Financiers like sprawl. I asked a higher-up at Citizens Bank in Mac why their new HQ replaced a block with 75% parking lot. He looked at me like I had three heads (the street parking is mostly empty).

I'm involved in a non-sprawl development, but we're mostly raising equity instead of bank loans.

Luckily the South Yamhill runs in a sort of gorge through McMinnville so I'm not that worried personally. Will be interesting to see how far the water backs up into the creeks and parks. The Cozine in particular will probably fill City Park to the brim.

Don't go swimming! I was surprised to see some of the other major rivers won't trigger even the low-level flood action level while others are so high. The rainfall is apparently going to be very uneven.

The article rightly points out that the new Port probably wouldn't produce as many direct jobs because of this - but I suspect a thorough analysis would emphasize indirect jobs. The worst outcome would be the port gets built but the efficiencies get canned in favor of antiquated longshoreman jobs.

A while back I took a close look at this project and even talked to a few of the officials. From my own perspective, US Port costs are driven more by labor (longshore unions are a nightmare) and a lack of automation than physical proximity - which is something Coos Bay can compete on.

your mutuals are hornier than mine I think

I'm in McMinnville, so my experience isn't of suburbs, but I think you're right that most don't care. At worst people get reactionary.

I suppose my anxiety is about avoiding poking a bear, so to speak. I can think of some local commissioners that might get confused or scared by these changes.

What's wild is a lot of health issues associated with farm work don't show up for a long time. Both of my parents did farm work as kids growing up in the Willamette Valley - decades later, my mother is now part of a class action lawsuit because she has non-genetic Parkinson's Disease.

Can't build out, won't build up, price goes up

They already have the first fully automated light metro in the US to make the dream real. Honolulu just needs to believe in themselves.

1 million Honolulans by 2045

could be worse I guess

I know someone who's brother was in the car. They kidnapped a girl as well - I'm not sure why it's not being reported on but as far as I'm aware she's still missing.