LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[March 23rd, 2005] Portland Generally Enthusiastic

Willamette Week's assertion that PGE is "poorly run" in the March 16 issue ["Power Failure"] is counter to what public utility commissioners, elected officials, customer groups and others publicly stated in the wake of the Oregon Public Utility Commission decision.

OPUC Chairman Lee Beyer said that "PGE is operating well today, and we expect it to continue operating well." At the City's press conference, Commissioner Erik Sten told reporters, "PGE is a great company that does a great job."

As ownership discussions continue, PGE employees remain focused on providing safe, reliable electricity for our customers. We appreciate the support of our customers and the community.

Carol A. Dillin
Vice President of Public Policy Portland General Electric

Editor's Note: The assessment of PGE's management came not from WW but from the exhaustive financial analysis Texas Pacific conducted, which included data showing that, by several measures, PGE is less efficient than its peers. The analysis also included this appraisal by utility-restructuring expert Jack Fusco: "Generally, PGE's organization appears to be top-heavy and misaligned at the corporate level."

Power Vacuum

I just wanted to say thanks for covering the collapse of the Texas Pacific bid ["Power Failure," WW, March 16, 2005]. People who only read The Oregonian or watch scripted corporate local news will be left scratching their heads next year going, "Hey, what ever happened to that other company? You know, those Texas guys...."

Jordan Lund Southeast
79th Place

LET COPS BE COPS

Richard Rosenthal stands alone in this need to create even more red tape by proposing this new law [the measure requiring investigation whenever a tort claim is filed-see "Good Cop, Bad Cop," Feb. 23, 2005]. Nor does he understand, apparently, that creating more laws to prevent police officers from doing their job is only going to result in more "disengaged" officers. This new law is going to further tie officers' hands and create more paranoia in the Police Bureau, leading to a significant drop in morale. What, then, is Rosenthal going to suggest officers do when they are afraid to go out and vigorously do their jobs because they are being held under a veritable microscope?

We should be celebrating [Lt. Todd] Wyatt's hard work, letters of commendation and 18 years with the PPB, not focusing on a few complaints. The job is inherently dangerous, not only for crooks but for cops, too. The most eloquent quote in the entire story came from Wyatt himself, when he said, "They expect us to be perfect on day one and get better after that."

The reality is that the public does have unrealistically high expectations of police. Due to the dangers of the job officers cannot always project the politically correct image of a social worker. The best cops do engage themselves, they put themselves at risk, get injured. (Sometimes they even arrest criminals!)

Therresa Kennedy
Southwest Cashmur Lane