Dear John,

For many, finding a place to live is becoming a near-impossible feat. You want to have a quick commute, be in a safe neighborhood, easily access the grocery store, have transportation options, and frequent your favorite places for leisure–all while being able to afford it. By investing in infrastructure within urban growth boundaries and building densely, we can house people in a safe, climate-friendly, and equitable way without breaking the bank. This week, the Oregon State Legislature is convening for Legislative Days to hold informational hearings leading up to the 2024 short legislative session. Both the Senate and House committees on housing are holding hearings to discuss how Oregon will address our housing crisis. Let our lawmakers know that you want to see solutions that address not just housing, but climate change too! [[link removed]]

At a time when wildfires are getting bigger and more dangerous due to human-caused climate pollution, being safe from fire risk is important. Places further outside urban growth boundaries are often at higher wildfire risk than within existing city limits. And, developing raw land is also very expensive and time consuming, so let’s not expand unnecessarily. [[link removed]]

In cities, there’s land ready for development that just needs infrastructure for sewage, water, electricity, and other services. This land is in close proximity to existing amenities like grocery stores, parks, schools, and libraries, where communities can often find relief during extreme weather events. Investing in infrastructure in such areas will help increase density in our existing towns and cities, potentially reducing driving and enabling people to quickly get to the places they need for work, play, and rest. This kind of development would make the most of our undeveloped urban areas while addressing both the housing and climate crises. [[link removed]]

We all know that humanity is facing a global climate crisis at the same time that Oregon is facing a severe housing crisis. And we all want both resolved as equitably and quickly as possible, but it’s important that we find (and fund) the right solutions–ones that last. We shouldn’t be building homes that will need retrofitting or other changes a couple years later, or houses built further out that could eventually burn or force us to stray further from our climate goals by relying on additional driving. Write to our lawmakers today, letting them know what you want to see: densely-built cities and towns with affordable housing for all. [[link removed]]

Thank you for all that you do,
Julia DeGraw
Coalition Director, OLCV

---------------------------------------------------

Oregon League of Conservation Voters
321 SW 4th Ave Ste 600
Portland, OR 97204
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .


Paid for by Oregon League of Conservation Voters