Portland's new mayor ran on a promise to end homelessness. Missed that goal, but he’s raised taxes and fees $1 billion annually on city residents.

Photo above - Portland Oregon's homeless population soared 500% during the past decade. It is possible that substance abuse is the real problem, and not wages and affordable housing options?

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson – a millionaire CEO – isn’t what you’d expect. Not only is he a first time mayor, this is his first political office of any kind. A democrat, he ran on a platform of ending homelessness. Great Idea, no? One year in, he’s mostly raised taxes, fees, and utility bills for city residents (see links below)

- Water bills rise $120 a month, $1,400 a year

- Electric bills up $96 a month, $1,100 a year

- Natural gas bills up $53 a month, $600 a year

- Additional new taxes and increases on everything from the “arts tax”, road repairs, trash collection, “Preschool for all”, and “supportive housing services” (This one actually sounds like it has something to do with homelessness).

The total increase (per resident) seems lowballed at $1,500. Until you realize that Portland has 635,000 residents. For a family of 4, this could mean $6,000 in higher costs. Turn down the thermostat and take fewer showers, maybe?

It’s easy to get mad at politicians like Keith Wilson for outrageous lying. Look at what we got from Trump, Biden, Obama etc. But the real problem is the media. During an election cycle they never ask specific questions about taxes and spending. And after winners are sworn in, they don’t hold anyone to account when they openly break their promises. Politicians will continue pull this stuff as long as we allow them to get away with it. Think of all the people in office right now which we’d like to immediately recall and remove, especially at the national level. Nobody voted for war with Iran and Cuba, Venezuelan kidnappings, and the upcoming UFC fight extravaganza on the White House lawn.

Related rant. I would like to hold disciplinary hearings for any Walter Reed medical center doctors found to be lying when they assert the president is in "perfect heath". This is a serious breach of medical ethics, which goes back over several presidential administrations.

Keith Wilson certainly isn’t the nation’s most inept mayor. But you have to wonder about anyone who claims “the cost of doing nothing is more expensive.” Okay, can you show me the spreadsheet then, where spending a billion dollars without results is the best outcome?

I’m just sayin’ . . .



Portland residents face wave of new taxes and fee hike

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/portland-residents-face-wave-of-new-taxes-and-fee-hikes/ar-AA24jj8g?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6a1975eb120a436d9446657405086131&ei=50

Keith Wilson (mayor) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Wilson_(mayor)