Hallett Demands Good-Faith Negotiations to Keep the Portland Trail Blazers Calls Out Angelita Morillo and DSA Socialists for Bad-Faith Tactics Risking Rip City
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, OR — July 18, 2026 — Matthias Hallett, candidate for Portland City Council District 3, today demanded that the City immediately pursue good-faith negotiations to secure a long-term future for the Portland Trail Blazers and called out Councilor Angelita Morillo and her DSA allies for engaging in bad-faith tactics that risk driving the iconic team out of Portland.
“The Trail Blazers are not just a sports team, they are a cornerstone of Portland’s identity and economy,” Hallett said. “They generate billions in revenue and economic activity for our local economy. The Moda Center is a city-owned asset. We should be negotiating a smart, fair deal that keeps the Blazers here long-term while protecting taxpayers and delivering real community benefits. Instead, Angelita Morillo and the DSA socialists are playing political games and negotiating in bad faith.”
Hallett pointed to the ongoing Moda Center renovation discussions, where the state has committed up to $365 million in bond funds contingent on a 20-year lease, with the city and county also contributing. He argued that the current approach from Morillo and the DSA wing of the Peacock caucus risks turning a winnable deal into another self-inflicted wound for Portland.
“Why would anyone want to eliminate a tenant that brings massive economic activity and community pride to our city?” Hallett asked. “The pattern is clear: the same DSA-aligned voices and Peacock bloc that have gutted public safety, funneled over a billion dollars into unaccountable homelessness programs, and attacked small businesses are now threatening one of Portland’s biggest economic engines. This is destructive behavior, not leadership.”
Hallett’s call comes as part of his “Let’s Put the Love Back in Portland” campaign, which prioritizes protecting Portland’s economic vitality and cultural anchors alongside safety and accountability. He pledged to support transparent, pro-Portland negotiations that secure the Blazers’ future without treating the team as a cash cow for ideological projects or making unreasonable demands that drive them away.
“The Blazers belong in Portland. Period,” Hallett said. “I will fight for a deal that works. One that keeps Rip City here, respects taxpayers, and strengthens our city’s economy. Angelita Morillo and the DSA need to stop the bad-faith posturing and get serious about keeping this team where it belongs.”
Hallett urged the full City Council and Mayor’s office to prioritize a swift, good-faith resolution that locks in the Blazers for the long term and called on Morillo and her allies to drop the obstructionist approach.
“Portland has already lost too much,” he said. “We cannot afford to lose the Trail Blazers because of political gamesmanship from the same people who failed the citizens on safety, spending, and the economy. Let’s secure the deal and keep Rip City love in Portland.”
###
About Matthias Hallett Matthias Hallett is a Portland attorney and small business advocate running for City Council in District 3. With a background in law, entrepreneurship, and service to this country, he is campaigning on a platform of restoring public safety, cutting red tape for local businesses, and demanding full accountability for every tax dollar. His campaign is built on the simple promise to put the love back in Portland through results, not rhetoric.
Media Contact: Laurin Hallett, vote@matthiashallett.com
