Republican House and Senate leaders Mike McLane and Ted Ferrioli join KATU's anchor Steve Dunn at the Capitol to discuss PERS reforms and stalled budget negotiations. Democratic leaders House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney were invited but declined to participate.
Oregon is known for being environmentally friendly. But over 100 of our schools are in so-called toxic air pollution "hot spots." And one of the worst is Roosevelt High in Portland. But students are hoping to change all that and went to the Capitol on Thursday to support House Bill 3492.
When Fujitsu built on Stark Street it created lots of jobs, schools, streets, neighborhoods... All requiring police, fire, etc. This caused property values and taxes to increase. When Fujitsu closed, property values plummeted, tax revenues dropped, and they had to raise taxes on property owners and businesses to pay for the services that weren't necessary until the plant was built. The city couldn't pay its bills. So in order to get out of debt they had to get somebody in the old Fujitsu plant as quickly as possible even if it meant huge tax breaks while the residents paid more. Basically, Gresham got treated like a stripper who lets her boyfriend move in and use her until he was done with her, and then bailed and left her to pay the utilities and clean up the mess. Some people are just destined to allow themselves to be treated like that, and others who will take advantage of them. Most don't really want to know about it as long as they can throw money at strippers once in awhile.
Your analogy is correct and thank you for speaking out.
What about the schools and the neighborhoods literally right across the street? In Vegas and Reno, there are parking lots, pawn shops, strip clubs, bus transit, strip malls... A large buffer between the casino and the community. What about traffic? How are 2000 employees and all of the tens of thousands of patrons it would take daily to employ them.... How are all those people going to get there without removing homes to widen the roads? How come NOBODY FROM THE CASINO HAS EVEN BOTHERED TO ASK ME, A NEIGHBOR, IF I HAD ANY CONCERNS before publicly stating that the only people when opposed it were Indian casino people?
 @Playanekes Have you been to Vegas lately? The separation is not as great as you are thinking, anymore.
Interesting statements by Mr. Metsger on the measure. In his comments he forgot to mention a private casino must be in an incorporated city and that once a state measure is passed to support said casino than it is pretty much down hill for that investor. And there will be 100 security officers at this casino. I don't even think Vegas Casinos operate with that many security officers since the high tech revolution placed cameras in casinos. And correlation of crime and casinos is a true statement as there have been o real studies on this item. But is accurate to say that since most casinos in Oregon are in rural areas that people drive to them and commit their crimes in the ajoining areas. In addiction, many crimes are plea bargains or quickly adjudicated due to high volumes of current case loads. Casinos, as any business, do not really want people to know just how much crime is related to their business.
The gross revenue stated was incorrect as it is adjusted gross revenue and one can look at a tax form to see how the revenues would be adjusted prior to calculating the 25%.
And how many of those employees in local bars or video establishments will pass a security screen for a casino job that pays high dollars? My family was in Vegas during the strikes about wages and after talking to employees I cab=n tell you that their pay is not in the category Mr. Metsger is claiming.
 Why would anyone in sound mind compare a privately owned casino to a solar panel business. The casino will take money out of the pockets of many leaving a negative impact on the community, while a solar panel business brings jobs that creates a product that leaves a positive ecological impact.
Who carings if Clairvest is Canadian or any other country. This is about a business that has a record of locating in a low populated safe city desperate for jobs situated in a major metropolitan area that will draw a billion dollar business and payout large sums of money to get there. The New York race track bidding process just brought all the facts to light.
Finally, the number of jobs that will be created to save Oregon ... well the Des Plaines, IL casino didn't seem to dent the unemployment rate as it was reported at 8.5%. Now that is higher than about the level of Washington, which has numberous casinos to help its 493 million deficit.
@Pauletta how many casino patrons will it take each day, spending how much money, just to employ that many people? Nobody will answer that. Nor will they explain who will pay for the roads and civic infrastructure required, especially if the casino fails? WE PAY FOR IT. THAT'S WHO!