Sorry this post is late but such is the nature of doing a daily show and online stuff simultaneously. Yesterday I mentioned on the show the KATU story about Randy Leonard taking over the “Made in Oregon” sign. He’s has decided to spend $200,000.00 of taxpayers’ money
to change the lettering of the sign (Portland, Oregon) and $28,000.00 a year to pay the light bill and who knows what other expenses to take it over. He will use parking revenue from a lot under the Burnside bridge to pay for it. The lot reportedly will bring in $60,000.00 a year. That means he’s still short AT LEAST $168,000.00 to take over the sign. And that means $60,000.00 less per year for transportation projects.

Leonard glommed onto the Made in Oregon sign issue after the University of Oregon made overtures about taking it over. Leonard blustered about the sign being a Portland icon and how dare the University take it over. Randy fumed. The U of O entered into negotiations. The Ramsay sign people were willing to deal. And in the end, Randy just wanted the sign. U of O never had a chance.  See the photo nearby for what University was going to “do” to the sign. Quick, call the cops!
KATU reports the University was willing to pay $150,000 per year for the upkeep of the sign. The figure for the City? $28,000.00. Apparently taking over the sign includes magic beans to reduce costs. Expect that figure to go up.

Kudos to the Ramsay sign folks who donated the sign. They got somebody to take care of the sign and, as a lovely parting gift from this fiasco,  got the neon sign job at the white elephant known as McCalls restaurant.