Thanks for reposting this analysis. Mind boggling. Sadly, I don't imagine anything this informative, thorough or comprehensive will be paid attention to by anyone with decision making authority, and Portland voters will see the words "education" and "black and brown" and surely approve any tax increase that follows. Because equity.
Here's a profile of the Oregon establishment's new "it" girl Rukaiyah Adams.
John H. Charles Jr. of the Cascade Policy Institute credits Ms. Adams with the idea for what became the Center for Black Student Excellence (CSBE). In the tech field, the CBSE would be called vaporware. Typically the proceeds of school bonds intended to cover only capital costs are not used to purchase black nationalist vaporware.
On May 29, the Oregon Senate Rules Committee approved Governor Kotek’s appointment of Rukaiyah Adams to the Port of Portland Commission.
Since January 2023, Adams has served as chief executive officer of the 1803 Fund, which seeks to grow shared prosperity through the alignment of financial investments and investments in community-based organizations. Through August 2022, Adams was chief investment officer at Meyer Memorial Trust, one of the largest charitable trusts in the Pacific Northwest, and prior to that role, Adams ran the $6.5 billion capital markets fund at The Standard. Throughout her career, Adams has been leading the field of socially responsible investing.
"I’m thrilled that Rukaiyah is joining the Port’s board of commissioners,” said Curtis Robinhold, Port of Portland executive director. “She’s a big-picture thinker who brings best-in-class finance and community development expertise to the challenges and opportunities facing both the Port and our region in the years ahead."
From 2017 to 2020, Adams was chair of the Oregon Investment Council. She currently serves on the boards of the Albina Vision Trust, the Self Enhancement, Inc. Foundation, Oregon Health and Science University Foundation, and Oregon Public Broadcasting, where she is also the current chair. Admas also serves on the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College, a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
"I am honored to join the Port of Portland Commission,” said Rukaiyah Adams. “I look forward to sharing my expertise, networks and imagination to advance the Port's work in unlocking new opportunities for everyone."
I found myself almost blind with outrage reading this thorough compilation of flat out incompetence and deceit by PPS staff and board. The summary doesn't even mention a $200 millon overrun that an audit never tracked down, overseen by the same folks now in charge of new construction. No consequence for repeated stupidity because apparently Portland taxpayers continue a blind belief in public education despite dismal results for years. A serious pushback effort is required to prevent any thought of getting this ridiculous bond even put on the ballot in May. Let's get going folks.
So the elitist Black organizations continue to blackmail PPS. No one ever put it so bluntly but the truth is hard to ignore. And for whatever "white guilt" reasons it keeps increasing in cost to the district. All dating back to, at that time, some honorable Black men who wanted to positively influence Black male students by playing a regular game of hoops. The adults were corrupted, white and black; and the Black students, male or female, suffer. Just effing hold ALL parents accountable and stop lining the pockets of a few. Shame on the minority community for not recognizing they are being used as pawns. Shame on the whities for costing all of us for nothing.
Wow, and any school bond is an automatic pass in Portland. Here’s a summary of Mr, Charles’ thorough analysis and some actions on how to oppose this boondoggle of a bond. Although in Portland it seems “resistance is futile”.
SUMMARY: The proposed PPS bond: a masterclass in how to take a good idea (improving schools) and turn it into a bloated, overpriced mess. Several major problems with the process have been identified, including:
Lack of transparency: The cost estimates for the bond have changed more often than a teenager's mood, with no clear explanation or methodology for the changes. For instance, the cost estimate for the new Jefferson High School has ranged from $435 million to $491 million, and was even reduced to $366 million in December, without any detailed cost estimates being shared with the public. Because who needs transparency when you're asking taxpayers to foot the bill?
Inconsistent planning: The bond proposal includes a generic list of "Modernizations" totaling $1.15 billion, which is not supported by detailed cost estimates or a clear plan for implementation. The staff's decision to put forth a list of projects without any reference to a defensible cost methodology is concerning, especially given the previous discussions about the cost of individual schools. It's like they threw a bunch of ideas against the wall and hoped something would stick.
Overbuilding: The new Jefferson High School is being planned for 1,700 students, despite current enrollment being only 459, which will result in a significant waste of taxpayer funds. This is similar to the situation with Benson High School, which was built for 1,700 students but currently has only 869 enrolled. Because who needs to worry about actual enrollment numbers when you're building a school?
Failure to deliver on previous promises: PPS has a history of underperforming on previous bond commitments. For example, the 2017 bond had artificially low cost estimates, which were reduced by nearly $100 million without a documented method or rationale. Similarly, the 2020 bond included a headline project, the rebuild of Jefferson High School, which has since been revised multiple times, with the cost estimate growing from $311 million to $366 million and then to $491 million, before being reduced back to $366 million. It's like they're playing a game of bond-estimate whack-a-mole.
Lack of accountability: The PPS Board's credibility is at risk due to its failure to deliver on previous promises and its lack of transparency in the bond planning process. The handling of the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) project is a notable example of this. The project was introduced without a clear plan or budget, and the $60 million allocated for the project has not been used effectively. As Dan Jung, PPS chief operating officer, stated, "The CBSE is different from some of the other scopes of work that are in this and past bonds in that the scope is yet to be defined in many ways." Which is just a fancy way of saying "we have no idea what we're doing."
To prevent the passage of this overpriced bond, concerned citizens can take the following steps:
Educate themselves and others: Learn more about the bond proposal, its costs, and its potential impact on the community. Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors to raise awareness about the issues with the bond. Because knowledge is power, and in this case, it's also a powerful tool for stopping a bad bond.
Attend community meetings and forums: Participate in public meetings and forums to express concerns and ask questions about the bond proposal. This can help to hold the PPS Board accountable and ensure that their voices are heard. Just don't expect them to actually listen or respond in a meaningful way.
Contact local representatives: Reach out to local representatives, such as school board members and city councilors, to express concerns about the bond proposal. Encourage them to prioritize transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in the bond planning process. Good luck with that.
1) Vote "no" on the bond: Send a message to the PPS Board that the community expects more transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in the bond planning process. It's the only way to ensure that they don't get away with this nonsense.
2) Advocate for a revised bond proposal: Encourage the PPS Board to revise the bond proposal to address the concerns mentioned above. This could include reducing the scope of the bond, providing more detailed cost estimates, and prioritizing projects that are most critical to the community. But let's be real, they're probably just going to ignore you and do what they want anyway.
By taking these steps, concerned citizens can help to ensure that the PPS Board is held accountable for its actions and that the community is protected from an overpriced and poorly planned bond proposal. But no promises, because let's face it, this is the PPS Board and Portland voters we're talking about.
And here is a comprehensive article on the bevy of taxes faced by Portlanders….individuals and businesses.
https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/state/portland-taxes/
Thanks for reposting this analysis. Mind boggling. Sadly, I don't imagine anything this informative, thorough or comprehensive will be paid attention to by anyone with decision making authority, and Portland voters will see the words "education" and "black and brown" and surely approve any tax increase that follows. Because equity.
Here's a profile of the Oregon establishment's new "it" girl Rukaiyah Adams.
John H. Charles Jr. of the Cascade Policy Institute credits Ms. Adams with the idea for what became the Center for Black Student Excellence (CSBE). In the tech field, the CBSE would be called vaporware. Typically the proceeds of school bonds intended to cover only capital costs are not used to purchase black nationalist vaporware.
================================================================
Rukaiyah Adams joins Port of Portland Commission
6/12/24
On May 29, the Oregon Senate Rules Committee approved Governor Kotek’s appointment of Rukaiyah Adams to the Port of Portland Commission.
Since January 2023, Adams has served as chief executive officer of the 1803 Fund, which seeks to grow shared prosperity through the alignment of financial investments and investments in community-based organizations. Through August 2022, Adams was chief investment officer at Meyer Memorial Trust, one of the largest charitable trusts in the Pacific Northwest, and prior to that role, Adams ran the $6.5 billion capital markets fund at The Standard. Throughout her career, Adams has been leading the field of socially responsible investing.
"I’m thrilled that Rukaiyah is joining the Port’s board of commissioners,” said Curtis Robinhold, Port of Portland executive director. “She’s a big-picture thinker who brings best-in-class finance and community development expertise to the challenges and opportunities facing both the Port and our region in the years ahead."
From 2017 to 2020, Adams was chair of the Oregon Investment Council. She currently serves on the boards of the Albina Vision Trust, the Self Enhancement, Inc. Foundation, Oregon Health and Science University Foundation, and Oregon Public Broadcasting, where she is also the current chair. Admas also serves on the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College, a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
"I am honored to join the Port of Portland Commission,” said Rukaiyah Adams. “I look forward to sharing my expertise, networks and imagination to advance the Port's work in unlocking new opportunities for everyone."
https://www.portofportland.com/Newsroom/rukaiyah-adams-joins-port-of-portland-commission
I found myself almost blind with outrage reading this thorough compilation of flat out incompetence and deceit by PPS staff and board. The summary doesn't even mention a $200 millon overrun that an audit never tracked down, overseen by the same folks now in charge of new construction. No consequence for repeated stupidity because apparently Portland taxpayers continue a blind belief in public education despite dismal results for years. A serious pushback effort is required to prevent any thought of getting this ridiculous bond even put on the ballot in May. Let's get going folks.
So the elitist Black organizations continue to blackmail PPS. No one ever put it so bluntly but the truth is hard to ignore. And for whatever "white guilt" reasons it keeps increasing in cost to the district. All dating back to, at that time, some honorable Black men who wanted to positively influence Black male students by playing a regular game of hoops. The adults were corrupted, white and black; and the Black students, male or female, suffer. Just effing hold ALL parents accountable and stop lining the pockets of a few. Shame on the minority community for not recognizing they are being used as pawns. Shame on the whities for costing all of us for nothing.
Mind boggling malfeasance. Just mind boggling. But then again, this is Portland.
Wow, and any school bond is an automatic pass in Portland. Here’s a summary of Mr, Charles’ thorough analysis and some actions on how to oppose this boondoggle of a bond. Although in Portland it seems “resistance is futile”.
SUMMARY: The proposed PPS bond: a masterclass in how to take a good idea (improving schools) and turn it into a bloated, overpriced mess. Several major problems with the process have been identified, including:
Lack of transparency: The cost estimates for the bond have changed more often than a teenager's mood, with no clear explanation or methodology for the changes. For instance, the cost estimate for the new Jefferson High School has ranged from $435 million to $491 million, and was even reduced to $366 million in December, without any detailed cost estimates being shared with the public. Because who needs transparency when you're asking taxpayers to foot the bill?
Inconsistent planning: The bond proposal includes a generic list of "Modernizations" totaling $1.15 billion, which is not supported by detailed cost estimates or a clear plan for implementation. The staff's decision to put forth a list of projects without any reference to a defensible cost methodology is concerning, especially given the previous discussions about the cost of individual schools. It's like they threw a bunch of ideas against the wall and hoped something would stick.
Overbuilding: The new Jefferson High School is being planned for 1,700 students, despite current enrollment being only 459, which will result in a significant waste of taxpayer funds. This is similar to the situation with Benson High School, which was built for 1,700 students but currently has only 869 enrolled. Because who needs to worry about actual enrollment numbers when you're building a school?
Failure to deliver on previous promises: PPS has a history of underperforming on previous bond commitments. For example, the 2017 bond had artificially low cost estimates, which were reduced by nearly $100 million without a documented method or rationale. Similarly, the 2020 bond included a headline project, the rebuild of Jefferson High School, which has since been revised multiple times, with the cost estimate growing from $311 million to $366 million and then to $491 million, before being reduced back to $366 million. It's like they're playing a game of bond-estimate whack-a-mole.
Lack of accountability: The PPS Board's credibility is at risk due to its failure to deliver on previous promises and its lack of transparency in the bond planning process. The handling of the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) project is a notable example of this. The project was introduced without a clear plan or budget, and the $60 million allocated for the project has not been used effectively. As Dan Jung, PPS chief operating officer, stated, "The CBSE is different from some of the other scopes of work that are in this and past bonds in that the scope is yet to be defined in many ways." Which is just a fancy way of saying "we have no idea what we're doing."
To prevent the passage of this overpriced bond, concerned citizens can take the following steps:
Educate themselves and others: Learn more about the bond proposal, its costs, and its potential impact on the community. Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors to raise awareness about the issues with the bond. Because knowledge is power, and in this case, it's also a powerful tool for stopping a bad bond.
Attend community meetings and forums: Participate in public meetings and forums to express concerns and ask questions about the bond proposal. This can help to hold the PPS Board accountable and ensure that their voices are heard. Just don't expect them to actually listen or respond in a meaningful way.
Contact local representatives: Reach out to local representatives, such as school board members and city councilors, to express concerns about the bond proposal. Encourage them to prioritize transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in the bond planning process. Good luck with that.
1) Vote "no" on the bond: Send a message to the PPS Board that the community expects more transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in the bond planning process. It's the only way to ensure that they don't get away with this nonsense.
2) Advocate for a revised bond proposal: Encourage the PPS Board to revise the bond proposal to address the concerns mentioned above. This could include reducing the scope of the bond, providing more detailed cost estimates, and prioritizing projects that are most critical to the community. But let's be real, they're probably just going to ignore you and do what they want anyway.
By taking these steps, concerned citizens can help to ensure that the PPS Board is held accountable for its actions and that the community is protected from an overpriced and poorly planned bond proposal. But no promises, because let's face it, this is the PPS Board and Portland voters we're talking about.