Daily Report: October 14
Notes and reflections from Wednesday, October 14
Back and Forth Across the River
We started the morning with Joyce Fleming, staff at US Rep. Blumenauer’s Portland office – 
once
again, the delegates had many questions and the discussion was
stimulating – this time on constituent services and responsiveness of
elected representatives. Then, our wonderful drivers, Mary
McWilliams and Ann Mulroney took us across the river to the Portland
City Council meeting where each delegate received a city of Portland
pin and was introduced in session by the Mayor. The delegation received
applause from the chamber audience and they told us over lunch that it
made them feel really good.
We were once again whisked across the river to the Multnomah County
Elections Division where we had a long discussion with Tim Scott,
Director of Elections and Communications Specialist Eric Sample. This
was followed by a tour of the entire election facility.
After a wonderful lunch at Nostrana, we were driven to Station Place
Tower in the Pearl District, a housing development of 176 units for low
income senior citizens. Dee Walsh of REACH Community Development
Corporation and Steve Rudman of the Housing Authority of Portland
explained the construction and operational subsidies that made the
project possible. All delegates, but especially Sergei Yeger, had many
questions and was engaged by the speakers to explain the huge
challenges in Russia in encouraging private investment and ownership of
housing and water, sewer, heating and other utilities, all in need of
rehabilitation. We then toured a one bedroom unit at the project and
the rooftop garden on the 12 story building where the delegates took
pictures of each other using as the backdrop the incredible Portland
view.
At all meetings we have been providing materials on LWV and Open World, including the digital directory that will allow the Portland and Russian leaders to stay in touch if they register with the directory which includes a language translation component. The meetings were followed by window shopping in the Pearl district and dinner at the home of David and Marnie Lonsdale.
Pat Osborn
