Mystery Train

Wonder why it is that PERB replaced counsel James Baker, Virginia Perkins, and Heather Reinschmidt with (?heavier) hitters Townsend Hyatt, Joseph Malkin, and Emily Epstein? They all work for the same law firm, which is based out of San Francisco and has an office here in Portland. I've heard Baker argue in the Special Master's Hearing on the Legislative Reform, and before the Supreme Court in the same case. I came away with the distinct feeling that this young fellow was supremely arrogant, incredibly naive, and impressively underqualified to take on the Oregon Supreme Court or go toe-to-toe with Greg Hartman. I kept wondering why the PERS Board would invest OUR money to hire these guys to try and take OUR money and give it to the employers. The Board would have gotten as effective results by hiring some of the 7th graders at my daughter's school. I have no idea where the "new" lawyers are in the pecking order of the same law firm. Methinks they might be from the "A" team instead of the rookie team.

For those contemplating a trip to California and hoping for an escape from the Oregon weather, trust me here. I've just come back from TWO trips to different parts of California at the beginning of last week and at the end of last week. The weather there (both Northern and Central California) is worse there than here. Check out Arizona or Northumberland.