Love the line, "Gone for linchpins every one", but I'd change "long time passing" to "long-term financing."

Seattle comes off in that second article as totally sane compared to the lunacy in Portland. Granted they have their own annoying city speak - like the words "betterments" and "opportunities to make repairs..."
But contrast that budget with what happened when Tommy and the Guesstimates came out with their big hit, "The Tram Scam." You know...the one that inspired Dan Saltzman's big dance craze, "The Flip-Flop."
Maybe you heard the later version by the punk group, "So What?"
Plus up in Seattle, the extra money was siphoned off from - among other things - bicycle projects? You won't see that here no matter how many times a city budget has the council singing, "Whoops! We did it again."

Here's another wasted 780 grand.
http://bikeportland.org/2009/07/02/city-brings-bike-boulevard-plans-to-neighborhoods/

And like every band, they have grand visions of playing larger and larger venues--City, Metro/County, State, even playing the national stage.

Well, haven't we all been saying the same thing since this stupid Stadium/Soccer deal was hatched?

The MLS deal was the final straw for me. I left Portland in November taking my income, jobs I created through my business, and business taxes I paid with me. I feel bad for the good people of Portland but until Portland City Govt and the State of Oregon gets it together I won't be returning. Sadly, I've turned into yet another out of State absentee landlord for idiotic suckers that keep moving to the city and who keep Portland's "desirable neighborhoods" rental market tight and property values higher than they probably should be. I really didn't want to do it, but could no longer support the idiotic decisions by city, regional and state govt. I guess I'm still paying that Urban Renewal Special Levy property tax, but not really. Some out of state people that just moved to Portland but of course telecommute because there are no jobs to be had, are paying it for me (aka my tenants).