Let’s Hope for Something New This New Year
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. As 2021 is wrapping up, it turns out that…
Read Blog DetailYear: 2021
Oregon’s Measure 110 needs more accountability for drug users
By Rachel Dawson Nearly a year after Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment began, results…
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Homelessness: Outdated Theories Lead to Doomed Policies
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. What if everything we thought we knew about homelessness…
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Oregonians Tell Politicians: If You’re Not Part of the Solution, You’re Part of the Problem
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. If you guessed that Oregonians think homelessness is the…
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Testimony of John Charles Before the State Land Board Regarding the DSL Strategic Plan
By John A. Charles, Jr. Testimony of John A. Charles, Cascade Policy InstituteBefore…
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Oregon is falling behind other states in the race for advanced nuclear power
By Rachel Dawson The era of small-modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) is upon us,…
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Fudged Numbers and a Failed Response
By Micah Perry It’s been more than six years since Portland declared a…
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Economic Growth: The Only Game in Town
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last month, the Oregonian excitedly reported some great news:…
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Public School Closures Are Hurting Oregon Students
By Rachel Dawson The public school shutdowns have gone too far. Once reserved…
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Should anyone care about the new Washington Square Regional Plan?
By John A. Charles, Jr. The Tigard City Council is going through the…
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Milton Friedman: Everyone is Greedy, No One’s an Angel, and That’s OK
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Economist Milton Friedman passed away 15 years ago this…
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Utilities should plan on using firm, reliable resources during peak events
By Rachel Dawson Portland General Electric is living a virtual power plant pipe…
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Lincoln County’s Harmful Blame Game
By Micah Perry In a recent November special election, Lincoln County approved a…
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How COVID-19 Turned 2021 into “The Year of School Choice”
By Kathryn Hickok This fall, Oregon children began their third school year since…
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Innovation, not regulation, is the most effective way to control GHG emissions
By Rachel Dawson Governor Kate Brown has joined other state and national representatives…
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Cascade Quarterly Fall 2021
Download full PDF here
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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Shake Up Metro
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. With the retirement of Bob Stacey earlier this month,…
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Washington County Tells Small Business Owners They Just Don’t Care
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Next week, the Washington County Commission is expected to…
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Metro’s Draft TSMO (Transportation System Management and Operations) Plan
By John A . Charles, Jr.TO: Metro Transportation Planning DepartmentFM: John A. Charles,…
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Oregon Needs More Hospital Beds and Less Regulation
By Micah Perry Tired of wearing a mask? You’re not alone. In August,…
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Portland officials need an attitude adjustment when it comes to violent crimes
By Rachel Dawson Just over a year ago the Portland City Council cut…
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The Real Problem with Metro’s Parks and Nature Spending
By Micah Perry Over the course of more than 25 years, Metro’s parks…
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ODOT’s use of inaccurate data will yield incorrect results
By Rachel Dawson Oregon elected officials and appointed staff love to claim they…
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Save Your Money, Save the State: Keep the Kicker
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A few months ago, Oregonians learned they will be…
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A Pile-Up in the Rose Quarter
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Apparently, “COVID time” is a real thing. A week…
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A Developer’s Departure Gives Portland a Chance to Reconsider Its Priorities
By Micah Perry At a time when many Portlanders are sleeping on sidewalks,…
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PacifiCorp can do more to prevent future blackouts
By Rachel Dawson Environmental groups including the Sierra Club and Western Resource Advocates…
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Poll Shows a Growing Majority of Registered Voters Support School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok During the past 18 months, parents have taken a hard…
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Portland Politicians Talk Tough to Texas, and No One Cares
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last week, I attended my first out-of-state conference in…
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Oregon’s New Graduation Standards Turn Diplomas into Participation Trophies
By Micah Perry In this summer’s Olympic Games, Oregon natives Kim Hill and…
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Oregon’s New “Clean Energy” Law Is a Fraud
By John A. Charles, Jr. Politicians have a lot in common with magicians….
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Dropping High School Graduation Standards Hurts Students’ Future Prospects
By Stewart Robertson Recently, Governor Kate Brown quietly signed Senate Bill 744. The…
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Oregon’s 2021 Energy Regulations Are Already Hurting Consumers
By Rachel Dawson Did you just have an order for a desktop computer…
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Big Questions for Harriet Tubman Middle School Property
By Mia Tiwana Portland’s Harriet Tubman Middle School might be on the move….
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A Cascade Policy Institute Online Event: Discovering the Life of Thomas Sowell
On September 15, 2021 at noon PDT, Cascade Policy Institute will be joined…
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Portland Parks are Wrecked
(Photo is a stock photo.) By Stew Robertson You would think Portland Parks…
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Cascade Quarterly Summer 2021
Download full PDF here.
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Portland’s Next Step to Thriving Is a Trusted Police Force
By Mia Tiwana If we want to continue seeing downtown Portland improve, maybe…
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Ratepayers are struggling to pay their utility bills and Kate Brown doesn’t care
By Rachel Dawson Oregonians are struggling to pay their utility bills. So then…
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Portland’s Housing Affordability Debacle
By Stew Robertson The City of Portland’s housing state of emergency, first declared…
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When the Police Go Away, The Criminals Will Play
By Mia Tiwana Portland is on its way to having more than three…
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Press Release: Heat Wave Highlights Fatal Flaws of Wind Power
July 9, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:John A. Charles, Jr.President & CEOCascade…
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Roads, Not Light Rail, Get Us Through Extreme Weather
Light rail has problems with reliability despite massive government funding. By Stew Robertson…
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Homelessness Is More Than a Branding Problem
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Portland’s housing crisis is now in its sixth year….
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Portland Cannot Ignore “Low-Impact” Camps
A proposed ordinance aims to deprioritize some homeless camps considered “low impact” By…
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Travelers, Please Come to Portland … After We Clean Up the Place
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. If you get the Sunday New York Times, your…
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The PERS Crisis at 21: The PERS Board Must Act
By adopting a near-zero assumed rate of return, PERS can become solvent in…
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PDX to Invest $150,000 in Failed Housing Policy
Portland’s policy of Inclusionary Zoning makes housing less affordable for families. By Vlad…
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The Deadly Consequences of Catch-and-Release
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. On Saturday, police responded to a call that a…
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Time to Put the Brakes on Kate Brown’s Electric Vehicle Goal
By John A. Charles, Jr. President Biden is proposing to spend $174 billion…
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Zero Out Oregon’s PERS Crisis
By adopting a near-zero assumed rate of return, PERS can become solvent in…
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The Results of the Motel Program for the Homeless
How the Housing First approach keeps failing to support homeless reentry into independent…
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Homeless Programs are Promising Excuses
By Vlad Yurlov The Portland region’s top homelessness officials delivered another set of…
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Oregon Senate Passes Largest School Budget in State History
State spending per student in public school is $2,000 more than average private…
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A new loss of load probability heightens concerns over the Northwest’s power grid
By Rachel Dawson The race is on for a reliable power grid. A…
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Portland Street Response: What Are You Waiting For?
By Vlad Yurlov Portland’s Lents neighborhood got a new homeless program in 2021….
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Vlad Yurlov, Policy Analyst at Cascade Policy Institute, testified against funding ineffective homeless services
Chair Kafoury and Commissioners, Over the last year, the Joint Office of Homeless…
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The Era of DIY Government Will Not End Well
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last week, a Craigslist post brought it home—we’re in…
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Anti-Freeway Group Clogs the Courts to Keep Congestion
The “No More Freeways” mantra is extending Portland’s worst bottleneck By Vlad Yurlov…
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Portland’s Homeless Policy Must Switch Gears to Achieve Long-Term Results
Doubling down on failing policy puts both homeless residents and taxpayers at risk…
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Four Things You Should Know About Learning Pods in Oregon
By Helen Doran Learning pods have become a popular solution for parents searching…
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Oregon Families Deserve Choice in Online Learning: SB 240 Would Lift the Cap on Online Charter Schools
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. We’ve heard a lot of bad news during the…
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Press Release: Re: Metro Council Resolution No. 21-5171
April 29, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Testimony Re: Metro Council Resolution No. 21-5171—Multnomah County Local Implementation Plan
Via Email April 29, 2021 Metro Council600 NE Grand Ave.Portland, OR 97232 Re: …
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Oregon Families Deserve Choice in Online Learning: Cascade Policy Institute Supports SB 240 – Lift the Cap on Online Charters
April 21, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Eric Fruits, Ph.D. provided testimony to the Oregon Senate in support of SB 240
Via EmailApril 20, 2021 Senate Committee on EducationOregon State Legislature Re: Support for…
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Cascade Quarterly Spring 2021
Download full PDF here
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Dams and Fish Can Live Together, Thanks to Whooshh
By Rachel Dawson Should we breach Northwest hydropower dams to replenish native fish…
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Are Oregon students looking at distance learning in the fall?
By Helen Doran The president of the National Education Association recently said she…
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Prepare for Portland’s Post-Pandemic Party
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. We’re in the waning days of the pandemic, and…
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Vlad Yurlov, Policy Analyst at Cascade Policy Institute, provided testimony on Portland City Council’s Shelter to Housing Continuum
Via emailMarch 30, 2021 Portland City Council, I’m Vlad Yurlov, policy analyst at…
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Press Release: Oregon’s Legislature Seeks to Give up Taxpayer Bargaining Power
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 2, 2021 Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Ste….
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Beware the Four Day School Week
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. As Oregon students return to the classrooms, watch out…
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Oregon May Vote to Constantly Increase Infrastructure Spending
Raising prevailing wages would burden taxpayers and marginalize minorities By Vlad Yurlov Bad…
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Design Review Is Growing Portland’s Housing Crisis
Subjective rules reduce the supply of housing By Vlad Yurlov Portland City Council…
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Every Student Deserves Access to a Quality Education
By Helen Doran Every student deserves access to a quality education. Despite the…
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In Search of an Oregon Drug Policy
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last November, Oregon voters approved three ballot measures…
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Green Shoots of Business Need Room to Blossom
By Vlad Yurlov It’s a bad sign when businesses need to fortify their…
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Oregon Transportation Policy Needs to Learn from Its Mistakes
The Portland metro region tried everything to reduce automobile reliance. It’s time to…
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Eric Fruits, Vice President of Research of Cascade Policy Institute, submitted testimony regarding SB 223
Via EmailMarch 11, 2021 Senate Committee on Education Oregon State Legislature Re: Opposition…
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Press Release: SB 223 Is an “All-Out Attack” on Private Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 11, 2021 Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Ste….
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Price Gouging
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last week, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s office reached…
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Hydroelectric power is renewable; it’s time legislators recognize that
By Rachel Dawson Oregon has always been a national leader in providing clean…
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A Vision for Homeless Services: Open Up the Expo Center
By Vlad Yurlov and Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A recent Oregonian/OregonLive editorial criticizes Metro’s…
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Why Is “Affordable Housing” So Expensive?
By Vlad Yurlov Why is “affordable housing” so expensive? Many politicians, bureaucrats, and…
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Oregon Legislators Should Vote Yes on Nuclear Power
By Rachel Dawson Oregon is home to NuScale Power, the nation’s leading small…
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Empower Oregon Families Today by Funding Students, Not Systems
By Kathryn Hickok and Helen Doran Every parent knows a solid education prepares…
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SolarWorld factory closure is the latest among government subsidy mistakes
By Rachel Dawson Should governments use taxpayer dollars to support select companies of…
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Banning Bacon Won’t Heal the Sick
By Vlad Yurlov If you thought hospital food was bland now, get ready…
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To ensure the lights stay on, Oregon needs a robust portfolio of energy resources
By Rachel Dawson Recent freezing temperatures and power outages in both Oregon and…
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Make Oregon the Opportunity State
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregonians blame Californians for many of our state’s woes….
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Take Stock, Then Take Action on Portland’s Homeless Crisis
By Vlad Yurlov Since 2015, Portland City Council has declared continuous housing emergencies….
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Portland Is Ill, but Not Dying
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A recent column published in Forbes has caused quite…
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Reduce Homelessness by Reusing the Expo Center
By Vlad Yurlov Portland values its “green” projects; but local policymakers are attempting…
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Oregon Should Increase Parents’ Education Options to Help Every Child Succeed
By Kathryn Hickok January 24-30 is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest…
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Compensate Families for Schooling During the Shutdown
Repurpose money from the Student Success Act to offset the cost to families…
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Press Release: Cascade Policy Institute Offers Straightforward Solutions to Oregon’s Homeless Crisis
January 22, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Eric Fruits, Ph.D.Office: (503) 242-0900eric@cascadepolicy.org…
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Homelessness in the Portland Region
Some straightforward solutions to a complex problem By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. and Vlad…
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Willamette Cove Is the Reset Button Metro Needs
By Helen Doran What does an old industrial site from World War II…
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Metro needs to break down barriers to nature
By Helen Doran In Metro’s latest quarterly newsletter, “Our Big Backyard,” the reader…
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