Switching gears for a moment from my 2008 National Bike Summit coverage… Portland City Council will hear public testimony and vote today on a proposal that would leverage System Development Charges (SDCs) over the next 12 years. SDCs are one-time fees assessed on new development to cover a portion of the cost for providing specific … Read more
“The State can invest directly… in building pedestrian or bicycle facilities in areas that are underserved.”–From a report released by the Governor’s Climate Change Integration Group. (Download full report below.) An advisory group of climate change experts convened by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has just released a far-reaching report titled, A Framework for Addressing Rapid … Read more
A still from Sam Adams: Man on the Go.(Watch it below). If you haven’t seen Commissioner Sam Adams’ mayoral campaign video, you should. I’m not one to regurgitate political propaganda, but I think this video/campaign ad is worth a few minutes of your time (you can watch it below). It’s a great mix of documentary-style … Read more
Rep. Blumenauer at last year’sNational Bike Summit. (Kozo Shimano is in the background).(Photo © J. Maus) In advance of next week’s National Bike Summit, this morning Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced House Congressional Resolution 305, “Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation.” Blumenauer refers to the resolution as the “National Bike Bill” (read … Read more
Now it’s onto the Senate. More on this story was published yesterday. Official press release from Blumenauer’s office is below:
Blumenauer, shown here at the National Bike Summit last year, hopes his Bike Commuter Act will finally fly with lawmakers.(Photo © J. Maus) On the heels of record profits by the big five oil companies, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) will once again try to enact a tax benefit for bike commuters and close the … Read more
[Updated: 2/26, 11:37 am – I’ve added audio from the Councilmembers’ testimony (see below).] Last night, the Vancouver City Council voted 5-1 in favor of an expanded, all-ages helmet law. More photos here.(Photos © J. Maus)
Middaugh hopes to pedal into a Council seat.(Photo © J. Maus) You can add Jim Middaugh’s name to the list of City Council candidates who are now officially certified to receive public financing. Middaugh — who I profiled back in January — is running for Council Seat #2 (currently occupied by Erik Sten) and this … Read more
It’s official: Press release below… OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR CITY OF PORTLAND February 25, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JIM MIDDAUGH CERTIFIED Today, the Auditor certified Jim Middaugh as a Campaign Finance Fund candidate for the May 20, 2008 Primary Election. Mr. Middaugh, candidate for Commissioner No. 2, achieved 1,623 verified qualifying contributions from Portland registered … Read more
“My view of this bridge is that we’ve got to move freight…isn’t it conceivable they [bikes and peds] would ride across the bridge on whatever kind of transit option is offered, rather than building separate accommodation that just drives the cost of this already unbelievably expensive structure up?”–Sen. Betsy Johnson On Tuesday of this week, … Read more
Chris Smith.(Photo © J. Maus) City Auditor Gary Blackmer has just issued the official notice (full text below) that Chris “Citizen” Smith has gathered the requisite signatures and donations in order to qualify for public funding of his campaign to grab a seat on Portland’s City Council. By March 6th, Smith will be awarded $140,150 … Read more
“The cascading effect of others with equally well intentioned objectives to use the right of way for their expressions is something that we must be mindful of.”–Oregon state Senator Rick Metsger For the second time in a row, the roadside memorial sign bill (HB 3623) has failed reach passage by the Oregon legislature. After it … Read more