Thursday evening I joined Sally and the Portland Public Art Committee on Cushing Island to thank Carrie Marsh for the time and energy she dedicated to the committee during her time at City Hall. Carrie served as Portland’s Urban Designer from 2004-2008, pursuing Portland’s long history of sensitive planning and smart design. The City Council unfortunately allowed the position of Urban Designer to be eliminated during the recent budget crisis. Portland had had an Urban Designer working in the planning department since the 1980’s. A clear testament that paying attention to good design and smart planning will reap rewards for years to come. Politicians are short lived and forgotten – places are not.