Money Talks; It Doesn’t Vote
If glossy mailers and billboards were the metric, moneyed interests would have surely dominated the most recent election cycle—the first since Portland voters overhauled their government structure two years ago.
But despite $1 million in outside spending, those efforts fell short during the latest election season, with progressive candidates overcoming an onslaught of spending from a web of political action committees (PACs). In the face of big-dollar efforts to supplant progressive candidates in City Hall with centrists, voters reaffirmed their confidence in three democratic socialist councilors. That includes Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo in District 3, and Mitch Green in District 4. Voters also came out strong for Shannon Singleton, a progressive underdog in the county chair’s race.
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The sheer amount of outside money was undeniable, coming largely from Portland Metro Chamber-aligned PACs. Those dollars came in addition to what candidates raised through the city’s Small Donor Election program.
Unity PAC, almost entirely funded by the Metro Chamber’s United for Portland Action Fund, spent nearly $600,000 on two local campaigns: Kellie Torres in Council District 3 and Julia Brim-Edwards for county chair. United for Portland also backed three PACs for the sole purpose of a billboard campaign attacking Green and in support of Brim-Edwards, to the tune of $160,000. Go Portland Go, a conservative-aligned group branding itself as a “grassroots community organization,” spent $188,000 in its failed attempts to oust progressive leaders in favor of Torres and bike cop Eli Arnold.
In the end, however, Portlanders threw those glossy mailers in the bin and let their votes do the talking. JEREMIAH HAYDEN
Make Way for Waymo?
Are driverless taxis coming to Portland? If Waymo and other autonomous vehicle (AV) companies get their way, the answer is a definitive “yes.” But many Portland City Council members have pushed back hard on the controversial technology. They’re currently trying to figure out ways to stave it off, or at least limit its impact.
During conversations in the city’s Public Works Committee over the last few months, it’s become clear that many city leaders share concerns about AVs operating in Portland. They cite traffic safety and accessibility issues—Waymos are known for parking in bike lanes—as well as concerns about surveillance and the continued employment of rideshare drivers. But while some Council members favor a complete ban on driverless taxi operations, others advocate a more moderate approach.
Portland officials are working against the clock to develop driverless taxi policies, with the expectation that the Oregon Legislature will try to preempt local regulations, forcing Oregon cities to accept robotaxis whether they want them or not. It could also significantly restrict or prohibit jurisdictions from imposing regulations on AV operations—even collecting data about driverless taxi trips. Some Council members fear a Portland ban would only encourage the state to take extreme measures limiting local autonomy.
However, not everyone thinks robotaxis would be bad for the city. Proponents point to the technology’s potential traffic safety benefits, with others highlighting their preference for driverless rides due to bad experiences with rideshare drivers.
It’s unclear exactly what happens next, but it’s unlikely the conversation will end anytime soon. The Council’s Public Works Committee is expected to discuss the subject again before the end of the year. TAYLOR GRIGGS
Landlord Woes at Moda Center
The city has yet to ink a long-term lease agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers ownership for use of the city-owned Moda Center. The two entities were expected to reach a deal before January.
To recap: Earlier this year, Portland City Council authorized a term sheet that obligates the city to spend $120 million toward the arena’s renovation in the near-term and another $275 million toward the arena’s upkeep over the next 20 years. The Oregon Legislature was the first to come running to Blazers owner Tom Dundon with cash, approving $365 million toward the Moda Center renovations. Multnomah County is also chipping in. In addition to getting a newly renovated arena, the Blazers will continue to run all events at the Moda Center via Rip City Management, meaning they retain the lion’s share of revenue. In exchange, the city is asking the team to commit to legally binding terms in a bridge agreement the prior team’s ownership agreed to, which includes maintaining the venue to “first-class” standards.
The city also wants the Blazers to pay $3.17 million a year in rent. Those have been sticking points for Dundon and the Blazers, who apparently can’t get on board with the idea that they should maintain the venue in good condition, and chip in rent (which wasn’t required in prior lease deals because the city didn’t own the venue until late 2024). Another potential deal breaker for “Texas Tom” and his ownership group? A requirement that they adhere to a labor peace agreement, meaning they won’t get in the way of Moda employees’ efforts to unionize. Recently, Dundon said the goal is to keep the Blazers in Portland. COURTNEY VAUGHN