Reflections on the anti-Columbia River Crossing Rally

I just got back from enjoying the sunny rally to oppose the Columbia River mega-bridge that too many of our elected officials support.  And I'm pumped.

15 months ago I would have told you not to worry about the mega-bridge. It's such a bad idea that even with big-time lobbyists pushing it, it would fall of its own weight.   Too dumb to pass.  Portland's likely new Mayor (Sam Adams) was opposed to it as well and I had confidence in Sam.

Fast forward to a month ago and I was depressed. Adams had flipped his position and along with 3 of his City Council colleagues put Portland on record supporting the mega-bridge, ignoring all sorts of requirements the same city council had set forth less than a year earlier. Sure, they put some lip stick on the pig, but it was still a pig.

So is the bridge inevitable? Today's rally gives me renewed hope that no, the mega-bridge is just as dumb an idea and we can and will do better.  Citizens banded together can force our elected leaders to go back to the drawing board for a smarter set of options.

Kudos to Joe Kurmaskie who organized the rally, proof that an individual citizen can step up and help shape a movement.  He has a way of putting things in simple, stark terms, that anybody can understand.

“The project is based on models done before peak oil and the arrival of an economic crisis that’s changing every aspect of people’s lives, including their transportation choices. The CRC is 20th century thinking applied to a very different world today.”

Kudos to some of our elected leaders who spoke out against the mega-bridge, including Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Metro Councilor Robert Liberty, and Oregon State Representatives Nick Kahl and Jefferson Smith. Send them your thanks.

I wasn't living in Portland when the Mt. Hood Freeway was declared "inevitable."  In fact, I was in elementary school.  It's nice to hear stories from those who were part of the battle, reminding us that we, the citizens, control our future, if we rise up and claim it.

So let's claim it. 

To get engaged, you can start by checking out.

http://www.smarterbridge.org/

and

this opinion piece outlining why there are better alternatives.

and this great blog posting by Ron Buel, that unmasks some of the hypocrisy we face from some of our elected leaders.

Then start writing and calling your elected leaders and get involved in the many organizations fighting the mega-bridge.