BudgetMania! Homepage
The annual budget fight is here, and I get to pull out all of my Professional Wrestling metaphors! This page will be updated as new information comes in.
I’m being flippant with my tone but it’s a good time to remind you of two things. First, we are arguing about approximately $100 million in an over $8 billion dollar budget. None of this is existential, but cuts will affect real people and serve as an indication of where this city if going over the next few years.
Here are the articles in chronological order (added as I publish them):
BudgetMania!
On a serious note: last Wednesday night (the same night as the budget meeting) a horrible terror attack, targeting Jews, was successfully carried out in Washington, DC. Two beautiful young people were murdered by a radical leftist terrorist. We will come back this story, how it ties into the hateful rhetoric the DSA and allies have been spreading for th…
BudgetMania! Part II
First, I went back on Andy Chandler’s NW Fresh podcast (again!) to give the Portland City Council a 6 month evaluation. We used the budget process as key performance indicator.
Important Links
Useful Graphics
Lineup
This is supposedly a non-partisan city council. There aren’t meant to be factions/stables, so let’s start with the councilors who understand that.
Half the council are the adults in the room. Love them, hate them, or somewhere in between. Now, we’ll look at the alliance of the Democratic Socialists 🌹 and friends.
The Progressive Caucus (P-Cauc) 🦚
Avalos and her pal Dunphy have forged an unstable alliance with the Democratic Socialists. The DSA are already known for circular firing squads within their own ranks and I don’t think Avalos understands how temporary this “axis of progress” is. At this point, it’s hard to tell who is more dangerous for Portland’s long-term health.
Novick is pure chaos. Absolutely not on board with the rest of the normal councilors. Expect a “surprise” heel-turn at a crucial moment.
Current winner of “Most Insane Power Grab” with her amendment to moe 75% of Police and Fire overtime under council control.
Green is the chaos element on the partisan side. I’m not fan, but he has been known to swing sensible before.