City Of Portland Research Articles

Symposium on Homelessness

On May 19, 2017, the Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs cohosted a symposium to address the pervasive issue of homelessness as it pertained to the city of Portland, Oregon and its greater metropolitan area. Included are the papers presented at the symposium.

Leaf number and plant height of three Canna x generalis cultivars

The aim of this three-year study was to evaluate the effect of three treatments (thiophanate methyl, charcoal dust, and control) on leaf number and plant height on three Canna x generalis cultivars (City of Portland, Richard Wallace and Robert Kemp). Results showed that the 3-year means of leaf number ranged from 13.9 to 23.1 for the three cultivars. The largest leaf numbers were for cultivar Robert Camp (23.1 in 2010) and the lowest for cultivar City of Portland (13.9 in 2011). Thiophanate methyl treatment produced the highest number of leaves and the values were significantly different at P< 0.05 from the control for all years and for all cultivars. Numbers of leaves in charcoal dust treatments were larger than the control treatments but it was not significantly different. Results on plant height ranged from 69.2 to 160.5 cm for the three cultivars. The largest plant height was for cultivar Robert Kemp (160.5 cm in 2011) and the lowest for cultivar City of Portland (69.2 cm in 2011). Thiophanate methyl treatment produced the highest plant height and the values were significantly different at P< 0.05 from the control for all years and for all cultivars. Plant heights in charcoal dust treatments were larger than the control treatments but it was not significantly different.

Michael Helquist. Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions

In June of 1913, Dr. Marie Equi stood on a chair in the middle of Portland City Hall and declared that she was ready to “shed blood” for the cause of the women’s cannery strike that began a few days earlier. The doctor also threatened to kill anyone who tried to prevent her from speaking out with a virus-dipped pin that would cause a “slow and lingering death” (119). Five nights later, Equi seemingly followed through with her threat when she stabbed a patrolman with her hatpin, though her weapon turned out to be virus-less and rather innocuous. In the excellent new biography of Dr. Marie Equi (1872–1952), Michael Helquist uses such colorful anecdotes to paint a complex portrait of an early twentieth-century, woman physician who viewed her politics as inseparable from her professional identity. Indeed, Helquist’s long-awaited biography is a valuable addition to the historiography of women in medicine precisely because it offers critical insight into how medicine and healthcare informed the radical politics of one of the most famous women physicians in the Pacific Northwest.

Eco solution increases fish rehabilitation

The Bull Run Watershed is the primary drinking water supply for the City of Portland in the US. It also plays an important role in supporting the larger aquatic ecosystem of the Sandy and Lower Columbia rivers where, due to warm summer water temperatures, some of the fish species have recently been in significant decline.

Identity, scale and soccer supporter groups: the case of the Timbers Army

The purpose of this article is to examine how Timbers Army members collectively construct and present their supporter group identity through an awareness of and interaction with soccer and supporter culture at different socio-geographic scales. Central to this is a strong attachment to and with place – most specifically to the city of Portland, Oregon, where the team is based. Using participant observation and interviews, we explore how the group’s identity evolved in a country without a history of soccer support. The findings illustrate how individuals and collectives come to view themselves and their locality within a globalized world through processes of glocalization and relativization. Soccer and its attenuate supporter culture(s) are perfect arenas for exploring social identity and the fuzziness of geographic borders within global–local interactions due to the global appeal yet highly specific local manifestations of soccer support.

Update on Biogas Upgrading Project for City of Portland “From Flare to Fuel”

Update on Biogas Upgrading Project for City of Portland “From Flare to Fuel”

Does walkability undermine neighbourhood safety?

ABSTRACTWhile the public health and environmental benefits of walkable neighbourhoods have been widely studied, the safety effect of walkability is still unclear. Using a three-year crime incident dataset in the City of Portland, Oregon, this study tests the link between walkability and neighbourhood safety. It finds that after controlling for many other variables, walkability is significantly and positively associated with burglary rates, but its effect on robbery rates is not statistically significant. Everything else equal, residents in the bottom 25% of Portland neighbourhoods with the lowest levels of street walkability are safer from burglary than those in other neighbourhoods. However, once street walkability reaches a medium-low level, the association between street walkability and burglary incidence turns statistically insignificant. After controlling for walkability and other variables, compact neighbourhoods tend to have lower burglary and robbery rates. Neighbourhoods with more retail space, restaurants and public transit service are associated with higher robbery rates. While previous studies show that public housing, particularly high-rise public housing projects, are associated with high crime rates, this study does not find any significant effects of them on burglary and robbery rates, after controlling for other variables.

The Portland Black Panthers: Empowering Albina and Remaking a City. By Lucas N. N. Burke and Judson L. Jeffries

The Portland Black Panthers: Empowering Albina and Remaking a City . By Lucas N. N. Burke and Judson L. Jeffries. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2016. vi + 283 pp. Illustrations, maps, bibliography, index. $22.50.) Until 1951, interracial marriage was illegal in the city of Portland, Oregon. Fair employment protections did not pass the state legislature until 1949, while public accommodations and fair housing were not legally guaranteed until 1953 and 1957 respectively. As one World War Two veteran who relocated there in 1960 recalled, “Living in Portland at that time was almost like living in Alabama…black folk had it rough in Portland (37).” It was in this oppressive atmosphere that the Portland Black Panther Party, the subject of this superb book, emerged to fight the poverty, inadequate health care, hostile policing, and undemocratic political system that plagued the city’s African American community. Long lost behind misrepresentations and stereotypes, the Panthers have fortunately been the focus of significant scholarly attention in recent years, allowing a fuller understanding of their complexity and … nbristow{at}ups.edu

Aspirational Planning: A Statistical Model of Hawthorne Bridge and Tilikum Crossing Bicycle Ride Counts

Portland city planners have routinely planned for an increase in bicycle commutership and a decrease in automobile commutership. This paper discusses the latest data on Portland car and bicycle use. Portland and Multnomah County are observing an increase in single occupancy vehicle commuters, car ownership, and gasoline consumption. Bicycle use in Portland is found to have followed a logistic curve pattern since the early 1990s. The authors present an ordinary least squares model to explain bicycle ridership on the Hawthorne Bridge and the recently constructed Tilikum Crossing. When controlling for other factors such as weather and daylight, the Tilikum Crossing has added an average of 1,137 bicycle rides per day to total east-west rides across the Willamette River, some of which are diverted from the Hawthorne Bridge.

Generalized spatial regression with differential regularization

ABSTRACTWe aim at analysing geostatistical and areal data observed over irregularly shaped spatial domains and having a distribution within the exponential family. We propose a generalized additive model that allows to account for spatially varying covariate information. The model is fitted by maximizing a penalized log-likelihood function, with a roughness penalty term that involves a differential quantity of the spatial field, computed over the domain of interest. Efficient estimation of the spatial field is achieved resorting to the finite element method, which provides a basis for piecewise polynomial surfaces. The proposed model is illustrated by an application to the study of criminality in the city of Portland, OR, USA.

Modeling of Transient Pneumatic Events in a Combined Sewer Overflow Storage Tunnel System

The City of Portland, Oregon recently completed construction of the Willamette combined sewer overflow tunnel system to contain combined sewage during storm ev…

Impact of Grinding Technology on Final Properties of Portland Cement

Portland cement got his name derived from the appearance of concrete that resembles sandstone located near city of Portland in England. In 1824, John Aspdin was granted a patent for the production of Portland cement.In the past, energy and economic demands on production of cement were lower than they are today. Production was characterized by a slower burning mode and coarser grinding. Product produced this way were reaching lower compressive strength.Currently there are several companies producing Portland cement. Main ones in Czech Republic are Holcim, Heidelbergcement group and Lafarge Cement a.s. Their production methods are very similar. The differences are mostly in the possibility of using local raw materials with different chemical composition and the technical equipment of factories. In the production, the main emphasis is on reducing energy and financial cost.One way to save energy and money is to use mechanical-chemical activation when grinding Portland clinker.

Revisiting the Four Types of Cyclists: Findings from a National Survey

To understand the makeup of a population in terms of how people view bicycling can help in planning bicycle facilities and programs. Roger Geller, bicycle coordinator for the City of Portland, Oregon, proposed a typology that characterized people as one of four types—strong and fearless, enthused and confident, interested but concerned, and no way, no how—with respect to their attitudes toward bicycling. The research presented here sought to find out how applicable the typology was nationally and explored motivating factors, barriers, and the appeal of various bicycle facility types for each type of cyclist or potential cyclist. This study followed up on an earlier study that tested Geller’s typology with Portland data. In this new study, a sample involved 3,000 adults who lived in the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. On the basis of respondents’ ( a) stated level of comfort when they bicycled in different environments, ( b) their interest in bicycling, and ( c) their recent behavior, the study estimated that about one-third of adults were in the no way, no how group, and about half were in the interested but concerned group. The distribution was similar to that of the earlier findings for Portland. Several demographic differences emerged, with women less likely to be enthusiastic and confident or to be interested but concerned. Few differences appeared in whether respondents had ridden a bike at all in the past 30 days. Differences emerged as to where they bicycled and how often. The interested but concerned group was least likely to ride for transportation and rode less frequently. Barriers included not having a bicycle to ride; needing a vehicle for work, school, or other reasons; destinations too far to reach by bicycle; too few bike lanes or trails; and traffic.

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

In this address, I offer an explanation as to why I chose the theme “Locavore Sociology: Challenging Globalization, Embracing the Local” and the host city of Portland, Oregon, for the 2015 Association for Humanist Sociology meetings. I argue that locavorism is a distinctly humanist form of activism. I then explore the origins of locavorism, particularly in terms of its most obvious manifestation in the locavore food movement but also its extension to lesser known movements such as local living economies, local energy production and consumption, and local knowledges. The promise of locavorism and the limits of locavorism as a progressive movement are explored. Finally, I introduce the idea of locavore sociology as a challenge to dominant disciplinary narratives that interfere with understanding nuances associated with locality.

A network level connectivity robustness measure for connected vehicle environments

This study introduces a new CONnectivity ROBustness model (CONROB) to assess vehicle-to-vehicle communication in connected vehicle (CV) environments. CONROB is based on Newton’s universal law of gravitation and accounts for multiple factors affecting the connectivity in CV environments such as market penetration, wireless transmission range, spatial distribution of vehicles relative to each other, the spatial propagation of the wireless signal, and traffic density. The proposed methodology for the connectivity robustness calculation in CONROB accounts for the Link Expiration Time (LET) and the Route Expiration Time (RET) that are reflected in the stability of links between each two adjacent vehicles and the expiration time of communication routes between vehicles. Using a 117sq-km (45-square mile) network in Washington County, located west of Portland city, Oregon, a microscopic simulation model (VISSIM) was built to verify CONROB model. A total of 45 scenarios were simulated for different traffic densities generated from five different traffic demand levels, three levels of market penetration (5%, 15%, and 25%), and three transmission range values [76 (250), 152 (500), and 305 (1000)m (ft)]. The simulation results show that the overall robustness increases as the market penetration increases, given the same transmission range, and relative traffic density. Similarly, the overall connectivity robustness increases as the relative traffic density increases for the same market penetration. More so, the connectivity robustness becomes more sensitive to the relative traffic density at higher values of transmission range and market penetration. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to show the significant effect of relative traffic density, transmission range, and market penetration on the robustness measure. The results of the study provide an evidence of the ability of the model to capture the effect of the different factors on the connectivity between vehicles, which provides a viable tool for assessing CV environments.

Print E-mail Dissolved: Lessons Learned from the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council

The city of Portland, Oregon, is often hailed in news and popular media as the capital of the U.S. alternative food movement. In 2002, the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council (PMFPC) was established to address the region's growing interest in cultivating a sustainable local food system. Council members contributed to many notable achievements, including a healthy corner store initiative, a beginning farmer training program, and changes to zoning codes to expand urban agriculture. However, the PMFPC was dissolved in the summer of 2012 after local government agencies expressed that the council was losing relevancy. After a decade of conducting food policy and advocacy work in a region praised for fostering both citizen engagement and sustainable food systems, what can we learn from the story of the PMFPC? In this reflective case study, we explore the challenges associated with citizen engagement in local food policy. Through semistructured interviews and analysis of PMFPC documents, we provide insight into how particular obstacles might have been avoided or overcome. Our research speaks to the broad arena of public participation and highlights the importance of negotiating and clearly articulating the roles and responsibilities of council members, government staff liaisons, and elected officials; regularly evaluating the usefulness of established roles, structures, and processes; and making the changes necessary to maintain the relevance of the council throughout its life. We conclude with lessons learned and recommendations for both citizens and government agencies hoping to foster productive public engagement and to advance local food systems policy.

Neighborhood change and the role of environmental stewardship: a case study of green infrastructure for stormwater in the City of Portland, Oregon, USA

Shandas, V. 2015. Neighborhood change and the role of environmental stewardship: a case study of green infrastructure for stormwater in the City of Portland, Oregon, USA. Ecology and Society 20(3): 16. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-07736-200316

Overview of the 38th National Nutrient Databank Conference

The 38th National Nutrient Databank Conference (NNDC) was held in Portland, Oregon in May 2014. The proceedings highlight a variety of topics related to food composition presented at the meeting either as an oral or poster presentation. The theme was a fitting tribute to the city of Portland, “Food Composition: Bridging the Gaps”. Some of the highlights of the conference included a keynote speaker, Phyllis Stumbo who also is the 2014 recipient of the NNDC Lifetime Achievement award. In addition, the conference served as a listening session to introduce and inform our attendees on the Public-Private Partnership on “Branded Food Products Database for Public Health.”, an important initiative that will significantly enhance our national food and nutrient databases.During our Steering Committee Meeting we set priorities for the future of NNDC and made some important decisions regarding future meetings and direction. Sadly, we say farewell to some treasured colleagues who have generously contributed to NNDC over the years.

Advanced Urban Geography: Urban Sustainability A Case Study: Portland, Oregon Urban Growth Boundaries (Transportation, Political, and Economic Impacts)

This research topic will provide an investigation in some areas on how urban growth boundaries have affected the city of Portland, Oregon, and its contributions to infill development in the region. The focus will be informative by defining what an urban growth boundary is, its purpose, what the implications are, and what some of the economic impacts are. Urban growth boundaries (UGBs) are organized through public policy in order to combat the issue of urban sprawl in suburban areas around densely populated cities. The idea is to allow protection of the environment surrounding a regional boundary, and help with infill development within central business districts and other locations. Infill development is the redevelopment of brownfield sites in an urban setting that allows the distribution of economic resources and population to cycle through time. Some analysis will explain the effects on property values by land use zoning caused by the urban growth boundary. Urban sustainability has been a growing issue since the latter part of the 1900s from the 50s to the present. This research project can provide one of the many alternatives in accomplishing sustainability in an urban area. It provides an analysis of the behavioral, economic, and political impact of the UGBs on the region. This is a prime example of efforts being made, while providing results to support decisions, and the theory. Since the implications are not directly related to just one entity, they can provide insight in other areas on how the UGB has reduced automobile usage, catered to the pedestrian, and enhanced the quality of life for citizens in an urban environment. Sources that may be referred to will be academic journals and articles, of which are solely based on the concept of smart growth planning, urban growth boundaries and development behavior and commuting, and land use policy. All sources will be provided by EBSCO Host, the Sustainable Urban Development Reader, and Science Direct. These will be referenced to help provide a better understanding on why UGBs are beneficial to a possible sustainable future, while explaining the positive and negative implications.

ポートランド市のグリーンインフラ適用策事例から学ぶ日本での適用策整備に向けた課題

ポートランド市のグリーンインフラ適用策事例から学ぶ日本での適用策整備に向けた課題