Former SPS board member Tom Miller will be stepping down as the Chief of Staff for Portland’s Mayor Sam Adams in order to replace the retiring director of the Transportation Bureau. Oregon Live reports that the position oversee 750 employees and has a $250 million annual budget. The picture above is credited to the Wall Street Journal but I found it over at the Portland Mercury where they call him “the mayor’s controversial, skateboarding chief of staff.” I didn’t know Tom was controversial. I mean as far as I know, he doesn’t push mongo or grab stinkbug. Congratulations Tom. I predict that in the not too distant future S&A will have the pleasure of reporting the first skateboarding mayor of a major city. I should be sponsoring him. I missed a golden photo opportunity. Looks like that’s a Scarecrow deck. – Thanks to Sam for the tip.

Bob Burnquist with a sneak peak of the 2011 Toyata Prius. Honda, if you’re listening, I’ll gladly make a commercial in exchange for a Civic, Fit, motorcycle, lawn mower, boat engine or generator. I guess I’d even take a plane. [Source: Skate Curiosidade]

CNN has a follow up on the recent skateboard emissary mission to Cuba. You might recall we posted about a Christmas day session that was also a drop off for new and used equipment to be brought to Cuba. So how did it go? Check out the story and video on CNN.

Back in May of last year there was a Shot of the Week from a DIY spot in New Orleans that has since become known as Peach Orchard. I’m happy to report that the spot is still going and they’ve added some new concrete. They’re holding benefits and accepting donations via Paypal and the head bean counter Joey O’Mahoney.

On the last day of the year a crew from Albany, Oregon made a trip up to Portland to sessions some spots and say farewell to 2010. Micha Lawrence shot some photos of Brandon Rowton, Robert Selph and Ryan Gray. Check ’em out after the jump.

I’ve got two reader videos for you. One is from sometime friend of the site Colin Walsh (Rules!). It’s a Burnside Halloween video. The other is from someone in “The Crew” who I can’t place and probably doesn’t actually visit the site. I think it’s someone who friended me on Facebook from one of those “you might know” bubbles. Enjoy two diametrically opposed soundtracks.

The Benton County Skateboarding Alliance is looking art to show and sell at the forth Annual Art & Music Benefit to raise money to improve the Eric Scott McKinley Skatepark in Corvallis, OR. They’re currently raised about 10% of their 90k goal, so there’s a ways to go. I’m pleased to say that I’m already prepared to send a few things.

Here’s a short but crazy video of a guy with two paint rollers fixed to his board instead of trucks. It comes from the folks at Alis in Denmark with no explanation whatsoever. Whoever this is, he doesn’t seem to have a problem ripping on a wackyboard. – Thanks to Michel Skart Poulin for the tip.

No, not another Surf Punks post. This is Hugh Holland’s new book published by Ammo Books. A couple images and a few words after the jump.

Head on over to the Welcome Skateboards facey Facebook pagey page and make some skateboard art follow a few Facebook related ruley rules and you could win a skateboard and a t-shirt. The field is… very light right now, it’s wide open. Get some!