First in Nation - Portland's Climate Justice Tax

Willamette Week ^ | January 17, 2020 | Nigel Jacquiss

[nwrep]

“The goal is ensuring the green economy benefits folks who are hurt first and worst by global warming,” says Oriana Magnera.

In just a few months, the city of Portland will begin investing the proceeds from a groundbreaking new tax on large companies.

No other city in the U.S. has such a tax.

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, or PCEF, will raise as much as $60 million a year from a new tax on big retailers. The money is supposed to supply clean, efficient energy and jobs to people the city has long slighted.

The overarching goals: to provide members of underserved communities with valuable skills while insulating, caulking and tweaking inefficient heating and cooling systems and installing rooftop solar panels at the homes of low-income Portlanders.

The new tax, and the still-developing ideas for how to spend the money, signal a sea change in Portland politics.

At its core, the concept transfers wealth from big corporations such as Walmart to low-income Portlanders of color. It's a local version of the Green New Deal proposed in 2019 by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). It's also part of a larger political effort to reshape who calls the shots—and who benefits—in America's whitest big city.

[xp38]

crossed arms also means a judgemental attitude

[xp38]

As was shown with the sugary soda tax Philly and some other places implemented.

[tomkat]

Portland's Climate Justice Tax

             

[TaxPayer2000]

At its core, the concept transfers wealth from big corporations such as Walmart to low-income Portlanders of color.

None dare call it racism.

[catnipman]

“The poorest parts of Portland are often hit hardest by environmental calamity—like the smoke and ash that covered the city during the Columbia River Gorge wildfire in 2017”

that’s some really amazing Columbia River Gorge wildfire smoke that could seek out the poorest parts of Portland and avoid the rest of the parts ...

[ronnie raygun]

Commie government hiring losers who cant hold a real job under the guise of climate scam

[Svartalfiar]

Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, and Fred Myer can just close their stores inside Portland City limits.

They may not have to. This is a tax only on big retailers, correct? So, depending on how 'big retailers' is defined, they can either cut employees if it's a number line there, or if it's revenue/profit based, they just keep the store open until they hit $100 or $1M under the limit, then close the store for the second half of the year. Re-open Jan01.

That would probably piss people off more and help them be more likely to vote the idiots out, instead of just closing down completely.

[Uncle Miltie]

“the concept transfers wealth from big corporations such as Walmart to low-income Portlanders of color.”

Portland is one of the whitest cities in America.

[Moonman62]

Guessing half the money will be spent on marketing and public relations to hide how the other half was spent

...

Guess who will own the marketing and public relations companies.

[Amish with an attitude]

Coddling of ANTIFA and now this, what can go wrong?

[Grampa Dave]

This seems to be how new tax laws from the smallest city to the biggest states are in reality.

Guessing half the money will be spent on marketing and public relations to hide how the other half was spent

[yoe]

[4yearlurker]

I would guess this has a lot to do with the high minimum wage in Portland which made business move and they need a new line of revenue. Their arrogance will be their downfall.

[newfreep]

George hit the target with those lyrics.

Fun Fact: Paul McCartney played lead guitar solos on “Taxman”

[catnipman]

“Clean Energy Works conducted energy audits—and then, for a fee, referred homeowners to contractors for retrofits.”

so, with $30 million taxpayer funding, and say an average $400 cost (via homeadvisor.com) to perform an energy audit and make a contractor referral by a private company, that should cover 75,000 audits ... i wonder how many audits they ACTUALLY did for that $30 million dollars? ...

[Grampa Dave]

Oregone for Decades, has no sales tax.

So this is new and targets those who earn money and spend it in, Oregone for Decades!

[Dave911]

Morons on parade. When Walmart moves out and low income Porlanders can’t access reasonably priced goods I hope they show up out front of these idiots homes looking for answers.

[catnipman]

oh, yeah, 5,000 audits ... at a cost of $6,000 per audit ... 12 times higher than the cost by a private company ...

[Grampa Dave]

Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, and Fred Myer can just will close their stores inside Portland City limits.

[I want the USA back]

We said that they just want another excuse to take money from producers and give it to indolent slobs who vote democrat.