Testimony on the Climate Justice Plan and Moda Center
Good morning Commissioners, my name is Nathan Ong Norris, I’m a community organizer with the Democratic Socialists of America, and I'm a candidate for district 2.
I am happy to see the excellent work in the Climate Justice Plan, I believe this to be a critical and necessary step for our community to adapt and endure the ongoing climate crisis. Many of the strategies in the Climate Justice Plan require expanding or novel capacity for the county, and it is irresponsible to adopt this plan, which we sorely need, while simultaneously throwing away dollars to a billionaire-owned sports franchise, without any guarantees.
If the Blazers are as critical to the county as clean water and clean air, let the basketball team expand our capacity by paying for these specific strategies detailed in the Climate Justice Plan.
Transit Strategy Four is: Secure sustainable transit funding and work toward a universally accessible, high-quality, and resilient transit system. Therefore it makes perfect sense to tie this MODA center deal to the transit center that many people utilize to travel to and from games and concerts. For the duration of the Blazers’ time in Portland, every transit line that has a stop in the Rose Quarter Transit center should be fully funded, and should run 24 hours a day, with electric buses.
Clean Energy Strategy 1 is: Decarbonize Multnomah County operations and strengthen the resilience of County infrastructure. This board should demand that the renovation include adding solar panels to the roof of Moda center, and a massive battery backup system installed in the basement. Insist those upgrades be done by local, unionized labor. When the power goes out in Portland, let our stadium be a place to gather, to talk to each other, and seek safety. Let the Blazers not only be our basketball team, but the neighbors we can rely on in crisis. Demand nothing less.
Deals with Dundon and Rip City Management are opportunities for investment by outside sources into our communities to support the goals of the climate justice plan. I urge you to adopt the climate justice plan, and then live by it immediately, at this meeting.
I understand that these demands may seem radical, so I offer an alternative from my siblings at AFSCME 88: Stop the vote! Hire a professional negotiator. Don’t sell us out.
Thank you.
Nathan Ong Norris, Candidate for Multnomah County Commissioner District 2