Mayor Potter rides with Critical Mass

[0rganism]

So far, our new mayor has been too good to be true. Why the hell can't we get more politicians like this?

Potter pedals with Critical Mass to test his political mettle

Keeping a campaign pledge, Mayor Tom Potter joins the pack for a controversial whirl
Saturday, January 29, 2005
JOSEPH ROSE

Tom Potter's Friday? Well, there were the suit-and-tie meetings about the Portland mayor's upcoming trip to Japan and his recent takeover of the city's bureaus. There was a quick visit to a new Toyota import plant.

Oh, and at nightfall, he took a spin with the city's two-wheeled pirates.

At least that's how many cops and motorists see the bicyclists who participate in the monthly Critical Mass protest ride through downtown.

Pedaling punks. Gear-shifting anarchists. A bunch of hoodlums with no respect for traffic laws or rush-hour motorists trying to get home after work.

But Friday night, Potter -- a man who won by 23 percentage points without taking a donation over $100 -- once again showed that he takes his mandate as the city's new mayor seriously.

He pedaled his Recumbent, a bike resembling a lawn chair on wheels, through a steady rain with about 250 Critical Mass demonstrators...

more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/110700375620660.xml

[HuckleB]

1. Woo hoo!

I posted the piece in LBN ealier in the day, and it actually got a few responses! All positive, too!

Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1194559

[0rganism]

2. It's been interesting to see the subsequent editorial skewering of Potter

For about a week after the ride, every other day the Whoregonian would publish some commuter's rant about how Potter should have given himself a ticket, how CM bicyclists are evil anti-working zealots, and how it is right and proper for CM to be beaten by riot police at every opportunity.

Reinhard's typical whiney take: Keep PDX weird: Tom Potter obliges
The official attack (probably an uncredited Reinhard screed): The mayors twilight ride

Potter should be commended, IMHO. This was a risky move, and I hope it pays off for him as well as the local activists.

[HuckleB]

3. The unsigned editorial is vintage Reinhard.

His stuff is so bad that there is no question about it when he is the author of an unsigned editorial. It's hard to believe that they can't find someone to do what he's supposed to do at least a little better than his adolescent rants.

Hell, most of us here could do a better job of arguing the "conservative side of things" than he does.