This week’s letter comes from Michael Funke who hits the nail on the head with this slow-burn blast of the city council. Thanks for the letter Michael, you can pick up your winner’s prize, a bag of freshly ground strictly ground Strictly Organic coffee at our office, 704 NW Georgia.
Three new Bend City Councilors have ushered in an era of secrecy and backroom deals. It started before Kathie Eckman, Jeff Eager and Tom Greene took office-when they held an invitation-only meeting with local business leaders-and continued through the selection of Eckman as mayor and now the surprise appointment of Oran Teater to fill a vacant seat on the Council.
In each instance Eckman, Eager and Greene-accurately dubbed the “Bully Bloc” by the Bulletin-have worked together behind closed doors and shut out Councilors Jim Clinton and Jodie Barram. Councilor Mark Capell was shut out until he decided to join the Bully Bloc on the Teater appointment.
While they may not have broken any state laws-though we don’t know that for certain-Eckman, Eager and Greene have decided to make Council decisions between public meetings and without input from Barram and Clinton.
Their walking orders come from the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) and Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR)-lobbyists for the developers and realtors who spent over $50,000 to elect a Council majority to represent their interests.
COBA and COAR helped to arrange the December 11 meeting where Eager, Eckman and Greene asked 40 local developers, realtors and business owners what they wanted the Council to do for them. Barram and Clinton were not invited to that meeting.
Moments before the January 7 Council meeting where new Councilors were sworn into office, Barram, Clinton and Capell learned that Eckman, Eager, Greene and outgoing-Councilor Chris Telfer had already picked the next mayor.
Last Friday, Eckman, Eager, Greene and Capell conferred prior to an emergency Council meeting and-without bothering to tell Barram and Clinton-picked Teater to fill the Council vacancy created when Telfer left. The decision was made before the meeting.
That might explain why a recent Council work session was suddenly cancelled, even though the city has a lot of work to do. And why Mayor Eckman promised Teater she would do her best to cut the number of Council meetings. There’s no need to hold meetings in front of all those pesky citizens when you make policy decisions in private.
It looks like Capell and Teater hold the balance of power between secrecy and transparency. Will they buy into Bend’s new secret government? Or will they stand up for open government? Can we afford to wait and find out?
Where’s the outrage? Our city government has been hijacked. If the people of Bend want open, honest, transparent government that is not beholden to special interests, they need to organize, mobilize, and demand it now.
The City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Each Council agenda includes a time when the Council “receives visitors.” That’s just one time when the people can make their voices heard. Councilors can also be contacted by email, via City Recorder Patty Stell, pstell@ci.bend.or.us. Or, you can look up their home phone numbers and give them a call.
Let’s stop the secret government now.
Michael Funke, Bend
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2009.
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As with the new president, let’s see how this new group of councilers preform. The last group of councilers were terrible. ( eg: bus system, Juniper Ridge, etc.
I absolutely agree with you Michael. The sad thing is though that the majority of people who voted in this last election, voted for the “Bully Bloc,” despite the fact that they were HEAVILY financially backed by COAR and COBA. It wasn’t a secret and it appears few people cared . . . at least that’s what the polls showed us. So now, Bend is getting what it deserves and personally, I have no desire to waste my time on it. My plans are to just step lightly around these Councilors . . . and the people who backed them . . . and go on with my life in my own way. I appreciate what you’re doing Michael, because someone needs to cry out about the dangers ahead, but I think the only ones who are paying attention are those who are like-minded, and we’re obviously in the minority.
I appreciate Mr. Funke’s letter it was very informative and a real eye opener. It certainly has summed up the condition of our city government.
I believe there has been a lack of interest in our city government for a long time, the residents feel an apathy about the whole process. First and foremost we are not allowed to elect our Mayor, only our city councilors have that honor.
Yes I agree, we do need to organize and demand a change, the only people who have a voice in Bend are the special interest groups with money.
Maybe Mr. Funke should consider going to the local television stations with his concerns and get the word out.
I think Michael isn’t seeing phantoms this time. The interests controlling the way the city makes its decisions and why they make them the way they do are well documented. The actual process will no longer be as obvious or transparent.
This is a stepping stone to a political career, or hopes of one by Eager. Next will be Salem. Step on a few peoples fingers, heads, n***, hell he doesn’t care. Runs his own business the same way. Look at what happened to the MBSEF Nordic group – he sits on that board TOO. Willing to turn a blind eye to what was probably sexual harrassment or discrimination UNTIL the potential for a lawsuit erupts. Then cut them loose – easier than defending a lawsuit, less negative publicity for that group as well. This Council group are not only bullies, they are gutless puppets. And to think some of them grew up in this little quaint town they call Bendover, Bendfornia etc….. That is their moto Bendover…..
While some may argue that the voters are apathetic and get what they deserve, I assert that we got what we wanted. Perhaps there is no outcry, because people are happy about the end result.
Right on! The Nordic Group survived inspite of the scene at MBSEF. Great athletes and parental support. Can the same be true for this Council and oversight from the citizens of Bend? Sounds like ….not
it will be interesting to watch them slowly hang themselves. cheap entertainment