NewsStories about land use and planning from local and national sources. Ideas and events that affect livable urban and rural communities. |
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The Latest
This Old HouseDavid Brooks The 1980s and 1990s made up the era of the great dispersal. Forty-three million people moved every year, and basically they moved outward — from inner-ring suburbs to far-flung exurbs on the metro fringe. For example, the population of metropolitan Pittsburgh declined by 8 percent in those years, but the developed land area of the Pittsburgh area sprawled outward by 43 percent. | Read More |
New Ridership Record Shows U.S. Still Lured to Mass TransitLena H. Sun Americans rode subways, buses and commuter railroads in record numbers in the third quarter of this year, even as gas prices dropped and unemployment rose. The 6.5 percent jump in transit ridership over the same period last year marks the largest quarterly increase in public transportation ridership in 25 years, according to a survey to be released today by the American Public Transportation Association. | Read More |
Citizen Advocacy Training in Hood River on December 11thYou've watched over the past months, even years, as politicians have bombarded the airwaves and pounded the pavement for your vote. Now that the election is over it is time to start making tough policy decisions about how we should spend limited money on our highest priorities. Will you be involved? | Read More |
Fall Landmark now available onlineThe latest edition of Landmark, the journal of 1000 Friends of Oregon, is now available on our web site. This edition includes several excellent articles from guest authors, including: - How to design a cap and trade system to reduce global warming in a way that doesn't unfairly burden working families. Authored by Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy. | Read More |
A huge win -- for lawyersThe Oregonian Editorial Sometimes a judicial opinion, for all its repercussions on the ground, seems to float on another plane entirely. It cruises almost at an altitude of its own making. So it is with U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner's recent revival of property-rights monster Measure 37. Also known as The Bad Neighbor Law or the Bulldozer's Best Friend, the law was scaled back in 2007. | Read More |
Seizing our chance in the midst of crisisAngus Duncan The country's ongoing financial meltdown is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We shouldn't waste it. Begin with the emerging recognition that federal stimulus strategies under discussion are focusing on infrastructure investment, not just sending cash to consumers. That's good news. | Read More |
President-elect Obama responds to Transportation For AmericaBefore the last presidential debate Oct. 15, Transportation For America asked our supporters to sign a petition urging Sen. McCain and then Sen. Obama to tell us their plans for keeping America moving and creating new jobs by investing in our critical transportation system and infrastructure. | Read More |
Americans, Oregonians continued to drive less in SeptemberDylan Rivera Even as gas prices declined from record highs in July, motorists in September continued to drive less than they did a year ago, a report by the Federal Highway Administration said today. Americans drove 4.4 percent less, or 10.7 billion fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT), in September 2008 than September 2007, the eleventh-straight month of declining driving. | Read More |
Governor Kulongoski Announces Jobs & Transportation Act of 2009(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today presented his transportation plan called “The Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009” to the Oregon House and Senate Transportation Committees. The Governor’s comprehensive transportation plan will create thousands of jobs, establish sustainable long-term funding for Oregon’s statewide transportation system and address greenhouse gas emissions in transportation construction and planning. | Read More |
Oregon's 'Big Look' task force finds need for land-use reformEric Mortenson November 03, 2008
After two years of study, a high-profile group of land-use advisers believes there should be more local control over how Oregon shelters farms, timber and wildlife habitat from the advance of houses, malls and factories. | Read More |
Governor Announces Climate Change Agenda for 2009Legislation will combat climate change through renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts, green buildings and electric cars | Read More |
Destination resort hearings heat up central OregonDestination resorts were the subject of two standing-room only hearings in Prineville last Wednesday. Oregon's Land Conservation and Development Commission and a subcommittee of the House Interim Agriculture Committee held a joint informational hearing on destination resorts. The state is considering proposed changes to destination resort siting laws in the 2009 legislature. Central Oregon residents testified for hours about the negative impacts that resorts have created in central Oregon. Among their concerns: | Read More |
Sign A Petition to Limit New Destination Resort Construction in OregonThe original mission of destination resorts was to promote tourism and provide an economic boost to struggling rural areas. But the explosion of destination resorts particularly in central Oregon demonstrates that we have strayed from that original mission. | Read More |
David Lett: Pinot pioneerThe Oregonian Editorial BoardOctober 14, 2008
When David and Diana Lett were married, six weeks after meeting, the bride didn't get a honeymoon. She got a shovel. On a 1965 patch of Yamhill County dirt that David had bought for $450 an acre, the couple planted some pinot grapes. Few people noticed. Especially not the French. | Read More |
In Memoriam - David Lett, 1939-2008[Note: David Lett was a long time member of 1000 Friends of Oregon's Board of Directors. We are proud of his dedication and support of our work. We will miss him deeply. The following is from Eyrie Vineyards web site.] | Read More |
Pioneering winemaker, Eyrie founder David Lett dies at Dundee homeKnown as 'Papa Pinot,' he planted the roots for Oregon's wine industryOctober 12, 2008 DANA TIMS The Oregonian When David Lett spent his honeymoon planting wine-grape cuttings near Dundee in 1966, he knew at least two things to be true. | Read More |
A success story worth protecting
Gary Rhinhart & Eric Stachon Buried amid the daily stories of national economic calamity, failing financial institutions and a plunging stock market is some genuinely positive economic news, a success story here in our own backyard. | Read More |
Cut the Sprawl, Cut the WarmingNew York Times editorial October 7, 2008 For years, while Washington slept, most of the serious work on climate change has occurred in the states, and no state has worked harder than California. The latest example of California's originality is a new law - the nation's first - intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by curbing urban sprawl and cutting back the time people have to spend in their automobiles. | Read More |
Report says Oregon land-use plan is working
October 3, 2008 A new report by the Institute of Natural Resources at Oregon State University says Oregon is on track in regard to effectively protecting farm and forest lands and controlling urban sprawl. | Read More |
‘Big Look' at land use gets locals heated up
Scott Hammers / The Bulletin Crook County farmer Gary Eder is no fan of destination resorts, but he could soon be a neighbor to one, the 580-acre Crossing Trails. | Read More |
