The Bridge by OR360

The Oregon Bridge is excited to welcome a brand new co-host! | EP 68

The Oregon Bridge is excited to announce a new co-host of the podcast. It's a familiar face and a longtime friend of the pod. Listen in to find out whether it's Ben or Alex who is getting fired, and to hear about what the future of the podcast will look (and sound) like.   Thanks for all your continued support. Here's to another year of interesting conversations and a better Oregon. 

Can Michael Sipe keep a competitive legislative seat red? | EP 67

Michael Sipe is the Republican nominee for a new state house seat in central Oregon (House District 53), considered one of the most competitive in the state. He is running against Democratic nominee Emerson Levy, who we interviewed previously.   Take one look at Michael's website and you'll see he's an unusual candidate: a Cold War Army Ranger, black belt martial artist, podcast host, owner of a private equity advisory firm, and organizer of one of the largest Christian men's gatherings in Oregon (with Mike Huckabee as the special guest).    In this episode, we talk about the major challenges facing Oregon (and central Oregon in particular): sky-high housing prices, water issues, and addiction. We also have a conversation about gun violence in which Michael, Alex, and Ben all disagree with each other on solutions--but also find some common ground.    You can check out Michael's website (including his own podcast) at www.avoiceforcentraloregon.com.   Also mentioned in this episode:    Article: Race to the bottom: How Central Oregon groundwater sells to the highest bidders from OPB   Ben's book recommendation: Stronghold: One Man's Quest to Save the World's Wild Salmon by Tucker Malarkey

Alex and Ben discuss the top 5 political stories you should be following | EP 66

Alex and Ben discuss the top 5 political stories that you should be aware of as election season starts to ramp up. We hit on everything from fundraising numbers and competitive congressional seats, to a new ballot initiative on guns and drama in the Portland sports scene. Look forward to more of these 1-1 interviews as we get close to the election! 

Can Portland end homelessness? | EP 65

Beth Sandor from Community Solutions (a national nonprofit working to end homelessness) and Lori Kelley from the Joint Office of Homelessness Services (a collaborative effort between Multnomah County and the City of Portland) join the podcast to discuss a new approach to addressing homelessness in the metro area. In this episode, we discuss what the "Built for Zero" program actually does (and where they've seen remarkable success), the controversy from a recent Willamette Week article (linked below), and some important information that politicos should understand about homelessness (e.g. how the "point in time" count works and why it's problematic).    Links Referenced in the Episode:   Willamette Week Article: Could Portland End Homelessness With a By-Name Directory of People Living Outside? Officials Are Going to Try.   www.HomelessnessIsSolvable.com   Built for Zero from the Joint Office of Homelessness Services  

Rep. Karin Power on legislator pay, the childcare crisis, & abortion access post-Roe v. Wade | EP 64

Rep. Karin Power was first elected to the legislature in 2016, representing House District 41 (Milwaukie and part of SE Portland). Power is known for her policy savvy and work ethic; in her second term, Willamette Week called her "the House member held in the highest and widest esteem." Alongside Rep. Rachel Prusak and Rep. Anna Williams, she announced she would not be running for re-election this cycle, citing the demands of the job and low legislative pay. In this episode, we talk about the political dynamics and policy complexities of legislator pay--and whether she's optimistic that things will change. We also cover several issues she's led on (get ready for a mind-blowing conversation about Oregon's childcare crisis).   We cover what the end of Roe v. Wade means in Oregon, how she ended up in Oregon from New Jersey, and an under-the-radar issue more Oregonians should be talking about. Power was recently announced as the new Executive Director of Business for a Better Portland. She moved to Oregon from the east coast and graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School. We hope you enjoy the conversation!   Representative Karin Power Facebook Page A Plan for a Balanced Economic Recovery (The Business Oregon report Rep. Power cites) The @NJGov Twitter (Official Account of New Jersey) Ben's favorite band Bleachers' song "Chinatown" with Bruce Springsteen

Can Emerson Levy flip another central Oregon seat blue? EP 63

Emerson Levy is the Democratic nominee for the new House District 53 (Bend and Redmond) in Central Oregon. Levy ran for the seat in 2020 against now-Rep. Jack Zika, losing by about 14 points. In 2020, the district was R+6, but after redistricting, it's D+4--and Zika isn't running for re-election (Republicans nominated Michael Sipe). This could be one of the closest legislative races in the state. Levy is an attorney, mom, and community leader in Bend. She is active with the Deschutes County Democratic Party, serving as Vice Chair, and has volunteered on the Oregon Task Force for School Safety. She has experience working in complex clean energy deals. In this episode, we talk about her views on school safety (and potential gun laws), the politics of central Oregon and how they differ from the metro area, the sky-high cost of housing, and how Oregon can lead the country on clean energy. To learn more about Emerson, visit her website: www.EmersonVotes.com

Acclaimed journalist Les Zaitz on revitalizing local news, rebuilding trust, and some eastern Oregon drama! | EP 62

Les Zaitz is a well-respected figure in the Oregon journalism world (and beyond, as we discuss), having spent decades working in the industry both as a reporter and, more recently, as a media entrepreneur. He is retiring from his post as the founding editor of the Oregon Capital Chronicle and will continue to lead two local publications, the Malheur Enterprise and the Salem Reporter. This was a fun episode--Les is funny, knowledgeable, and direct. We cover many aspects of journalism (local vs. national news, business models, the rise of "creators", whether the state should fund news, etc.), as well as the recent controversies involving the Enterprise and Rep. Greg Smith and some new ideas on closing the urban/rural divide.   Here is his bio, courtesy of the Chronicle:    "Les Zaitz is a veteran editor and investigative reporter, serving Oregon for more than 45 years. He reported for The Oregonian for 25 years and owns community newspapers and a digital news service. He is a national SPJ fellow, two-time Pulitzer finalist, including for a lengthy investigation of Mexican drug cartels in Oregon and five-time winner of Oregon’s top investigative reporting award. He has investigated corrupt state legislators, phony charities, and an international cult that moved to Oregon, and the biggest bank failure in Oregon history. He also has been active in reforming the state’s public records law and was appointed by the governor to the Oregon Public Records Advisory Council. In his spare time, he operates a ranch nestled in a national forest, feeding horses and assorted animals."   You can support Les' work at the Enterprise, the Reporter, and the (free!) Chronicle. 

Brad Phelps wants to build a space for Oregon to share ideas | EP 61

Oregon360 Media, the parent company for The Oregon Bridge podcast, also puts out a weekly newsletter (The Liftoff) and a weekly collection of opinion pieces (The Oregon Way)--both available on our Substack.   Brad Phelps, an Oregon native who recently graduated from Princeton, will be editing The Oregon Way this summer -- and he's got ideas to improve the way civic leaders share their ideas. Brad grew up outside Lyons, Oregon. In this episode, Brad talks about losing his childhood home during the Beachie Creek Fire as well as his ideas for revamping The Oregon Way.    Thank you for listening, and if you haven't yet, make sure you subscribe to the newsletters and our YouTube page to stay up to date!