What do you really think of the Moda Center upgrade?
Nothing but benefits listed in city of Portland's ostensible opinion poll
The city’s online survey regarding funding for Moda Center upgrades is a push poll, designed to influence views under the guise of an opinion poll.
Take the survey and see for yourself. Readers first read this piece of boosterism:
“Every year, the Moda Center attracts 1.5 million visitors to 150 events and generates $600 million for the local economy. It also supports thousands of jobs.”
Participants are then asked to rank the importance of benefits of the project:
Make Portland a top destination for sports, concerts and events.
Stimulate the economy by providing living-wage jobs and support local businesses.
Protect the city’s assets by updating structural, technology and operating systems.
Keep the Trail Blazers in Portland.
Leverage committed public dollars from the state of Oregon toward the project.
Seek additional private dollars toward the project.
Community benefits, like good jobs, public transportation, affordable access, neighborhood development, public spaces and the right to unionize.
Provide an anchor for the future redevelopment of the lower Albina neighborhood.
(Nowhere is there a place to rank the negative effects of the deal.)
You get the drift. Fortunately, Blazer fans and tech professionals Edan Krolewicz and Jonathan Pulvers are presenting another side at ripcitynotripoff.com.
Take the survey, join a city-sponsored pop-up tour from 3-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 at Waterfront Park by the Salmon Springs Fountain, and read materials on the “Rip City, Not Rip Off” website.
Then let your city councilors know what you think. Their plan to vote on a $120 million city contribution to the project is set for Aug. 12.
Here’s the thing—if we citizens “stick to our guns” and refuse to allow the climate fund (unused) to be put toward the Moda center rebuild and then cry about “taxpayer money” being used to fund the arena rebuild, Portland WILL lose the trailblazers. Once the blazers leave, this city will be eliminated from any short list of potential pro-ball team sites and no pro team will be moving here. I grew up here. I am proud of having an NBA team in our city. I have also lived in major cities and understand that the idea of “someone else” building your pro sports arena is an only-in-Portland fantasy. We aren’t owed any type of arena by team owners. The cities pay for these. We lucked out with Allen, but that’s over. There is a framework for using taxpayer money—it is called a jock tax, it affects the taxable income from the athletes who play there. Portlanders are more than happy to vote in opaque property tax increases with dubious metrics for success, but can’t fathom funding a municipal project with a measurable, net-positive impact? Give me a break. Fund the arena. Cry when you get your tax bill for the “homeless services” and walk down third avenue to see how well that money is being used.