You, too, can be a scoundrel
Remember Matt Brown? He's the guy who, as an employee of the City of Portland transportation bureau (Motto: "You're breaking up"), blatantly carried water for Homer Williams and Dike Dame as they rammed the financial disaster known as the South Waterfront (SoWhat) District down the throats of Portland taxpayers. Then he went to work, on paper as well as in fact, for Homer and Dikey in their company for a few years. Lately we hear he's been slithering around Lake Oswego as part of the streetcar crew and the awful Foothills condo jungle proposal. And Brown's got his own company now, called Loci (which apparently is the plural of "loco").
We bring this up because we got a come-on in the mail the other day for this event, at which Brown and some others will educate Oregon attorneys on how the fleecing of the taxpayers is done:
The use of public-private partnerships and other alternative economic development incentives is increasing as governments look for creative ways to increase development. In today's environment it is important to be armed with the most recent information so you can make every dollar count. We will show you how to overcome any obstacles you may encounter – including issues surrounding municipal bond financing. Whether you are new to the field or have years of experience, you will walk away with the ability to confidently handle every challenge you face.
One hopes that the training will include how to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning after abusing the public trust.
| Posted at 9:16 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (9)
"training will include how to look at yourself in the mirror"
It's not that hard to do if you're a sociopath.
Posted by Steve | August 16, 2012 10:05 AM
It could also be a play on words for Loki... trouble.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | August 16, 2012 10:50 AM
Speaking of sociopaths, how many clever ones have landed in high positions not caring about the trail of disaster they leave behind their paths?
Posted by clinamen | August 16, 2012 10:54 AM
One hopes that the training will include how to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning after abusing the public trust.
It would seem that most who go into politics and last for any length of time have already sold their souls and have lost that aspect of conscience.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | August 16, 2012 11:48 AM
Vampires fear mirrors, if I recall correctly.
Posted by Max | August 16, 2012 12:30 PM
It sounds like Portland’s rodent problem is expanding rather than being exterminated.
Posted by TR | August 16, 2012 12:45 PM
Jesus, they're actually using the South Waterfront development as their "case study" for the seminar! THE case study, mind you. Did they choose it as a model of success, or as an example of a PPP debacle and how to avoid them?
Posted by realitybasedliberal | August 16, 2012 8:01 PM
I frequently travel through the South Waterfront. It looks like crap now, and it will look like polished crap when it is finished. It's always going to be that concrete palace between the freeway, and a dull stretch of riverfront. What a waste.
When you're done gaping at the ugliness, get on Macadam and see if you can make it out of there without blowing a tire. Hello DOT... these potholes are more like Florida-style sinkholes. Now that I think of it, much about SoWa is Florida-style.
Posted by Downtown Denizen | August 16, 2012 9:25 PM
When you're done gaping at the ugliness, get on Macadam and see if you can make it out of there without blowing a tire. Hello DOT... these potholes
They're not pot-holes. They're bioswales.
Posted by Max | August 17, 2012 2:11 PM