Metropolitan Briefing Book, 2005

The Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies (IMS) was created to connect the resources of higher education to the issues and needs in the six-county, bi-state Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area (Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill Counties). We have included the IMS mission statement and roster of IMS board members in this publication to give readers a clear sense of who we are and how we serve the region. You can find out about all of our initiatives and download additional copies of this publication from our web site: www.upa.pdx.edu/IMS . The theme for this edition of the Metropolitan Briefing Book is Portland at the Crossroads. We chose this theme because the region is emerging from the recession, and we are observing changes in many of the factors that influence the everyday experiences of region\u27s citizens. Although we have become used to a certain pace of change, recessions tend to accelerate transformations, particularly those affecting the economy. Thus, the citizens of the Portland-Vancouver region find themselves adapting to changing expectations at work, learning to communicate with different kinds of people in their neighborhoods and workplaces, and dealing with a shifting array of social and economic challenges

Environment, Economy, and Equity: Can We Find a Language for Fairness in Regional Planning?

Metropolitan Portland is often cited as a model for regional planning and growth management. In the 19905, both academics and the popular press discovered the Portland region, connecting our quality of life--vibrant urban places, natural beauty, and healthy economy--with our unique forms of regional cooperation and land use planning. Metropolitan Portland became the avatar of an emerging New Regionalism, a movement characterized not only by its spatial nature, but also by an interest in holistic solutions integrating a variety of issue areas. One central tenant of this movement is the ability of regional policies to address growing inequities and inefficiencies associated with gaps in regional governance and metropolitan authority in an eta of ever increasing inter and intra metropolitan competition. Home to Metro, the nation\u27s only elected regional government, the Portland region is lauded for protecting the environment through preservation of farmland and open space and for promoting the economy through facilitating the development of vibrant urban centers. However, how does the region define and act on issues of social and economic equity

The State of Black Oregon

The State of Black Oregon is a statewide report on the social and economic conditions of African Americans in Oregon, focusing on specific areas such as as education, employment, housing, health, criminal justice and child welfare. "The report reveals a persistent gap in the living standards between black and white Oregonians, which is growing wider as a result of the economic downturn" (Urban League of Portland website)