I want to applaud the Portland city councilors who have said they no longer want to fund the position of assistant to the mayor. That position was created under the current mayor and was never envisioned by the Charter Commission when it created the paid mayor’s position.

Now an entire budget, which affects vital city services, is under threat of veto by the mayor in retaliation for the exclusion of an administrative assistant. Where does this leave the city? Held hostage because a majority of councilors exercised their responsibility to Portland taxpayers by cutting a nearly $70,000-a-year position.

I congratulate the leaders in the City Council who have said “no” to the assistant’s position, listening instead to their constituents, whom they were elected to serve. At the end of the day, that’s who matters.

Crystal Canney

Portland