Burning man
Sometimes there's so much foolishness going on at the same time with local government here in Portland that one doesn't know where to start in pointing it out. But I'll break through the paralysis today and say a few words about one of the worst blisters on the heel of progress, city council member Mitch Green.
Green was in the news last week when he was busted for burning a medium-to-large pile of yard debris in his back yard. He claims he didn't know there was anything wrong with that. Really? Either he's lying or he's not too bright. Green grew up in Portland; he should know better, and he probably did. It has been illegal to burn yard debris here for many decades.
This is the same guy who was exposed earlier this summer as being delinquent on his property taxes, which were due last November. He reportedly has a Ph.D. in economics, but he can't remember that he has to pay his property taxes? Curious indeed. What planet is this guy living on?
Green's personal misconduct notwithstanding, it would be great for Portland if the voters in his district, District 4, gave him the boot when he runs for re-election this fall. Green is a member of the socialista City Council Brat Pack that's holding the city back from even small steps forward out of the deep, dark cave in which it finds itself.
The other thing I noted in Green's fire story is how close to the edge of town he lives. It's waaayyyy down in "West Portland Park," which looks and feels a lot more like Lake Oswego or Tigard than it does like the real Portland. I can't imagine that the voters in the part of District 4 that extends all the way to the Reed neighborhood in southeast feel much in common with a guy who lives so far out in the 'burbs that he's lighting yard debris piles.
It seems like Green is on the City Council because the trade unions put him there. But lately they've been having second thoughts about him, and I wish they could find somebody to replace him who doesn't wake up every morning and renew his vow to Stick It To The Man™.
Green needs to go back to doing what economists do. Whatever that is.
Hope his goose (liver) is cooked come November.
ReplyDeleteWe already have enough problems with Summer of Love (tm) arsonists wrecking havoc in the woods, than to have this idiot risking a flare-up.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to hear what they determine what was the cause of the Centennial Mills fire. They've found human remains. BTW the fire department apparently spends around 30% of its time responding to "camper" fires.
Being academically accomplished doesn’t have anything to do with being smart.
ReplyDeleteYou can't teach judgment.
DeleteHe does seem to have some challenges with common sense...
ReplyDeleteAnother example of it - he actually wore a Blazer hat & t-shirt to a City Council meeting when the Blazers were on the agenda (the work session where reps from the team attended & spoke).
I have better things to do but I can't freekin' let that go, so I made a complaint to the State Ethics Commission. Geez.
Jack writes: "Green needs to go back to doing what economists do. Whatever that is."
ReplyDeleteHis Wikipedia page says he got his PhD in economics in 2015 from the University of Missouri - KC specializing in energy economics and that he worked at the Bonneville Power Administration.
Not that ANY of that excuses his behavior...
Actually, that explains it.
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