The secret theft of funds by Dan Ryan to serve his district area development appears to have been done in lawful terms of state code. No one filed a request to be notified when he modified the list of projects to be funded, even though it might short change the NW Portland project. After 30 days, he was free to redistribute those funds to serve his limited constituency at the expense of this project.
On the other hand, a cursory look at state code, I do not see anywhere where the city has any legal right to "borrow" funds from this account to balance non-listed debt. ORS 223.302 states "the revenues produced therefrom must be expended only in accordance with ORS 223.297 (Policy) to 223.316." What I read there is that expenditures are to be for listed projects. Alas, bailing out a shortfall of disability and retirement funds doesn't seem to fall in accordance with this state law. So the real question is who is going to prosecute the city counsel for TWICE violating state law and empowering themselves to borrow money from SDC funds in violation of said state law? I am assuming Mitch won't do anything about that, since he doesn't want to be prosecuted for this city counsel theft "loan" of funds. And does anyone know if those funds, allegedly borrowed two years in a row, were ever returned? Because when or if they are, sufficient funds for this NW Portland project may return. The better question might be asking the state AG's office what they intend to do about this unlawful "lending of funds" arrangement.
To be fair, when Dan Ryan was Commissioner in charge of parks in 2023, he was a Commissioner representing the whole city, not just one particular district. North Portland has always (as has much of Portland) been a swimming pool desert, so building a pool facility there might have made sense at the time. 100 million smackers does seem a bit dear, but I don’t know enough details to have an informed opinion.
What's he gonna do about it?
The secret theft of funds by Dan Ryan to serve his district area development appears to have been done in lawful terms of state code. No one filed a request to be notified when he modified the list of projects to be funded, even though it might short change the NW Portland project. After 30 days, he was free to redistribute those funds to serve his limited constituency at the expense of this project.
On the other hand, a cursory look at state code, I do not see anywhere where the city has any legal right to "borrow" funds from this account to balance non-listed debt. ORS 223.302 states "the revenues produced therefrom must be expended only in accordance with ORS 223.297 (Policy) to 223.316." What I read there is that expenditures are to be for listed projects. Alas, bailing out a shortfall of disability and retirement funds doesn't seem to fall in accordance with this state law. So the real question is who is going to prosecute the city counsel for TWICE violating state law and empowering themselves to borrow money from SDC funds in violation of said state law? I am assuming Mitch won't do anything about that, since he doesn't want to be prosecuted for this city counsel theft "loan" of funds. And does anyone know if those funds, allegedly borrowed two years in a row, were ever returned? Because when or if they are, sufficient funds for this NW Portland project may return. The better question might be asking the state AG's office what they intend to do about this unlawful "lending of funds" arrangement.
He incessantly reminds every he is a professional economist. He should be able to put pencil to paper and figure it out.
Did Councilor Green finally wake up regarding the shenanigans happening in his district??
I haven’t responded because you are coming in to meet with me and fill me in!
I'm happy to do that. Name a time and place.
Anyone out there besides me think that $100m for a swimming pool is...extravagant...? Why bother to complain: this is The City that Works, no?
Somebody woke up and realized he’s up for re-election 9 months!
To be fair, when Dan Ryan was Commissioner in charge of parks in 2023, he was a Commissioner representing the whole city, not just one particular district. North Portland has always (as has much of Portland) been a swimming pool desert, so building a pool facility there might have made sense at the time. 100 million smackers does seem a bit dear, but I don’t know enough details to have an informed opinion.