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Business, tourism and labor leaders urge council to pursue Moda Center renovation with labor protections
Summary
Invited witnesses representing We Are Rip City, labor unions, tourism and regional economic groups told council the renovation and a long-term lease could unlock state funds and protect jobs — while urging strong labor and community benefit commitments.
A wide cross-section of invited witnesses told the council on Aug. 5 that renovating the Moda Center and securing a long-term lease could deliver economic activity, jobs and cultural benefits — but that the public investment must include enforceable labor and community protections.
Mike Phelan of the We Are Rip City coalition said the presence of the team unlocks roughly $365 million in state funding "bonded directly against the revenues of the team," and urged the council to "think bigger" about the city's cultural and economic ecosystem. "Every time I go to a game, I eat at a local restaurant," Phelan said.
Union leaders and labor advocates — including Yasmin Ibarra of SEIU Local 49, Rosetta Venatusi of IATC Local 28 and Graham Trainor of the Oregon AFL-CIO — repeatedly urged the council to require project labor agreements, labor peace agreements and commitments to quality, union jobs both for construction and long-term operations. "This project must raise our region's hard-won standards, not lower them," Trainor said.
Business and tourism representatives also testified in favor. Megan Conway, CEO of Travel Portland, told council that a modernized arena is necessary to attract conventions and concerts that drive downtown hotel occupancy and associated economic benefits. Several speakers urged that community benefits be tied to the financing and that the Blazers and negotiating partners be required to deliver transparent plans and enforceable commitments.
