Democracy for Vancouver

Seeing tonight's 72-28 rejection of the port levy reminded me of all-time NBA shot block leader Hakeem Olajuwon's vaunted defense in the paint, swatting down attempted shots:

Voters soundly defeated a Port of Vancouver tax hike in Tuesday’s primary election, rejecting campaign slogans that passage of the special levy equated to more jobs.

Port district residents defeated the Industrial Development levy, which garnered only 28.4 percent. The unofficial tally was 10,247 "yes" to 25,816 "no."

… 

The special tax would have raised the port’s tax rate from the current 33.7 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to about 79 cents. That means owners of a $250,000 home would have seen their port tax bill go from $84.25 to about $197.50 in 2008.

Residents became upset because of a state law that allowed the port to increase the rate without a public vote. A legion of volunteers fought back by collecting enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

Paulson said it’s his understanding the port could implement the levy next year.

But Miller said given the message voters sent the commission Tuesday night, it would probably be years before such a play was repeated.

“I don’t think I want to do it again,” he said.

Paulson would be well advised to come up with a revised plan that voters can more easily digest.  No one likes to see a >100% tax increase, even if it is "temporary".  What must trouble the professional campaign folks (and believe me, the Yes side had some very sharp people) is that spending $90K can't magically get you over 30% of the vote.  You've got to thread the needle perfectly (see 2005 parks campaign) in order for these levies to succeed.

Some unsolicited advice: don't call your organization "Citizens for a Strong Economy PAC", since PACs are pretty much a dirty word these days.  Build a true grassroots organization stressing the economic benefits without the unilateral tax levy decided by three port commissioners.  Pare down the levy increase.  Everyone wants jobs on this side of the river and an increased tax base, but these things take time to sell.  

If reading over the PDC contribution forms is any indication, this is a pretty major blow to labor locally.  That's not a good thing, but one wonders if anyone could've won this vote the way it was positioned.  

One of Olajuwon's most famous blocks was his magnificent, come-from-nowhere leaping tip of John Starks's attempted three-pointer in the closing seconds in game 7 of the 1994 championship.  This port levy is kinda like that, a Hail Mary attempt, soundly swatted.