BOYCOTT SUSAN B. KOMEN FOR THE CURE…GO TO CHARITY NAVIGATOR TO DETERMINE WHERE YOUR MONEY CAN DO THE MOST GOOD
SEND AN EMAIL TO KOMEN TO MAKE YOUR FEELINGS KNOWN
Yesterday, I wrote about what I perceived to be the inappropriateness of Susan B. Komen for the Cure, an organization allegedly dedicated to life, endorsing a handgun. Given that a handgun’s sole purpose is to kill, there’s nothing controversial about what I wrote- because it’s true. At the very least, I find it a highly questionable and disturbing fundraising tactic.
What’s next; endorsing lead-based paint?
It appears I might have struck a nerve, because one of Komen’s social media flacks responded to my post. I’m not certain about the point of it; was the flack telling me that Komen has no control over what someone does without their permission? This from a non-profit that spent $1 million last year suing organizations that had the temerity to use the phrase, “For the cure”? You know, the phrase, “No publicity is bad publicity” really doesn’t translate to public relations.
Somehow, I think that if Komen objected to Walther selling a pink handgun, their attorneys would have been all over Walther like flies on [hey, this is a family show]. They’d have sent a cease-and-desist letter threatening them with all manner of legal hellfire, damnation, and eternal suffering and privation in half a heartbeat. Sometimes I find myself wondering if Komen wouldn’t sell its soul to make a buck…because it appears they have.
Hey, when only 80.5% of donations actually go to programming because of your bloated, inefficient, and profligate management team….
Here’s a PR pro tip for whoever it was that was kind enough to respond via Twitter: Talking out of both sides of your mouth is a very poor way to build credibility.
You can thank me later, when you’re flacking for a non-profit that hasn’t lost sight of why it exists to begin with.
Gonzalez, Cevero ✆ Cevero.Gonzalez@portlandoregon.gov 15:55 (32 minutes ago)
Greetings, Mr. Cluth:
Thank you for writing Mayor Sam Adams to share your comments and concerns about a parking “warning” you recently received.
BRIEFLY: Parking Enforcement Officers monitor all public streets (right-of-ways) throughout Portland. While enforcement is often focused on the downtown core (near pay stations) and high-volume parking areas (i.e., Lloyd District or NW), officers are at times also called out to residential streets and neighborhoods.
FOR EXAMPLE: Parking enforcement in residential neighborhoods, specifically, in neighborhoods that are either not metered or zoned, is often complaint-driven; which means a resident in the area may have called to report vehicles they believed were parked in violation of city rules. That said rest assured that the city’s efforts to help minimize parking violations is simply an effort to ensure the safe and fair use of the public right-of-way.
LASTLY: We continue to appreciate community feedback on any number of city-related policies and procedures. To that end, should you have any future input to share I would encourage you to direct your correspondence to our office’s Community Advocate, Grace Uwagbae, included here.
Again, our thanks for your thoughtful and direct communication regarding a parking enforcement issue.
Sincerely,
Cevero C.G. Gonzalez
Executive Assistant to Mayor Sam Adams
City of Portland, Oregon
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340
Portland, Oregon 97204
503.823.1121 voice
503.823.3588 fax
cevero.gonzalez@portlandoregon.gov
www.mayorsamadams.comNOTE: Meeting or event confirmations are subject to change - with notice where possible - due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event of a meeting or event cancellation, every effort will be made to reschedule as quickly as possible. Your thanks and understanding are appreciated.
The above was in response to an email I sent to Portland Mayor Sam (“In Portland, you don’t have to be 18 to enjoy a Sam Adams!”) Adams regarding yesterday’s post complaining about Portland Parking Enforcement putting a warning on my car this past Saturday morning.
My feelings haven’t changed, and the email is a masterstroke of bureaucratese, but I appreciate the prompt response (about 90 minutes). I wasn’t expecting an answer that would mollify me, so it’s not as if I was disappointed in that regard. My complaint may have been just so much mental masturbation, but at least I have the satisfaction of getting it off my chest.
We’re from the government and we’re here to…oh, never mind….
I never thought I’d have to concern myself with how I park my car in front of my own home. You’d think the city of Portland would have better things to concern themselves with.
