Comments on: Climate bill stirs concern of double gas-tax hike

By: Jayson L

Jayson L — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:05:30 +0000

Where do these comments come from? The vast majority of the Portland Metro region supports the land use planning policies that are in place and the transit investments that have been made and will continue to do so. A few dissidents like “Bob Clark” are completely false to claim Metro is forcing people into concrete towers. Higher density makes sense and is widely supported by the next generation folks like myself in our 20’s and 30’s who don’t need (or want) to live in endless suburban growth and forced to drive to satisfy our daily needs.

The point that Rex is making is that these dollars are better spent if they can reduce auto dependency, which is clearly not financially, socially, or environmentally sustainable.

By: Bob Clark

Bob Clark — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:31:40 +0000

The truth is markets allocate capital much more efficiently than central planning agencies like Burkholder’s Metro. Metro’s central planning steers people to live in high rise concrete bunkers located in Portland city when the jobs are actually being created in the suburbs. Without Metro and state restrictions folks would probably actually be living closer to their jobs. In markets people are continually experimenting to derive the efficient formation of living and transportation solutions. So, you’ve got markets now experimenting with electric powered cars and small cars. Compare this against Metro which has had a one track mind since its creation which is high density, high rise condos and expensive and forced light rail solutions.

Time to disband Metro and return control to local communities and markets. We can no longer afford the Metro’s high cost cental planning experiment.

By: Marvin McConoughey

Marvin McConoughey — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:30:08 +0000

I disagree with Burkholder’s self-serving view that “dollars should be flexible,” because ” “We want to have performance measures that do the things that accomplish the most.” His personal well-being is tied up with mass transportation. Most working Oregonians are heavily dependent on automobile transportation, and will be for a very long time to come.