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[December 10th, 2008]

THIS IS BUSINESS, NOT CIVICS

If Merritt Paulson were offering Portland $40 million in support of youth soccer [“Paulson’s Pitch,” WW, Nov. 26, 2008] and other youth sports, and the catch was that the city had to pony up an $85 million match—I’m behind that instantly. It’s one area where Portland has pressing needs.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Instead of playing soccer, Paulson is asking citizens to watch soccer—at a price—paid after the $85 million public subsidy.

So let’s step back and remember: MLS is entertainment, and this is business, not civics.

I’m a little surprised that more of a comparison wasn’t made between Merritt Paulson’s pitch to Portland, and what his father is doing as treasury secretary. Since Wall Street blew up, the U.S. has been buying, in various ways, positions in banks, their holdings, and related financial companies. Sure, the goal is to avoid financial collapse, but the bottom line is that U.S. taxpayers, the owners of these properties, are going to eventually make money on the deal.

And only from that position should Sam Adams entertain Paulson’s proposal. Paulson is suggesting a 70/30 investment partnership, and that’s worthy of serious consideration if the city receives a 70% ownership stake in the team.

No, that wouldn’t mean that Sam (or worse, Randy) gets to make team decisions, or trade players. It should mean that if this team does take off, it will be with the full and enthusiastic support of the owners—the citizens of Portland, with the stipulation that in the event of the team’s sale, Portland’s financial stake will be immediately converted into a trust—for youth sports. Now there’s a proposal which might actually fly.

Kim Lathrop
Southeast Harrison Street

LAY OFF IOWA

Response to 11/26/08 letter re: “...Effin’ Iowa”:

Regarding Mr. Taylor’s myopic rear-view mirror, and Iowa as “a state of no-mind”—The Iowa Writer’s Workshop (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa) was the first university creative writing program established in the U.S. (1936). To date, 16 Pulitzer Prize-winning writers have attended.

Iowa ranked 9th in literacy among H.S. grads over 25 (Oregon, 20th—Wikipedia, last published ranking). Iowa was the first state to acknowledge Obama in the nomination saga this year, i.e., his caucus win there. Perhaps not only did Iowans read a tad bit mindfully, maybe even they possess minds of their own. Mr. Taylor’s erudite mindful remark (“...the Iowa of my memory is fuckin’ eerie”) obviously qualifies him as a unique astute observer.

Judd Beck
Northwest Thurman Street