The Moda Center renovation debate is about principle and fairness — not about entertainment. A billionaire doesn’t need the city’s money. That’s the crux of the situation.
If you want to be Howard Hughes, then put your money where your mouth is and spend it. If you have a fortune, then use it to make money — but don’t use us. Public funds aren’t meant to help rich people who would use a sports team as ransom to leverage renovation money from taxpayers.
If team owner Tom Dundon wants to make money here, do it. If he wants to spend more money to take the Portland Trail Blazers somewhere else, do it. He would have to spend lots of money to move a whole team, but I’m sure he’s already figured out which path would be cheaper…