In any discussion of the police budget it's necessary to remember that 5% of the final budget will be preemptively dedicated to the civilian oversight committee that will investigate the police rather than crime. So a $308 million budget will actually be $292 million for policing and $16 million to Joann Hardesty's anti-police legacy.
Both Morillo and Kanal were mentored by Hardesty and are Democrat Socialist of America members who want to end capitalism.
Portland can’t be saved. The sad truth is a majority of voters love this stuff. They just passed the PPS levy. They elected Moyer and Homeless Inc. NPC Shannon Singleton. City council elections are basically rigged - win with 25%, determined via computer algorithm, with shadow campaigns funded by non profits. The rest of us are stuck here under their tyranny, chaos, and punishment - because that’s what it is. We live in a live Stanford prison experiment where the majority takes glee in sadistically humiliating and dominating those who 1) work 2) don’t break the law 3) pay our own way. They think we deserve tents and addicts in our neighborhoods as punishment for wrongthink. I can’t leave, financially. I put down roots and now I pay for it every day. Many others are like me. Every day when I get more than .5 mile from my house I’m wishing for a meteor. That’s all that can “save” Portland.
Other than an avowed candidate running his campaign through Substack, not a bad account of the craziness.
But when will somone call for a new vote to do away with Julia Meiers's legacy--the insane 4 districts/3 per district councilors--elected with 25-percent of an algorithm vote? Max edged into that forbidden territory: " Koyama Lane doesn’t care what District 3 wants, she cares what her backers want."
I’m very doubtful I’ll be elected, but these fools were allowed to lie on the campaign trail with no challengers. There was almost no one willing to take on the controversy of pointing out who these candidates really represented.
By running, I am entitled to my share of the stage. I get microphone time alongside them and I get to press them to say more than the bare minimum empty platitudes.
You’ll be surprised how much the various platforms (local press,League of Women Voters, City Club, the various entities hosting debates) will try to exclude you. They are all part of the local Progressive machine. Actually you probably won’t be surprised, but it will happen.
I worked for twenty years in a worker-owned, consensus-driven cooperative.
In addition to ten-hour days on my feet doing physically demanding, skilled labor, I had to attend anywhere between one and three meetings a week of 90 minutes to 2 hours each, before we opened for business.
When I began working in the co-op, it seemed like a great idea: Informed decision-making, respect for differing perspectives, and greater transparency. What's not to like?
The reality was different. It couldn't NOT be.
I believe it's because it's really hard to run a truly socialist-styled cooperative in the US. When the collective is made up of Americans who were all raised in the marketplace mindset, it becomes nearly impossible for everyone to check their capitalism at the door.
During my tenure in the co-op, the co-owners with the strongest personalities always managed to push their agenda through most often, even if it meant browbeating or bullying the other co-owners into line or at least into silence. This became a more regular occurrence, until things came to a painful head that divided the ownership and created a stalemate situation.
I knew what was coming and decided that I didn't need to see the end of the movie. I turned in my keys, cashed out my credit and quit. I haven't worked in another co-op since.
While I welcomed the restructuring of City Council as a way to expand representation and make it geographical by district, I find that I am greatly disappointed by how things have turned out. The DSA members on the Council are playing fast and loose with procedure while at the same time pretending to act like Socialists. In the end, real Socialists wouldn't have run for something like a City Council -- unless their objective was deliberate disruption for its own sake.
Syed Qasim, backed by the DSA and the Beaverton union, ended up winning in a close race in Beaverton. Disappointing. He is married to Beaverton City councilor Nadia Hasan, who denied October 7. They are committed ideologues. It’s a shame, but that is who is running and winning locally.
Luchador Max Steele, sir. You have my vote already.
In any discussion of the police budget it's necessary to remember that 5% of the final budget will be preemptively dedicated to the civilian oversight committee that will investigate the police rather than crime. So a $308 million budget will actually be $292 million for policing and $16 million to Joann Hardesty's anti-police legacy.
Both Morillo and Kanal were mentored by Hardesty and are Democrat Socialist of America members who want to end capitalism.
Portland City council office budget is number one in the nation for highest spending per capita.
Fraud waste and abuse including four socialists/communists who want to eliminate capitalism…
$16 million! Let me guess they will have their meetings at a 5 star resort in Hawaii.
Thank you for doing this. Fortunately, I moved away from Portland years ago, but I still love the city. So disturbing to see what it’s become.
I know this, but it still shocks me every time I read it.
Portland can’t be saved. The sad truth is a majority of voters love this stuff. They just passed the PPS levy. They elected Moyer and Homeless Inc. NPC Shannon Singleton. City council elections are basically rigged - win with 25%, determined via computer algorithm, with shadow campaigns funded by non profits. The rest of us are stuck here under their tyranny, chaos, and punishment - because that’s what it is. We live in a live Stanford prison experiment where the majority takes glee in sadistically humiliating and dominating those who 1) work 2) don’t break the law 3) pay our own way. They think we deserve tents and addicts in our neighborhoods as punishment for wrongthink. I can’t leave, financially. I put down roots and now I pay for it every day. Many others are like me. Every day when I get more than .5 mile from my house I’m wishing for a meteor. That’s all that can “save” Portland.
Agreed. But who do they think will pay for this nonsense if they drive out all the businesses? I honestly don't get it.
Fantastic summary, Max!! We spoke at a Hotel Zags event a few months ago. I am so happy you are running for city council in 2026.
Other than an avowed candidate running his campaign through Substack, not a bad account of the craziness.
But when will somone call for a new vote to do away with Julia Meiers's legacy--the insane 4 districts/3 per district councilors--elected with 25-percent of an algorithm vote? Max edged into that forbidden territory: " Koyama Lane doesn’t care what District 3 wants, she cares what her backers want."
What to do about that? Elect Max?
Get real.
I’m very doubtful I’ll be elected, but these fools were allowed to lie on the campaign trail with no challengers. There was almost no one willing to take on the controversy of pointing out who these candidates really represented.
By running, I am entitled to my share of the stage. I get microphone time alongside them and I get to press them to say more than the bare minimum empty platitudes.
I'll support you, Max, and vote for you if you're running in my district.
You’ll be surprised how much the various platforms (local press,League of Women Voters, City Club, the various entities hosting debates) will try to exclude you. They are all part of the local Progressive machine. Actually you probably won’t be surprised, but it will happen.
Councilor Avalos wants "more meetings". Yikes.
I worked for twenty years in a worker-owned, consensus-driven cooperative.
In addition to ten-hour days on my feet doing physically demanding, skilled labor, I had to attend anywhere between one and three meetings a week of 90 minutes to 2 hours each, before we opened for business.
When I began working in the co-op, it seemed like a great idea: Informed decision-making, respect for differing perspectives, and greater transparency. What's not to like?
The reality was different. It couldn't NOT be.
I believe it's because it's really hard to run a truly socialist-styled cooperative in the US. When the collective is made up of Americans who were all raised in the marketplace mindset, it becomes nearly impossible for everyone to check their capitalism at the door.
During my tenure in the co-op, the co-owners with the strongest personalities always managed to push their agenda through most often, even if it meant browbeating or bullying the other co-owners into line or at least into silence. This became a more regular occurrence, until things came to a painful head that divided the ownership and created a stalemate situation.
I knew what was coming and decided that I didn't need to see the end of the movie. I turned in my keys, cashed out my credit and quit. I haven't worked in another co-op since.
While I welcomed the restructuring of City Council as a way to expand representation and make it geographical by district, I find that I am greatly disappointed by how things have turned out. The DSA members on the Council are playing fast and loose with procedure while at the same time pretending to act like Socialists. In the end, real Socialists wouldn't have run for something like a City Council -- unless their objective was deliberate disruption for its own sake.
Max if you can claw back any positives in your space it gives hope for others. Thanks so much for your efforts. Be careful my friend
Syed Qasim, backed by the DSA and the Beaverton union, ended up winning in a close race in Beaverton. Disappointing. He is married to Beaverton City councilor Nadia Hasan, who denied October 7. They are committed ideologues. It’s a shame, but that is who is running and winning locally.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/11/20/beaverton-city-councilor-questions-whether-hamas-attack-happened-as-tensions-run-high/
Oh wow. Somehow I didn’t realize they were married.
What district are you going to run in, Max?