Warning grows. Blazers risk leaving Oregon

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

The lead Sunday The Oregonian Editorial warned the state not to get too complacent that the Blazers will remain in Portland under their new owner which has yet to be decided.

The Editorial Board did not hold back on the parade of horribles working against Oregon keeping the team;

“State and local leaders should not take on faith that the team is here to stay. The Trail Blazers have only a flimsy five-year agreement in place to continue playing at the 30-year-old Moda Center. In a region struggling with increased layoffs, falling property values, minuscule population growth and lingering reputational damage, losing this cornerstone of our civic pride would be devastating.”  

That is right. Falling property values have resulted in Portland’s largest office building being hit with a 80% value drop. Furthermore, population has been declining in Multnomah County.

The Editorial Board further states,

“With Moda Center as the oldest NBA arena that has not undergone a significant renovation”

What billionaire or what massive tax is going to refurbish the Moda Center?

Speaking of billionaires …

“Oregon’s rolodex of known billionaires contains only three names, and just one of them, Nike co-founder Phil Knight, can comfortably cover the team’s estimated $3.65 billion valuation….Knight recently said he’s no longer interested.”

Oregon chased away our billionaires and Fortune 500 companies, and by doing so chased away future billionaires and Fortune 500 companies.

Here is Oregon’s message to those future entrepreneurs as seen by protest signs this year;

 

There are other cities bigger than Portland that do not have a NBA team.

Then the Editorial Board drop a bombshell;

“Despite Rose Quarter officials’ best efforts, the restaurant scene and related development never materialized to make the area a thriving sports and entertainment district.”  

The politicians promised that sports pays for itself. The Blazers/Rose Garden have received a lot of tax breaks.  The arena does not pay property taxes. Taxpayers are funding sports under the promise that it enriches the area in prosperity and cash. That turns out to be a lie — a lie that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of tax dollars.

Now the area of the Moda Center is depressed. So bad, that one couple have made it their mission to routinely visit the center with free Narcan to detox overdoses because it happens so often outside the arena.

Furthermore, the Moda Center is a traffic jam nightmare. In 2017, the State Legislature raised 7 different transportation taxes to fund projects which included adding lanes to help relieve the traffic. Nearly 10 years later, nothing has been done except for politicians to continue to expand the project with new expensive ideas like covering the highway with a massive tunnel — so big it will fit parks and apartments and businesses on top.

Now the cost has exploded to nearly $1 billion.

We do not want the Blazers to leave Oregon, but the media is sounding the alarm that it may happen.

Politicians need to wake up and realize their failed progressive policies have made Portland hostile to progress and people.

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