From Clackamas to Washington County, our farms and forests are a big part of what makes this region unique. Protecting farms and forests for future generations means we must value the economic, environmental, and health opportunities they offer to our region. At the same time, our population is growing – we need homes and jobs for our kids and for people moving to the region.
The balance lies in using the land we already have inside of our urban growth boundary better. We must rebuild and reinvest in our downtowns and main streets. That is why I support holding the urban growth boundary tight – to protect farms and forests – while focusing precious tax dollars where you live today. A tight urban growth boundary helps farmers by giving them the incentive to invest in their land, growing food for all of us.
Protecting our right to decide our future is not always easy. In 2002, the radical group Oregonians in Action ran a measure to destroy land use planning here. I led the campaign to stop it and good sense soundly defeated this ill-advised ballot measure.
A Record of Success:
- I protected high quality farmland as part of state-mandated urban growth boundary decisions in 2002 and 2004, focusing future development on land where farming had been compromised by rural development.
- As part of the current decision-making on urban and rural reserves, I support a modest designation of urban reserves, once again focusing development away from our best quality farmland.
- I support the Sauvie Island Center at Metro’s Bybee Howell Territorial Park both personally and through Metro’s North Portland Enhancement Fund Committee. The Center brings schoolchildren from the city to learn about growing food and how farming and nature interact.
- I support local farmers by shopping at my local farmers market.
