WW welcomes letters to the editor via mail, e-mail or fax. Letters must be signed by the author and include the author's street address and phone number for verification. Preference will be given to letters of 250 words or less. WHEN PYRAMIDS DECAY Paula Sanderson is proof that one does not need intelligence or charisma to be a good con artist ["Sisterhood Scam," WW, Jan. 19, 2000]. In her case, all she needs is an audience of paranoid, socially retarded, feminist fools who hate men. Apart from being an obvious pyramid, the Women's Dinner Club is a gathering place for these unhappy women to dream their way out of their miserable lives. As I read her explanation of the Dinner Club, I couldn't help feeling that she is either extremely stupid or extremely cunning. These women should consider themselves fortunate to live in the United States, the birthplace of women's rights. Today, there are more laws on the books to protect women in both society and the workplace than at any other time in history. One day soon when the ether wears off, these women will realize that they have been ripped off. Perhaps they can sue Ms. Sanderson and take her pretty house that you pictured in your article. Steven Jones Southeast Powell Boulevard EASE UP We also attended Gov. Kitzhaber's State of the State address, but our assessment differed greatly from yours [500 Words, WW, Jan. 26, 2000]. True, the governor was interrupted relatively few times, but we saw that more as a sign of audience interest than a sign of lack of agreement or inspiration. The address ended to enthusiastic standing ovation that was much more than the expected politeness. We rate this Kitzhaber's most effective oratory ever. You express disappointment with Kitzhaber's accomplishments. We share your desire for more progressive state policy. But you undervalue the governor's success, while underestimating his obstacles. The Republican legislative leadership who has controlled the Legislature throughout the governor's term promotes a political philosophy and legislative agenda that makes responsible, progressive change a near impossibility. The "smart politics" you would like to see are difficult when the opposition's flexibility extends only to the rate at which our civic institutions are dismantled. The ink of Kitzhaber's "veto pen" should not be dismissed lightly. It has protected Oregon from our political barbarians like a city-state's walls protected it from an encircling horde. At the same time, Kitzhaber has had to deal with Bill Sizemore, laughable as gubernatorial candidate, but still a formidable demagogue, adept at sound-bite politics and robber-baron teatsucking. His initiative campaigns do significant damage even when they lose. When they pass, they can obliterate years' worth of policy development. If you like giving elected officials a hard time, why not focus on those who really deserve it, the latter-day know-nothings who control the Oregon Legislature. Tom Civiletti and Monroe Sweetland Milwaukie FAN MAIL! Great publication, even though I am one of those dreaded conservative-Republican types. This is my first letter, so I have several comments. First, Suey Chow's column is wonderful! Many of us turn to it first, even those of us who wouldn't otherwise visit the personals due to a happy dating situation. Thanks for your ads pointing us to her column. I appreciate that she is well-informed, not reactive, and funny. I learn something with every column. Second, I just returned from a trip to South Carolina. Tom Tomorrow's observations in This Modern World [Jan. 26, 2000] were right out there to be witnessed by all! Third, loved Chris Lydgate's feature on "Lisa" ["Undercover," Jan. 26, 2000]. I have a couple of comments to Lisa, whoever she is: Sister, thank goodness you are out there! I have some relatives and friends who could really use your services. You sound like a balanced, caring individual, who's also self-aware. We all wonder if we are lovable, etc. That's part of the human condition. You're not alone in that. And regarding doing "work" that may not honor our souls, listen to the advice we are given to shape our attitudes toward more office-type callings: Helen Gurley Brown, [former] head of Cosmopolitan International (the most-read magazine of the young woman market), says in her new book that we must be a "yes" girl, even if it kills us, and agree to do anything helpful to our boss. And the other career advice books say the same thing: Buck up and do whatever it takes. Heck--I teach, write, and consult on small-business management topics to the entrepreneurial crowd, and even I end up preaching this message. So we are all in this together, doing stuff we don't want to do in exchange for financial gain. Oh, wait a minute--I have an art studio that I hardly ever use--hey Lisa, do you take apprentices? Candace Clarke Northwest Savier Street SHOW US THE REST Thank you for the excellent first installment of your comprehensive multi-part series on prostitution in Portland ["Undercover," Jan. 26, 2000]. I see that with your usual bold approach you've put the last installment (the total exception) first. I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of the series, in which you will no doubt exercise your formidable journalistic integrity by detailing the misery and horror of the lives of the other 99% of the prostituted women, men and children in Portland. While holding my breath, I remain cheerfully and sincerely yours, Derek Lamson Southwest Capitol Highway NOT ALWAYS A PUSHOVER I was mayor of Gresham when Jenne Butte was purchased and Metro didn't even come close to paying more than it should have paid ["Green Acres," WW, Feb. 9, 2000]. In fact, Metro was more than a little reluctant to finalize the deal because of the development costs that needed to be part of the purchase price. There were newspaper articles about Metro's foot-dragging on this purchase. This property was poised for development: Water and sewer system development charges had already been figured in the costs of building a water reservoir. The City Council's belief was that Jenne Butte was endangered because development was imminent. Such land was more expensive because development fees had to be part of the purchase price. Gresham taxpayers had already stopped development on the most visible parts of Jenne Butte by purchasing them for $2.164 million from the open-space rescue bonds approved by voters in 1990. The council was simply asking Metro to finish what our taxpayers started and include payback for the development fees as part of the deal. The "Green Acres" article was interesting and compelling, but my experience was the opposite. My experience was that Metro didn't understand that land with bulldozers poised on its border was expensive. Gussie McRobert Gresham Nick Budnick responds: My story did note that on some properties Metro was a tough negotiator, and the record indicates that Jenne Butte, though not mentioned specifically in the story, was one of those examples. A related story appears on page 14. MEGALOMETRO Many thanks for Nick Budnick's scholarly exposé of Metro ["Green Acres," Feb. 2, 2000]. Surely this renders the Great Whore of Oregon less 'indispensable.' Because they have chosen to bury their heads in the sand, they have enabled this arm of government to waste public money for years and, worse, to keep those actions secret from a public which has the right to know. Not surprisingly, this complicity has, over the years, resulted in a veritable rogue's gallery of yes-men, applauding Metro's more and more outlandish statements, which have, thus far, remained unchallenged. In this manner has Metro gained confidence to behave without restraint, and also to crush the rare bulwarks which rose in their path. Thank you, thank you, Ms. Hartley...you are one gutsy lady! Kathryn Sayles Aloha PROMISE KEEPERS Your article titled "Green Acres" [Feb. 2, 2000] left me thinking, "So what's the problem?" As someone who has worked in conservation real estate for the past seven years, I believe you did a disservice to your readers by publishing a story that makes a mountain out of a molehill. First, I believe it's a safe bet that Metro's acquisitions to date are what the voters envisioned in May 1995 when approving Measure 26-26. From the perspective of this "yes" voter, Metro's accomplishments are outstanding. Even your writer recognizes this when stating that 177 deals have been completed, totaling 5,530 acres. These acquisitions provide us a legacy of preservation, in particular the purchases in Forest Park and along the Sandy River. Instead of a useful article evaluating the impact of these 177 deals, your writer focuses on 16 deals where he believes there were appraisal problems. This obsession with 9 percent of Metro's deals leads me to my second point. Real-estate appraisals are as much an art as a science, full of many nuances that your writer didn't grasp. Also, the local real-estate market provides many examples of rapidly increasing values due to population growth. It is an economic fact that properties rezoned for housing development will substantially increase in value. You would have better served your readers by assessing what Metro has accomplished overall compared to what it proposed in 1995. This would have been more helpful in determining whether to support a second regional ballot measure. It would also have been more consistent with your mission to "provide our audiences with an independent and irreverent"--or is that 'irrelevant'--"understanding of how their worlds work so they can make a difference." Andrew Purkey Northeast 52nd Avenue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published February 16, 2000