Nice work ma'am.:)

I add an "amen" to requesting council to postpone acceptance. Certainly they can see that if they don't make the document accessible, citizens have little possibility of study and meaningful response. Most citizens need time to study such a document and find like minds to propose changes. Not everyone has Amanda's tenacity, not to mention rolodex!

You should request to speak at the City Council hearing this evening.

Oh, I plan to. It's a public hearing, and anyone who wishes may sign up at City Hall to take a turn at the microphones. I think it will take a lot of folks showing up, to have a chance of postponing the acceptance of the document and/or making amendments in it. So if you share my concerns, Thomas and others, please come on down to 1220 SW 4th, and add your voice or at least your presence. Come if you disagree with me, too. That's what this public hearing is supposed to be for - so that citizens can say what they think about the proposed Vision. I hope City Council will remember that for many Portlanders, this is the first time they've heard of or participated in the Vision process. There should always be the potential for individuals to make a difference at the final public hearing... otherwise there's not much point in holding it.

Amanda, you need to amend the statement that excellent schools are found in every neighborhood to "in many Portland neighborhoods", unless of course you are satisfied with being intellectually dishonest. Because the disparity of the schools in this city, particularly in the middle grades is a travesty of major proportions.

Steve B., I think the vision statement is supposed to be what we envision, not what we already have.

To that end, the statement should include a stronger wording about neighborhood funding equity in our public schools.

Thank you for clarifying that my proposed amendment is a goal, rather than a statement of current status, Steve R.

I think providing excellent public schools in every neighborhood will have to be done with funding equity, i.e., allocations that are just and fair - not necessarily equal. Some schools will need more money than others, to provide services more needed in economically disadvantaged areas than in affluent neighborhoods. I heard tonight that Riverdale, the school district with the richest per capita property tax base in the state, demanded and got a share of a recent City of Portland handout, because they have a few students who live within Portland. Equitable?

Only Ruth Adkins and I testified on the education policy this evening. I received a copy of two other citizens' testimony who weren't able to attend but emailed comments to the Council, and I thank those who did that. I hope everyone who posted suggestions here about what should or shouldn't be in the city's document also sent them to the City Council. And that others who had time to either comment here, or to Council, chose the latter.