By Lenny Dee . -a 8_______. £ An Open Letter to Mayor-Elect Bud Clark ^ )n Tuesday, May 15, Portlanders took a leap of faith beyond the gloom and doom old-world triumvirate of Ivancie, Atiyeh and Reagan. The revelers that evening represented a cross-section of Rose Citizens rarely seen at electionnight victory parties; from committed social activists desiring new programs to old-time hippies reaping revenge for past Ivancie indignities to assorted free spirits yearning for a soulful new beginning. No one I spoke with had any concrete idea of what you might specifically have in mind for our city. All, however, felt confident that the art of the possible would once again be experienced here. Many of us grown cynical in an era of militarism, avarice and fanaticism had forgotten how wonderful it would be to once again dream of a populace working for the common good. In the days following your election many a smile was shared over the possible fortunes of our burg. Admittedly, in this fragmented society, one would have to be a Solomon to assuage all the competing interests. I'm quite sure that many of the most powerful groups are already letting you know the priorities on their agenda. Undoubtedly, some of their proposals will bear close scrutiny. We will, however, suggest that there is something afoot in this country outside the traditional context of left and right. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower (a progressive populist who is transforming this important office) suggests that only 10 percent of the people are liberals, another 10 percent conservatives. “The rest of us are not ideological. We have both conservative thoughts and liberal thoughts, often at the same moment. The- mass of the people are mavericks. They're just mad about things all the time. They’re looking for change, for somebody who’s going to fight for the little people.” Across the country innovative programs are being initiated that reflect this spirit. They don't fall into any easy ideological category, they just make common sense. St. Paul, Minnesota's attempt at a homegrown economy is a leading example of this can-do spirit. In the early 70s, Oregon's land-use planning act and bottle bill initiative symbolized this state’s commitment to a quality of life. We since have learned that bitter economic lessons also impact the quality of our lives. Oregon’s dependence on timber has left us in a quagmire which will be difficult to pull out from. Yet the talent and wisdom is here to make Portland a national symbol of effective, imaginative government. A recent study discovered that two-thirds of all new jobs were created in companies employing fewer than 20 people. The top 1,000 firms on the Fortune list only created 75,000 new jobs between 1971 and 1978, in the entire U.S. Clearly your priority of greasing the wheels for small business would be of great benefit. Many at the party that terrific Tuesday compared the emotions to the Blazer euphoria of 77. Yet reality must tell us that nothing close to 100,000 people were out on the streets that evening. The Blazer analogy does give us the idea of trying to reach for concrete goals the whole city could unite behind. Imagine the party we could throw after a few successes in our city. Now that you’re elected, many people will suggest that you stay in the middle of the road. To paraphrase Jim Hightower, there's nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead possums. Get on out of there and be with your friends. • 4 Clinton St. Quarterly
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