Mr. Why: Milwaukie Light Rail Extension is Busted & Broke in Funding (and Ethics)

December 3, 2010

Mr. Why joins www.VictoriaTaft.com to comment on transportation and planning issues.

There’s your fiscal reality and then there’s the magical world of light rail fiscal surreality:

Milwaukie unsure how to pay for Portland-Milwaukie MAX line

But having no money is no impediment to the professional planning class. Behind that benign sounding headline in a recent news account is a story about conniving, self dealing, and ignoring the public that should make your blood boil.

A recent poll conducted for Americans for Prosperity in Clackamas County found 71% of respondents (the plurality of respondents Democrats) don’t want Milwaukie Light rail. But that still isn’t enough, apparently, to stop this bunch hell bent on “finding” money we don’t have to finance this train we don’t want.

Leaders pretend to listen and do what they want anyway. Just take a look at these quotes from them from two recent news articles one of which is here:

“We believe light rail is very, very important and a project that needs to get done. We’d be willing to listen to Milwaukie and discuss any figure amount.”

It’s only important by decree without any want, need or demand ever shown. The public does not want this project or the $1.5 billion bill for it. Apparently listening to THAT part of Milwaukie is out of the question.

“If we don’t put up that money, TriMet will have the opportunity to take away aspects of the line that make the city’s neighborhoods better.”

There is nothing about MAX that will make their neighborhoods better. Ask Rockwood.

“The $5 million contribution is important to community leaders who have toiled for more than a decade to meet Milwaukie neighborhoods’ demands regarding the project”.

Put the project in the toilet and flush it and everyone benefits.The people don’t want it, your “toiling” notwithstanding.

“Jim Bernard, who was mayor of Milwaukie when the city committed the $5 million and is now a Clackamas County commissioner, said the county might extend a lifeline.”

That’s hilarious because the County has no source for their own $25 million share.

“Clackamas County has already made a $25 million commitment to the light rail project”.

Whom do you serve, Clackamas County Commission? The people you claim to serve don’t want it and furthermore the county has no source of revenue. The county is maxed out with $233 million in debt and no borrowing capacity.

“The county loan would help create an urban renewal district in Milwaukie, something he vigorously supported as mayor.”

The Milwaukie citizenry will oppose any UR district.

“In 2009, a private Portland-based consulting firm, Tashman Johnson LLC, conducted a urban renewal feasibility study in Milwaukie. It concluded that light rail is essential to creating an urban renewal district but cautioned that the light rail project should not be financed by urban renewal dollars.”

Tashman enriches himself as a hired gun for Urban Renewal districts.

“Urban Milwaukie Mayor Jeremy Ferguson, who is employed by TriMet, said the city is considering a TriMet loan with a 20-year repayment plan.”

TriMet is broke and can’t afford to borrow their own $60 million share.

“Until Milwaukie gives its regional partners a signal, the $5 million question looms large.”

Loom this: Clackamas County and Milwaukie have no source of funding and their voters will stop any stunts. Portland does not have all of their share and will not get the $20 Million Mayor Sam Adams intends on pulling out of the Sellwood Bridge imaginary funding because voters will also prevent Clackamas County from putting in their planned $22 million.Get the picture? Fixing the Sellwood Bridge, which should be a priority, is being held hostage to light rail funding.

Posted by Mr.Why?

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Mr. Why: Milwaukie Light Rail Extension is Busted & Broke in Funding (and Ethics)

December 3, 2010

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