It was a full house at the City Council meeting as many soccer fans and some kids came to lend support in bringing an MLS team to Portland. Among the folks in the crowd I saw former Portland Mayor Vera Katz, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler and, for some reason, a full complement of reporters/columnists and the political cartoonist from the Zero. Guess they were here for the soccer story. ( I would have Twittered all of this but my crackberry was on the DL). I’m sure I and others there this morning testifying in favor of Sam’s resignation were like the skunk at the soccer picnic, but I didn’t know this was on the agenda at the time I signed up. It wouldn’t have mattered, though.

Mid way through my litany of “Sam Wows” I heard a muffled gasp behind me in the crowd. Sorry, I just say it out loud, I don’t actually do these things.

When I got done a couple of guys in the back booed me. Chris Rock said once, “Oh, Boo if you want, you KNOW I’m right.” Maybe it’s bad form to say OUT LOUD what the MAYOR DID. Maybe they didn’t want me to ruin their soccer moment. Guys, I understand. Take it up with Sam.

Meantime, following me a wonderful man who I later learned was a 5th Listener who prayed for Sam and the Council. I thought it was very classy and I thanked him later for doing that and bringing a positive message amidst this tawdry affair. I heard from Q who took today’s pictures (find them here:www.LetMeShootYou.org/031109 who said the council members weren’t praying along). Luis Palau folks were there too. They were giving the city some money to help find homes for the homeless. I thought they were incredibly classy.

The following is what I had to say today:

My Name is Victoria Taft and I live, work and vote in Portland, Oregon.

I’ve been before you before asking that Mayor Sam Adams resign because of the disgrace he’s brought upon the City by his acts of [aforementioned Sam Wows:]Grooming a teenager

to have sex with him,

Allegedly kissing and fondling the teenager in a City Hall bathroom

Going to the teenager’s 18th Birthday as a way to celebrate his becoming legal so he could have sex with him

Slandering the man who dared bring it up before the election and ending his chances for higher political office

Lying to voters about these incidents because he knew he wouldn’t be elected otherwise

Q has more photos here:

I’ve passed along nearly 400 emails to Mayor Adams and the rest of the council from concerned citizens of Portland and Oregon asking the Mayor to resign and you’ve ignored them.
I know people have called the Mayor to ask him to resign and the calls go ignored.
I know the Mayor has gone before council each week and conducted business as usual while those of us in the audience week after week want him to leave because of his disgraceful behavior.
I know the Mayor has gone before groups of people and apologized.
The apologies mean nothing without action.
The ultimate act of contrition…The teachable moment the mayor has spoken about… is to resign.
But the Mayor and I daresay the council want our attention away from the Mayor’s unethical and probably illegal activities…and want to sell us ball-parks…and teams…and soccer venues.
Look over there…it’s a shiny ballpark…
…nothing to see here…
We will always question the motives of the Mayor.
It’s perfectly reasonable that we do so…
We’ve seen what he’ll do to a teenage kid.
We’ve seen what he’ll do to the voters to win an election
Why would we trust anything he does ?
Recently a reporter from a local paper called me and asked me why I would criticize the mayor. Aren’t you being an opportunist? he asked.
I laughed.
What an irony.
Questioning the motives of a citizen who says out loud what the Mayor DOES…and I’m an opportunist.
Questioning the mayor about grooming a teenager to have sex with him…and I’m the opportunist.
Questioning the mayor about having sex with a teenager…and I’m the opportunist.
Questioning the mayor about lying to win an election…and I’m the opportunist.
Those same reporters ask if the people with me today and those who have been here in weeks past are in some sort of concerted conspiracy to see the Mayor go.
They’re worried about a CONSPIRACY of citizens…and right in front of them they have a conspiracy to steal an election on false pretenses.
Mayor Adams… this city is riven with your drama. You’ve embarrassed the entire state.

You need to resign.