Over the past couple of years Mayor Ted Wheeler and various city commissioners have encouraged the public to come downtown and encouraged businesses to remove plywood from their storefront windows. That’s all great, but what seems to be missing is action from government itself. Years after the riots, some government buildings are still boarded up or have fences surrounding the premises. Perhaps if government took a leadership role and did what it asks of others, private enterprise would follow.
Finally, is the elk statue really going to be resurrected at its rightful place? (“Portland’s iconic elk statue, in need of $1.3M makeover, eyes spring return to downtown,” Oct. 4). So many delays and bureaucratic discussions have taken place regarding this symbol of downtown that I frankly don’t believe any of the statements made by the various politicians. Another example of poor leadership.
The politicians of the Portland and Multnomah County need to do what they have asked others to do: Quit being timid and show some leadership.
Randy Gernhart, Gresham
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