Cheers: To Vancouver’s effort to involve the public in the city budgeting process. Faced with some difficult decisions ahead, the city government has launched a top-to-bottom review of its spending priorities called “Horizons.” The public’s next and best chance to participate comes Tuesday, when a “Community Views” meeting will be held beginning at 7 p.m. at the Water Resources Education Center. Using clicker keypads, citizens can respond to the presentation and rank their priorities for city programs.
Those unable to participate can do so by watching the meeting on CVTV, Comcast Channel 23, and giving feedback via the Web at http://www.cvtv.org using a computer or smart phone.
Though the process sounds cumbersome and expensive, it isn’t. City staff members are doing the work themselves; the only cash expenses are $800 for the reusable technology and the cost of a few refreshments.
Jeers: To the University of Oregon for its continuing moves toward less transparency. First the state university tried to obscure the fact it was buying out the contact of its athletic director, Mike Bellotti, for a cool $2.3 million. Then it tried to bury the details of its new contract with Nike, whose founder is UO alumnus and benefactor Phil Knight. Even though previous contracts had been disclosed, the university balked this time, citing “trade secrets.”
In both of these cases, fortunately, the public’s right to know won out. Public institutions should be public with their finances and governance; “trade secrets” surrounding athletic teams, executives, facilities and merchandising belong in private entertainment, not in amateur athletics.
Cheers: To the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive, the region’s second largest. More than 3,000 postal employees and volunteers will help out with today’s drive, which has a goal of raising 2 million pounds of food in Southwest Washington and Oregon for distribution through local food banks. Last year, 1.65 million pounds of groceries were collected. To help, set your donations by your mailbox this morning. Use the bag that came in the mail earlier this week, or any other sturdy bag. Donations can also be taken to local post offices by May 12.
Jeers: To the parking situation at the Center for Community Health, and the pathetic efforts to resolve it. Parking has been an issue since the building, home to the county health department and other high-traffic facilities, was completed in late 2002. The building has won accolades for its energy-saving design and other features, but somehow manages to lack a loading dock and enough general parking. A county manager acknowledges the problem but admits there are no plans to make any changes.
Cheers: To the Fort Vancouver National Trust for not only getting Vancouver back among the cities with a July 4 public fireworks display, but for covering the costs of policing the show. The trust and the city have long had a contract stipulating the city donates some of its services during the event, which took a hiatus in 2009 after its daylong, large-scale format collapsed due to funding. Now the show is back, and the nonprofit trust is offering to reimburse the cash-strapped city for the $50,000 it spends on police and firefighters and other operational costs. We hope the renewed show becomes a huge success both financially and with the public.
Jeers: To Boeing arch rival Airbus, which has continued to muddy the waters over replacing the Air Force’s pterodactyl KC-135 tanker fleet. The initial round of bidding went to Airbus and a U.S. partner, but was overturned after several allegations of misinformation and impropriety. In the most recent round, Airbus’ partner announced it wouldn’t bid, then Airbus changed its mind at the last moment. A contract decision — finally — may come this fall.
