Each major convention that comes to town, such as the recent Elk convention, brings with it $2M-$3M dollars to the city. The Elks cited fareless square as one of the top three reasons why Portland won as the location for their convention. In one week, fareless square brought $2M-$3M to our city from just this one convention. Other convention organizers also cite fareless square as their reason for picking Portland -- to get convention attendees around the city and to/from the convention center easily. Furthermore, TriMet looses over $1M annually due to TriMet managers refusing to sell advertising space designed into trains and buses posting TriMet-only PSA's instead. This issue regarding fareless square is NOT about TriMet needing money. This is an issue of the Portland Business Alliance wanting it gone to eliminate a $100 per year tax on local businesses to fund fareless square. The PBA is a quasi-legal organization and the federal courts have even questioned its legality. They operate their own police force. They control Pioneer Square. They extorted city council members into passing the Sit-Lie Ordinance or the PBA would withhold political "donations" from council members. It isn't fareless square that has to go: it is the Portland Business Alliance that has to go.