Did campaign donations influence Commissioner Steve Novick’s vote on Terminal 1?
City Commissioner received $1,000 just 4 days before vote
In the weeks for prior to casting the swing vote on the Terminal 1 issue, Steve Novick received $3000 in donations from the developers behind the idea. Novick voted yes despite overwhelming opposition from the houseless advocate community and the Department of Environmental Quality stating the site was not fit for human habitation.
Developers Homer Williams and T.B. Dames have been the driving force behind the idea to use Terminal 1 to temporarily “warehouse” the houseless. They are also regular donors to City Commissioner Steve Novick, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury and major donors to the next Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler.
This is troubling” says Sallinger, “Steve Novick should have recused himself yesterday on the T-1 vote. Our campaign finance laws are weak but no politician should accept thousands of dollars in donations from developers with a major decision already scheduled on an upcoming agenda.”
City Council heard testimony for several hours on Wednesday August 10th before voting on the proposal, and much of it was against the use of Terminal 1. Many felt better locations are available. Bob Sallinger, community activist and member of the East Multnomah County Water and Soil Conservation Board, gave testimony against the use of Terminal 1 as a temporary shelter for Portland’s Internally Displaced People. “This is troubling” says Sallinger, “Steve Novick should have recused himself yesterday on the T-1 vote. Our campaign finance laws are weak but no politician should accept thousands of dollars in donations from developers with a major decision already scheduled on an upcoming agenda.”
Sean Davis, who ran for Mayor earlier this year and is a well known community activist on Veteran issues said “…the City Council voted 3–2 to use Terminal 1, which is a giant warehouse, as a temporary shelter against the advice and counsel of leading houseless advocates like Chloe Eudaly [Chloe Eudaly is running against Steve Novick in the November General Election] and Jessie Sponberg who also testified against it today. Terminal 1 is a project that Portland millionaire developers Williams and Dame will control and potentially make money on by working with funding by the city and county.”
Everyone knew City Commissioner Steve Novick was the swing vote and dozens of people came out to give testimony to sway him — housing activists and advocates, environmental experts, business owners, local residents, etc. to no avail.
Terminal 1 sits on the banks of the Willamette River and is currently zoned Heavy Industrial. The site is also at the very northern edge of an area the City of Portland has designated for cleanup under its new Comprehensive Plan. Portland Bureau of Environmental Services plans on spending $17.3 million over the next 20 years to “restore and enhance in-stream and floodplain water quality, habitat and hydrology along the Willamette River and tributaries.” The property is just blocks from areas zoned for mixed use.
