Lars Larson: Portland has new way to soak you

By Lars Larson
NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

If you thought high electric bills already cripple your budget, wait till you get the water bills coming soon from the city of Portland.

This bunch always finds THE most expensive way to do anything.

Case in point: 9 years ago, the city announced it would solve the cryptosporidium problem that has NEVER been a problem in Portland’s water.

It has two choices that would BOTH kill the poo-borne parasite… ultraviolet light at 100 million bucks…or filtration that costs 5 times that much.

At the time, I advocated for the cheaper and just as effective ultraviolent option.

Portland’s city government, of course, chose the most expensive option.

Only NOW, the filtering scheme has exploded in cost to 5 times the estimate just 8 years ago…2.5 billion dollars.

City Hall offers up the usual bull-stuff blaming inflation. Okay, President Biden drove inflation up 30 or 40 percent, and inflation has only slowed during Trump, I’ll give you that.

But 500-percent inflation over 9 years?

So, brace yourself for the bill. Portland forecasts water fees will go up around 50 percent in the next five years.

U-Haul should stock up on trucks and trailers for the Rose City exodus

That’s the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of honestly provocative talk. I’m Lars Larson