Monday, April 10, 2006
City Commissioner Caves, Tram Construction Continues
Portland city commissioner Dan Saltzman caved in to pressure from the mayor and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and voted to spend more city money building the aerial tram. The tramway, which was already under construction, was nearly 300 percent overbudget and contractors expected to run out of money in a few weeks.
Thoush OHSU is the biggest supporter of the tram, it wanted the city to pay some of the cost overrun. Saltzman, along with two others of the five-member Portland city commission, vowed not to spend another cent on it. But Saltzman changed his mind and tram construction will continue -- at least until the next cost overrun.
Saltzman's turnabout is especially curious because he is up for reelection in just five weeks. Voters will start casting their vote-by-mail ballots in a few days. Since the tram is one of the biggest controversies in Portland, Saltzman's decision to vote for it risks his seat. He may be betting that his incumbancy will override any irritation the voters may feel about his tram vote.
Only one of the four candidates challenging Saltzman has come out against high-density projects such as the SoWhat District (which the aerial tram is to serve), so he probably feels pretty safe. Under Oregon law, if no candidate gets a majority, there will be a runoff in November between the top two.
Thoush OHSU is the biggest supporter of the tram, it wanted the city to pay some of the cost overrun. Saltzman, along with two others of the five-member Portland city commission, vowed not to spend another cent on it. But Saltzman changed his mind and tram construction will continue -- at least until the next cost overrun.
Saltzman's turnabout is especially curious because he is up for reelection in just five weeks. Voters will start casting their vote-by-mail ballots in a few days. Since the tram is one of the biggest controversies in Portland, Saltzman's decision to vote for it risks his seat. He may be betting that his incumbancy will override any irritation the voters may feel about his tram vote.
Only one of the four candidates challenging Saltzman has come out against high-density projects such as the SoWhat District (which the aerial tram is to serve), so he probably feels pretty safe. Under Oregon law, if no candidate gets a majority, there will be a runoff in November between the top two.
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