A war of words has erupted between the Oregonian’s sports columnist and a city councilor over whether Portland should pony up millions in public money to rehab the Moda Center.
Why it matters: Depending on who you believe, the City Council is either about to sign a blank check of taxpayer funds to a billionaire or getting ready to send the Blazers packing if it doesn’t.
Zoom in: It started Sunday with a column from Bill Oram accusing local politicians of “signing the Blazers’ death certificate” for arguing against using city money for Moda upgrades.
- “This is what happens when a generation raised on Aaron Sorkin dialogue and majestic cello crescendos is handed actual power,” Oram wrote, singling out City Councilors Jamie Dunphy and Angelita Morillo.
The other side: Morillo hit back on social media, saying Oram’s column amounted to “licking the bottom of Tom Dundon’s boot,” referring to the Blazers’ new owner, while she loses sleep over cuts to city staff and services “because we always find money for the rich and never for the poor.”…