LEGAL WIN | LUBA rejects Hillsboro's inflated growth projections
Their projections could have allowed them to seek an unwarranted UGB expansion and threaten valuable surrounding farmland. The ruling is a win for the careful way we set our urban growth boundaries so that our communities don’t sprawl onto the irreplaceable lands that feed our region and support our economy.
Two staff promotions celebrating our land use advocates Greg and Brett!
These promotions recognize years of hard work, dedication, and ongoing commitment to a strong and healthy land use planning program. Greg will now be our Working Lands Director, and Brett will fill the role of Transportation Director and Legislative Manager. Please join us in congratulating Brett and Greg, and read on to learn what these changes mean for us at 1000 Friends.
Despite concerns, $1 billion in general funds allocated to Interstate Bridge replacement
Oregon lawmakers passed significant funding for the I-5 Bridge Replacement Program, diverting general fund dollars that support critical programs like higher education and affordable housing. While we support replacing the bridge with a seismically safe structure that expands transportation options, the funding passed at the end of session creates just as many questions as answers.
2023 Legislative Roundup
An unprecedented session with the longest walkout in Oregon history, the 2023 legislative session started out big, stalled out for six weeks, and then ended with a flurry of bills passing, often in thematic packages, as work whittled down to the last hours before Sine Die. 1000 Friends still helped pass many good bills, especially in the housing realm, plus we stopped a big last-minute attempt to undermine our UGB system.
Opinion: Funding for I-5 bridge replacement must move forward
Oregon has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage federal infrastructure funding to envision and deliver an I-5 bridge replacement project that reflects the community’s priorities –but that opportunity is in jeopardy. Any chance for funding this session now relies on its inclusion in a broader budget bill. But with the walkout of some senators, this path is uncertain at best.