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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on August 4, 2009 6:48 AM. The previous post in this blog was Maggot in the Apple. The next post in this blog is Badge of dishonor. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Maggot in the Apple | Main | Badge of dishonor »

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Why we love Wheeler

The guy is doing a bang-up job. Read his right-on comments about "urban renewal," here.

Posted at 6:48 AM | Permalink

Comments (9)

Wheeler is pretty much the only person in government I trust 'round these parts. Great interview, great guy.

Posted by Cam'ron | August 4, 2009 12:09 PM

Because Measure 50, make no mistake about it, whether you’re liberal or a conservative, Measure 50 will make local government extinct in the state of Oregon.

This is the money line of the interview.

Always so easy to pass ballot measures that cut taxes--as far as funding the services--ehhh, services, shmervices. who needs 'em.

Posted by jimbo | August 4, 2009 12:31 PM

Two things --

1) Isn't it strange that you get a much better, long look at a hugely important issue in Street Roots than the Oregonian has ever printed?

2) I know this would drive some people berserk but I have to ask -- isn't this exactly what Metro was supposed to do (provide coordination among local governments and stop the beggar-thy-neighbor policies typified by the current urban renewal mess, where the city essentially spends county money without any regard for the overall regional priorities)?

Wouldn't it be better for all concerned if any proposal by any local government to use TIF/Urban Renewal financing had to pass -- really pass, as in be supported by -- a local council of governments and special districts affected (Metro)?

Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | August 4, 2009 12:44 PM

I commend Wheeler for joining the efforts to reform the misuse of urban renewal. There are many individuals and even some organizations that have been saying it for several years, like the League of Women Voters. More Multnomah County's efforts are needed to join the efforts.

The 30% Affordable Housing UR requirement pushed by Eric Sten and others should also be reexamined for its inflexibility and maybe a decrease in portion, as well as a better definition of "blight".

And beyond Seldes's recommendation that UR TIF dollars must be approved by a council of governments, any new or reconstituted existing district with value increase of over $20M should also be approved by all taxpayers affected.

Posted by Lee | August 4, 2009 1:13 PM

I'd be happy to see an amendment to the state Urban Renewal laws that declare a fixed percentage of land in the jurisdiction as being available for Urban Renewal. Hopefully it would be ≤ the current land tied up in URAs.

Oh, you're at that percentage? Sorry, no. Close down an existing URA first and return it to the general tax rolls - you know, that thing that Portland has *never* done since the beginning of Urban Renewal.

Posted by MachineShedFred | August 4, 2009 1:50 PM

A knowledgable politician who actually tries to spend money where it does public good. He has to get lonely at those cocktail parties that the Mean Girls and Friends of Sam attend.

What's the over/under on his career in local politics?

Posted by Steve | August 4, 2009 2:16 PM

...declare a fixed percentage of land in the jurisdiction as being available for Urban Renewal.

State law limits URAs to 15% of the total land area within a city. Currently, Portland's URAs include about 14.25% of the city's total acreage.

State law also limits URAs to 15% of the assessed value (taxable property value) of the City, but Portland will hit the acreage cap before it hits the AV cap.

Posted by Staffer | August 4, 2009 4:21 PM

I'm glad that such a provision exists, but I still find it amazingly abusive of the system that they have yet to retire a single URA.

Not one, in 30-ish years of "Urban Renewal"

Posted by MachineShedFred | August 5, 2009 8:25 AM

Fitting in with the Mean Girls and company is still important to Ted on issues where he does not discern that he can get hardline populist support. He is demonstrably a politico, not a statesman.

Posted by Cynthia | August 5, 2009 10:57 AM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269