Friday Forum Archive
During the last three decades, Metro has played a unique role in coordinating public planning and preservation projects that cross city and county lines. In 2010, leaders across the region agreed on Six Desired Outcomes that focus on what matters in people’s everyday lives. Join Council President Tom Hughes as he discusses how Metro is working with the cities and counties in our region to sustain and grow good jobs, restore and protect our natural ecosystems and enable all of our region’s people to enjoy the benefits of growth and prosperity.
From our locally-owned stores, to our farmer’s markets and food carts, Portland is a leader in the movement to buy local. It’s cultural, it’s trendy, and it’s smart for our local economies. In our increasingly global economy, many communities are trying to encourage local forms of economic development that could generate more stable employment and help build social capital. These community initiatives aim to develop local economies, sustain local forms, generate more stable employment, and build social capital. Small businesses often find them particularly attractive as a way to mobilize local capital and build consumer loyalty. Localism represents a clear alternative- as well as an outright challenge- to more standard economic development strategies, such as tax subsidies to large firms that promise to generate local jobs but sometimes fail to stick around.
America is currently facing a soul-searching moment surrounding an outdated, irrational and dehumanizing immigration system. One hundred years ago, America took all comers to its shores. Now our byzantine immigration system encourages would-be immigrants to put their livelihoods on the line in order to seek the American dream. It makes criminals out of business owners and farmers, who hire people to do work that no one else will do. This same work that Americans benefit from and take for granted every day. The dynamic generates an unconscionable trade in human beings and human rights violations that operate in dark shadows, often beyond our legal and law enforcement systems.
In order to cast your vote on this report, you must certify that you are familiar with the report and its recommendations by having either
(1) Read the report, click here to read Invisible Enemies: Reducing Air Toxics in the Portland Airshed; and/or
(2) Listened to the audio of the May 3 discussion and debate on the report below
Charlie Hales was sworn in as mayor of Portland at the beginning of January. During his first four months in office, a budget deficit of approximately $25 million for 2013-14 dominated his agenda. Hales will speak at the City Club about his priorities in office, and about efforts to address the city’s economic problems.
Charlie is on the boards of Friends of Trees and the Portland Parks Foundation. He has been a SMART reader, volunteered at Meals on Wheels and served on the Portland Public Market Committee. His work has been honored by the Bruner Foundation for Urban Excellence, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association, the League of Oregon Cities and the Portland Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
