It's official: The Oregonian says I'm a "Portland dignitary". Whether this is an accolade that will help me win the election or not is up for debate, but here it is in black and white.

How?

I was delighted to be an active member of Commissioner Randy Leonard's Duct Tape Committee. He called it something fancy like "Parade Access Committee", but it was really the Duct Tape Committee. Andy Dworkin wrote last week in the Oregonian:

"Leonard formed a commission with Rosarians and other Portland dignitaries to handle the sticky subject. That group has now proposed an ordinance making it "unlawful to paint, tape or otherwise mark public property or place objects in the right-of-way for the purpose of reserving space for a parade event."

Just so you know, here is the list of folks on the committee, with affiliations as recorded by Commissioner Leonard's policy staffer Sara Petrocine:

Jeff Curtis, Rose Festival Association
Sara Petrocine, Commissioner Leonard's office
Randy Leonard, Commissioner
Amanda Fritz, Neighborhood Advocate
Tracy Marks, Hotelier
Willie Brown, NE Neighborhood Coalition
Joe Angel, Hotelier
Bob Miller, Citizen and radio show host
Thomas Griffin-Valade, North Portland Neighborhood Services
Elizabeth Beeghly, Grant Neighborhood Association
Marion Haynes, Portland Business Alliance

It was a privilege to serve with each of these fine Portlanders. I suspect several others are tickled to hear we are "dignitaries".

It's sad that the Duct Tape issue received so much more widespread public attention than, say, the Street Access For Everyone ordinance, banning people from sitting on the sidewalk... except during parades. But the Duct Tape committee's work was a good and fun thing to do. Not a life-and-death problem, but something considering what Portland stands (and sits) for, and how to make parades work better for visitors and nearby businesses. I was very impressed with the good hearts and fine minds of my fellow dignitaries on the committee. I also appreciated Commissioner Leonard attending every meeting. That saved a lot of time, as he was very clear about what he would and wouldn't propose to the Council. When I am elected, I will lead many task-oriented, short-term problem solving groups like this. Only mine will meet in neighborhoods during the evening, as well as in City Hall during work week hours. I think we'll continue to call everyone who participates "dignitaries", though. When you're giving your time to make Portland better, that's a very dignified thing to do.

Click on the link to Andy Dworkin's blog post for links to the proposed ordinance and ways to comment. One of my contributions to the process was to push for public review via Neighborhood Associations and other civic groups, before finalizing the language to be presented at the public hearing with the Council. So I'd especially appreciate your input to Commissioner Leonard's office on the proposal, whether you agree with it or not. I will also respond questions here, if something isn't clear.