The Case of the Missing Statues

 

For three years after the illegal removal of several historic Portland statutes by hooligans, the city government has dithered and dawdled about creating a public process to determine how or whether these landmarks should be reinstated.  

 The “easy” way out would be for the City Council to delegate the decision to the nonprofit Regional Arts and Culture Council.  That would be a dreadful mistake, since 1) the decision should be made by elected officials and 2) the nonprofit organization has already made its position clear without any public comment.

 Planning for public involvement has received a new boost, however, in the form of a $350,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation support a “robust series of community engagement activities to discuss current and future monuments,” according to a city statement.

This should not be a difficult mission.  Here is Building on History’s proposal for carrying out public engagement.  Its goal is to provide open, inclusive access for all thoughts and opinions and to provide the best possible information for the ultimate decision makers.

1.  This is an important issue of public policy.  It must be decided by the City Council in a process that is open and transparent.
2. The City Council should appoint an independent hearings officer to take testimony.  The testimony should be recorded and any written comments should be accepted and saved.  The role of the hearings officer is NOT to make a decision, but to take testimony under open, fair conditions.  The hearings officer should be polite at all times but be willing to maintain decorum if necessary.  
3. Any group may submit testimony as a group, if they so choose.  This could include RACC or any other arts or history-related, civic or fraternal organization.
4. At the end of the testimony, the hearings office should compile a summary of testimony for the City Council.  This summary should include all significant issues raised in the testimony.  This summary does NOT include a recommendation from the hearings officer.
5. All testimony and written comments should be submitted to the City Council for council review.  The council could then request any additional testimony it might seek.
6. The City Council then makes its decisions.

The City Council is expected to discuss the public process on July 20.  Anyone supporting the plan outlined above is encouraged to submit written or oral testimony to the City Council.

 -----Fred Leeson

 Join Building on History’s mailing list by writing “add me” to fredleeson@hotmail.com