Terry J. Harris
@trryjhrrs.bsky.social
Portland, Baltimore, Oregon, Idaho, green, blue, law, government, cats, kittens.
Pinned
Reposted by Terry J. Harris
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases — in Minnesota and around the country.
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
How the Trump administration skirts — and defies — court rulings on ICE detentions
A POLITICO review of hundreds of cases brought by ICE detainees shows a pattern of noncompliance that has frustrated judges across the country.
www.politico.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:15 AM
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases — in Minnesota and around the country.
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
I’m with Jonathan, and agnostic about the Blazers. But economists talking about whether the investment pays off are likely not accounting for noneconomic benefits. Baltimore losing the Colts was very much not great for the city. Baltimore getting the Browns was very much not great for Cleveland
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I’m with Jonathan, and agnostic about the Blazers. But economists talking about whether the investment pays off are likely not accounting for noneconomic benefits. Baltimore losing the Colts was very much not great for the city. Baltimore getting the Browns was very much not great for Cleveland
I rather enjoy not having one of those jobs
February 10, 2026 at 4:15 AM
I rather enjoy not having one of those jobs
It’s fine advice if it works
February 10, 2026 at 4:12 AM
It’s fine advice if it works
I don’t recall that “council counsel” made our final recommendations but we definitely talked about it. I recall the City Attorney commented that as City Attorney his advice will necessarily always be “you just need to work it out” (disclaimer: probably a paraphrase but…)
February 10, 2026 at 1:11 AM
I don’t recall that “council counsel” made our final recommendations but we definitely talked about it. I recall the City Attorney commented that as City Attorney his advice will necessarily always be “you just need to work it out” (disclaimer: probably a paraphrase but…)
Alt text: I’m killing a half hour between meetings and saw this pretty awesome rainbow on the other end of the Hawthorn Bridge
February 10, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Alt text: I’m killing a half hour between meetings and saw this pretty awesome rainbow on the other end of the Hawthorn Bridge
Pot of gold over on the east side, fyi
February 10, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Pot of gold over on the east side, fyi
Oregon “supermajority” Democrats being annihilated by Republican clicktivists. Not a big deal, but not a great look either.
More than 3,300 pieces of written testimony have been filed on the bill to move the referendum date, with only 37 of those in favor. #orleg olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/M...
SB1599 2026 Regular Session - Oregon Legislative Information System
olis.oregonlegislature.gov
February 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Oregon “supermajority” Democrats being annihilated by Republican clicktivists. Not a big deal, but not a great look either.
Happy for the former Ravens intern.
February 9, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Happy for the former Ravens intern.
I feel like there should be "Super Bowl Scorigami" and "playoff Scorigami" and "season Scorigami" because 36-23 and 40-31 are never going to happen.
February 9, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I feel like there should be "Super Bowl Scorigami" and "playoff Scorigami" and "season Scorigami" because 36-23 and 40-31 are never going to happen.
salty carbs and distillates
February 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM
salty carbs and distillates
Bad Bunny Bowl Sunday pre-pregame
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Bad Bunny Bowl Sunday pre-pregame
I haven't read it. Looks like I should.
February 7, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I haven't read it. Looks like I should.
Yeah, I obviously get the instinct to protect priorities by protecting the money. And *especially* so when your government isn't trusted. But the controls are so coarse -- we both overconstrain and underconstrain, and then we lard things up with bespoke procedure.
February 7, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Yeah, I obviously get the instinct to protect priorities by protecting the money. And *especially* so when your government isn't trusted. But the controls are so coarse -- we both overconstrain and underconstrain, and then we lard things up with bespoke procedure.
Not picking on Shawn here, because he's absolutely right. But part of the problem is that we (the voters!) have segregated our dollars into different types of dollars, in sometimes the wrong amounts, and into different jurisdictions that control them. It makes governing that much more difficult.
The City of Portland / Multnomah County have a duty to better steward housing, economic development, childcare and climate dollars than they’ve proven capable. It is the ultimate crime against progress. We need government to act and they’ve eroded public faith in their closest governments to do so.
February 7, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Not picking on Shawn here, because he's absolutely right. But part of the problem is that we (the voters!) have segregated our dollars into different types of dollars, in sometimes the wrong amounts, and into different jurisdictions that control them. It makes governing that much more difficult.
Anyway, the City Administrator's memo is quite clarifying. I think that the silos in the old form of government can be blamed for much of this. But there's still a lot to be learned, and there are *multiple* threads ripe for Council oversight. I'm glad Council is giving it their attention. 6/6
City administrator memo: About $106 million in unbudgeted housing funds will be reflected in Portland’s city budget
In a memo to the Portland City Council, City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III provided details about funds that have not yet been budgeted. He committed to transparency, including selecting outside co...
www.portland.gov
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Anyway, the City Administrator's memo is quite clarifying. I think that the silos in the old form of government can be blamed for much of this. But there's still a lot to be learned, and there are *multiple* threads ripe for Council oversight. I'm glad Council is giving it their attention. 6/6
But again, I was on the right track (kinda). I was deep in a in a 2024 financial forecast unable to make sense of the numbers for sub funds. But it seems like that was mainly because the numbers in fact *didn't make sense*. 5/
Indeed, in this 2024 document, there are projections for these sources of revenue. (Calling the Rental Services Office stream a "Sub Fund"!)
But this is where I've simply got to stop my fall into this rabbit hole. None of this looks anything like the TAO version of the Housing Investment Fund.
But this is where I've simply got to stop my fall into this rabbit hole. None of this looks anything like the TAO version of the Housing Investment Fund.
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
But again, I was on the right track (kinda). I was deep in a in a 2024 financial forecast unable to make sense of the numbers for sub funds. But it seems like that was mainly because the numbers in fact *didn't make sense*. 5/
Then this post earlier this week, where I "doubled down" AND hedged a little bit, was only about about two-thirds correct. Seems like more correct phrasing might have been "differently restricted revenues landing in the complicatedly-restricted Housing Investment Fund" 4/
Based on today's news about more dollars floating around unaccounted for - this time "a mix of transient lodging taxes and fees collected on short-term rental properties" - I'll go ahead and double down on my uneducated hypothesis: restricted revenues landing in differently restricted funds.
Nobody asked but (and for entertainment purposes only!) I'm going to post my completely uneducated hypothesis on this: I think the rental registration money was simply deposited in the wrong account.
Based on what little we have to go by, here's why I think that: 🧵1/
Based on what little we have to go by, here's why I think that: 🧵1/
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Then this post earlier this week, where I "doubled down" AND hedged a little bit, was only about about two-thirds correct. Seems like more correct phrasing might have been "differently restricted revenues landing in the complicatedly-restricted Housing Investment Fund" 4/
I mean, I was on the right track (kinda). The *SUB FUNDS* buried deep in the Housing Investment Fund didn't seem to exist (as such) in the budget. 3/
And what is this "Rental Registration Fund" anyway? As far as I can tell, IT DOESN'T EXIST. Here's the list of City funds.⤵️ 4/
www.portland.gov/policies/fin...
www.portland.gov/policies/fin...
Fund Statements of Purpose | Portland.gov
www.portland.gov
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I mean, I was on the right track (kinda). The *SUB FUNDS* buried deep in the Housing Investment Fund didn't seem to exist (as such) in the budget. 3/
As I currently understand things, the lost-and-found money was in the correct account, but it didn't show up in the budget. The Housing Investment Fund's "beginning fund balance" in this chart for the technical [*budget*] adjustment ordinance was misleading if (maybe?) technically correct. 2/
And here's the "Housing Investment Fund" budget status as part of the technical adjustment ordinance passed this week. ⤵️
(There's a lot going on in this chart that I have not been tracking and cannot explain, but there's certainly not $21M floating around here.) 6/
(There's a lot going on in this chart that I have not been tracking and cannot explain, but there's certainly not $21M floating around here.) 6/
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
As I currently understand things, the lost-and-found money was in the correct account, but it didn't show up in the budget. The Housing Investment Fund's "beginning fund balance" in this chart for the technical [*budget*] adjustment ordinance was misleading if (maybe?) technically correct. 2/
Accountability post: My hypothesis from November turned out to be both hilariously wrong and hilariously almost correct. 🧵 1/x
Nobody asked but (and for entertainment purposes only!) I'm going to post my completely uneducated hypothesis on this: I think the rental registration money was simply deposited in the wrong account.
Based on what little we have to go by, here's why I think that: 🧵1/
Based on what little we have to go by, here's why I think that: 🧵1/
Portland sitting on $21M that could have paid for rent aid, other services, review reveals
The tranche of dollars could have gone to emergency rent assistance, eviction defense or other housing aid, according to documents reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
www.oregonlive.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Accountability post: My hypothesis from November turned out to be both hilariously wrong and hilariously almost correct. 🧵 1/x
Letter of Recommendation: a nice 24-hour vacation in Astoria.
February 7, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Letter of Recommendation: a nice 24-hour vacation in Astoria.
Reposted by Terry J. Harris
I think the memo is careful to avoid the word “unspent.” You can budget to not spend money (typically because you intend to spend it in the future). Unbudgeted money is a problem because you didn’t know it existed. The act of budgeting is just deciding what to do with money, whether spending or not.
February 7, 2026 at 12:34 AM
I think the memo is careful to avoid the word “unspent.” You can budget to not spend money (typically because you intend to spend it in the future). Unbudgeted money is a problem because you didn’t know it existed. The act of budgeting is just deciding what to do with money, whether spending or not.