It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. In Portland, after all, the most outlandish things can become reality.
The Oregon Historical Society now finds itself low on funds; a situation that bears some resemblance to what occurred with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Both museums vacated their prior digs in favor of new locations. OMSI managed to find cash from the state in order to stay afloat, but OHS hasn't been quite as adept. Thus, OHS is exploring the creation of a "Heritage Taxing District" which would collect "a modest amount of property taxes" in Multnomah County.
Sorry, folks, but this isn't the Multnomah Country Historical Society. So if you want cash, go state-wide or go nowhere.
In the meantime, having stolen $20 million from the Portland ratepayers to pay for Sam the Sham's latest pet project, water and sewer bureaucrats now want another 9% increase in rates - which are already the highest in the nation. We've seen a 64% increase in rates over the past 11 years, and they want still more. And in the absence of any checks to the process, it takes three Portland City Council votes to keep shafting ratepayers.
Will there ever be anybody in Portland with the spine to say that enough is enough? One thing's for sure - it ain't Randy Leonard.