the testimony about how we need public money to go into private hands so then the private sector can give to philanthropic organizations / non-profits was actually the clearest explanation of the rot of neoliberalism I've ever heard. The government should just fund public services & employ people.

Kate Lieber telling people that the legislature didn't even consider the need for private investment is the clearest tell that the fix was in

Nick@ecosozialismus.bsky.social · 17m ago

the sports Oregon guy saying this is a "process none of us asked for" is pretty cynical. Actually, the corporate insiders absolutely wanted this process. They coordinated it during "Project Mt. Hood". They just thought it was going to get the hundreds of millions out without friction.

As of now we have received 138 pieces of written testimony. Of that 71 submissions are opposed to the term sheet, 46 in support, with 21 registering support with changes. Lot of nuance in the comments and I’m reading each them, along with verbal testimony.

Mitch Green@councilorgreen.bsky.social · 40m ago

We’re hearing testimony on the Moda term sheet today. I have filed an amendment that seeks to do two broad things: 1. empower the Joint Authority to limit expenditure public funds in the public interest with transparency and accountability 2. Reduce City’s commitment from $400M -> $120MM

the sports Oregon guy saying this is a "process none of us asked for" is pretty cynical. Actually, the corporate insiders absolutely wanted this process. They coordinated it during "Project Mt. Hood". They just thought it was going to get the hundreds of millions out without friction.

This is how things were done in the old form of government. Shameful to continue this practice.

Kevin Foster@kevinhfoster.bsky.social · 30m ago

The beginning of this entire Moda Center city council meeting has been back-to-back corporate and institutional voices who were invited to speak first before the public. Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.

The beginning of this entire Moda Center city council meeting has been back-to-back corporate and institutional voices who were invited to speak first before the public. Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.

Kevin Foster@kevinhfoster.bsky.social · 32m ago

I find it troubling that in what’s supposed to be a democratic process, we’ve “invited” the perspectives of institutions supporting using taxpayer dollars for a renovation, allowing them to frame the entire conversation from the beginning while the public has to wait their turn.

We’re hearing testimony on the Moda term sheet today. I have filed an amendment that seeks to do two broad things: 1. empower the Joint Authority to limit expenditure public funds in the public interest with transparency and accountability 2. Reduce City’s commitment from $400M -> $120MM

Organized climate change denial is one of the worst crimes ever committed & it continues on in force today. The difference between a world that took it seriously in the 90’s compared to the world we are entering will be billions of unnecessary deaths and displacements.

Great day for the council to talk about using our climate adaptation fund for a billionaire bailout

pnwpolicyangel aka Angelita 👼@pnwpolicyangel.bsky.social · 4h ago

Waking up with a bloody nose because of the smoke yaaaasss!!! Love climate change!!!!! Let’s use PCEF for a billionaire’s whims!!!!!

2/3rds of Oregonians support a statewide data center moratorium that a bunch of our electeds and candidates called for yesterday. www.oregonlive.com/silicon-fore...

I really do think that councilors who vote through a deal that doesn’t require private investment will be haunted by that decision. You will never stop having to politically answer for it in the world of austerity we’re in.

Portland DSA@portlanddsa.bsky.social · 23h ago

On Wednesday, Aug. 5, City Council will consider a "term sheet" for the Moda Center negotiations. This is an opportunity for you to testify to the City Council about how you feel about the Moda Center issue and what the City should demand in exchange for public money.

The “we’re not owned, they cheated” attempt at face saving

Kori 🌹@koriander.bsky.social · 20h ago

Looks like it’s happening, not sure what they could possibly gain from the suit after missing the filing deadline

That’s a lot of money spent for nothing

Kaliko Castille@wizkaliko.bsky.social · 21h ago

Looks like Portland Police aren't going to be able to raid PCEF to hire more cops when they can't even hire for the positions they already have open.....sorry about your luck!

can we at least agree that NIMBYism against new housing and NIMBYism against "stuff being built by powerful companies for mysterious purposes" are two different things

Bruno J. Navarro@brunojnavarro.bsky.social · 21h ago

Data center resistance certainly has some of its roots in classic NIMBYism: Lots of Americans simply don’t trust stuff being built, in their backyards, by powerful companies for mysterious purposes. But the pace of the outrage that’s built up around the country is shocking.

The right and the media are going to act so unhinged for the next 90 days

Every time my fiancée produces a sourdough loaf it’s like the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my whole life

Last few days: -World on fire (literally fires everywhere across the globe) -Markets crashing in Korea / Japan (the latter being bailed out by US) -US military getting waxed by Iran and driven out of the Middle East Climate collapse economic collapse empire collapse

It’s funny that Olivia Clark’s immediate assumption is that squatters burned down Stuart Lindquist’s Centennial Mills building because my mind went to a completely different place

😭

2-way protected bike lane enthusiast@seachanger.bsky.social · 2d ago

portland cracks the top 10! also what's going on in all these other cities (?) www.iqair.com/world-air-qu...

IG served me a clip from a local conservative podcast where a guest was complaining that DSA wasn’t doing ID politics and was doing political action instead lololololol

Oregon State legislators and candidates for state legislature just called for a statewide data center moratorium! The courageous first movers 👇 Rep. Muñoz (HD 22) Rep. Chaichi (HD 35) Sen. Neron Misslin (SD 13) Sen. Golden (SD 3) Candidate Tammy Carpenter (HD 27) Candidate Myrna Muñoz (SD 15)

Nothing like thick smoke and the yellow-ish haze to take some sanity points away

i’m never gonna be able to fire a cruise missile yet the question of using my tax dollars for them has never been up for debate

USA TODAY Opinion@usatodayopinion.usatoday.com · 2d ago

Opinion: Mamdani's idea may sound appealing, but it's NYC taxpayers who will take the hit, subsidizing discounts they may never even use.

Hey we’re in a climate crisis let’s just hand permission over to fossil fuel companies to expand their operations because they cynically applied to term “renewable” to describe liquid fuels that are also really carbon intensive & a false solution / shit alternative to solar + wind plus drawdown

Close windows. Air purifier on.

Canvassing time!

Everyone saw that Kotek’s political stunt didn’t stop the Verrus data center in Salem, right?

Saw this PSA on Division St. and 100% agree. People who spend their time hating on Portland all day every day are creating their own prison. This city is great and the sky is the limit if people work to make it so.

Calling for “partnership” while directing almost every practical recommendation at one side of the table is not balanced analysis. It’s advocacy for a negotiating posture that asks the public to be more flexible while placing little pressure on the private party receiving $1.1B in public support.

Editorial: Stay on track, Portland, and show the Trail Blazers a partnership worth keeping

As the clock ticks toward a deadline for getting a Moda Center deal done, Portland city councilors should focus on what they control — finalizing a framework to negotiate a new long-term lease and sho...

oregonlive.com