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. GREASERS IN SUITS This is in response to your Feb. 2, 2000, editorial "Grease Monkeys." I cringe when I see criticisms of court decisions which affirm free-speech rights. On the other hand, I agree with your conclusion that big money corrupts the political system. More specifically, it is corporate money which has corrupted the political process in Oregon and nationally. Citizens simply cannot compete with corporate treasuries. Many feel disenfranchised because of such corporate influence. There is a simple answer to this dilemma. Free-speech rights of citizens must be protected. However, corporations are not citizens. Corporations cannot vote. Corporations do not have constitutional rights to participate in the political process. Corporations do not have the right to free speech. People do. The people of Oregon can choose to ban corporate contributions to candidates, to elected officials and for ballot measures. We can do so without violating the First Amendment. When we do, we will get the monkey off our backs and the grease out of our political system. Mark E. Griffin Northeast 27th Avenue THE GIVING TREE Your Feb. 2 opinion piece on the role of money in Oregon politics ["Grease Monkeys"] certainly mirrored the frustration many of us feel about the inability to sustain constitutional contribution limits in Oregon races. However, the article also contributed to misinformation about who profits from the status quo campaign-finance system in Oregon. You state that "public-employee unions, high-tech firms, Indian gambling casinos, banks, construction companies and Mark 'Mr. Moneybags' Hemstreet" do not want the system to change. Your assumption is that these special interests are the high spenders in the system and thus profit from their status as donors. This assumption does not adequately reflect the reality of campaign contributions in Oregon. Labor and business interests do not have equal spending power. In the 1998 statewide and legislative election cycle, business interests outspent labor interests 4 to 1. By not recognizing this difference we overlook the fact the working people do not have as much impact on the electoral systems as business interests. You also mention "Indian gambling casinos," but only $1,500 of the $16 million contributed in 1998 was contributed by casinos operated by tribes. In comparison with Mark Hemstreet's contributions of $169,889, casinos operated by tribes do not have a significant stake in the current system. Specific campaign contribution totals are important to understanding our electoral system. The inequities they reveal will point us toward comprehensive campaign-finance reform that prioritizes equal access regardless of spending power. Moira Bowman Money in Politics Research Action Project North Lombard Street SHE IS SERENA, HEAR HER ROAR When I first read your article [Why Are So Many People Fuming Over Serena Cruz?," WW, Jan. 12, 2000], I read many things into it. First, Commissioner Serena Cruz is not our typical politician; she is Serena Cruz, not afraid to dip into controversy for what she believes is in the best interest of her constituents. No, she is not what Willamette Week defines as a typical politician; she is not sitting on her hands. I was amazed at the comment "Not only did Cruz anger the INS, she also aggravated many Portlanders who can't see placing the concerns of illegal aliens ahead of those of Oregonians." To aggravating the INS, I say "Right on, Serena," for I know of many families that have been more than aggravated by the INS. To the Portlanders who can't see placing concerns of illegal aliens ahead of Oregonians, I say shame on you for we are all humans and deserve the right to seek a better quality of life, or do we only think of illegal aliens when we need someone to do a job no one else will take? As for the comment that Commissioner Cruz cannot speak Spanish or that she is not Latina enough: Would someone like to comment on what is Latina enough? I believe the reporter for Willamette Week needs an education on the diversity within the Latino community. I attended a meeting a few days ago where someone remarked, "It would be important if she spoke Spanish if the county commissioners' meetings were conducted in Spanish." Mellow with age! Give me a break--from experience, we Latinas just become more militant as we mature. To Commissioner Cruz, I say continue being yourself and fighting for what you believe and what is important to make Portland a better place for all. Margarita Zanetti Southwest Capitol Hill Road BLUNT HONESTY IS GOOD POLICY On Jan. 12, 2000, Willamette Week took Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz on a nasty trip to the woodshed ("Why Are So Many People Fuming Over Serena Cruz?"). Ms. Cruz was impolite, abrasive in her defense of social agenda for those who normally have no representation: the poor minorities, the homeless--the people politicians see but usually ignore. Ms. Cruz didn't vote with the majority on a sacred cow (smoking in public places). She must not belong. There was no discussion of the merits or reasons for positions she advocates--just a "rude" commissioner with a passion for social justice. This commentary was followed by a surprising, wholly contrary letter by WW reader Bob Tiernan ("Take My Advice, Please," WW, Feb. 2, 2000) suggesting Commissioner Cruz seek alternative employment feeding off wealthy benefactors who contributed to her campaign. Which is it, folks? What evidence do you have that Ms. Cruz seeks to serve the needs of the privileged at the expense of the poor? The real question is why a talented, smart county commissioner deeply committed to social justice is taken to task for blunt honesty in addressing these concerns. There are far greater failings worth reporting than occasional impatience and bluntness. One might even ask why one would want to cure blunt honesty in a society and political climate so rife with polite hypocrisy. Given a choice--as a Portuguese-speaking Venezuelan Irish American--I would vote for a committed, non-Spanish-speaking Hispanic Mormon every time. Gail O'Connell Babcock Lake Oswego WISE ACRES I am writing in response to Nick Budnick's article on Metro's greenspaces program, "Green Acres" [WW, Feb. 2, 2000]. I am the volunteer director of a "Friends of the Creek" group in Clackamas County--in other words, an ordinary citizen spending unpaid time to save our degrading urban stream and its salmon-bearing fish habitat. Our members canvassed door to door for the Metro greenspaces bond measure, and I have to tell you, we've received everything we'd hoped for and more. Our highly urban watershed has benefited by the Metro-funded purchase of 150 acres of prime-view property extending to the summit of Mount Talbert, within about a mile of I-205, Clackamas Town Center and Promenade shopping; virtually next door to Kaiser Permanente's Sunnyside facility, and the prime Sunnyside Road business center and golf course area (the latter slated for dense office and residential development soon). Its management has been transferred completely to our local parks district, which is using a citizen advisory committee and extensive public open houses to formulate a usage and management plan that will best benefit the public. Our new Mount Talbert Park will be a great amenity in both views and access to Kaiser facility patients and to everyone else active in this area, through trail linkages to the shopping/business areas I listed and to our nearby district park (some 80 acres adjacent to the popular North Clackamas Aquatic Center). At the same time, the Metro purchase will protect Mount Scott Creek near its base from the same development-generated horrific water runoff and erosion experienced in a nearby tributary, at the base of Mount Scott, Talbert's sister lava dome. On my scorecard, Metro is tallying up superlative "bang for our bucks" in its negotiating and commitment of our tax dollars in the greenspaces program. Steve Berliner Milwaukie PRAISED VALUE I was involved in several appraisals of properties acquired by Metro. My experience was exactly the opposite of that presented in the article ["Green Acres," WW, Feb. 2, 2000]. Jim Desmond and his staff went out of their way not to pressure my firm and, in fact, challenged assumptions we presented regarding availability of infrastructure and other factors that significantly influence value. They wanted the facts, not assumptions. At times, other professionals were retained to test assumptions before values were concluded. Metro's first review appraiser was replaced by Craig Zell, MAI, who carried out his role with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. Metro's appraisal process is superior to many financial institutions' and is well designed to serve the public. David E. Pietka Palmer, Groth and Pietka WORTH EVERY PENNY Let's assume for the moment that despite the fact that Metro's Open Space Acquisition staff assisted your investigation and willingly provided full documentation of the transactions in question, you still smelled something fishy in the program ["Green Acres," WW, Feb. 2, 2000]. Being diligent journalists, you certainly did a little independent research to see what else might have resulted in the higher appraisals, besides the wicked desire to secure for the region's future irreplaceable properties targeted for development, right? Then how did the blindingly obvious answers escape you? The simple answer is that the properties in question were sold after their development potential was established, and when they were originally purchased, or at the time of earlier appraisals, that potential was far from assured. You mention, but gloss over, the difference in value in each of the cases used as examples, as if it were trivial. Canemah Bluff was now platted for a large subdivision, the Miller/Norvich lots were likely to be a successful poster child for a Dolan "takings" case if the city of Portland entirely prevented development on the two lots wholly within the Environmental Protection zone, and the Hegeles' pastoral 148-acre Burlington Bottoms property along Multnomah Channel had two bona fide buyers with even higher offers waiting for Metro to give up so they could grab it. Ironically, I remember several conversations with Nicky Miller, Buzz Norvich and Chuck Hegele in which they expressed fury and disdain that Metro was trying to steal their properties for a fraction of their true value, and that Metro was pulling strings behind the scenes to devalue the properties by conspiracy with the City and County to keep them zoned to prevent development! It may serve your purposes to assert that properties might have been purchased for less, but based on my conversations with the owners, they would have run you off, and no one I know thinks citizens would be better served without them. The bottom line is this: This program has acquired priceless jewels to stem the juggernaut of sprawl that are now worth even more than they cost, even if they were recently purchased for higher prices than you think they could have been. They are just not making any more of this land, so it's a seller's market, and I am siding with the vast majority of my regional neighbors who continue to support this program because it does exactly what was intended by purchasing, rather than regulating, open spaces to remain for us all. Oh, and by the way, can I buy your house for what you paid for it? Seth Tane Northwest Newberry Road IN WARM WATER I am writing in response to the recent article "Wet and Wild" in the "News of the Weird" section [PhysEd, WW, Jan. 26, 2000]. I am a Watsu practitioner at Breitenbush Hot Springs. Although I appreciate information about Watsu being available to others, I found your article on Watsu to be a misrepresentation of a form of bodywork which has been incredibly healing for many people. Everyone offering Watsu is required to have a license to do hands-on bodywork plus 150-500 hours of additional training to become a Certified Watsu Practitioner before offering chargeable sessions to others. Although Watsu is offered at Harbin Hotsprings in the nude, here at Breitenbush, both giver and receiver wear bathing suits and all laws and regulations are upheld to ensure a completely professional, safe and healing environment for each client. The warm, nurturing environment of the water provides an opportunity for movement free of pain and limitations that may be experienced on land. Watsu is practiced all over the world in spas, rehabilitation centers and hospitals and has been shown to be highly therapeutic for those physically challenged in any way or those seeking deep nurturing and relaxation. At the end of the article, Breitenbush Hot Springs was mentioned as a locale offering Watsu. The accurate information is: Watsu is offered as a 75-minute session for $65 (not 90 minutes as stated). Watsu is also offered in the Portland area and information about classes and individual sessions can be found at the pool of Easter Seals Oregon, 5757 SW Macadam, 228-5108. Thousands of Watsu practitioners all over the world, including myself, have spent many hours training to offer this service out of a desire to assist others in experiencing a blissful and pain-free state in their bodies. This work is incredible, and I encourage you to allow your mind to open, and experience it for yourself! Hilary Brooke-Walker, OTR/LMT Breitenbush Hot Springs GREAT SCOTT I was shocked at your article on Scott Thomason ["Car King," Feb. 9, 2000]. Could you possibly be a bit bitter that we have in our community truly a "self-made" successful businessman? You threw just too many below-the-belt punches to think it was your attempt to truly portray this man and his empire. Most of us have "horror" stories about buying cars. For most people this is the second-biggest purchase they will make, next to a home. Certainly there have been a lot of complaints filed with the state, but give the guy a break--he sells tons of cars. While I had never thought about ex-felons selling cars, isn't it expected that an "ex-felon" is rehabilitated and should be given a second chance to work? Remembering that we are in a phase of the highest employment in years, perhaps prospective employees who are willing to work long hours on a commission basis are few and far between. In the first part of the article, you wonder at the growth of this organization, then you complain about employee complaints getting lost. Could it possibly be that they grew faster on one end than the other? Certainly the race issue could exist, but don't you think that a guy as image-conscious as Scott would go out of his way not to have this happen in his organization if the complaints actually reached him? You imply that Scott left his wife of 12 years to make a political alliance with Debbie Autzen. While none of us likes to see a public figure divorce, having observed Debbie and Scott together from afar I would say they are a very caring couple. This slight does not bespeak "fair journalism" in my mind. You acknowledge that Scott is willing to participate on several boards, but it seems to me that you "pooh-poohed" his real involvement with the community. I'm one of those people who has asked for donations for my favorite cause and not received one. However, I realize how much he gives back in real dollars to many causes from which we all benefit. The further I get into this letter, the more I feel you stepped over the line. Scott Thomason is a credit to Portland. That he is willing to spend so much on advertising means a lot of local folks get paid, support their families and pay taxes. Are there problems in the Thomason Empire? Possibly. Are these problems being dealt with? If you read between the lines of your article, I would say yes. You say he "voluntarily" refunded money to people who should have paid less for a car. Gosh, I've never gotten an unsolicited refund. Have you? So computer problems or not, it appears he did the right thing. For this effort you have hung him in public. Cut the guy some slack. He does what he does better than anyone else in our town--he gives back to the community directly from his pocketbook as well as with his personal time. He deserves better than you gave. Scott Thomason would not recognize my name if he saw it. But like a lot of other people, I have watched his empire grow over the years with great interest. I have laughed at some of his ads and hated others. He is part of Portland, and I feel your portrayal is overly aggressive and unfair. S. W. Sanford Northwest Kiwanda Drive - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published February 23, 2000