The Brat Pack needs a timeout
Portland's new city charter has turned out to be a bust in just about every regard, but the worst aspect is the structure of the city council, and the way the members are elected. Just how bad a slate of councilors this system can produce was on full display yesterday, when three of the 12 members of the club demonstrated that their personal development has not progressed beyond the second grade.
When [Angelita Morillo's] amendment came up for a vote, it was deadlocked in a six-to-six tie, and Mayor Keith Wilson had to cast the tie-breaking vote. He voted against Morillo's plan, and that's when things took somewhat of an unusual turn.
"I think it's really wild that we as a council couldn't close the deal over 500ths of a percent of our total budget and that we have to call, I don't know, the 'daddy' of the city of Portland to come help break a tiebreaker for us because, for some reason, the city council can't get together to get it done," Morillo said on the dais, referring to Wilson's tie-breaker.
Councilor Loretta Smith interrupted and called for a point of order from Council President Jamie Dunphy, saying Morillo was impugning her colleagues. Smith asked Morillo, "Who are you calling 'daddy'?"
Morillo responded, "He's your daddy, not mine."
"I got a daddy," Smith replied.
Dunphy tried to restore order and allow Morillo to finish speaking, but Smith interjected again, prompting [Candace] Avalos to intervene by leaning over and switching off Smith's microphone.
This isn't the first time that Morillo, political spawn of Jo Ann Hardesty, has unleashed uncivil comments, derailing the proceedings with her anger. And I hope Smith doesn't get too riled up, because she's the one who suggested that the council should have loaded firearms handy on the dais. Meanwhile, Avalos, the architect of this circus tent from her days on the disastrous charter commission, was probably anxious to catch a flight for yet another junket on the taxpayers' dime.
Okay, there are jerky people in this world, including in Portland (maybe especially in Portland), and they are entitled to representation. But do people this ridiculous really make up a quarter of the city's population? Because they're making up a quarter of the city council.
Come on, voters. You can do way better than this if you'll just work at it a little.
I'm glad I get to watch this circus from outside of MultCo...having moved out of the CoP to the 'burbs long before "charter reform" took effect. And, no, I didn't let the door hit my ass on the way out...
ReplyDeleteConsidering all the time that Morillo has spent talking about race issues, I have to say it was pretty-gross to hear her say to a Black woman that a White man is her "daddy" (which is why Smith reacted so strongly to it, imo). Perhaps someone can explain it to her, if they can get her to STFU long enough.
ReplyDeleteListening doesn’t seem to be in the skill set. Diplomacy definitely isn’t.
DeleteWhy should she listen? She's the smartest person on the planet, ergo, she's always right.
DeleteUnfortunately, Blacktina's charter "reform" makes it possible for these clowns to make the Portland City Council their chosen careers for the rest of their natural lives if that's what they want to do. Even recall would be difficult...they can just run in the replacement election. It's what you get with 25% + 1...dimbulbs with both axes to grind and gigantic chips on their shoulders. Several of them are up for re-election in November. I doubt any of them will be turned out.
ReplyDeleteYou are in error about the recall. It should be effective for removal. Unless the current Secretary of State (chief elections official of Oregon) has changed his opinion from his predecessor's, a recalled elected official cannot serve in the same position (city councilor) until the term that s/he was recalled from expires, and where multiple candidates run as a group for one or more seats, the recalled official cannot run for any of the positions. I know, that is inside baseball, but that's what I pay attention to.
DeleteThanks for the correction... However, I believe my point about these idiots having these jobs for life if they want them still stands. RCV will make it impossible to turn any of them out. 25%+1...the stupidification of municipal governance.
DeleteIf you are dreaming of a recall, let that dream die: "a recall petition for a Councilor may only include signatures of registered voters from the district the Councilor represents and the recall petition may be voted on only by voters from within that district."
DeleteYou'd need about 6,500 signatures from District 3 to get a recall on the ballot.
Me-e-o-o-ow! I love a good cat fight. Nothing like proving the stereotype rings true. And we rightly dish Trump for turning politics into professional wrestling. We need to replace that dais with a mud pit.
ReplyDeleteJust wait until Serena Cruz enters the conversation. From Mean Girls to Daddy-O!
ReplyDeleteAnd where are the candidates who will take out these kids?
ReplyDelete