We've seen the "urban renewal" vultures head out of Portland for places like Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Tualatin, and Milwaukie. They've also arrived in the City of Salem.

Public money for private apartments is bad, bad practice, as the taxpayers in all these little burgs are about to find out the hard way. At some point, it's also illegal under the state constitution, Article XI, section 9 of which states: "No county, city, town or other municipal corporation, by vote of its citizens, or otherwise, shall become a stockholder in any joint company, corporation or association, whatever, or raise money for, or loan its credit to, or in aid of, any such company, corporation or association."