I’m a fan of government. I think it can do wonderful things such as provide roads for us to get from place to place, educate children, encourage development, help us to recycle and so many other important things. I’m not one of those citizens who think that people in government make too much money, or are lazy or greedy, or don’t know what it is like to run a business. I want good people making comparable wages running our city. Until Monday, I thought you were one of those people.
What I require most in my life is for people to tell the truth. I work in a school and say it over and over again, “If you had come to me and told me what happened, we wouldn’t be dealing with this situation right now.” It is fine for me to say this to elementary aged students, it’s even great. Because each time they don’t tell the whole story, or outright lie, that gives me another opportunity to help them understand that coming clean, though it seems to be hard at the time, is the better option. My hope is that as they grow older, they will embrace this fact of life and their adolescent and adult lives will be better for it.
I can’t know the thought process that got you into the mess you are in, but I do know that had you admitted then what you are admitting now, we all would have been much better off. You may have lost the election, or you may have won. But either way, the people of Portland would have the whole story from the beginning. Now you look stupid, the people that defended you look naive and there are calls for your resignation. Speaking for myself, the trust I had in you as a politician and a person is gone and I’m not sure what you are going to do to earn it back.
It hasn’t escaped my notice that this story broke over the two days we celebrate the birth of a civil rights pioneer and the historic day we all watched Barak Obama inaugurated. That historic day which should have been full of joy and jubilation, is a dark one for you. You, too are a pioneer. I’m just sorry that you made the choice you did and I’m sorry you asked another person to lie.
Sincerely,
Patricia Collins
Rats. I know just how disappointing this is for you! Are you sending a real ‘snail mail’ version of the letter to the mayors office? I think you should. -S
I sent a snail mail version on the day I wrote it. I have a feeling it won’t be read. I’m guessing all the mail from that week is moldering in bags. Who wants to read from a bunch of constituents?
Patricia – It is a real shame. I wasn’t a huge fan of his (I’d heard good things about Sho Dozono, and I thought his name was AWESOME!) but I wasn’t against Adams either. I am no longer a Portlander, as you know. But it is a shame because it’s a real setback for the city in terms of resources being lost over this, and now people have a mayor they feel they can’t trust.