🚗 Could Portland eliminate traffic deaths?

Why the New City Administrator Supports Keeping the ICE Facility

Portland's first long-term city administrator, Raymond Lee, has been on the job for two and a half months. Today, he’s answering our questions on some hot-button issues: from his support for the U.S. Immigration and Customs facility in South Portland to the mysterious appearance of an extra $100 million in housing money to the budget crunch City Hall is facing (again). [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Could Portland Eliminate Traffic Deaths?

Ending traffic deaths here might require setting the speed limit to 20 mph citywide — if Hoboken, N.J., is any indication. The East Coast city has done a bunch of things to make its streets safer, including lowering the speed limit — and they haven’t seen a traffic death in nine years. [OPB]

Condo Prices Are Slipping

Now might be a good time for first-time homebuyers to snap up a condo in downtown. Condo prices have fallen nationally, because of higher insurance costs and lower demand. In Portland, the state of downtown has also depressed prices. But there are risks: Condos traditionally appreciate in value more slowly than homes. [Oregonian]

Portland’s Best Irish Bars

Happy St. Patrick’s Day for all who celebrate. And if you’re planning to tip back a pint in honor of the Irish patron saint, Portland Monthly has picks for the best Irish bars in town. The list includes:

• Whelan’s Irish Pub in East Portland’s Mill Park neighborhood
• Dublin Pub in Beaverton [Portland Monthly]

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came to Portland, met briefly with a bunch of elected officials, and attended Friday night’s Trail Blazers game with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.). Wyden reported Silver was pleased with the progress the state and local leaders are making toward funding the renovation of the Moda Center. “He said they’re spending their time well and they’re getting their act together,” Wyden told the Oregonian.

• Setting expectations: Last summer when the Blazers were up for sale, Silver said he’d prefer to see Portland keep a team, but added: “one of the factors there is that the city of Portland likely needs a new arena.” Since then, Oregon and Portland have been scrambling to put together the funding to keep the team. [Oregonian]
• Putting Commissioner Silver on blast: Oregonian columnist Bill Oram sharply criticized the NBA commissioner for refusing to talk to the press while he was in town. Oram argues that Silver should have weighed in on whether the deal that state and local officials are putting together is enough for him to apply pressure to keep the Blazers here. [Oregonian]
• $365M toward revamping Moda Center: The Legislature approved a bill to contribute $365 million in bonds, but they’ll only be issued once the Blazers’ new owner commits to a 20-year lease. The county and city have agreed to come up with the rest of the $600 million package meant to ensure the team’s future in this city. [Oregonian]
• Pressure on Portland City Hall: OPB documents the Blazers’ intense lobbying campaign for a publicly funded stadium upgrade. The effort included a trip to North Carolina for three top city bureaucrats to see the stadium in Raleigh that prospective Trail Blazers’ owner Tom Dundon has for his NHL team — as well as the new Charlotte Hornets’ stadium. [OPB]
• A better deal for Portland with a team here? In today’s interview, City Administrator Raymond Lee made the case that the Moda Center needs a renovation — with or without the Trail Blazers. It is, after all, a city property. “ We have to do this one way or another, with the Blazers or without the Blazers, with this being a city asset,” he said. “ We're gonna have to do this, but it's more palatable to be able to do this when you have an anchor tenant in your facility.” [City Cast Portland 🎧]