Issues

Get the back story on current issues. Learn how Oregon’s planning system protects the places we love.

Blueprint for Oregon's Future

Help Make Oregonians’ Vision Happen

Elected officials, from city councilors to the governor, can take action by changing our laws and funding priorities. But everyday citizens are critical to ensuring our common vision becomes a reality. Here are seven things you can do:

1. Share this Blueprint with others. Email it to friends, and circulate it at local community and service group meetings. Ask for the support of your friends and local organizations in making these policies come about.


2. Host a debate or develop a questionnaire for local candidates about their potential leadership and support on these issues, especially the three action areas. Distribute the answers to let people know who’s supporting making our common visions come to reality.


3. Join the 1000 Friends’ Action Alert network to help lobby on specific bills when the legislature is in session. Visit our Take Action page to sign up.


4. Draft and submit letters to the editor and opinion pieces to newspapers and internet sites about these issues, linking them to a current development or policy proposal and the history of Envision Oregon.


5. Write to your legislator in support of these concepts.


6. Get your local groups to support these concepts. Whether it’s a neighborhood association, farm bureau, environmental group, or civic organization, getting these policies passed will take a broad group of supporters.


7. Financially support 1000 Friends of Oregon, whose dedicated staff will work on making this happen.

Conclusion

As Oregonians, we want to leave a legacy for our grandchildren of economic security, healthy families, and protected places that make Oregon our proud home. Bringing that dream to reality will require hard work, hard choices, and true leadership from citizens and our elected officials. That work begins today. Please join us.

Background papers & resources

1000 Friends of Oregon Farm, Forest background paper
Link to background paper (pdf)

Smart Growth America:  Growing Cooler:  The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change
Link to report (September 2007)

Sightline Institute:  Increases in Greenhouse Gas Emission from Highway-Widening Projects
Link to report

Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming Oregon Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Reductions (2004)
Link to report (pdf)

Funders’ Network – Transportation reform and smart growth report.
Funders report
Smart growth report

Improving Transportation without putting nature second.
Link to report

Surface Transportation Policy Partnership: The State of Our Nation’s Roads
Link to report

STPP "Mean Streets 2004"
Link to report

National Governors Association – Fixing It First
Targeting Infrastructure Investments to Improve State Economies and Invigorate Existing Communities
Link to report

Smart Growth America survey on how Americans prefer to spend transportation dollars.
Link to report

Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program
Link to web site

Smart Growth America Paving Our Way to Water Shortages: How Sprawl Aggravates the Effects of Drought
Link to report

House Bill 3543
Link to bill

Land Stewardship Compensation initiative
Link to initiative

TAKE ACTION

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