Taxpayers Win Right to Vote on Street Tax

MAYOR POTTER: VOTE ON STREET TAX

A coalition of small business owners, Portland taxpayers and radio host Victoria Taft (heard on KPAM) commend Mayor Potter for demanding that Commissioner Sam Adams send his street tax measure to the Portland voters.

Lila Leathers, owner of Leathers Fuels in Portland and Chief Petitioner on the Street Tax Referendum made the following statement:

“I would like to thank Mayor Potter for convincing the Portland City Council to refer to street tax measure to the voters of the city,” said Leathers.

“The OPA consists of local business people who live and work in Portland. We are not “˜big oil’, and assertions by some Council members to the contrary are merely political statements designed to rally support for their position. Many of our members have been in business in this city for over 100 years. Others are newcomers to our country and have bought a stake in the future. They work long hours for little money with the hope of expanding their business that they own into something that they can be proud of. They have to question every penny that they spend, and they expect their elected officials to do the same,” said Leathers.

Jason Williams of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon made the following statement:

“Commissioner Sam Adams took every action to prevent the people of the City of Portland from voting on this significant tax, showing an absolute lack of respect for the Portland voters. Thankfully, Mayor Potter stepped in to demand a vote. Contrary to some assertions at the Portland City Council, the referendum process enshrined in the Oregon Constitution is an essential part of our government, giving the People a way to question the actions of their elected officials,” said Williams.

Victoriat Taft commented “Once again the Portland City Council has crashed headlong into the will of “real” Portland voters; not the politically hand picked committees of “stakeholders.” Portland’s commissioners have overplayed their hand in order to keep this issue out of the hands of the the voters — the city’s real stakeholders. Thanks to Mayor Potter for doing the right thing and allowing them their say.”