If some of Oregon’s most powerful leaders have any say — and they do — hundreds of millions of public dollars will soon be headed toward fixing up Portland’s Moda Center.
That was the overwhelming sense Wednesday morning, as lawmakers began to kick the tires on a new proposal meant to ensure the Trail Blazers remain in the state for decades to come.
Gov. Tina Kotek was on hand to tout the need to “secure Portland’s future.” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson talked of a tenuous civic recovery that would collapse if the Blazers set out for another city. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Senate President Rob Wagner, Metro President Lynn Peterson and a longer list of influential officials are all throwing their weight behind the effort…