The Latest

1000 Friends of Oregon Names New Executive Director

For release:   
March 19, 2010   

1000 Friends of Oregon announced today that Jason Miner has been named as its new Executive Director. Miner brings seventeen years of experience in land use planning and natural resource stewardship to the organization. He currently serves as the Geoffrey Hughes Director of the Western Massachusetts Program for the Nature Conservancy.

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Jason’s talent, vision and intellect to lead 1000 Friends,” said...

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Building Wealth in Local Communities:  A Program for Change

Facilitated by Jeff Goebel and Associates

Many of you may have attended the ORA Annual Meeting in 2009 facilitated by Jeff Goebel. We are bringing Jeff back to Eastern Oregon in 2010 to help facilitate "Building Wealth in Local Communities: A Program for Change" in five counties: Umatilla, Malheur, Union, Grant, and Baker. (Click town name for flyer.)

Pendleton: March 13 - 10am-5pm - Pendleton Arts Center

Ontario: March 20 - 1pm-7:30pm - Treasure Valley Community College

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Bill Targets Transportation Greenhouse Gas

Stefanie Knowlton
Statesman Journal
February 25, 2010

A bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions in transportation will head to the governor's office after passing out of the House 32 to 26 Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1059 would require the Oregon Department of Transportation to develop a statewide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light vehicles and to work with other state agencies, transportation districts and cities to create a practical guide to reduce emissions through land-use and...

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Metro and the Portland-Area Counties Head to a Fractured Agreement on Land Use

Eric Mortenson
The Oregonian
February 24, 2010, 3:38PM

Thursday is D-Day, in the Wonk World of land-use planning. That's when the Metro Council will vote on agreements with the three Portland-area counties to designate which land will be developed and which will remain rural for the next 40 to 50 years.

It's a big deal: An unprecedented attempt at regional cooperation that could bring certainty and stability to growth planning. After two years of public...

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Oregon Senate, NASA Scientists Agree: Fewer Car Trips Key to Healthy Cities

Jonathan Maus
BikePortland.org
February 24th, 2010

A new study by NASA and a bill passed by the Oregon Senate yesterday have at least one thing in common. They both sound the alarm that transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (a.k.a. too many cars and trucks on the road) are harmful to the planet and they need to be curtailed.

The NASA study analyzed emissions based on economic sectors (as opposed to...

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Portland Metro Area Needs Regional Transportation Authority to Sort Out Mess, New Report Says

James Mayer
The Oregonian
February 24, 2010

The region's transportation system is a bureaucratic and political mess -- allowing the Sellwood Bridge to deteriorate while suburban pet projects like the Newberg-Dundee bypass attract favor, says a new City Club report.

The report calls for more regional cooperation, specifically by empowering the Metro regional government to own and operate the Willamette River bridges and major urban highways such as...

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Controversial Portland Columbia River Crossing Under Pressure to Move
Forward, Despite Flaws

www.thetransportpolitic.com
Yonah Freemark
February 23rd, 2010

In most cities, this debate would have ended years ago, and the results would have been far less pretty. The governors of both states involved are highly supportive of the freeway project, and they’ve unearthed enough financing to pay for it. With state departments of transportation pledging their involvement and money, there wouldn’t been much of margin for substantial change....

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Urban and Rural Reserves Battle May Have Barely Begun

Carla Axman
BlueOregon
February 22, 2010
 

Later this week, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties along with Metro will vote on a 50 year plan to set aside land for potential urbanization in the region.

The process has often been contentious and difficult, pitting...

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