This morning, it was announced that the city and the University of Oregon had come to a compromise on the Made in Oregon sign. The compromise will remove the “Made in” and have the sign only say “Oregon” in the current script. These proposed changes still need to be approved by the Historical Landmarks board.
Is this really a compromise? University of Oregon wanted it changed to University of Oregon while others, including myself, wanted it left alone. Randy Leonard wanted it changed to “Portland Oregon.” I didn’t like that idea either. Again, I’m all about leaving it alone. So when I saw the “compromise,” it felt disingenuous. I don’t see much different between “Made in Oregon” and “Oregon.” University of Oregon was indeed “Made in Oregon” wasn’t it? This feels to me like it was children fighting over who got to name the dog. U of O thought it could come in Portland’s backyard and piss in the pool, not realizing we would fight back. When we did, I bet money someone there suggested they back down. But NOOOOO, it turned into a turf war escalating into shouting matches (with cussing I understand) and threats of eminent domain seizure. Someone at U of O dug in their heels and fought like a pissy little bitch. I wonder if those involved at that level really feel like they accomplished something these past two months.
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“Pissy little bitch”?
Sorry, but this post makes you sound like the pissy little bitch. Stop and think for 1 minute what you are getting so worked up over! Its a sign…that the building owner owns. It has had 3 different says and now it will have a forth.
Find something else to fight over!
“I wonder if those involved at that level really feel like they accomplished something these past two months”
Yeah, I have to wonder that as well. More so for our City Council. I mean, here we are facing an $8.8 million dollar budget shortage in the City with critical services like police, fire, low income housing, school and mental health funding and you name it on the chopping block and Council spends how much energy and time (which also equals public money) on A FRIGGIN SIGN?
I find it disgusting. Council has had plenty of opportunities to deal with signage issues, including this particular sign over the years.
You know, the sign issue could have been dealt with, no scratch that, should have been dealt with by the city in initial development negotiations and DDA (Development agreement) with U of O when then were doing their deal for their new Old Town location. Signage should also be part of the City’s overall comprehensive planning, design and zoning codes, especially in the Central City and Downtown Plan updates which are now 6 or 7 years behind schedule BY THE WAY. Oh, except with a 40% recent cut to the Planning Bureau, I guess Portland no longer does comprehensive planning. Which is kind of sad for a City internationally known for its past planning efforts and I fear we are going to see all kinds of future cluster-f’s like the signage issue because of it.
Really, U of O might have dug in their heels, but it was the City of Portland that screwed this one up a long time ago. U of O was doing what any brand would do and just following what the previous owner of the sign (Made in Oregon who changed it from White Stag) did too.
The City screwed this one up, they were right to compromise.
Lizzy, you make a good point. The signage issue should have been worked out way before U of O put in the design request this year.
Jeff, if no one fights for what they believe in, then we should all roll over and die – is that what you’re saying? This is a topic I think is important right now – similar to the signage on Interstate. I want to do what I can to preserve it.
No, I am not saying roll over and die.
First, note that the UO was exactly what you were…fighting for what they believe. Does that make them “pissy little bitches” while you are somehow valiant?
Fighting for what you believe in is great. I just worry that we believe in the wrong things around this city sometimes.
@Jeff – “I just worry that we believe in the wrong things around this city sometimes.”
I agree.
To be honest, I don’t think either side showed their best side, and there are those who believe (and I’m one of them) that some of our own elected officials might better deserve that ‘pissy little bitch’ descriptor.
As long as you’re throwing it out there, anyway…!
But it’s over. Can we get back to spending time on more important matters, please?
I always hoped, that someday I’d hold my still-unborn children above my head, with the sign in view, and snap a picture…even if for nothing but nostalgia’s sake…ohwell, so much for that idea.
Jeff nailed it. If anyone is being a pissy little bitch here, it’s the original poster. Let it go. Move on with your life.
It’s just too bad “unimportant debate about sign that is meant to distract you from our inabilty to govern” wouldn’t fit on the sign.
Made in Oregon is the name of a shop that Robert Pamplin Jr. owns (he apparently ’sponsored’ the sign for at least a while; one location in is in the Galleria and the other at the airport). I frankly welcome the Oregon compromise. No reason for Pamplin to have free advertising.
But to be honest, since the sign has been used for a series of business interests, I didn’t understand Randy’s conniption fit about it reading U of O. That man needs to be reigned in. He’s not the mayor yet. I certainly didn’t want the city paying my tax dollars so he could win his little power play.
Actually, I think the Made in Oregon stores are owned by the Naito family and there was a Made in Oregon store in the building with the White Stag sign, so it wasn’t really free advertising.
There was an article in The Oregonian just recently about icons such as the Paul Bunyan statue in Kenton, the rotating Franz bread loaf, the neon motel signs on Interstate and others. These signs are part of our memories of Portland (for those of us who where born here or have lived here more than a couple of years). So maybe that explains some of the passion about the White Stag sign.
I think simply using the word “Oregon” is okay. The University of Oregon is referred to as Oregon, OSU is called Oregon State, and the sign is an outline of Oregon.
Yeah, I think you’re right Sadie; the Naitos do own it. And I didn’t know there was a store in that building; ever since I’ve been here, it was in the Galleria.
But my point was that the U of O wasn’t throwing “its weight around” by wanting to put its name on the sign — several other business have already done that.
However, I like the compromise. It is an icon and after all, this IS Oregon.
Is it just me or is anyone else sick of U of O walking around the state like they’re better than all the other schools in the Oregon University System? I didn’t attend college here but jebus…everything about U of O is obnoxious. I’m ok with showing them where to stick that sign.
@BlackedOut
Okay, I’ll preface this with the fact that I graduated from UO.
U of O IS better than all the other schools in the Oregon University System, and its more than just opinion…it’s fact.
The U of O is the ONLY school in the system that pays its own way with budgeted funds and it in fact returns money to the system, funds which go to subsidize the other schools (read “UofO is in the black, everyone else is in the red). Don’t believe me? You will when the school pulls the trigger on a plan to go private if the state of the Oregon University System continues to worsen. If/when they do, they will be in better financial shape than they are as part of the state university system.
The OEMBA is a degree issued by the University of Oregon, NOT OSU or PSU which are partners in the program. Why? Because a U of O degree means more.
Why did the U of O expand its presence in Portland? Simple: because the local schools were not meeting the needs of the community.
The U of O is 1 of only 2 schools in the state which has an athletic program that returns profit to the University which then uses them to fund academics. And the other school is only barely doing this.
Best business school in the state? U of O. Best Journalism school in the state? U of O. Best architecture program in the state? U of O. Best education program in the states public university system? U of O. Best law program in the states public university system? U of O.
So with all due respect, the University of Oregon IS better.
Oh boy, now let’s get into a pissing match about who has (or went to) the best school. He Jeff, are you going to tell us your SAT score too?
@dieselboi no, my SAT score was terrible
Okay, I’ll stop it now….I know my last comment was a little overboard. After writing it, I posted on CitySpeek/Twitter that I could probably argue with a wall if I had the chance.
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