The mission of the Oregon City Business Alliance is to encourage, promote and support positive economic growth in Oregon City. To that end, the OCBA strongly opposes Measure 3-407.

Holding elections to decide the fate of multimillion dollar urban-renewal projects is an unnecessary and ineffective method for providing accountability. The OCBA supports the Urban Renewal Commission as a representative body and believes its management expertise and well-established accountability procedures will continue to provide taxpayers the best and most cost-effective oversight possible.

Also, subjecting projects to a vote will discourage new businesses, like Cabela’s, from locating in Oregon City. Once a developer puts the pieces of a deal together, it must move quickly or risk the project falling apart. Waiting months for the next election will pose too much uncertainty.

For Oregon City’s economic future, vote ‘No’ on Measure 3-407.

Blane Meier is president of the Oregon City Business Alliance.