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A Message From Councilor Green
- This week’s updates
- Opportunities to engage
- Council and committee meetings with Councilor Green
- Need help? Call these places
- Resources to explore
This week’s updates
Dear Neighbors,
Last week, City Council had a chance to show Portland that we’re fighting for your best interests in reaching a fair Moda deal and we failed, miserably.
We failed every future city who will someday have to reckon with the next ownership group who will threaten, without evidence, to wreck their economy unless they pony up at least as much as us. But before I get ahead of myself, let me explain exactly what happened.
As you know, since the very beginning, I’ve been calling for a public process and decision-making that’s informed by thorough financial and economic data. I love the Blazers, I want them to stay, and I also believe that taxpayers shouldn’t be getting ripped off.
We’ve been waiting since February to be able to discuss what the terms could look like at a public City Council meeting. What happened last week, Councilor Kanal has already said best, “After months of backroom negotiations, executive sessions, work sessions with no testimony, and listening sessions…it finally got to City Council [Wednesday, August 5]. We had tons of people come out and testify, giving their thoughts on what this should be, what we should ask for, etc. That whole time, we were told to put up amendments for consideration [on August 6].”
I introduced one out of more than a dozen amendments to the draft Moda term sheet. These amendments tried to increase the chances of Portlanders getting a fair deal on the table and included incredibly basic expectations such as a return on investment of public dollars, rent payments to the City, a cap on the City’s contribution to the stadium, oversight on our public dollars, and naming rights.
What happened next was astounding, all amendments to the draft term sheet were voted down. Rent to the City was voted down. Return on investment was voted down. And you guessed it: capping taxpayer dollars was voted down.
My amendment with Councilor Candace Avalos (District 1) to limit the City’s commitment to $120 million instead of $395 million (given that we have exactly zero details about what our dollars will fund) failed 5 -7. Had the amendment passed we could have used the Spectator Fund to bond for the $120 million. Now we can’t.
The moderates on Council, including Dunphy, shared that they voted no to all amendments because “it’s for the negotiating team to handle.” Let me be clear: it is a dereliction of our duty as a council to move forward with a process that is away from the public eye. It is a slap in the face to Portlanders to develop a term sheet this way when they’ll be the ones paying for it for decades to come.
Councilors Avalos, Morillo, Kanal, Koyama Lane, and sometimes Novick: you all tried to get something better for Portland.
The term sheet as unamended is a very bad deal for Portland. Historically bad. We’ll go down in history as setting the standard on how to work over a city. Portland deserved so much more than this.
And let me say it once more for the record, I truly love the Blazers. I see how much Portlanders are connected to this team and what they mean to all of us. That’s why I am willing to work for a fair deal and put my best effort forward, but I’m afraid we’re headed toward a “deal” that will defund basic City, County, and State services over the next generation, unless Council approves meaningful changes to the term sheet tomorrow.
The vote on the term sheet will take place at City Council on Wednesday, August 12. We’ll also have to be prepared for last-minute surprises that may not give the public and the Council enough time for review.
If you have not already, I encourage everyone to make their voices heard by contacting your lawmakers via phone and email, attending town halls, and following up. Show up this Wednesday morning to pack the Council Chambers, sit in the seats with your signs (make sure they’re letter-sized or smaller than 8.5”x11”) and make your visible presence hard to ignore.
In Solidarity,
Councilor Mitch Green
Watch: The Economics of Publicly Funded Stadiums – Is Moda the Worst Deal Ever?
The people have spoken. Portlanders like webinars and honest conversations they can’t get elsewhere. It was a privilege to join my co-host Councilor Angelita Morillo and sports economists and senior scholars J.C. Bradbury and Victor Matheson last week. Thank you to the over 130 Portlanders who tuned in.
We’ve also now uploaded the webinar, which you can check out here.
We dove into the history of public financing of sports venues, impacts of professional sports franchises on local economies, and what it means for public funds to be used for the Moda Center renovation. If you want a taste of the conversation, check out this moment where we compare the proposed Moda deal to other ones across the country.
Zenith Vote
In the Spring of 2025, I co-sponsored the resolution to investigate Zenith energy. Unfortunately, the results of that investigation were incredibly unsatisfactory as the report did not meet basic expectations and the requirements stated in the resolution.
Last Thursday the Committee of the Whole considered legislation to consent to a franchise transfer from Zenith Energy to I Squared Capital.
Given the history of Zenith energy, I have many concerns regarding this transfer and as such I will continue to push for transparency and terms that protect Portlanders. This is why I voted no on the transfer, but it still passed 5 no to 7 aye. The vote now heads to the full City Council in the coming weeks. We still have many unanswered questions.
Opportunities to engage
Museum access for educators
Oregon and Washington educators can attend several local museums and cultural attractions for free August 1-16. The Oregon Historical Society, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Portland Chinatown Museum, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Maryhill Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, and Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education all are offering this benefit. For more information on specific locations, events, and tours visit here.
Portland is planting 8,500 trees – this is how you can participate
A greener and cooler Portland starts with you – apply for your free tree today. Whether you are a Portland renter, homeowner, business owner, or educator, we have free trees for you.
A Portland Parks team member will visit your property to evaluate the space and mark planting spots. They’ll handle the planting the following winter and the watering for the next three years—free of charge. Tree planting is funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF). PCEF funds are generated through a 1% surcharge on billion-dollar corporations (not your paychecks)! Community members and voters made this possible.
Free tool libraries
Did you know Portland has six free tool libraries? Whether you’re tackling a home repair, starting a garden project, or trying a new DIY skill, you can borrow the tools you need at no cost.
Summer free for all is in full swing
Summer Free For All builds community through free, inclusive, and family-friendly activities that celebrate Portland’s diverse cultures and local artists.
Council and Committee Meetings with Councilor Green
City Council Meeting
City Council holds regular meetings at 9:30 a.m. on the first, second, fourth and fifth Wednesday and 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. If there is sufficient business, additional meetings are held the following Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
New Committee Meetings
City Council now has 5 committees. This includes Community and Public Safety, City Life, Housing and Permitting, Public Works, and a group known as the Committee of the Whole. I am on the Public Works, Housing, and Committee of the Whole – we hope to see you there.
Need Help? Call These Places
I Need Emergency Services:
Call 911 to reach dispatch for Fire, Ambulance, Police and Portland Street Response.
I Need Social Services:
Call 211 to get help accessing food, employment, housing, or childcare.
I Need Local Government Services in Portland and Multnomah County:
Call 311 to ask a question, request assistance, or report an issue related to local government. This can be anything from potholes to broken street lights.
Resources to Explore
Food Assistance in Multnomah County
Find free groceries, meals, or places to double your SNAP EBT benefits near you
Mental and Behavioral Health Crises
Portland Street Response can be reached by calling 911 or 503-823-PSR3 (7773) from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week
Report concerns related to Federal action
Contact the Oregon Department of Justice and Attorney General Dan Rayfield
Immigrant and Refugee Resources
Portland is a Sanctuary City. Find resources on knowing your rights, legal resources, and state resources on reporting hate crimes and bias incidents
Report a Problem Near the ICE Facility
Complaints for excessive use of force, federal misconduct, helicopter noise, and more
Report sightings of federal officers and ICE activity
Contact the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) Hotline at 1-888-622-1510
Service Members and Veteran Legal Resources
The National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force can help with legal issues
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