Movin' on up

Here's an interesting story that dropped last week and hasn't gotten the notice it deserves: Multnomah County's inept commission chair, Jessica Chevy Vega, has moved her residence from the humble outer east side to the toney West Hills.

Vega Pederson and her husband had lived off 130th Avenue since January 2006, when they bought a three-bedroom, 2.5-bath house there for $266,400, according to public records. The property is now on the market for $700,000, according to listing site Redfin.

Last month, Vega Pederson and her family moved to Southwest Portland. They are renting a house there, according to her spokeswoman, Sara Guest, who declined further comment.

It’s a move up for Vega Pederson and her family: The chair’s new residence is a 3,800-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-bath house just south of Council Crest Park, according to Redfin. Market value: $1.2 million.

Chevy's main claim to political fame has been that she's from the tough side of town, and that she sees every day the problems that the downtrodden face. She'll still be able to see the little people from her new digs, dying as they wait endlessly for an ambulance. But she'll need a telescope.

The O, ever Portland Polite™, has some dowdy fun with the story here. 

In a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday, Vega Pederson said her move would not stop her from supporting the area her family called home.

“No matter where I live, I will always be a strong advocate for East Portland,” she wrote. “My commitment to East Portland — and to the policies and investments needed by everyone who lives there — is forever.”

Vega Pederson, a mother of two children, didn’t provide specifics on what sparked the decision, only stating that “like anyone, changes in work and school sometimes lead to people moving.”

Sounds like she wants her kids to go to Ainsworth, West Sylvan, and Lincoln High – not those lesser schools out by Costco. It wouldn't be the first time young parents moved (or faked a move) to get into the West Hills schools. But for such a Mujer de la Gente, well, it's an interesting look, let's put it that way. What will Team JVP think?

UPDATE, 1:55 p.m.: An alert reader sends along this gem of a tweet, which looks authentic to me. Too funny!