Category: public policy

I can see clearly now, can you?

I spent this past weekend at Transparency Camp West, at the Google campus in Mountain View, CA.  I went expecting to be surrounded by my fellow policy wonks, but surprisingly they didn’t make up the bulk of attendees.  Most of the folks in attendance seemed to be developers looking to market their web applications.  There… Continue reading I can see clearly now, can you?

Real Costs and Responsibilities

Every time we have to choose between options, we face a decision-making point between immediate gratification and long-term consequences.  For example, buying the cheaper printer with the more expensive ink cartridges or eating that treat that you know will add bulges to where you want them least.   There is a dedicated part of our brain… Continue reading Real Costs and Responsibilities

You make me so proud!

Today the Portland Development Commission (PDC) brought their Economic Development Strategy to City Council for approval. That simple sentence does not reflect how important an accomplishment this was. This is the first economic development strategy the City has had for the past 15 years. This is the first time I have seen Council really walk… Continue reading You make me so proud!

Visibility Matters

One of the many reasons I love Portland so much is the accessibility of our City government.  Over the past decade or so, with very few exceptions, I have been able to meet with City Commissioners to discuss issues of public policy.  And when I talk about accessibility, I am talking about me as an… Continue reading Visibility Matters

It’s Either This or Rockband

We all deal with stress in our own ways.  Some people jog, some people play games, some people watch movies and then there is me.  I am managing my stress level by reading about public policy.  If you think about it, reading public policy to relax makes a certain amount of sense.  You start with… Continue reading It’s Either This or Rockband

Wonk meets Geeks

This week, as part  of his “100 businesses in 100 days” effort, Mayor Sam Adams wandered into the Wonderful World of Geeks when he met with Portland’s open source tech community to discuss his economic development strategy.  A diverse group of folks, including:  Rick Turoczy, Raven Zachary, Audrey Eschright, Scott Kveton, J-P Voillique, David Kominsky,… Continue reading Wonk meets Geeks

Catching up

When I started this blog I set a goal of blogging at least once a week.  Obviously I have not met that goal.  But I have some good excuses and the intention of getting back on the weekly blogging wagon. Here is a quick summary update of what I have been up to in the… Continue reading Catching up

Think Globally, Act Locally

While he was still President-Elect, Barak Obama made it abundantly clear that he wanted no earmarks to be part of the economic stimulus package.  While often perceived as a synonym to “Pork-Barrel spending,” earmarks can serve a useful role.  They are a way that congress can designate funding for specific work.  They are also a… Continue reading Think Globally, Act Locally

We have a TARP with a huge, gaping hole

Between running my business, tracking the Sam Adams story and everything else on my plate last week, I fell behind on my newsfeeds. My feeds have become more important to me because I have been listening to NPR less and less lately. I think the ongoing mantra of layoff numbers is counterproductive to economic recovery. … Continue reading We have a TARP with a huge, gaping hole

Justifying Mis-steps (and I don’t mean by Sam Adams)

This weekend,Winston Ross, a Newsweek Reporter, interviewed me about media sensationalism and the Sam Adams story.  He had read my previous blog post and thought I might have some insights to share.  Later in the day, after Sam Adams committed to return to work, I, naively, hoped that we would be able to put the… Continue reading Justifying Mis-steps (and I don’t mean by Sam Adams)