Free money leads to sloppy stewardship
We subscribe to Portland Online, an information service run by the city that notifies you, if you subscribe, of various events and happeningings in the city.
Specifically, of course, we receive notice of events and happenings in the Mid-county area.
So, the other day we receive an e-mail from Portland Online informing us of the Parkrose Community Fair happening on Saturday, September 20.
Parkrose Community Fair? Wasn’t this an event held at Parkrose High School at the end of the regular school year?
It has moved, apparently, to September and will be held in the parking lot at Eastminster Church on Northeast Halsey Street at 125th Avenue in east Portland.
Hmmm, the Fair isn’t mentioned in the September Mid-county Memo because we did not receive a press release or notice of it for promotion.
We e-mail the organizer, asking why no hear from them on promoting their event. The text of my e-mail and answer is below.
The only conclusion I can draw is that if Neighborhood Grants are being given out like candy to folks and do-gooders like Mr. Vander Veen, how much more “Free Money” is being given out by the City of Portland for questionable practices?
I’d rather see the City fixing potholes than doling out money for questionable purposes like a poorly planned and not too well thought out event like this.
Wouldn’t you?
— On Wed, 9/3/08, Tim Curran <advertising@midcountymemo.com> wrote:
From: Tim Curran <advertising@midcountymemo.com>
Subject: Fwd: Parkrose Community Fair
To: mjonvv@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 6:30 PM
Sir, it is too bad we never received a press release regarding this event.
We see it is coming up on September 20 (we received today a notification from the City of Portland.)
We would have been happy to help promote it.
But, as we’re a monthly newspaper …
Your neighborhood newspaper wants to know.
We’re sorry we weren’t included.
Oh, well, maybe next year eh?
And, Mr. Vander Veen’s answer:
“Hi Tim,
Thank you for your note and for the excellent service that you provide the community.
I am sorry as well that we did not get information out to you. This event has suffered from lack of attention from key players (mainly myself). Due to this, we thought about not holding the event. But, because we were awarded Neighborhood Small Grants funding and have some momentum, we have decided go forward with what we have this year. Should we run the event again next year, we hope to do better in getting the word out.
Blessings,
Mike Vander Veen
503-810-8269″
What do you think about the Neighborhood Grants Program now? We hope Mr. Vander Veen is the exception, not the rule.
