Letters

Potter includes everyone

, Oct 2, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

JIM CLARK / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Mayor Tom Potter took his “10 Minutes With Tom” neighborhood chats citywide, including Pattie’s Home Plate in St. Johns. A reader credits the mayor for involving citizens who may have become disengaged from civic life.

In the echo chamber of City Hall, Mayor Tom Potter’s platitudes about open government may fall flat (Potter’s process, Sept. 18). However, the message that “business as usual” isn’t the only business in town draws in citizens who have been disengaged.

Potter has dared to imagine a better city and is committed to making it a reality.

Over on the east side, we learned last year that the city was contemplating a sale of the Mount Tabor yard and nursery to Warner Pacific College, without public input.

Since then, neighbors and Portland Parks & Recreation have blazed a trail that could infuse our desire for a vibrant parks system into local government.

Though we haven’t worked with the mayor, the values he’s championed run through the entire process. We’re hopeful that he will support a resolution to build on the momentum we’ve established.

His optimism and sense of public engagement in our civic discourse may take years to fully manifest. Potter’s alternative includes us all, and it’s time for us to step up.

Pete Forsyth

Southeast Portland

Benson has plenty of potential

With funding support from private industry (the beneficiaries) and some imagination, Benson could become the premier high school in Oregon (Benson principal on leave, Sept. 14):

• Implement year-round classes allowing superior students to graduate in three years and to use expensive equipment to the max.

• Offer three tracks: employment-ready after grade 12; prep for technician level training via community colleges; and prep for engineering at the university level.

• De-emphasize interscholastic sports in favor of intramurals.

• Be willing to pay top dollar for the best faculty.

• Open up applications to students throughout Oregon.

• Music and math go together. Strengthen the music program.

• Implement a dress code or uniforms for student and faculty.

• Replace 20-year-old science textbooks with electronic hand-held readers.

• Refresh, recharge the Tech Show.

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