The Way: Iannarone on traffic fatalities, Brooks on Bend Innovation District, Hess on Housing
PLUS: a new contributor announcement and cartoon!
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Editor’s Note:
I haven’t been skiing in nearly two years. COVID is partially to blame for my time away from the slopes, but real culprit is the width of my wallet. Things have gotten a little tight in the financial department due to four years of graduate school. I’m very fortunate to have had the chance to spend funds on books, backpacks, and Bar prep materials.
But, boy, I miss the thrill of zooming down the runs on the Outback lift at Mt. Bachelor. And, I sure wish I could spend this coming weekend sipping a beer in a hot tub after a day of avoiding trees (and snowboarders).
Alas, this is the antithesis of a “real-world” problem. Most folks never get the chance to ski or snowboard and, sadly, the percentage of Oregonians that know what its like to go down your first black diamond seems destined to decrease in the near future.
Skis ain’t cheap. Ski passes are even more expensive (especially when you need a “fast pass” just to get to the front of the line). And apparently the price of food rises with elevation because lunch at the lodge seems astronomically high.
If the equipment weren’t expensive, there’d still be barriers to accessing the slopes. Skiing is kinda like blue eyes — it seems to get passed down. At least that’s been the experience of the Frazier family. My grandpa, Paul Hill, was on ski patrol. My mom could challenge Mikaela Shiffrin to a race. My dad…well he grew up in Southern California…where his parents moved after a stint in Nebraska…so the skiing certaintly didn’t come from his side of the family.
My parents made sure my siblings and I got to know the slopes at a young age. Thankfully, we had the means to travel around the Pacific Northwest and find good snow and make even better memories.
The barriers can be particularly high for certain communities. “Approximately 1 in 5 Americans live with a disability and face numerous barriers to the outdoors,” according to Oregon Adaptive Sports. Moreover, “[a]daptive sports equipment is prohibitively expensive for most, accessible transportation does not reach trailheads or open spaces, hours of training are required to facilitate safe and effective programs, and individuals with disabilities are vastly underrepresented in the decision making processes in the outdoor industry.”
So, if you’re like me and have the good fortune of learning how to pizza and carve, consider donating to OAS. Let’s help all Oregonians experience one of our state’s most incredible recreational opportunities.
Here’s to a better Oregon,
Kevin
To look forward to:
Our #GovernorGoals series. Learn more about how you can help shape the future of our state here.
Mark Hester reflects on the state of the Blazers and what that says about the state of Portland.
To interpret:
To read:
Jody Wiser and Bennett Minton analyze the few pros and many cons associated with Gain Share.
Read more here.
Senator Jeff Golden has experienced four legislative sessions. They’ve left him with some suggestions for how to break out of our respective bubbles.
Read more here.
Katy Brooks discusses the new Innovation District planned for the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend.
Read more here.
Sarah Iannarone investigates traffic safety and what can be done to protect Oregonians.
Read more here.
Bend City Councilor Barb Campbell, Anthony Veliz, and Ozzie Gonzalez on affordable housing.
Read more here.
Nick Hess on affordable housing as part of our #GovernorGoals series.
Read more here.
Keith Mobley joins the contributor community and shares a piece on the digital divide and community-based fiber networks.
Read more here.
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Photo credit: "29-6 Getting a Lift, Willamette Pass Ski Area, OR" by Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0