Read the entire column here on the Oregonian website

You can be honest and still strike out

By Anna Griffin
The Oregonian
Thursday, January 19, 2006

A question for all those baseball fans who turned furious last week when Mayor Tom Potter left a meeting with the Florida Marlins and let out the sound bite equivalent of a big yawn.

What was Hizzoner supposed to say?

The mayor does not think Portland should use public money to pay for a baseball stadium. If the Marlins really do leave Miami, their new home will almost certainly have to pony up some kind of public help. In other words, a meeting between Potter and the Marlins reps was destined to go about as well as a blind date between Howard Dean and Ann Coulter. (Howard: "Steeeeee-riiiiiike!" Ann: "You treasonous liberal.")

Still, baseball promoters in Portland were not pleased. On the Oregon Stadium Campaign's Web site, organizer Drew Mahalic posted a response that suggested that Potter a) didn't know what he was talking about, b) hadn't given the group a chance to brief him before the Marlins' visit and c) was dead wrong when he suggested that Portlanders aren't interested in bringing a ballclub to town. He also encouraged baseball fans to e-mail Potter to let him know that there is interest.

The problem here, for baseball fans at least, is that the mayor is slowly and steadily changing city government's attitude toward public financing of pretty much any big business endeavor.

In the past year, Potter and the City Council have asked the Portland Development Commission to rethink the way it uses tax money for urban renewal -- essentially demanding that they start spending money on smaller projects in less-chichi parts of town. They've put a six-month hold on tax breaks for new multifamily housing. Potter also has been very skeptical of plans to use public money to build a new headquarters hotel at the Oregon Convention Center.

The consensus on the City Council, led by the mayor, seems to be that Portland should rethink the kinds of projects that receive public help. Big, glitzy development efforts are out. Smaller public-private partnerships that smack of do-gooderism are in.

Case in point: A week before he met with the baseball folks, Potter and the City Council agreed to spend $200,000 to help the Tryon Life Community Farm, a nonprofit that promotes urban agriculture and civic activism, buy 7.5 acres near the Tryon Creek State Natural Area.

The Internet hummed about that one as well. On Commissioner Sam Adams' Web site, one resident said Adams would never get his vote again because of that decision. On Lewis & Clark professor Jack Bogadanski's blog, several posters drew a direct connection between the Tryon Creek vote and Potter's lukewarm response to baseball.

But again, we have to ask the critics: What was Potter supposed to say? From the beginnings of his campaign for mayor, he's made it clear that baseball isn't one of his priorities.

What's the politically correct way to say, "Thanks, but no thanks?"

Well, Anna, here's some thoughts on what he's supposed to say...

quote:

From Mayor Potter:
As I have indicated in the past, I support MLB moving to Portland. However, I believe the private sector must carry any plan forward and I will not commit public dollars to attracting an MLB team. I remain receptive to any plan that doesn't divert City funds from our priorities for schools and public safety.

There is a difference in simply glossing over business opportunity due to a change in direction, to doing what is in the best interest of the City of Portland by seeing if business opportunities can be broached where risk to critical education and services is minimal or removed all together.

To dismiss the discussion all together shows a lack of commitment to Portland as a thriving metropolis.

We can surely remove other quality of life options from the City as well, while we're at it. The Zoo, performing arts, et al, are not needed for a city to survive. The point is, Portland is no longer Smallville.

If we have a public policy in which large business opportunities are dismissed out of hand without any willingness to see if there are options open to Mayor which meets his needs, as well as business, then we need to evaluate whether Portland is simply a small "town" and nothing more.

I have e-mailed Ms. Griffin with the following reply:

Ms. Griffin,

I read your editorial concerning Mayor Potter's reaction to the meeting with officials from the Florida Marlins and the possibility of their relocating to Portland with much interest. You asked the question, "What was Hizzoner supposed to say?"

I'll tell you what Hizzoner was supposed to say. He was supposed to say, "We would be very honored to have major league baseball in Portland. We believe Portland is truly a first-class, major league city, and adding a second major professional sports team will only serve to enhance the quality of life here. We believe that baseball is a wholesome, family-oriented game that will be enjoyed by many, and it will bring new jobs and new dollars to our city. However, we'll do it the ˜right' way, the 'Portland' way, which means we won't burden the general public by taxing them to pay for a new stadium, or by diverting funds intended for schools, health care, safety, and other public necessities. We will, however, consider various creative private funding plans, along with the state income tax dollars already allocated by Senate Bill 5, to help make this a reality."

Instead, he harped on and on about "no public dollars", and threw out a line about a "very strong sense" that Portland couldn't or wouldn't support major league baseball, despite all statistical evidence to the contrary. The national press picked up on those comments and ran them in the headlines, and I can't even begin to tell you what sort of negative image of Portland THAT left in the minds of sports fans throughout the country!

I, and others associated with the efforts to bring a team here, do have a communication from the mayor which states clearly that he is IN FAVOR of having major league baseball in Portland (though he still insists that it should be done without public dollars from the city of Portland). I will be glad to forward it to you if you wish. It is that statement of affirmation that we wish the mayor would emphasize, rather than his constant broaching of a subject (i.e. no public Portland dollars) than no one has even asked him to use!

It's not a "priority" with him? Fine. We have plenty of others for whom it IS an important matter and who are willing to undertake the hard work needed to make the dream come true. All we're asking is that he give us a chance to work WITH him, instead of appearing to be a stumbling block every time someone asks him about it, so that we can accomplish something that will be beneficial, fun, and exciting for our wonderful city.

Respectfully submitted,

Blair Cash
1822 Ann Court
Newberg, Oregon 97132
503-554-8067
bcash@georgefox.edu

Wow! Already heard back from her!
---
"Thanks for the feedback. I'd love to see what the mayor gave you."
---
I sent her that note that all of us got from the mayor.

I thought we were past the days of half research being done by people that make their living researching and then writing about it...

If (when) and until we have MLB in Portland, looks like the education arm of the OSC will ALWAYS be in business!

quote:

Originally posted by BC in Newberg:
If (when) and until we have MLB in Portland, looks like the education arm of the OSC will ALWAYS be in business!

And it's aging me every year that goes by.

Tax breaks, development rights, etc. have been part of the landscape in any city that is attempting to develop business or cultural amenities for its citizenry. Always has, always will.

That being said, you have to wonder if all of the tax breaks that have been doled out to residential development (in an effort to revitalize the city, encourage "smart growth", etc.) has taken its toll and is making it more difficult to incentivize the business and cultural components. We can all blather and pontificate about it (as I always do) but a comprehensive and comparative study would go a long ways towards an answer.

Oh yes, one other thing. Maybe Potter was being "honest" but his opinions were ill-informed and ill-timed.