Rubio’s approach is in line with where I imagine the city is headed under a city manager, and probably the straightest path to streamlining everything. It will do damage to environmental and transportation policy along the way because a common perception, whether you agree with it or not, is that Portland hangs in the balance.
The objections coming from Mapps et al are pretty similar to the county’s attitude toward Portland’s shelter initiatives: That you keep control of a process not because it makes the most operational sense, but because it’s how you prevent an outcome you’re averse to (which makes its own sort of operational sense, just in a more qualitative than quantitative way.)
It doesn’t make sense to me that multiple departments would do their own permitting. Or, it would be better if there was a central org that reviewed permits as long as each bureau could perform the permitting. There needs to be permit checks for at least a couple of reasons, but the permitting process also needs to be streamlined.
I look at it from a for profit corporation sense: does it make sense to have multiple groups performing the same duties or does it make sense to consolidate that into a single group whose sole function is that duty? As an employee, and as a citizen, I always prefer one point of contact, and timely feedback. I don’t want to have to escalate for every action that involves different bureaus.
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