Documents show Portland’s incoming NBA owner, Tom Dundon, urged practices at a car‑loan firm that Oregon later called “predatory and harmful” and that produced a $550 million settlement. At the same time, state leaders are preparing to provide hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds to modernize the team’s arena to keep the franchise from moving.
— If states routinely subsidize sports owners without vetting corporate histories, public funds can end up protecting actors whose past practices harmed consumers, changing the political calculus of economic development deals.
Tony Schick
2026.03.25
100% relevant
Tom Dundon (actor), Oregon’s $550 million settlement with the car‑loan company tied to his push to waive income‑verification in loans (event), and Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposed arena subsidy (policy/event).
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