David Bragdon: Oregon Can Learn from NYC's Accountability on Planning

David Bragdon

Former Metro Council President David Bragdon was never shy about voicing his frustration with Oregon's endless planning gridlock.

As chief of the Portland area's regional planning agency, Bragdon chafed at what he called the "paralysis by analysis" of Oregon's public process.

He went from here to a gig in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration (he was director of long-term planning, naturally) and recently gave an interview to Portland environmental magazine Bear Deluxe—where he offers more tough love to Oregon planners.

It's a timely interview, with legislation in the works in Salem to insert lawmakers into Metro's management of how and where the Portland region can grow.

Bragdon says New York City's planning system is aimed toward making big, physical changes to improve the city, while Oregon's (and, by extension, Portland's) starts with keeping things as they are. Both approaches, he argues, end up stifling innovative ideas.

The interview is wonky, but well worth a read. Bragdon's most cutting point is that Oregon is good at making long-term plans, but terrible at keeping track of whether anything is getting done.

Read the whole interview at Bear Deluxe.

WWeek 2015

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