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Clean up, clean up. But not everyone’s doing their share. That’s the takeaway from last week’s report that only six of the 100+ parties responsible for polluting the lower Willamette River are chipping in to clean it up. Bridgeliner gives a tip of the cap to the City of Portland for being one of the six, but a wag of the finger to all the companies still sitting on the sidelines. We’ve known about the problem for 17 years. It’s past time we fix it. (Portland Tribune)
A top-15 list to avoid. It’s news to no one that home prices are shooting up in the Portland area, but last week we learned exactly where they’re rising fastest. According to The Oregonian’s number crunchers, median sale prices jumped most sharply last year in two affluent Portland suburbs—West Lake Oswego and West Linn—but they also ballooned in neighborhoods such as Wilkes and Woodstock that have historically been more affordable. Did your neighborhood land on the list? Fingers crossed for no. (OregonLive)
First things first. What’s that? A six-mile greenway for cyclists and pedestrians in downtown Portland!? Yeah, we’re as excited as anyone about the proposed Green Loop—but we were reminded last week that several less glamorous transit corridors need the city’s attention, like, now. One of them is SE Stark Street, where at least five people have died since November 2016, including a pedestrian who was killed last month. The Rosewood Initiative, Oregon Walks, and other community groups are calling for action in a Change.org petition, which is closing in on its goal of 500 signatures. (BikePortland)
A toast for ODOT. If you spend less time in the car this summer on your way to Oregon wine country, remember to raise a glass for ODOT. While the agency is facing some justified skepticism over its plan to widen highways in downtown Portland (which almost never works to relieve congestion), the newly opened Newberg-Dundee Bypass has exceeded expectations in its first two months, diverting thousands of cars every day from one of the most congested and dangerous stretches of road in the state. It’s too early to spike the football, but for now it looks like ODOT got this one right. (Newberg Graphic)
One heck of a Manning. Have you been losing faith in politicians lately? The Skanner’s recent profile of James Manning might be just what you need. Manning is currently a State Senator representing Eugene and Junction City, but the man has basically done it all in his career, from serving in the military to managing a Weyerhaeuser plant to launching a foundation to support low-income and minority students. It’s hard to find a blemish on his record, which of course requires us to say: Mr. Manning, pleeeeease don’t have any skeletons in the closet. We need this. (The Skanner)
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