Now you can expect the lawsuit and the waste of time and money associated with it. The City Council today unanimously voted to be sued to approve the satellite district and give $19 million in River District URA dollars to fund construction of a school at David Douglas.
I guess they think they are being magnanimous, but in reality they are just breaking the law. And the mystery surrounding this that has never been answered is that out of all the schools in the Portland Public School System, why was David Douglas selected? Portland Public Schools certainly didn't have any say in this, because they were never consulted. So just how did the Leonard and Sten determine that David Douglas was more deserving than any other school?
Leonard and Sten like to say that the development in the River District drove up inner city housing prices and forced low-income families to the David Douglas district. But that rational is completely bogus, because it ignores the realities of the real estate market over the last 5 years.
Historically low interest rates, mortgage-backed securities, and banks loosening credit standards to sell more subprime loans created an overheated housing market. Housing prices all over the city and the country rose. Development in the River District didn't cause the prices of houses to rise along Mississippi or Alberta or Hawthorne streets. This argument plays well to those angry about Urban Renewal but has no basis in fact.
So while the courts decide the fate of the satellite district, the City Council will ignore addressing the real issues with Portland Schools, time will be wasted, and the kids Leonard and Sten claim to be fighting for will remain in over-crowded classrooms.
Read the Portland Tribune's story.
Read The Oregonian's story.
**Update 6/26/08**
The Portland Tribune has a good story as to why the City Council should not take this to Salem.
What over crowded classrooms are you talking about? Show me some in the Portland Public School District. The middle schools in the David Dougals School District all have a higher enrollment than 4 of the High Schools in the Portland Public School District. Besides that the PPSD is closing schools and consolidating others because they don't have enough kids to fill them so why in the world would they need to be consulted on the needs of the DDSD in regarud to a new school?
Kyle,
You have a point. I believe I mixed PPS with DD School District. You're right DDSD doesn't have to consult with PPS.
My opposition to the satellite concept is because it goes against how Urban Renewal is defined, and is therefore legally questionable or, in my opinion, illegal. Urban Renewal dollars are to be used in the defined URA, whether its Lents, Central Eastside, or the River District. The goal is to raise property values and therefore property taxes. Once the URA expires and the bonds are paid off, those increased property taxes flow into the general fund.
A specific project that is 15 miles or so from the defined URA does not contribute to those goals.
Im not saying that DDSD doesnt need help, Im just saying that the City Council is doing it a way they shouldnt. The legal fight is coming and I believe that Salem will rule against the Satellite District. Rather than waste the time and money on what I see to be a losing effort, the City should be working on other viable solutions.
I also fear that this kind of a change would open a Pandoras box and would render Urban Renewal ineffective because the money would be spread too thin.
Thanks commenting.