My kind of razzmatazz
The flap between the City of Portland and Multnomah County over the diversion of property taxes to developers' pet projects through "tax increment financing" is taking place just as a similar controversy is brewing in Chicago. Back there, members of the public want the sweetheart deals to be completely transparent, with all the relevant documentation placed on line where the public can easily inspect the fine print. Not surprisingly, the developers' buddies on the city council are resisting that.
| Posted at 9:50 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (8)
The difference is that in Chicago aldermen (what city commissioners are called there even when they are women) actually get prosecuted and go to jail -- a dozen in the last 20 years. Just last month, another alderman was convicted of soliciting "donations" from developers wanting to do business in her ward and sentenced to four years in prison.
Posted by A Hopeful | March 17, 2009 10:52 AM
oooh..when can we start putting away the culprits here?
Who wouldda thought that Chicago had tougher laws that we do?
State Legislature....are you paying any attention at all?
hello? anybody? ...still listening...
hum, all I hear is snoring
Posted by portland native | March 17, 2009 11:17 AM
In any public endeavor, there is only one reason for less than 100% transparency: Somebody is getting screwed.
The City of Portland has not engaged in genuine public involvement for more than 10 years. Bureau managers know public participation only leads to changes in their carefully crafted plans designed to balance all internal political interests.
Posted by Mike D | March 17, 2009 11:27 AM
Hey, all we need to see is the PDC check register for SoWa and other UR districts and this corrupted scheme machine called TIF would come to an end.
However, that would be tough since the PDC would have to get busy and fabricate check registers in order to provide them.
Posted by Ben | March 17, 2009 11:49 AM
Who wouldda thought that Chicago had tougher laws that we do?
I doubt there are tougher laws, they just actually think they are breaking the law in Chicago.
In Portland, as long as you are in the right political party, its just business as usual.
Posted by Jon | March 17, 2009 12:30 PM
Since the "deal" last week is not cast in concrete, I think we have to be really vigilant that a new west side Urban Renewal District stays "dead".
I'm also going to lobby the three city commisioners who initially voted against a new westside URD to also vote to take out the extension of the east side URD TIF funds from the baseball stadium component part of the "vision".
Same policy arguments appy abouyt not gutting PPS and MultCo amd Mult ESD funding apply.
There is just no principaled reason to extend the life of the east side URD to build a baseball stadium at the cost of more funds diverted from PPS and Mult Co.
I like playing Don Quixote.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | March 17, 2009 2:44 PM
Hey Jon, there are crooks of all political stripes, and they are ALL objectionable.
The citizens of Portland need to stand up and fight all those in power who take advantage of the citizenry.
Posted by portland native | March 17, 2009 3:19 PM
there are crooks of all political stripes, and they are ALL objectionable.
The citizens of Portland need to stand up and fight all those in power who take advantage of the citizenry.
I agree. Hell, I think all politicians are self-interested crooks.
But I think politicians in Portland get a pass because of their party affiliation.
And I think the people who run for office here know that. They can get away with whatever they want.
Posted by Jon | March 17, 2009 9:58 PM