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Five months AFTER the “Public Money 101” workshop was offered lead organizer Amanda Pham Haines gave this stunning testimony to a commitee of the Oregon City Council. It is a master class on public policy, racial economic justice, who plans what for who, and – of course, why TIFs are bad for the people.Here is a transcript of her remarks:
TIF Illumination Project Lead Organizer Tom Tresser was engaged by Unite Oregon to craft a two-day training event called “Public Money 101” that was designed for community members to become experts on the Portland city budget, and especially to interogate how Tax Increment Financing Districts are being used there and how new ones that are being proposed are to be used. This was a master-class series of trainings designed to asnswer the questions (1) “Who plans what for who around here and who profits FROM those plans?” and (2) “What do WE THE PEOPLE mean by “community development?”
Here’s how the workshop was described: “Join us on Thursday, October 3rd and Friday, October 4th from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM at Meyer Memorial Trust to learn how public dollars are allocated to private concerns and how you can influence spending to better serve our collective needs! Improve your advocacy and community engagement by gaining a deeper understanding of how Portland’s city budget and programs operate.
This interactive two-day workshop broght together a diverse group of advocates, planners, and professionals to:
“Knowledge is power when it comes to navigating and influencing public resources. Join us to strengthen your ability to advocate for your community’s priorities. Plus, there’s an afterparty!” Here is the attendee handout.
The lead organizer for Unite Oregon was Amanda Pham Haines, the Anti-Displacement PDX Coalition Director and Unite Oregon Housing Justice Manager. Contact me -> tom at tresser dot com
Here is Amanda’s comments on my work:
Tom Tresser played a crucial role in supporting the Anti-Displacement PDX Coalition and Unite Oregon’s efforts to understand and address complex housing finance mechanisms in Portland. As the Coalition Director and Housing Justice Manager, I sought Tom’s expertise because of the concerning lack of transparency surrounding the city’s use of Tax Increment Financing (TIFs). At the time, six new TIF districts were proposed, and community members, including myself and my constituents, were apprehensive about their potential impact.
We partnered with Tom to design and facilitate a two-day retreat focused on public budgeting and the use of TIFs in Portland. Tom’s contributions were invaluable. He developed accessible educational materials on public budgeting that provided a foundational understanding for all participants. Furthermore, Tom’s in-depth research and analysis of Portland’s existing TIF districts brought unprecedented clarity to a previously opaque system. This work revealed critical issues and unanswered questions regarding the use and impact of TIFs, information that had never before been publicly available.
This retreat, facilitated by Tom, has directly led to several significant outcomes. It has empowered our coalition to engage more effectively in public discussions surrounding TIFs and advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the city’s budgeting processes. It has also sparked crucial conversations with city officials and other stakeholders about the equitable use of public funds for community development. We continue to draw upon the knowledge and resources Tom provided as we work towards a more just and equitable housing system in Portland.
I highly recommend Tom for any project requiring expertise in public finance, community engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. His ability to translate complex information into accessible terms, coupled with his inspiring and collaborative approach, makes him a truly valuable asset.
The following presentation from three community-based organizations, all members of the ADPDX Coalition, represents an unprecedented opportunity generated by the momentum of the Public Money 101 Workshop series. As Portland’s City Council now debates amendments to increase both community and intergovernmental oversight of Prosper Portland (our local urban renewal and economic development agency), it clearly demonstrates the reach of Tom’s impact in amplifying community power through civic education.
Sincerely,
Amanda Pham Haines Housing Justice Manager, Unite OregonCoalition Director, Anti-Displacement PDX
Portland Budget Director Ruth Levine presents on the basics of the city budget at “Public Money 101” – it was extremely illuminating!
