Former Portland Mayor Sam Adams recently spoke to City Club of Central Oregon and put forth a message that everyone from elected officials, business and nonprofit leaders and community organizers could benefit from: get over yourselves. Commentary by Pamela Hulse Andrews
Adams, who nows serves as executive director of the Portland City Club, talked about how smart public servants can gather everyone to the table and set goals to formulate a strategic plan that works.
In Central Oregon this could be issues from a solution to Bend’s Mirror Pond dilemma, banning plastic bags, LaPine’s industrial lands to healthcare challenges, appropriate room tax rates and sound economic policies that benefit the entire region.
During the 20 years that Adams was a public servant at Portland’s City Hall (from chief of staff to Mayor Vera Katz to councilmember and then mayor from 2009-12) he played a significant role in formulating the city. As the first openly gay mayor of a top-30 U.S. city, Adams’ tenure as mayor was cut short by a scandal that left many people questioning his ability to lead the city. (In 2009, he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing related to a consensual sexual relationship with a young adult he met in 2005.) He ultimately decided not to seek a second term in office.
Adams’ accomplishments set the stage for a Portland channeled with a reputation for livibility. He set his sights on creating jobs and improving education including an office dedicated to equity, a tax for arts organizations and teachers, an eastside streetcar line and an expanded bike boulevard network.
Adams instigated numerous plans that encompasses economic development, biking, the future of the city, even one on climate change. According to the Oregonian those plans helped guide decisions to cut a special redevelopment loan to retain wind-energy company Vestas, eliminate plastic bags at retail stores, end weekly trash pickup in lieu of curbside composting and nearly double the miles of dedicated bike boulevards to almost 60.
He also instigated the Portland Plan that blazes a path for the next 25 years for a prosperous, educated, healthy and equitable city. Unlike past plans, the Portland Plan focuses not just on places but also on people. This broader and more inclusive approach, which could not have been accomplished without collaboration and compromise, is what will distinguish the Portland Plan from others of its kind.
The get over yourselves message is an important one for Central Oregon. History tells us that we don’t always work together well to accomplish what is best for our communities. Leaving your ego and agenda at the door when you’re in a negotiating situation is Adams’ valuable message.
Recently I had an opportunity to sit in a room for a couple days discussing the possiblity of an increased room tax for the City of Bend. The Bend city council had asked that several people representing various aspects of the city (tourism, business, arts) try to find a compromise for a room tax increase that according to proponents would benefit public safety, economonic devlopment and cultural tourism.
Basically there were two sides: no tax at all or an increase in the tax. It was apparent from the get go that everyone was there to test collaboration. Self interest and protection were inherent, but through several hours of respectful discussion, listening and new understanding a compromise was made. No one got exactly what they wanted, but everyone left feeling satisfied that the concession was livable.
Bend city councilors were amazed that a compromise had been concluded. How did it happen? Exactly as Sam Adams said: we just got over ourselves!
It’s never too late to bring everyone to the table and recognize and respect various industries that have specific issues to address.
