City will vote on 'Made in Oregon' next week

PORTLAND, Ore. - The battle lines have been drawn in a fight over Portland's historic 'Made in Oregon' sign and it looks like we'll find out next week what will happen to the icon.

On one side is the University of Oregon, which owns the building that the sign sits on.  Officials there want to change the sign to read 'University of Oregon.'

On the other side is the City of Portland, which wants to take ownership of the sign by condemning it, declaring eminent domain and paying $500,000 for it.  Commissioner Randy Leonard came up with the idea in response to concerns that anyone could make the sign say anything they wanted, even something pornographic.

And Leonard has his own idea about what the sign should read.  He has proposed that it be changed to 'Portland Oregon - City of Roses' (see the concept image at right).

The issue took front stage at a City Council meeting on Wednesday where most of the speakers supported the idea that the sign should be protected as a historic landmark.  Despite that, there are plenty of Portlanders who say the plan is a waste of time and money and an abuse of the eminent domain law.

The city will vote on Leonard's proposal next week.