The Real Story – A Column
The folks at More Perfect Union, a major non-profit national news outlet, are closely watching the situation in Hillsboro. They attended the Town Hall on Washington County State Senator Janeen Sollman’s latest push to grow the Industrial land base in Hillsboro. They have interviewed the major players and have connected the dots between money influence, the energy cabal, and these same actors. Things are not right here – people are not being truthful or honest about the motivations behind the pending Senate Bill 1586 being promoted to extend the Enterprise Zone property tax giveaways from 5 years to 10. Sollman has wrangled up a committee of Primary Bill sponsors, including both powerful Republicans and heavily influential Democrats. The Herald is working on a story that will connect this spider’s web of actors, both at the Capitol and Hillsboro City Hall, and in the private sector. The Energy sector and private equity firms are behind this push, and it is bad for Oregon. Today we share the Video from More Perfect Union!
People are waking up to this issue, and the one person who can halt this, Governor Tina Kotek, appears to be the most heavily compromised player in this entire story. People who take massive amounts of money from those who will reap this financial harvest should not be in the decision-making line, yet they are. Oregon appears to have left its noble Tom McCall roots behind, and these leaders reflect more of a Mayor Daley / Tammany Hall modus operandi. Will the good people be heard on this issue, or will this current group of supposed leaders reflect more of a Trumpian mindset? Decisions are coming, and the chess pieces are on the table for all to see.
If you want the 411, to submit testimony, or watch the hearing next Monday, the information is right here: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Measures/Overview/SB1586
Please share this article and the Video far and wide. More to follow.
Read our story on some of the money ties and lobbying efforts that have occurred with these leaders up to this point.
My husband’s family owned farm property at Scotch Church and Glenco Road. When my husband’s father died his mother, for all intent and purpose gave the property to his older brother for the deal of a lifetime. About twenty years ago my husband’s brother gave a landscape company the deal of a lifetime when he sold them the property that used to be the farm. So, now, looking at this map it appears as though that property may, dventuallly, be sold to data companies🤦♀️. That land will be ruined because of these data centers. This is what happens when a few “farmers” who were lucky enough to have had property were able to sell it out to the highest bidder, at the expense of the rest of us.
Lovely.
Civil rights are my top concern, and this data center situation is one of the reasons I decided to run for Senate District 15 this week.
While our civil rights are under attack during a 35-day session, our Hillsboro-area senator is backing tax breaks for corporations instead of protecting working families. As a union educator with 30 years, I’ve watched teachers buy supplies while data centers get incentives. Wrong priorities.
I’m the granddaughter of braceros and active SEIU member running to defend civil rights, fund schools, and make healthcare a human right. Join our movement at the link above.
Good for you! And way to step up and run on your values!
Amazing, I’m so glad you’re running, Myrna! I’ve been waiting for a real progressive candidate for Hillsboro for so long, I can’t wait to have you representing us! Where can I sign up to volunteer for your campaign?
Hi Myrna,
a group I am part of, Friends of Smart Growth, is organizing testimony on this issue at the Hillsboro City Council. We would love to give you a platform there if you will join us. Please reach out, http://www.friendsofsmartgrowth.org
Dirk, Myrna and others. Be sure to sign up to testify Monday morning on Sollman’s bill, SB 1586. Let legislators know you want the handouts to data centers to stop this session.
I signed up a couple of days ago. I am fairly certain I will not be allowed to testify, last time I tried they refused to allow me the opportunity.
Doesn’t everyone realize yet!
It doesn’t matter what WE, the common citizens think or care about in our communities.
It doesn’t matter if you appear to testify or to speak out at city council meetings!
It doesn’t matter if you want to voice your opinions or concerns about what is happening in our cities, county’s or states, your voice does NOT matter!!
The local and state officials get paid by these big businesses to ignore the local concerns and always do what they are getting their pockets lined with money for.
Haven’t you been paying attention that NO MATTER what you say or think, they do what they want anyway?
We can say or vote however we want, but the big companies and big money players ALWAYS get what they want!!
We can have all the votes against them and all the voices against them, but in the end, the highly paid political officials ALWAYS override us and give the big companies and big money players what they want.
It has always been this way, ever since we allowed rich people into office!
Look at how our Mayor and City Council Members can come up with MILLIONS of dollars to support bringing major league sports to Hillsboro!
They could have solved Homelessness with that kind of money!
What about these new buildings for police and fire?
Why do they need such huge and fancy facilities for?
Why do the police officers make six figure income’s?
Why do city officials make so much money?
All of these people are supposed to be here to serve and protect ALL the citizens!
But that’s not what they do!
They serve the big companies and some of the businesses, but not the small business or the common citizens.
Your points are all very well taken – and it is sad. I am an optimist but everytime I think something good is going to happen- it gets slapped down. And in the modern ear of selfies and celebration and ribbon cuttings we see what we think are engaged and good people. As you said- tens of Millions to the Hops, and for what? A team that very few citizens support- probably less than 1% based on ticket sales over the years. Yes they came up with $200K for helping effected citizens, and then dropped a Million or so on a Fire Truck and almost $200 Million to buy peoples land from them in North Hillsboro and tear down beautiful homes- this is whay it is. Say one thing, and do another!