Portland city politics reporter, @opb.org Past lives: CA, DC, TX 📬 azielinski@opb.org Signal: alex_zee.03 www.opb.org/author/alex-zielinski/https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mtwgpawgjc2cTBD on what this means for PBOT leadership. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwgpawgjc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mtwgkuzujc2cFor those following the ins/outs in Portland City Hall: Priya Dhanapal is stepping down as deputy city admin overseeing public works. We saw a similar exit for former public safety DCA Bob Cozzie earlier this year. PBOT Director Millicent Williams will step in as interim public works DCA.25 Aug 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwgkuzujc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mteursl4322kIn San Antonio, councilors just voted down a proposal to ask the public to vote on whether to spend nearly $500m on an new NBA arena. A lot of similarities (to Portland's Moda debate) in the discourse: "Completing this arena is widely viewed as a necessity to keep the Spurs in San Antonio." https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7519385/2026/08/17/spurs-arena-san-antonio-city-council-mayor/18 Aug 2026 18:45 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteursl4322khttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mtet4l67vc2kHow Pendleton leaders are taking lessons from Portland on addressing homelessness, by thee @antoniosierra.bsky.social : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/17/pendleton-leaders-tour-portland-homelessness-programs/18 Aug 2026 18:15 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtet4l67vc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msyqr3r3gs2jPer the city, the Blazers have agreed to meet and discuss lease terms with Portland officials Monday. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/13/portland-trail-blazers-lease-negotiations/13 Aug 2026 23:01 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyqr3r3gs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mswjwxl57s24Someone described this vote to me today as "the end of the beginning." Anyway! This story will never be over. Here's where things landed: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/12/portland-city-council-approves-moda-center-renovations-term-sheet/13 Aug 2026 01:53 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mswjwxl57s24https://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msvg4qy5dk2hAs the future of Portland’s Moda Center remains in flux, city leaders are looking for other ways to redevelop public land near the NBA arena. Yesterday, councilors hesitantly advanced a plan to partner with Albina Vision Trust on developing land adjacent to the Moda Center. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/12/portland-councilors-land-plan-moda-center/12 Aug 2026 15:12 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvg4qy5dk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msvg2h65e22hWhat to know before today's Portland City Council term sheet vote. (One thing NOT mentioned: New proposal on the table today to ask Blazers for $2M in annual rent as part of starting negotiations) https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/10/moda-center-portland-oregon-sports-baskeball-trail-blazers/12 Aug 2026 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvg2h65e22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msiwyyymuc2yThe basics: -Mult Co approved $101 M investment in Moda, largely from a rental car tax. -Portland City Council didn't approve *any* of the 18 proposed amendments to the term sheet (final vote 8/12). -There's still no clarity on how Portland will be paying its share. -No one is having a good time. [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Aug 2026 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msiwyyymuc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mshix46bks2dA cool thing to do when returning to work after a week off is to immediately spend 8 straight hours watching public meetings. The result: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/06/portland-oregon-moda-center-trail-blazers-basketball/07 Aug 2026 02:26 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mshix46bks2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msgv4mpy322dI did a breakdown on the city's negotiators on the Moda deal last month (linked here). Worth noting Multnomah County announced their Moda negotiator today: Longtime Blazers biz strategist Chris Oxley (& board prez of Sport Oregon, the group lobbying the city/county to keep the Blazers in Portland). https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/22/who-is-leading-portland-moda-center-negotiations-with-the-blazers/06 Aug 2026 20:31 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgv4mpy322dhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3msenpfo3oc2oReturning to work tomorrow after a glorious week off. Here to celebrate @dirquez.bsky.social’s excellent coverage of the Moda debacle in my absence. Get caught up here: https://opb.org/article/2026/08/05/portland-city-council-public-testimony-moda-center-deal/05 Aug 2026 23:13 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3msenpfo3oc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mrntqo2hnk2oA former staffer for Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos claims she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment at work. And she’s planning to sue. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/27/portland-city-staffer-threatens-to-sue-councilor-over-alleged-retaliatory-firing/27 Jul 2026 21:30 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrntqo2hnk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mrn7lntsfs2rAhead of this Thursday's public mtg on the city's Moda Center deal, here are some answers to outstanding questions. (Some new stuff from city officials -- and new answers from the Blazers -- in here.) https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/27/as-moda-center-deal-ooms-portland-city-officials-at-the-center-of-negotiations-weigh-in/27 Jul 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrn7lntsfs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mrdr4veoqc2zPortland's WNBA team has joined the Moda Center chat. “Equitable access means women athletes get the same caliber of infrastructure as their male counterparts, full stop.” https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/23/portland-fire-wnba-pushes-multnomah-county-invest-moda-center-renovations/23 Jul 2026 21:16 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdr4veoqc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mrbfv7unxk2jMayor's First Tiebreaker Vote™️ https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/22/portland-city-council-job-cuts-budget/22 Jul 2026 22:50 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbfv7unxk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mrarpwphrk2fPortland unions are increasingly divided over public money going toward Moda Center investments. Earlier this month, ironworker/electrician unions expressed support Portland putting $$ towards Moda renovations, due to the union jobs it could create.22 Jul 2026 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrarpwphrk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mramrcqzec2yHere's who's representing Portland (and Portland taxpayers) in negotiations with the Trail Blazers over Moda lease: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/22/who-is-leading-portland-moda-center-negotiations-with-the-blazers/22 Jul 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mramrcqzec2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mquu2ieef22yAs debate around public money on Moda Center renovations heats up, officials from Portland’s suburbs are chiming in. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/17/24-mayors-cities-portland-secure-moda-center-deal/17 Jul 2026 22:59 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mquu2ieef22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mqutidhcrk2yFor those curious, the draft term sheet's been posted here: https://www.portland.gov/hello/news/2026/7/16/city-advances-first-draft-moda-center-term-sheet-establishing-framework-keep17 Jul 2026 22:48 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqutidhcrk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mqu3xdxois2nWorth noting here that it appears most councilors were completely blindsided by this term sheet announcement yesterday: http://opb.org/article/2026/07/16/portland-councilors-release-draft-term-sheet-as-business-coalition-presses-for-public-moda-center-funding/17 Jul 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu3xdxois2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mqrjouea422yA proposal to create a new business district in Northeast Portland — which sticks a hefty fee on property owners — has divided an often overlooked neighborhood. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/16/northeast-portland-neighborhood-enhanced-service-district/16 Jul 2026 15:15 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrjouea422yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mqrjlg6exc2yThere's been a LOT of talk about the Blazers recently (too much??) -- and not enough about Portland's trailblazing new WNBA team. Make time for this dive into one of the Fire's stars, Megan Gustafson: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/16/why-portland-fell-in-love-with-megan-gustafson/16 Jul 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrjlg6exc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexzee.bsky.social/post/3mqq7t6gbnk2yImportant update: The city CANNOT begin enforcing fees against the Portland ICE building owners yet. The hearings officer DID determine that the owners violated their land use agreement, but a court has kept the city from enforcing fines until it's hammered out in court. TLDR: TBD https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/10/land-use-ruling-portland-ice-facility-landlord/16 Jul 2026 02:46 +0000at://did:plc:abeinx4mbb65dwju32xp72uu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqq7t6gbnk2y