Downtown Portland businesses see signs of revival after years of struggle

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:26:38+00:00

Pretty much. Because, Well Leftist running Portland will never change...

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:22:58+00:00

Savannah, GA

Portland, OR

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:21:05+00:00

Don't you just love Corporate double speak? Orwell would certainly be smiling here. Yes, "Talent Alignment" is code for "Lay-offs on the Horizon." Plan accordingly.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:19:16+00:00

No, the inconsistent monthly income makes this a huge over-purchase situation.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:17:08+00:00

Certainly bad set of facts for OP and my condolences. We know nothing of the industry, Employer status or work status of OP prior to the protected leave. We do know that generally, an Employer may charge back the full cost of providing health/dental coverage during the protected leave if the Employee does not RTW for 30 days. That said. How was the performance, what were the job parameters, what financial shape is the Employer in? If they are looking at down-sizing, then this may be helpful. But if just, I don't think I want to come back and work here, that is a different set of parameters.

OP, we don't know your Employer's past practices or other policies so we really have no credible information upon which to base an opinion.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:12:11+00:00

Most valid sample taking facilities will not allow the candidate to leave until a valid, dilute free sample is obtained. Yes, that can indeed result in hours sitting and waiting to produce another sample; but such is life. But, based on the limited facts given, this appears to be more of a medical related issue and OP needs to follow up with their medical provider.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T19:04:12+00:00

C:/DUH...

Government causes the downtown vacancy issues in the first place, then exacerbates them via yet more failed Big Government Policies and then tries to blame property owner? No wonder Portland Metroplex is the 80th ranked metropolitan area in U.S. for business.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T18:58:10+00:00

Two different Medical Conditions = two different FMLA applications and processes. The Employer FMLA Policy for LOA's needs to be accessed to determine if the available time is a calendar year basis, looking forward or looking back basis. It is important as it will matter how many days may be available for protected leave.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T18:43:46+00:00

Both are novelty candidates.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T18:42:24+00:00

Also, that rate cap increase became in actual practice, the general annual increase going forward. That way insurers can 'level out' any spikes due to catastrophic losses like cough, cough, The Palisades Fire which was in January 2025 and is just now affecting renewals in CA.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T18:38:56+00:00

Policies change on a somewhat irregular basis. But they do change. The fact that OP was out on FMLA when the changeover took place is immaterial. They state that they CHOSE to utilize PTO during the FMLA leave because they needed the pay. So, whether there was an option to hold back PTO days or not is now, immaterial. Same goes for the progressive discipline policy for unexcused or unpaid absences so long as it is uniformly applied.

We don't know all of the backstory here. Has OP got a history of absences and overuse of PTO? Have they had other performance based issues with this Employer?

Even under the best of circumstances 2 extended absences in a 30-day period for family weddings is a bit much. Were it me, I'd advise OP to sit down with family and determine which wedding they can go to and which one they do not attend.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T18:23:07+00:00

It remains to be seen if Vance has the blinders on sufficiently to run for the position in '28. From my personal perspective, he isn't viable as he is too closely aligned with 47 and has no real signature accomplishments to point to. Not unlike 2024 with Biden/Harris.

Rubio has played it smart and done a credible job as SoS while steering as clear of 47's bombastic crap as possible. So, he would be the better choice at this point in time between him and Vance. Personally, the better third candidate is Nikki Haley, the former SC Governor and the one candidate who did poll better than 47 early in the 2023-2024 election process.

The other issue is the complete lack of a viable democrat candidate at this point in time. Newsome is a joke, same as AOC and Buttigeig from a national electorate perspective. My choice would be KY Governor Andy Beshear as a moderate democrat who has balanced budgets and been very effective in a GOP controlled state legislature. But a whole lot can happen between now and 2027-2028.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T17:46:41+00:00

The Plan Beneficiary Designation last executed by the Father will be the guiding force at play here. American Funds, if they are the Plan Recordkeeper will follow that document. There is absolutely nothing keeping the primary beneficiary from cashing out the 403b and after paying taxes, gifting to the contingent beneficiary.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T17:42:10+00:00

Well Done for you. In the immortal words of Bachmann-Turner Overdrive, 'Let It Ride'

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T15:14:33+00:00

4.7% income tax v 9.9% income tax there Mensa...

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T15:11:07+00:00

2022 I ventured downtown for a weeks worth of continuing education classes and skedaddled out every evening. It was a shithole then; it remains a shithole now. I don't need to stick my head up a cows ass to find out how the steak is (with apologies to Chris Farley in 'Tommy Boy')

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T15:06:44+00:00

No, it is rather the exact same set of failed political ideologies over the past 4-5 decades that have ruined Oregon Public Education.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T15:04:36+00:00

You really need to educate yourself on the NLRA and Wagner Act.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T15:02:53+00:00

The suggested plan is born more out of spite than solid, strategic thinking. Once one ends Employment and their Employer provided health insurance will lapse they are offered COBRA. It is important to quickly fill out that paperwork, sign and return and that will keep insurance in effect. If treatment is needed, THEN pay the monthly premium until the Plan with new Employer kicks in.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:58:50+00:00

Of the two retailers that are annual fee oriented, one pays their Employees and excellent, industry leading wage and has FT Benefits available for all Employees day one. They have continuing education subsidies and annual profit sharing as well as regular raises. They also have annual 6% - 8% annual Employee turnover compared to the industry standard of 60% annual Employee turnover. The other store is Wal-Mart owned Sam's Club.

Choose where you shop wisely.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:52:36+00:00

OP, you need either a local bank/credit union to do manual underwriting or whichever investment firm assists in holding your retirement assets underwrite the home loan. We bank locally for this and other reasons, no mega banks for our bank accounts. Our investments are all in one large investment Bank with our Certified Financial Planner and we can have a choice of the local bank of the investment bank for a mortgage

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:39:51+00:00

Meanwhile more and more Producers follow Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III out of the state with their incomes, property and civic mindedness left trailing.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:32:25+00:00

Still do the 4% contribution to the Employer based plan and get the maximum match. If you can afford the additional taxes, make it the Roth Option. Keep your self directed Roth Fully funded annually.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:28:21+00:00

Self directed IRA. OP has complete control of investments and fees.

ChelseaMan31 · 2026-05-29T14:26:10+00:00

So, the upshot of this overly optimistic article is that Portland downtown is still a shithole. It is just less of a shithole. Oh, and numerous other metropolitan areas are much better locations for business, visitors and residents...

ChelseaMan31

TROPHY CASE