December 2010
6 posts
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal
President Obama and the 111th Congress were right to end a discriminatory policy that not only asked the men and women of the armed forces to lie about who they are at a fundamental level, but also to potentially die in the closet while serving our country. Today’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is monumental for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, and a clear sign that the...
5 tags
NYT's Maureen Dowd: A Gay Commander in Chief:...
December 18, 2010
A Gay Commander in Chief: Ready or Not?
By MAUREEN DOWD
WASHINGTON
Jimmy Carter is putting the out in outspokenness.
In an interview with bigthink.com, the former president was asked, “Is the country ready for a gay president?”
Even as John McCain and other ossified Republicans were staging last-minute maneuvers to torpedo the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal, the 86-year-old...
Comment on recent police bureau promotions
As police commissioner, I am held accountable by the voters to lead efforts to keep the peace in Portland. A key decision I make is to hire and fire the police chief. Under the city charter also I make the final decision on all discipline issues. Along with him and his team, the city council and the public, we set priorities and standards for the bureau’s work. I am a hands-on police...
$21 million one-time City budget surplus
In last two years, because of our more conservative revenue forecasting, a federal accounting rule change & tamped-down spending (ex: no CPI raises for city staff) results in $21 million one-time surplus.
HOWEVER, the national recession is dragging on longer than initially estimated. Federal, state and school budget cuts will be deep. Financial future remains dicey. Requests for city...
vocaluminous
The Ethan Rose Flash Choir (http://bit.ly/g3Aq7q) performed in City Hall this afternoon. Wordless voices, moving, seen and unseen, bounce and echoed among the columns and caverns: vocaluminous!
Photos: http://bit.ly/g68xNl http://bit.ly/e21Rfh http://bit.ly/h6TAdO http://bit.ly/fBxPjn http://bit.ly/fS43Ot