Whoever did the ad buys for Americans for the Arts screwed them, screwed arts enthusiasts, and screwed taxpayers.
Great agency – Americans for the Arts. Somehow they’ve finagled some ready cash to do a national promotion. Possibly the least effective way at the highest cost to promote the arts is with billboards, like this one on Highway 30 which heads North to Astoria.
Well, the neutral bystander might say, the ad space is probably surplus and donated by those nice folks at Clear Channel. They love the arts.
Wrong. Even if the ad space is a donation to Americans for the Arts, Clear Channel will deduct it’s retail value from their taxes. Since, as you can see, the location was probably entirely ineffective, there is little benefit to the arts and total benefit to Clear Channel.
And consider the bitter irony of Clear Channel’s protracted battle with the City of Portland to secure the number of billboards which has resulted in a ridiculous bureaucratic hurtle for public artists, stifling creativity and creation.
Speaking of reasons to hate the rich, if you’re still a patsy for the Pearl District, note tax assessments in Portland are available online. Check out the home of (semi-randomly chosen person) Ray Davis, CEO of Umpqua Bank. Market value as listed by the city? $973,100. Assessed value? $8,600. Annual property tax Mr. Davis pays? $136.07. Check out how much you’ll pay, or will pay through your landlord at Portland Maps. Property taxes pay for schools, arts education for children, and for agencies like RACC. If you’re not paying property taxes, you’re not supporting the arts.
Thanks to Jim at SavePortland.com!
March 5, 2007 at 4:07 am
Wow.
First, regardless of how ineffective you think they might be, you’ve noticed them. I’ve noticed them. The ad buys? People in areas like Astoria and East Portland are getting the message – that’s important.
As for the Pearl, how bitter are you! Sure, the guy’s paying nothing for property taxes now, but it has helped revitalize Portland by being a real incentive to bringing in such wealth to downtown which has meant new parks, restaurants, shops – which has meant JOBS. Think about the small retailer in the Pearl and neighboring environs which have opened stores and such. Not to mention, do you think the Armory would have been saved and revitalized without having the buying power this man brings to the Pearl.
And his taxes aren’t reduced forever, he’ll pay one of these days. No doubt.
But we’ve benefited, and the kind of incentives he’s been given is many times the only thing a city has to offer developers in order to get them to risk building projects and put their money on the line.
I’ve been following your blog for a long time now, but I increasingly find myself at odds with your philosophies – do you have a better way you haven’t yet shared?
We’re listening.
March 5, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Thanks for your comment. Because of it I reread the entry above and corrected two punctuation errors.
March 6, 2007 at 12:07 am
c you aren’t much fun at parties I take it?
March 13, 2007 at 5:11 am
This blog has jumped the shark, you’re not interested in a discussion of art – only how you can tear apart the gains we the public enjoy. It’s a bit like D.K. Row without the credentials.
I mean, if you were reviewing, introducing, and enlightening your readers on the art in Portland and brought in the other piffle – fine.
But you’re all piffle and fluff and scandal and what we’re left to learn about Art in Portland is not much.
I can accomplish the same thing reading D.K., and at least finish with by saying – along with the rest of Portland – ‘oh, that Death Row!’ (giggles).
That is of course unless ‘C’ actually stands for CRAP.
That would get me giggling regardless the wasted time reading about your complaints and endless re-hashing..