Re: “Implausible, Inconsistent and Unsubstantiated by Evidence” (Dec. 16, 2025)
This Source news article provides Andres Portela the opportunity he wasn’t given by consultant Amy Ahrendt in her $18,685 investigation. Source reporter Peter Madsen and editors provided the balance and gave Mr. Portela the ink to personally address some of the accusations lodged against him in the investigation. Thanks go to the Source.
Purportedly to look into Mr. Portela’s allegations of racist behavior in Bend City Hall, the Ahrendt investigation, instead, looks more like the typical anti-whistleblower hit piece you would expect from any powerful and well-funded institution.
The initial 10 pages serve as a hairsplitting treatise meant to exonerate City Manager Eric King. (Complete with expressions of adoration for Mr. King from his underlings in a burst of emotion reminiscent of a Trump cabinet meeting.) The remaining 3 pages of the report actually purport to deal with Portela’s allegations, but without evidence and with plenty of hearsay.
I believe there is more to the story. Unfortunately, the headline of the Source article parrots language from the investigation and validates the Ahrendt report as the final say on what happened. I believe there is more to the story. I base my misgivings on years-long personal opposition to numerous City Hall policies and actions. I am, as well, personally referenced in this report.
Ms. Ahrendt begins her opus by quibbling over Mr. Portela’s version of the timeline for the Sept. 16 meeting with City manager Eric King That and other inconsistencies she cites include such trivial matters as who stood where during the meeting and the circumstances leading up to a hug between the 2 men (initiated by Mr. Portela). Petty hairsplitting like this leads Ms. Ahrendt to discredit the entirety of Mr. Portela’s narrative.
But is what good for the goose good for the gander?
On page 4 Ms. Ahrendt writes that at the time of his Sept. 16 meeting with Mr. Portela, Mr. King had been made aware of a decision by the city attorney to investigate allegations of racism at City Hall brought by Portela.
However, on page 6 she writes, “King was apparently unaware” of this decision.
To be sure, this is a trivial inconsistency on her part in her report (I won’t say “sloppiness”). Using her standards is this cause for throwing into doubt everything she subsequently writes?
(As someone personally on the periphery of one of the incidents cited by Ms. Ahrendt, I can say with some certainty that Eric King’s version of what happened in this case is largely inaccurate. Sadly, Ms. Ahrendt chose to interview only City Hall insiders, whose careers depend on the good will of their boss, Eric King. Why not a chat with, for example, the chair of the Human Rights and equity Commission (HREC), who in OPB reporting called Andres Portela’s resignation “a big disappointment“ and went on to say, “He is such an integral part of the life of DEI here in the city, and I was very surprised”? Ms. Ahrendt could have inquired, as well, into the circumstances leading to the resignations of 2 previous directors in the city’s civil rights departments.)
So, 10 pages of investigation seemingly designed to exonerate Eric King from all charges of misconduct–followed by 3 pages of relentless evidence-free attacks on Mr. Portela’s character by co-workers, instead of dealing directly with the allegations he raises.
Some of these same City Hall staffers, as FOIA documents attest, participated in a crudely conducted pile-on to discredit and oust an HREC member in the spring of 2024.
I can cite numerous incidents of other definitely racist and inequitable Bend City Hall conduct over the years. Along with my efforts, others have attempted to call into question these lapses in honorable government and abuse of power. But, in no sense has City Hall ever had to answer for its conduct. For now I will simply satisfy myself by calling attention to this latest example.
In the Dec. 18 OPB report on the consultant’s investigation, Mr. Portela writes, “This investigation wasn’t for me. It was to make leadership feel absolved.”
—Foster Fell
Signage for deer on roadways
There was another baby deer dead on Century Drive — killed by a car sometime in the night or in the early morning hours. This stretch of road, between the Athletic Club and Tetherow, is a known deer crossing, which sees many fatalities every year. Caring citizens have painted homemade signs trying to encourage drivers to slow down and be aware. One individual even purchased small deer-crossing signs and posted them along the stretch. Recently, all these signs were removed (I’m assuming by the city). Why?
I travel a lot to many cities and states in the U.S. While I’m a careful driver by choice, I still notice and appreciate “watch for wildlife” signs. Why are there so few of these signs in Bend? Bend is a tourist town. Locals may be aware of areas frequented by deer, but out-of-towners and even locals just heading to the mountain, may be unaware. A clear, flashing “Give Deer a Brake” sign might wake drivers up to look around and slow down a bit.
I am not alone in my concern for wildlife. Most of us come to Bend because we love the outdoors and all its inhabitants. Can’t we get together, educate, post signs, and protect these vulnerable four-footed citizens?
—Jenny Reindel
Letter of the Week: Jenny, as letter of the week, you can stop by the Source office for a gift card to Palate coffee. —Managing Editor Nic Moye
This article appears in the Source January 1, 2026.
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