As the city prepares to negotiate a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to fund arena renovations, Portlanders — and our city councilors — should remember there is a host of options between going nuclear and complete capitulation. The city does not need to call team owner Tom Dundon’s “bluff” nor lick his boots to reach a deal.
Another fact to keep in mind: Negotiating under a confidentiality agreement does not prevent city officials from fully informing the public about the choices, costs and benefits they face, as some councilors seem to have misunderstood. A nondisclosure agreement is about keeping a private business’ financial information or other critical data confidential — not about keeping the public in the dark about commitments on its behalf.
Unfortunately, the rhetoric these days seems designed to stoke people’s suspicion, raise the temperature and turn this high-stakes issue into a referendum on billionaires. Portlanders should resist the lazy narratives and keep their eye on the prize: securing a fiscally responsible agreement that renovates the Moda Center, keeps the Trail Blazers in Portland long-term and ensures the public’s interests are protected. The city can and must get this done this year, but success will depend on our elected officials leading with professionalism, urgency and a genuine commitment to land a deal…