Sam Adams recently proposed what would be Portland’s first economic stimulus package. He claims that the city-sponsored funding boost would create 5,000 new jobs.
Adams reassures voters that the stimulus wouldn’t push us deeper into debt, since it would be paid back through taxes and fees. In light of rising unemployment and yesterday’s RMLS report, which indicated that the value of an average Portland home has fallen $50,000 since August, I can’t help but wonder if Portlanders will owe less money in taxes. This could mean that it will take longer than Adams expects to offset the stimulus.
Despite my cynicism, I’m excited about the prospect of one stimulus project Adams mentioned: extending the streetcar. As FosterPowellPDX.com has reported previously, the expanded streetcar system could stretch all the way to Foster and Lents.
What pet projects would you like to see in the Portland stimulus package?
via OPB
Top photo by Thomas Le Ngo.
