I am available to help organize against TIFs, mega-projects, and other assorted civic bullies!
In October of 2024 I delivered a two-day workshop for Unite Oregon called “Public Money 101” that took a comprehensive look at the Portland City Budget and I did a deep dive into the TIFs of Portland. The mayor was pushing six new TIFS and the community organizers doing housing and economic justice work wanted a full understanding of how Portland’s existing TIFs were being used. The data I revealed had never been known by the community before.
“Tom Tresser played a crucial role in supporting the Anti-Displacement PDX Coalition and Unite Oregon’s efforts to understand and address complex housing finance mechanisms in Portland. As the Coalition Director and Housing Justice Manager, I sought Tom’s expertise because of the concerning lack of transparency surrounding the city’s use of Tax Increment Financing (TIFs). At the time, six new TIF districts were proposed, and community members, including myself and my constituents, were apprehensive about their potential impact.
We partnered with Tom to design and facilitate a two-day retreat focused on public budgeting and the use of TIFs in Portland. Tom’s contributions were invaluable. He developed accessible educational materials on public budgeting that provided a foundational understanding for all participants. Furthermore, Tom’s in-depth research and analysis of Portland’s existing TIF districts brought unprecedented clarity to a previously opaque system. This work revealed critical issues and unanswered questions regarding the use and impact of TIFs, information that had never before been publicly available.
This retreat, facilitated by Tom, has directly led to several significant outcomes. It has empowered our coalition to engage more effectively in public discussions surrounding TIFs and advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the city’s budgeting processes. It has also sparked crucial conversations with city officials and other stakeholders about the equitable use of public funds for community development. We continue to draw upon the knowledge and resources Tom provided as we work towards a more just and equitable housing system in Portland.
I highly recommend Tom for any project requiring expertise in public finance, community engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. His ability to translate complex information into accessible terms, coupled with his inspiring and collaborative approach, makes him a truly valuable asset.
The following presentation from three community-based organizations, all members of the ADPDX Coalition, represents an unprecedented opportunity generated by the momentum of the Public Money 101 Workshop series. As Portland’s City Council now debates amendments to increase both community and intergovernmental oversight of Prosper Portland (our local urban renewal and economic development agency), it clearly demonstrates the reach of Tom’s impact in amplifying community power through civic education.”
Sincerely,Amanda Pham Haines (she/they)
Housing Justice Manager, Unite Oregon
Coalition Director, Anti-Displacement PDX
I assisted Francis Parker Neighbors fight the powerful and wealthy Francis Parker School when they were bullied. Here is what they said afterwards…
We are writing to offer the highest praise and recommendation for the services of Tom Tresser. We worked with Tom earlier this year in a difficult and sensitive matter which he handled with great skill. The end result was a huge success for which he deserves a major share of the credit.
In January, our neighbor, the Francis Parker School announced plans to install artificial turf and stadium lights on its playing field. Because the field is surrounded by residential buildings and across the street from one of the city’s loveliest public parks, the outcome would have been an enormous loss for the neighborhood and for the city as well. At the outset, it appeared that Parker – well funded and with substantial political support already lined up – would get what it wanted with little trouble. We formed a citizens’ group but were running up against the limits of our ingenuity. Then we hired Tom Tresser. Tom is confident, smart and experienced. He knows how to organize people, how to reach and persuade decision makers and how to make the most of media coverage Whether the issue was delicate strategy or street action, he knew what to do and how to do it.
Perhaps equally importantly, Tom turned us from a disparate group of neighbors into a functional organization. Tom is a genuine believer in the power of people and his conviction is both inspirational and energizing. As an attorney for thirty years in Washington D.C., Tom Silfen was involved with major clients and cases. Deborah Cohen, who is the president of our group, is a professor at Northwestern University. But Tom Tresser brought to the table skills and judgment that were way outside our collective experience. We are enormously grateful for the work he did for us and recommend him highly to you.
Want to know more about what Tax Increment Financing districts are all about and how they hurt or communities? We can do a workshop to get you Illuminated!
Tom has been invited to present at over 250 forums and spaces across Chicagoland since 2013! I’ve delivered dozens of open enrollment workshops and my online presentations have been viewed over 290,000 times. Wow – MUST be doing something right…
Are TIFs threatening your community or state? Bring me to you to help you organize a response! The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers did in December of 2019 to great impact.
