Bring Mom, or come by yourself, and chat with the only mother running for Portland City Commissioner Position 1. Let's talk about what kids, families, parents, and educators need from the Portland City Council. Or about anything else you want to ask or say.

Photo by Tristan

Tuesday morning, I was up early at 6 a.m. to take my daughter to an Advanced Placement (AP) exam at Rose City Park Elementary School, sadly closed as a neighborhood school and now being used for testing. So afterwards, I had a rare opportunity to stand outside Wilson High School waving to fellow parents - usually, I'm part of the stream of cars dropping off students. On Monday evening, I was in the campaign office, reviewing lists of volunteers and wondering who to ask to help hold the banner. Who should phone in but Ruth Adkins, fellow Wilson mom, Portland Public Schools Board member, and super-busy person. "Can you help me wave at morning commute tomorrow?", I asked. "Well, I'm helping with the PTA's Teacher Appreciation Week breakfast, but sure, I can leave for 15 minutes for that", she answered.

And so we did. The bag behind me on the grass holds groceries I picked up on the way back from Rose City Park, to donate to the events for the teachers - a week of appreciation gifts for Wilson staff, organized by a woman who just had surgery, and another whose husband is battling stomach cancer.

If you want to get things done, ask busy people to help.

Tune in to KBOO, 90.7 FM and on the Internet here, tonight at 6:35 p.m., to hear me talk live on the "Labor Radio" show about issues that matter to working people in Portland. Call in with questions, 503-231-8187.

A sunset. For the past three months, most dates I've been inside at a houseparty or forum all evening, entering in sunlight and leaving in the dark. Or, so involved in talking with Portlanders at doorsteps that I've only noticed the sun has set when the names on the voter lists become unreadable. That has been the signal for for me to come home and start work on emails, usually heading to bed around midnight before waking at seven to start another non-stop 17-hour day.

Please help produce results from all the hard work so many have dedicated to this campaign since October 4, 2007. See the Volunteer page on this site to review options taking five minutes, or a couple of hours. Or join the full court press (= citywide push) for the next two weeks, and help me as I stretch my days even longer.

Last fall, I spent time in coffee houses all over Portland, while collecting $5 donations to become the first candidate to qualify for Public Campaign Financing. Now, at the end of the campaign, I'm scheduling Meet-and-Greet events again, to give more Portlanders opportunities to ask questions and tell me your concerns.

This Sunday, 5/4/2008, I will be at the

Twin Paradox has really, really yummy cakes. And I will have spent the afternoon knocking on doors and meeting voters, so I'll be ready for a slice. Please join me.

Security problems on the MAX Light Rail system first surfaced twenty years ago, soon after it opened. Then, the Governor had to put State Police on MAX to stop gang affiliates and rowdy riders. TriMet improved train and bus communication systems, but fell short on effective policing and station/park&ride security. The region has opted three times since 1988 to expand MAX, without a complete security program.

Weekday MAX ridership has grown from 15,000 in 1988, to over 104,000 today, with total ridership up from 120,000 to 310,000. The TriMet system is a rolling city, three times larger than Gresham, which until November had only 36 sworn police officers. Eastside MAX in Portland hosts six of the system’s ten highest crime stations (2005-07): Lloyd Center, Hollywood, 82nd Ave, Gateway, 122nd, 162nd. Many of these stations are isolated from nearby 24-hour uses, and lack Closed Circuit TV systems and emergency phones. In November 2007, only one third of MAX’s 64 stations had CCTV.

What TriMet is Doing to Improve Security:

TriMet initiated a comprehensive security plan in December 2007. It included hiring more police officers and contracted security, a zero tolerance policy for those who break TriMet rules, more enforcement tools for police and security forces, adding more security cameras to MAX platforms, increasing lighting, fixing faulty Ticket Vending Machines, increasing fare inspections, and limiting the hours of Fareless Square. After I and others testified in January, proposed changes to Fareless Square were dropped. Over the next several months, TriMet promises a public process to evaluate the future of Fareless Square.

To date TriMet has:

1. Opened a Westside Precinct with Hillsboro, Beaverton and Washington Co. on March 12, with five officers patrolling between Hillsboro and Sunset Transit Center.

2. Opened an Eastside Precinct with Gresham on April 1, with six officers (ten by July 1). patrolling the transit system between Gateway Transit Center and Cleveland stations.

3. Partnered with the Portland Police Bureau to patrol the transit system between the Sunset and Gateway Transit Centers.

4. Hired more Tri-Met police officers, and has its contracted security spending more time riding the transit system.

5. Extended "Interdiction Command", so police can immediately remove rowdy or intimidating riders from the transit system for up to six hours. Police can take repeat juvenile offenders violating the TriMet code to juvenile detention for up to 36 hours, where officials work with the youths and their families to stop the activity.

6. Installed security cameras at more MAX platforms, bringing the total to 30 platforms with cameras.

7. Increased lighting levels in 1,800 lights, plus installed floodlights at NE 82nd and Gresham Central MAX stations, and improved sight lines at MAX platforms

8. Expanded its Rider Advocate program so that a community-based organization rides the system to prevent disruptive or illegal activity.

9. Increased fare inspections, while adding the option for riders to purchase fares at station concession stands and fixing faulty ticket machines.

Still needed:

TriMet and the region must complete the remaining MAX security fixes, before the I-205 MAX and Portland Mall stations open in 2009. The expanded MAX system will excel at moving people and building communities. To accomplish these goals, MAX trains and stations must be among the “safest places in town”.

1. I will work with the City Council and other jurisdictions to commit the needed resources within TriMet, local, regional, state, and federal 2008-09 budgets, specifically for transit policing levels and station security.

3. I will work with TriMet and other jurisdictions to expand transit policing with unified staffing, coverage and presence, in cooperation with local police. Similar-sized transit agencies in other cities have many more police officers, and handle nearly all their own emergency response calls.

4. I will watch for opportunities in existing and future station area plans to add supportive round-the-clock activities and land uses. Portland should consider zoning and design principles in the Eastside MAX Station Area Transit-Oriented Development Study (60th-162nd), and for the Milwaukie MAX line.

5. I will facilitate public input and impact in TriMet's consideration of additional “state of the art” security systems, such as access control to station platforms and park and rides.

6. I will support funding for Rider Advocate programs, administered through neighborhood coalition/district offices.

Safety in our homes, on our streets, and on public transportation is important. For many of us, it’s one of the reasons we choose to live in Portland. I will make sure tax dollars are spent wisely, so that they make a direct and positive impact on basic needs like public safety.

To me, spending taxpayer money wisely and improving public safety on TriMet go hand-in-hand.

Andy Dworkin in the Oregonian's blog and in print last week wrote an interesting article about political candidates using babies in advertisements and public appearances. In the paper version, he wondered why I pictured my longtime friend Terri Preeg Riggsby's baby son, rather than my own seventeen year-old daughter, as the "parenthood" image in my campaign TV ad.

I mentioned this to my daughter. She laughed the short, sarcastic, mirthless laugh only produced by humans aged 13 - 19, and said, "Just wait til he has a teenager. Then he'll understand."

That's part of the answer. A parent can *make* a baby pose in a photograph - Terri and I had fun getting Caleb to smile for the camera. Few people can *make* a teenager do anything.

There are two other reasons I chose not to use photographs of my sons and daughter in my ads. One, this campaign is my task, not my daughter's. Her job, on the Monday we zoomed all over Portland taking photos for the ads, was to be in school, finishing up the classes she needs to graduate in June. Over the seventeen years I've been a parent in Portland Public Schools, Steve and I have kept our children out of school electively only once. That was to attend their grandparents' retirement ceremony in New York, back when they were in grade school. We have stressed firmly and repeatedly that their work is to be in school and do their assignments and extracurricular activities to the best of their abilities.

The other reason photographs of my children aren't in the cable ad, (did you catch it on ESPN during the NFL draft? NOW, my sons think I'm legit :) is that the producers wanted action shots, not posed group pictures. And our younger son, Maxwell, is in New Jersey at college. We took standard family portrait shots on Christmas Day, the last time our family of five was together in one place. Taking a photograph of "Amanda's family" or "Amanda's children" without Maxwell was unthinkable.

All this aside, I don't want anyone to think I lack proud-to-bustin' motherly championing of my children. I think they're super cute, and I know I will win many votes as "Luke's mom", "Maxwell's mom", and "Ali's mom". So here is a photograph of me 'n' the kids, taken on Christmas Day by Steve - my husband, their father.

See? Super cute.

Last night was Candidates Gone Wild, the campaign event where style openly trumps substance. Here are three phtographs, taken by my older son, Luke, illustrating why - on balance - I am glad I participated:

All six candidates for Position 1 were invited and played along gamely. Public Campaign Financing has changed the way political campaigns are handled by the media and civic engagement groups. More movement is needed, but this photograph portrays a good start.

The extra "candidate" pictured next to me, without the orange sash denoting those running for Position 1, is Adrian Chen, added as humor by the organizers. I didn't follow the logic in including someone who is not running in the cast, when in Position 2 and the Mayoral race many real candidates were not invited. As I've said often, more movement is needed, but having all six Position 1 candidates on stage, with equal opportunity to look foolish, was a step forward in democracy in Portland.

The real question is whether ANY bridge over I-405 at NW Flanders, new OR recycled, is the # 1 priority pedestrian/bicycle project, most in need of funding citywide.

I don't believe it is.

Mercury Blogtown a couple of weeks ago posted responses from candidates for Position 1, on whether the City should pay $5.5 million to make the old Sauvie Island Bridge a bike/pedestrian bridge over I-405 at NW Flanders. Three of my competitors endorsed relocating the old bridge, at a cost of $1.5 million more than building a new one.

My comments two weeks ago:

Portlanders care about livable neighborhoods, walking and biking, and recycling. I support those good values. I also care about spending taxpayers money wisely, and fairness in prioritizing that spending, and I believe Portlanders share those priorities, too.

The first core question I've heard from neighbors all over Portland, including some in NW, is whether spending an extra $1.5 million to reuse an old steel bridge is good use of public funds, compared with the cost of building a new concrete bridge half as wide. Mayor Potter noted the cost of the project can rise an additional $1.3 million before being re-approved by Council. If elected, I will work to change the City Code that currently allows overruns of 25% in City contracts. I will always ask the questions, "What is the true cost? Who pays, who benefits, and is that fair?"

I appreciate Commissioner Saltzman's insistence on putting the project out for bids. Given that the idea of reusing the bridge was posted on CommissionerSam.com in March 2006, the fact that the ordinance was filed as an "emergency" is ridiculous. I believe emergency ordinances are sometimes used to pressure compliance on votes. To facilitate better public process, I will ask other members of the Council to use the "emergency" designation only for true emergencies.

The Mercury, Oregonian, Tribune, BikePortland.com, and CommissionerSam.com have all covered the issue. These sources state that funding for the $5.5 million relocation would come from $2 million in River District Urban Renewal Area funds, $2 million in transportation Systems Development Charges, $1 million in federal funds, and $500,000 from either private donations or from all Portlanders as part of the Safe, Sound and Green streets proposal heading for the November ballot. What would those pots of money be spent on, if not this project?

* Which projects will drop off the list for funding in the River District, if this bridge project is done? Is it really the highest priority for pedestrian/bicycle facilities in the plan area?

* Is the $2 million from the River District existing funds, or part of the proposed $311 million extension of the Urban Renewal Area?

* Which neighborhoods will have to wait longer for their Systems Development Charge projects to be completed?

* Why is this bridge in this location more deserving of additional public funds, faster, than planned pedestrian/bike projects in other areas of the city, such as the promised bridge over I-5 in the neighborhood formerly known as Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill, now South Portland?

How many jobs would be created in renovating and moving the old bridge versus building a new one and recycling the old steel? With the economy weakening, supporting more good jobs with benefits should be considered in every decision.

Global warming, pollution, and building green should also be part of the equation. What are the carbon impacts of the two methods of providing this bridge?

This ordinance asked for a vote on "Is this a good use of public money?", when the real question is, "Is this the best use of public money when compared with other ways it might be spent?"

Since the Council's vote on this matter, I have heard from neighbors in all parts of the city, even NW Portland, opposed to spending an additional $1.5 million to renovate and reuse the Sauvie Island bridge on NW Flanders. While those testifying at the hearing were predominantly in favor, most Portlanders are not able to take time off work to ask the Council to prioritize funding of basic services throughout the city. I will provide multiple ways for Portlanders in every neighborhood to give input, to facilitate engagement in our government.

More information is needed before deciding whether the bridge relocation proposal is the best use of transportation and urban renewal taxes, or not. If you elect me to the Portland City Council, I will make sure that important questions are asked and answered clearly, soon after a project is initiated.

Since that post on Blogtown, I have learned more information. $3.5 million of the money to be used for the Flanders bridge will come out of pots that could otherwise be used for projects in other areas of the city.

My answer above looked mostly at:

But in fact, the match-up is:

Citizens, city staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council devote significant time and effort in annual and long-term budget processes, identifying priority lists for funding transportation improvements, citywide. Is a bridge over I-405 at NW Flanders, either new or recycled, next in line for funding?

I believe Portlanders who live in areas with few sidewalks, bike lanes, or paved streets, deserve basic urban services first.

Verbatim conversation with my husband, Steve, earlier this week:

Me: "We have a rubber chicken, don't we?"

Steve: " A rubber chicken? Sure."

Me: "Can you find it for the rehearsal on Sunday?"

Steve: "Sure."

Me: "Thank you! I'll be home late as usual. Thanks for getting dinner for Ali again. Bye!"

Oddly, when Willamette Week/Candidates Gone Wild called to ask about spaying and neutering cats/dogs, "for the show", I don't remember being asked a question on how to increase the level of pet sterilization. I'm pretty sure the rubber chicken is not going to reproduce any time soon, though.

Over the past sixteen months of posting my AmandaFritz.com blog, I've sometimes lauded, sometimes slammed editorials in the Oregonian.

I know the subject of yesterday's better than anyone. I found it entirely accurate, both in its assessment of my skills and cautions about lessons learned. Thank you, Oregonian Editorial Board! Here it is, in its entirety:

She has done her homework, immersed herself in service to the city, and would watchdog the city's dollars ~ Thursday, April 24, 2008

The race to replace City Commissioner Sam Adams on the Portland City Council suffers from a wealth of plausible candidates. It's such a crowded field, with six people running serious campaigns, that it's already flummoxed some debate organizers -- and it may stump a few Portland voters when the ballots start arriving soon.

But even in this intriguing race, one candidate stands out as the strongest, most polished and most prepared to be a city commissioner -- especially of a city heading into a recession. That candidate is Amanda Fritz, 49, a psychiatric nurse, former planning commissioner, neighborhood activist and longtime schools volunteer.

Fritz has promised to intensify scrutiny of city contracts and expenditures. She has an unusual breadth and depth of knowledge of issues facing both the entire city and its nearly 100 neighborhoods. Her acquaintance with planning, in particular, could be helpful as Portland takes the huge step of revising its comprehensive plan.

Fritz has a command of detail that could make her a formidable force on the council, both in framing fresh questions and in watchdogging the budget. Some of this expertise is already on display on her blog. In fact, since she lost her first try for a council seat in 2006, she has only strengthened her involvement in city issues.

It's true, of course, that a command of detail can work for or against a city, depending on whether a city commissioner becomes too enmeshed and enraptured by his or her own brilliant discovery of minutiae. As a former planning commissioner, though, Fritz has the advantage of having already made some mistakes along these lines. This could give her an invaluable head start in understanding what she needs to do to be effective at City Hall.

Fritz is running against:

Jeff Bissonnette, 41, a low-key consumer advocate from St. Johns with expertise on energy issues, thanks to his work with the Citizens' Utility Board; John Branam, 33, development director for the Portland Public Schools; Mike Fahey, 61, a salty former two-term legislator from North Portland; Charles Lewis, 36, fiery founder of the innovative nonprofit Ethos Music Center; and Chris Smith, 48, an expert on transit and transportation, known as "Citizen Smith" for his volunteer mastery of important city issues.

None of these five would be a pushover. The question for voters is: Who has the potential to be most effective right from the start in mustering votes at City Hall? Who could help close the gap between rich and poor Portland, without taking cheap shots at the city's urban renewal agency and its downtown?

There has never been any doubt that Fritz understood the small picture. As a longtime neighborhood activist from West Portland Park, she seemed in her last run for council too much in thrall to "neighborhood-think." Of the six running this time, though, it is Fritz who is the most articulate champion of Portland as a prosperous whole.

She's been acting almost as a shadow city commissioner. Voters should give Fritz the chance now to be the real thing.

(Emphasis added, as usual)