After Mayor Sam Adams recently jump-started the on-again, off-again quest for a headquarters hotel, the next step in the 20-year-long process is supposed to be a vote by July 1 by the City of Portland, Metro, and Multnomah County. The question each of those three governments must decide? Whether to proceed with the spending of $12 million to generate design drawings and a firm price for the proposed 594-room, $250 million hotel.
The three governments are partners in the collection, administration and spending of a visitor tax which proponents hope to use to supplement revenues for a hotel aimed at attracting more business for the Oregon Convention Center.
But Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler is in no hurry to move forward on the hotel. Wheeler’s chief of staff Tom Rinehart tells WW that although his boss received the report Adams’ task force recently completed, Wheeler is still waiting for city officials to provide more detailed information explaining the assumptions on which the project depends.
“The chair has repeatedly asked for more information and has not been satisfied by what he’s been sent,” Rinehart says. “We understand the need for a thriving tourism industry. We’re not sure this [the proposed hotel] is the answer.”
Metro is not exactly chomping at the bit either, as shown by a letter (PDF) the agency’s councillors sent yesterday to City Hall and the county commissioners.
- Metro Delays HQ Hotel Decision Metro and
- Say Sayonara to Metro’s Proposed Convention Center Hotel Barring a
- Adams to Wheeler: I’ll Fund The Sellwood Bridge, If You Support The Convention Center Hotel Multnomah
- PDC Pushes Back on HQ Hotel Critics Earlier t
- Lodging Group Pans Mayor’s HQ Hotel Plan After a l
The horse is dead. Quit beating it.
We need a series of Jib-Jab style cartoons showing Mayor Adams kissing Beau Breedlove, then lying about it, then apologizing and lying again about it, then lying about whether he slandered Bob Ball, then pretending to consider resigning, then lying some more about why he was staying.
Then finding a half billion dollars (poof) for economic stimulus, but needing a new tax on cars to pay for roads. Then finding $65 million for Hank Paulson Family Inc. while closing police precints. Then spending $800 million on choo-choos to Milwaukie, which will rattle past the Sellwood Bridge (if it hasn’t fallen down). Then conditioning city support for that vital infrastructure with the zombie hotel, for the zombie convention center, next to the Massive Rose Garden redevelopment project that would benefit another billionaire.
Portland: where destroying a 50 year old coliseum and building a 12 lane interstate bridge are “green and sustainable”. Where letting billionaires like Paul Allen and Hank Paulson gorge on taxpayer subsidies is “smart development”, and capping a building with moisture problems (the Portland Building) with moisture retaining plants/soil is reported on without a hint of irony.
And they call this a liberal town?
MENTAL HEALTH ALERT! MENTAL HEALTH ALERT!
The following just in from the letters page to the Mercury, from no other than the “mayor”:
“I aim to make Portland the wow-iest town in the entire world. To accomplish this, I plan to: repaint the Portland Building with chalkboard paint and invite the community to leave public comment. Build a commuter zipline across the Columbia River. Build a Major League Roller Derby stadium. Reinforce our sustainability rep by dyeing the Willamette River green. Select one person to serve as “the voice of the public” and invite him to task force meetings, etc. I nominate myself. Attract Cat Fanciers’ Association annual meetings, by building a pet hotel next door to the convention center. Put a neon “We heart Estacada” sign—with a blinking heart—on top of Big Pink.”
That’s right, penned by none other than Sam “where-is-my-lithium” Adams.