Dear HCN,
I was greatly
disappointed with Rebecca Clarren’s recent article on
Oregon’s land-use legacy (HCN, 11/25/02: Planning’s poster
child grows up). Her basic premise — using a handful of
anecdotes and personal beliefs from interviewees to argue there is
sweeping discontent with Oregon’s land-use system — is
shoddy. Poll after poll shows that support for our land use laws
has remained relatively constant — about two-thirds of
Oregonians support them. Not too shabby, for a landmark set of
laws.
Instead of becoming more “arbitrary” over the
years, the Oregon system has come into sharper focus and become
more fair. That is, the system has continually been adjusted to
deal with local conditions and issues. The system has not been
stagnant, but rather it has grown up over 30 years — to
become a full-fledged adult.
Ms. Clarren’s article
truly gives credence to the cynical adage about journalists not
letting the facts get in the way of a good story.
Evan
Manvel
Portland, Oregon
The writer is director
of education and research for 1,000 Friends of
Oregon.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Land-use story gave Oregon a bad rap.
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