LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK What was the low point? Melanie Kebler Mayor of Bend It’s always very tough when our community collectively experiences loss. One of those times this past year was the sobering and shocking moment when I learned that a former mayor of Bend, Craig Coyner III, had died while experiencing homelessness on the streets of Bend. We actually both graduated from Bend High, and so that moment was very impactful to me. I encourage everyone in the community to read his story if you haven’t already. I also feel that every time we experience a death due to traffic violence in Bend, that is a low point as well. We lost too many lives this year on our roads, and it’s important we continue to make progress in improving our transportation system to become safer for everyone no matter how you get around town. Josh Lehner Economist, Oregon Office of Economic Analysis The 2022 population estimates that showed Oregon lost population for only the fourth time since World War II. The first three times were in the 1980s when Oregon suffered a recession larger than the Global Financial Crisis as the mills closed. Learning the details of the population estimates revealed that it was not fewer Americans moving into Oregon but a big increase in the number of Oregonians packing up and leaving the state that drove the overall declines. Amongst the sea of outflows, the one and maybe only silver lining for the economy was 18- to 24-year-olds continued to move into the state more than move out of the state. Pretty much every other demo- graphic or income group saw net outflows. Melissa Unger Executive director, SEIU Local 503 The walkout in the Oregon Legislature was one of the low points in Oregon politics this year. Oregonians, including SEIU members, elect people to get work done. Oregon has real problems — homelessness, the increasing costs of housing, not enough behavioral health services, making sure kids learn and recover from the pandemic, a care system that does not work, access to health care — and we need the people we elected ready to show up and get to work on solutions. Instead, we saw people walk out over issues Oregonians support like abortion access. We need our elected officials to show up and do the work Oregonians need them to, even when they disagree. Heidi Khokhar Executive director, Rural Development Initiatives As much as I see progress, I too often still hear destructive narratives about rural people and cultures, and I see well-meaning solutions being driven by urban centers of power. Rural areas represent such important structural and cultural differences across our state and we are still not doing enough to value, invite and support the inclusion of rural interests. Tim Williams Executive director, Oregon Film Office The impact that the strikes (writers and actors) have had on our local industry. Andrew Hoan President & CEO, Portland Metro Chamber As many positives as we can point to, the fact of the matter is our downtown is still struggling. The loss of life and number of overdoses due to fentanyl have skyrocketed over the past several years and continue to shock, sadden and appall our teams. The contractors that work on behalf of Downtown Portland Clean & Safe administer Narcan regularly. Three years ago, they did not at all. We have become so accustomed to this level of public tragedy that we risk apathy. This is not normal and this is worse in Portland and the West Coast in general than other places. Melanie Kebler Andrew Hoan Heidi Khokhar Josh Lehner PHOTOS BY JASON E. KAPLAN 34
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==