The Executive Director of the Port of Vancouver (Washington), who makes over $170,000 a year, plus $500 a month “car allowance,” giving public testimony before the Vancouver, Washington City Council, March 26, 2012 telling citizens in their 4th year of double digit unemployment with a median income of $58,000 that they are getting light rail from Portland, Oregon “like it or not” and they will pay for it “like it or not.”
Answering Mayor Leavitt’s call of “Our goal is to attract more citizens and a broader perspective to come and talk with us… we want to hear from those that haven’t previously spoken up! I know you’re out there…” Paulson was one of eight who spoke before city council in favor of the CRC project March 26.
While Mr. Paulson is free to his opinion, I am especially taken aback at this emphasis and repeated use of the words, “like it or not!”
Paulson, who announced he will retire this April, perhaps with a nice pension, admittedly has been involved for some time in pushing this project down our throats. With a yearly salary in excess of $170,000 a year, plus a $500 a month “car allowance.” by what right does he publicly state we that are fortunate enough to reach the median Clark County income of slightly more than $58,000 a year “MUST” pay for this project he also declares is an “International Issue?”
He has a point on “moving freight,” but who can explain how Portland’s Light Rail reaching a mile or two into our community helps “move freight?”
Whether Paulson realizes it, this project does not have community support “like it or not!”
We are in our fourth year of double digit unemployment in Clark County, “like it or not!”
Voters have repeatedly indicated by wide margins we do not want Light Rail from Portland, “like it or not!”
Voters in Clark County are expressing outrage that we are being denied the vote promised on this, “like it or not!”
It has been revealed that this project has several serious flaws, not the least of which is it is designed with insufficient clearance for river traffic due to the design of Portland’s light rail being run on a lower level. Hence, the U.S. Coast Guard will not issue the needed permit for the project to move forward, “like it or not!”
This is not the Democratic process we Americans have gone off to war for and sacrificed much for. And for a six figure income appointed official to stand up publicly and tell still struggling citizens they “MUST” pay for this project they do not want, adding and emphasizing “like it or not” is preposterous in its arrogance.
We must begin changing the face of city leadership in Vancouver, “LIKE IT OR NOT!”
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