Earlier today, City Council voted 3-2 in favor of moving forward with Merritt Paulson on a deal to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to Portland.
Now what? Well, consider this:
• In a surprise move, the proposal that Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioners Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman approved doesn’t include an immediate commitment to seek $15 million from a new urban renewal district. That leaves what Adams called a “hole” in the financing scheme going forward. This is the only difference between Wednesday’s Council-approved agreement and the draft agreement [PDF] released yesterday. Adams approved this change in the “spirit of compromise.” Leonard was grumpier, agreeing to the change while also vowing to “live to fight another day.”
After the final vote, Timbers Army fans erupted in cheers. (There were no jazz hands from this crowd.) Then reporters swarmed around Paulson to ask him for his thoughts on the council’s decision to withhold $15 million in urban renewal dollars.
Paulson described himself as neither happy nor upset but “somewhere in the middle.” He echoed Adams’ lament about the funding hole but said he would not use his own money to plug that new hole. “I challenge people to find a better deal out there for the city,” he said. Now it’s up to him and his two biggest supporters, Adams and Leonard, to figure out what to do about that hole.
• Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler should probably watch his back. After engaging in a spirited fight with Leonard on the possible effects of the deal on the county’s already anemic budget, Wheeler told Leonard: “I’m new on the job, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Wheeler’s point was that the city’s partners, like the county and the local school districts, had unanswered questions about the costs and benefits of the proposal.
Leonard’s point was that urban renewal districts have benefits Wheeler wasn’t considering, in Leonard’s mind anyway.
The sparring appeared to stay with Leonard long after Wheeler left City Hall. Leonard continued to say he expected other local leaders “to know better” than to ignore the benefits of urban renewal districts. His biggest threat against Wheeler? It was a little vague. But, apparently, Leonard has experienced a “radical re-alignment” of his views on helping the county during its time of need. Presumably he was talking about the Sellwood Bridge.
• There were hints of “mission creep” in today’s discussion of the possible (but currently doomed) urban renewal district. Adams mentioned “Lincoln High School” at least once but I think twice and seemed to indicate the city could help with Lincoln’s possible redevelopment. Meantime, Portland Public Schools is engaging in its own process to reform all 10 of its high schools, not just Lincoln.
• Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish voted against the entire proposal, though both leaders claimed to be the world’s biggest soccer fans. (As a sidenote: I’m afraid Fritz outdid Fish on that front. She brought three soccer scarves to the meeting to demonstrate her enthusiasm. Fish? Nothing in the way of neckwear.) Anyway, both commissioners questioned the timing of the deal given that commissioners are meeting all this week to discuss budget cuts at the city. After the vote, Fish released a statement. “We are in the midst of the worst economy in recent history – this means job losses, tough program cuts, and drastic impacts on our homeless, youth and elderly. My vote today in Council was not about the merits of a stadium deal, but about protecting our dwindling public resources. The case simply hasn’t been made to me that there is sufficient economic benefit in this deal. In this tough economy, we need a major league commitment to parks, affordable housing, jobs and education.”
- MLS Update: Saltzman Tips the Balance in Favor of Soccer Proposal Commissio
- MLS Update: Ted Wheeler: “I’m New On the Job, But I Wasn’t Born Yesterday” Passive a
- Ted Wheeler to Testify Against MLS Proposal Multnomah
- MLS Update: Is the City Obligated to Fill the $15 Million Funding Hole? Commissio
- What Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish Say About Major League Soccer Now Well, the
Why does Randy continue to equate the needs of this community with his personal likes or dislikes? He’s really going to sabotage county programs because he didn’t think Ted Wheeler kissed his ass sufficiently?
He’s a bully and I’m glad Ted stood up to him. It appears to more than we can expect of Dan Saltzman.
No no….you must rethink…it’s not so much about about Wheeler not kissing his hiney sufficiently…it could be more about the crush he has on Portland’s First Dude, who seems to have way more influence on this administration than most "so called" "punk rocker wanna bees". Those strategists, they think of everything., right? Cha ching $$$$.
Quoting
I just hope Randy is paying less than $7.25/gallon on the 5,000 gallons of Biodiesel the laid off chemist was selling.
Randy seems to forget that Portland is in Multnomah County, and that all of his constituents who need social services likely get them from County programs.
I watched this deisagreement and Leonard’s condescension was very unbecoming someone in his position.
Condescension is one of the common traits linking the mayor and a couple of his commissioners. It appears to be a tool they employ to control, but then what would you expect from elected officials who employed the same campaign strategist company? A handbook in condescension could very well have been thrown in on the deal with the hiring of "the political fix it guys".
Listening to the back and forth between Leonard and Wheeler yesterday was, to put it mildly, sickening. Randy Leonard is not suitable for public office. I know he makes some people happy with his positions on some things but his ego and arrogance are just too much to stomach. What will it take for Portlanders to see that his complete lack of real world experience (and living at the public trough all these years doesn’t count) makes him totally unsuitable to represent the People? Go Randy – just go away!
Along with Adams’ upcoming and "can’t happen too soon" departure, it is also time for Saltzman and Leonard to go.
[...] soccer from siting a new baseball stadium as “long overdue.” Fish reiterated that he voted against the original stadium deal, adding that “if a different proposal comes to council and it protects the general fund and Mr. [...]