Oregon
updated
8:45 p.m.
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While we here at Portland Transport generally stick to subjects like public transit, bicycling, and walking, the taxicab is another form of transit that can allow people the freedom to travel around at will without the burden of car ownership or the need to personally drive the car. Taxis fill an important need for those trips that transit does not serve well, especially late at night. It wou...
Portland Transport - 8:02 p.m. - 5 clicks 
This sounds like an idea that must not be new but sure doesn’t seem familiar: Instead of each state redistricting their congressional districts, that work would be done by a national National Commission for Independent Redistricting. Starting, if the legislation were passed, in 2020. The proposal, by Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, will be immediately set [...]...
Ridenbaugh Press (Oregon) - 3:28 p.m. - 7 clicks
What’s today’s story? Two weeks ago the staff and consultants for the CRC highway mega-project made their third presentation at a hearing of the CRC legislative oversight committee. Unlike previous hearings, this one was electric – and made front-page news in The Oregonian . CRC consultants and staff presented the oversight committee with a new plan – one to cut back the CRC by $650 million,...
BlueOregon - 10:01 a.m. - 8 clicks
It's Groundhog Day! On its second day, the Oregon legislature is in full swing working on a variety of bills, including ways to deal with the budget shortfall. Legislature Lawmakers consider supervisor ratio Statesman Journal "A bill intended to accelerate middle management reductions in Oregon state government got off to a rocky start before skeptical legislators Wednesday. House...
Sockeye - Thu 5:47 p.m. - 9 clicks
From Evan Manvel on the O-TRAN mailing list: For those near Portland, there's a debate between Smith, Brady, and Hales on active transportation issues this upcoming Monday. Feb 6, 7pm Lincoln Performance Hall Portland State University A forum for Mayoral candidates Eileen Brady, Charlie Hales, and Jefferson Smith to answer questions regarding their priorities and positions on active t...
Portland Transport - Thu 4:04 p.m. - 7 clicks
Portland Fire has determined that the cause of this fire was electrical in nature. Roofers were working on the roof shortly before the fire broke out. Reports indicate they were discarding a piece of metal flashing, which accidentally connected with......
Commissioner Randy Leonard - Thu 3:25 p.m. - 11 clicks
I'd like to propose that our next attorney general take a few moments from investigating fraud and corruption, supervising charities, and advising state bureaux to submit an amendment to the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act that would prohibit a grocer......
Isaac Laquedem - Thu 2:29 p.m. - 13 clicks
By Scott Moore of Portland, Oregon. Scott is the Communications Director for Our Oregon and was a political reporter and news editor for the Portland Mercury. Previously, he contributed Trivial Pursuit: That's Some Har-ible Reporting. From Portland to Medford, State Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Your Inbox) is getting blasted for his latest scheme: Exploiting Oregon’s public records laws...
BlueOregon - Thu 1:03 p.m. - 13 clicks
Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced today that he's running again for another term. Avakian's tenure in the job has been a marked success so far. His term has seen a reinvigorated use of Commissioner Complaints. One was used to pursue a civil case against John Minnis, who was charged with sexual harassment and discrimination resulting from Minnis' tenure with the Oregon the Depar...
BlueOregon - Thu 12:28 p.m. - 10 clicks
By Robin Hahnel, Contributing Columnist (This is the second in a series of columns by Robin Hahnel, a politial activist and visiting professor of economics at Portland State University. He is a co-creator of the post-capitalist economic model known as … Continue reading → ...
For those who can't afford free speech - Thu 9:06 a.m. - 10 clicks
Join Individuals and Families on Thursday for an Equity in Education Action at the Oregon State Capitol! Thursday February 2, 2012 | 12 NOON Action for Equality in the Education of our Children Oregon State Capitol 900 Court Street NE Salem, Oregon 97301 12pm to 12:40pm Action for Equality in the Education of our Children (Free Pizza and Soda at 11:30am) Keyn...
CAUSA:blog - Wed 11:28 p.m. - 10 clicks
The US House recently unveiled their proposed Transportation Bill . And it's horrible in pretty much every way: It gives the shaft to pretty much any mode of transport that doesn't have an exhaust pipe; and proposes to pay for it all with a big heavy dose of drill baby, drill. It's been roundly criticized by lots of folks--here's Congressman Blumenauer's take . Here's another attack ag...
Portland Transport - Wed 6:44 p.m. - 22 clicks
Street Roots and its vendors witness and experience both legal policies and illegal activities that play out on the streets of Portland. That’s why when law enforcement and community groups target one neighborhood or area of the city, we see … Continue reading → ...
For those who can't afford free speech - Wed 4:26 p.m. - 13 clicks
Listen to the show (mp3, 26.5MB) Steph and Tori talk with Gerik Kransky (of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance ) and Chris Rall (of Transportation for America ) about funding challenges at the Federal and local levels and Tara Corbin from Cycle Oregon discusses the upcoming Oregon Active Transportation Summit (April 16th and 17th in Salem). ...
Portland Transport - Wed 1:04 p.m. - 38 clicks
Oregonian article about Police fitness testing and merit pay related to it. Oregonian article about the 5th Portland Loo First Flush event that was held yesterday....
Commissioner Randy Leonard - Wed 12:24 p.m. - 13 clicks
Suzanne Bonamici, keeping a blue district very blue, indeed Apparently, the folks in Oregon's 1st Congressional District don't much care for tea. Yesterday, Democrat Suzanne Bonamici won a decisive (double-digit) victory over Republican Rob Cornilles in the race to replace David Wu as that district's congressional representative. Tea Party folks might want to take note. Their...
Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing - Wed 9:49 a.m. - 17 clicks
From the Oregonian 's Joseph Rose's Twitter feed (@ pdxcommute ) I was alerted to this interesting missive about bike boxes from England. It starts with a brief description of a truck (lorry) on bike accident that is all too fmiliar: a biker in the bike lane going straight and a truck in front slowing to turn right (or in this case left as the Brits are all crazy and drive on the wr...
Oregon Economics Blog - Wed 9:23 a.m. - 14 clicks
How did we get to be PROUD of being dumbasses? And how did we elevate that dumbass class into the "role model" arena? I realize that there's always been a battle going on between the intellectuals and the masses. Continue reading → ...
His Vorpal Sword - Wed 4:43 a.m. - 12 clicks
Suzanne Bonamici Annals of a congressional district that knows what it is and what it wants: Winding up a special congressional campaign that started last summer – last spring, really, when the first challenger got in – Democrat Suzanne Bonamici was elected Tuesday, over Republican Rob Cornilles, to the U.S. House from the Oregon 1st [...]...
Ridenbaugh Press (Oregon) - Tue 9:48 p.m. - 12 clicks
It's official. Suzanne Bonamici has been elected to represent Oregon's 1st Congressional District. Congratulations to the Congresswoman-elect, her family, and her entire team. The AP reports that Bonamici leads Cornilles 54 to 39, with 69% of the expected vote counted. Update, 9:15 p.m.: DPO chair Meredith Wood Smith noted some very impressive numbers in a post-victory statement: Ou...
BlueOregon - Tue 9:09 p.m. - 13 clicks
Well, in just a few short hours, the polls will close in Oregon's First Congressional District - and in a matter of minutes, we'll know who has won. That's right, out-of-state observers, because of Oregon's unique vote-by-mail system, we often know the results very, very quickly. Voters have been voting for nearly three weeks. The county elections staff have been processing ballots very nearl...
BlueOregon - Tue 5:09 p.m. - 16 clicks
By Steve Pedery of Portland, Oregon . Steve is the Conservation Director for Oregon Wild, based in Portland. Since 1974, Oregon Wild has worked to protect the wildlands, wildlife, and waters that make Oregon a special place. The organization recently won it's second "Two Chiefs" award from the USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, for work to promote conservation...
BlueOregon - Tue 2:08 p.m. - 16 clicks
A few items: Clackamas County is considering closing (for now) the Canby Ferry. One big problem is the recent closure of the Willamette Falls Locks --the ferry is due for an inspection and a new propeller, a project to be done in Portland, and now the ferry will need to be trucked to the drydock instead of simply being floated down the Willamette, at considerably greater expense. Tri...
Portland Transport - Tue 2:08 p.m. - 45 clicks
OPB has the story this morning of the Oregon Legislature first officially mandated annual session where the first order of business will likely be yet another round of cuts coming from revenues that have not kept up with last years projections. Which got me to thinking, two years ago voters in Oregon approved a measure that included a temporary tax increase to 10.8 on individual income above $1...
Oregon Economics Blog - Tue 9:46 a.m. - 18 clicks
What President Obama said Abraham Lincoln said : I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more. What Abraham Lincoln said : The legitimate object of government is "to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they can not, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, for themselv...
Persuasion, Perseverance, and Patience - Tue 9:45 a.m. - 18 clicks
Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies Fall 2011 Transportation Seminar Series Speaker: Dr. Miguel Figliozzi (Portland State University) Topic: A review of case studies exploring pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users' exposure to particulate matter in Portland When: Friday, February 3, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room...
Portland Transport - Mon 10:46 p.m. - 22 clicks
By Janice Thompson, Contributing Writer ARTICLE One: Portland City Council says that corporations aren’t people On Jan. 12, the Portland City Council adopted a resolution in support of amending the U.S. Constitution to address the Citizens United decision and the … Continue reading → ...
For those who can't afford free speech - Mon 2:45 p.m. - 19 clicks
mmm, good morning world. I had a great adventure yesterday and am feeling revived and refreshed by it. I spent the day with Duane and Melani who run Summer Lake Hot Springs Resort in Paisley, Oregon. We traveled together to … Continue reading → ...
Albertideation - Mon 2:04 p.m. - 21 clicks
It's Monday! AG Kroger has issued temporary rules to help struggling homeowners deal with misleading practices by mortgage middlemen, and the Register Guard has called on the legislature to prioritize foreclosure protection in the February session. Another report (this time from the Tax Foundation) shows that Oregon has low business taxes, and public awareness is slowly growing about the detai...
Sockeye - Mon 1:26 p.m. - 18 clicks
With just four days until Election Day for Oregon’s first Congressional District, it’s all about the ground game and the campaign to elect Suzanne Bonamici needs our help! Let’s show Bonamici our strength as GLBT Democrats. It is critical that Team Bonamici out numbers the opponent in troops on the ground to reach voter contact [...]...
DPO GLBT Caucus - Sat 12:10 p.m. - 17 clicks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2012 CONTACT: Francisco Lopez, Causa's Executive Director (503)269-5694 Central American and Latino Organizations throughout the U.S. launch Campaign to Ask for Permanent Residency for Central Americans with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S. Press Conference Date: Monday, January 30th, 2012 Time: 11:00 a.m. Location: Mickey Leland Federal B...
CAUSA:blog - Jan 27 - 13 clicks
Happy Friday! Legislators prepare for the February session, beginning next week. Oregon's Republican legislators say they'll fight the Governor's health care plan unless it includes limits on medical malpractice lawsuits, and turnout for Democrats and Republicans appears to be about the same rate in the CD1 election--though with the large Democratic registration edge, that means many more Democ...
Sockeye - Jan 27 - 13 clicks
In 2010, the Oregon State Marine Board prohibited the use of internal combustion motors on Waldo Lake in response to a broad public call to preserve the unique water purity of the lake. Today, the Oregon State Marine Board is considering reversing that decision due to pressure from a small group of motorboat users and seaplane [...] ...
Oregon Sierra Club Blog - Jan 27 - 17 clicks
Joe Rose at the Oregonian is reporting that a TriMet fare task force may will recommend doing away with zones, and prohibiting using transfers for return trips (transfers would only work in one direction). While I'm a big proponent of keeping things simple, this proposal does not excite me. Beyond potential equity issues (I honestly don't know if this is better or worse for transit-depende...
Portland Transport - Jan 26 - 41 clicks
Anti-Immigrant groups with the support of Oregon State Representative Kim Thatcher (R), Oregon State Representative Jeff Barker (D) and others (listed below) will be introducing a bill (HB 4052) to force state agencies in Oregon to use the flawed E-verify system to "verify employment eligibility of applicants". E-Verify, an internet based computer database run by the U.S. Department of Homeland ...
CAUSA:blog - Jan 26 - 13 clicks
You are invited to the 5th Portland Loo Inaugural Flush PORTLAND, OR— The fifth Portland Loo will open at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012. Located at NW Couch and 8th Avenue in the North Park Blocks, Commissioner Randy......
Commissioner Randy Leonard - Jan 26 - 9 clicks
At 11:15 pm, Dan Sinclair was riding his bicycle along the Eastbank Esplanade headed southbound when he heard a voice calling for help from the river below. Upon scanning the water, he spotted someone splashing in the Willamette River about......
Commissioner Randy Leonard - Jan 26 - 7 clicks
Over at the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, Josh Lehner has done yet another fascinating post , this time on Oregon's wood product industry. Go there and read the entire thing, its worth your time, but I'll whet your appetite with two graphs. The first is a look at the historical employment in the wood products industry in Oregon: And the second is wood products as a percentage ...
Oregon Economics Blog - Jan 26 - 9 clicks
The Portland-Milwaukie MAX project commenced construction last year, albeit concentrated in downtown. Trees have been ripped out along SW Lincoln, work on the bridge has started, and work is also starting on the so-called "Harbor Structure", a viaduct over Harbor Drive between SW Naito and SW Gibbs. Work on the bulk of the project, beyond the new bridge, doesn't start until next year. That...
Portland Transport - Jan 26 - 7 clicks
Today, Oregon Center for Public Policy released a report, Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too (PDF) . OCPP does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. Their goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians. Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too It's essential that Oregonians recognize the i...
CAUSA:blog - Jan 25 - 6 clicks
As you may know if you've been following most of my recent diaries, I've been looking at possibilities based on Sean Trende's prediction that Oregon would get a 6th congressional district. I've previously presented two Democratic maps that would give Democrats a good shot at 5/6 districts. I also posted one map that would give Republicans a good shot at 3/6. Today I present to ...
DailyKos (Oregon) - Jan 25 - 4 clicks
The Tax Foundation has released its latest Business Tax Climate rankings and once again, Oregon comes out looking pretty good. The Tax Foundation considers Oregon to be the 13th best in the country, an improvement of two spots from its 2011 ranking. According to their metrics, Oregon does particularly well in sales tax and property tax, but a little worse in in corporate, individual...
Oregon Economics Blog - Jan 25 - 5 clicks
If you've followed my last two diaries you know that I'm drawing maps based on the prediction by Sean Trende that Oregon will get a 6th district in 2020. My first two diaries were essentially Democratic maps that sought to create a 5-1 split in the Democrat's favor, seeing as Democrats will likely have control of the legislature in 2020, and I'm a Democrat. Despite previous statements th...
DailyKos (Oregon) - Jan 24 - 2 clicks
One of the things which Portland is famous for in urbanist circles, was the decision in the 1970s to remove Harbor Drive and replace it with Tom McCall Waterfront Park (or Waterfront Park as it was known back then). And more recently, another urban demolition project--of smaller scope--helped in making NW Portland what is is today: the 1999 removal of the Lovejoy Viaduct. The viaduct, an el...
Portland Transport - Jan 24 - 3 clicks
The Foundation for Child Development and the Annie E. Casey Foundation have compiled a host of measures of child well-being and use them to rank states . They have produced a report about these metrics, but here is their map showing the relative position of states according to their metrics. Nancy Folbre has an interesting discussion of these at The New York Times ' Economix ...
Oregon Economics Blog - Jan 23 - 4 clicks
Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies Winter 2012 Transportation Seminar Series Speaker: Dale Bracwell (Manager of Active Transportation for Vancouver, BC) Topic: Sustaining a Transportation Legacy from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games When: Friday, January 27, 2012, 12:00 - 1:00pm Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204 ...
Portland Transport - Jan 23 - 4 clicks
Professor Bogdanski's recent post on the renascence of the proposed headquarters hotel for the Oregon Convention Center caught my eye last week, not so much for his views on the hotel (long negative) but for the financial data in the......
Isaac Laquedem - Jan 22 - 4 clicks
By Sean Cruz Portland, Oregon— “Facing Race”, a racial equity report on the 2011 Oregon Legislature has just been published, a rare accomplishment in itself in this state intentionally created to be an exclusive white paradise. Produced by a coalition of several community-based organizations, the Facing Race report does provide some valuable insights and could prove to be useful over time i...
Blogolitical Sean - Jan 22 - 3 clicks
