Cascadia Report

A short break from posts

There will be few or no posts here during the next 10 days while I'm taking a vacation in Japan.

On Tuesday I'll be giving a lecture on business and journalism at Akita International University. The rest of the time I'll be visiting old friends and colleagues in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It will be tough to stay away from the Web.

Organic farms growing in B.C.

One more thing to think about when you buy organic food: the impact.

Consider that British Columbia has converted more land to organic farming -- reportedly one in six farms are now organic. That's despite the pressure of urban growth and rising costs that are reportedly squeezing small operators. Still, compared to the rest of Canada, the enthusiastic conversion in B.C. seems wise.

New competition for seaports

China's biggest shipping company plans to launch the first service to a new container port in Prince Rupert, British Columbia later this year.

The new container port, which has uncongested rail access to markets in the Midwest, is the latest competitive threat to ports in Vancouver and especially Seattle and Tacoma. Last month plans were floated for another new container port on Oregon's coast.

What threatens the arts

Cuts in federal funding and programs at schools threatens the arts in the Seattle area, according to this column.

That's a good, well-worn point. But it may be that the area's rising costs are a bigger hurdle to a vibrant arts scence, which is a key asset for retaining top workers and making the regional livable. Consider that Portland's lower cost of living reportedly is attracting musicians and other artists from Seattle.

Of course it's important to support local arts organizations, which can become hubs for activity. For example, Novelist Tim O'Brien captivated a sell-out crowd at Richard Hugo House last night with his thoughts on writing. (Note: I've been serving on the board there.) I have to wonder how many would-be writers in the audience are forced compromise their art because of Seattle's costs.

A couple of partial solutions: boosting the supply of urban housing and improving all forms or transit. Pocketbooks -- and career choices -- would be directly affected if more of Seattle were walkable and a car were less necessary.

Outsourcing local journalism

What's good enough for widget makers, software engineers and lawyers ought to be good enough for journalists, right?

Pasadena Now, a Web news outfit, plans to outsource coverage of local news events to India. The story appeared last week and has sparked predicatable indignation from journalists everywhere. For one thing, will they make it clear that the reporters are in India rather than, say, at Pasadena City Hall? Huffington Post weighs in here.

Few have figured out how to make money online from original reporting -- especially the expensive stuff that requires expertise or lots of time. But you have to think that eventually readers will reward quality their time. At least that's the hope.

Guess where the nicest drivers are

The Northwest comes out far ahead, according to this article.

But don't tell bicyclists. Here's a summary of the increasing number of accidents involving bikes and "nice" drivers.

Two reactions to news of Nintendo's pullout

There were two initial reactions to the news that Nintendo plans to cut staff in the Seattle area.

One is concern. The company moved to Redmond from New York in the 1980s and is one of the firms people point to as an example of Seattle's role in global business. If they're ready to leave, it must have to do with taxes, regulations, quality of workforce, congestion, etc. After all, when Boeing moved its headquarters it said it was for operational reasons but then, when asked about the business climate, a top executive said "I think we suck".

The other is a guilty sense of relief. The prospect of one fewer employer could mean lower housing prices and fewer cars on the road. The fact even supporters of economic growth can appreciate the idea of a slowdown probably means the area has done a poor job of accommodating what we have.

Projects could make Vancouver like Seattle

A big British Columbia project to build roads and other infrastructure throughout the Lower Mainland could turn Vancouver into -- gasp -- Seattle.

The article linked to above draws some great contrasts between the policies of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. But it also confuses the point.

While central Vancouver may be an urban model, the metro area already sprawls for miles. The Gateway Project to better connect ports with roads and trains may be over-ambitious but at least some of that infrastructure is necessary to keep the economy growing. Better to strive for improved infrastructure rather than simply oppose it.

Stockholm sets example for tolling system

Stockholm is opting not to use transponders in its congestion pricing system, according to this story:

License plate readers worked so well during the trial -- about half reads were by transponder, half by cameras -- the main technology for the tolling will be cameras, eliminating the need to manage a large inventory of transponders.

Payment of tolls is up to motorists. They must log onto the toll website and make payment by bank card or stop by to pay cash at a counter at participating central area supermarkets, 7-11s and suchlike. New will be an automatic debit option for those establishing a toll account, providing their license plate number, car make and a bank account or card to debit.

Maybe a similar system using cameras -- and requiring individuals to make their own payments -- could help allay concerns over privacy that go with using transponder chips.

U.S. discount airline lands in Vancouver

Vancouver got its first discount air service from the U.S. over the weekend.

The Frontier Airlines flight to Denver coincides with the begining of cruise season. Lower fares could help Vancouver successfully compete in the lucrative market against Seattle, which has more flights and discount carriers.

Vancouver already has discount service to points in Canada and Europe.

Why try tolls? Because they work

The Seattle area is getting the first serious proposal to dramatically alter traffic congestion, fund transportation projects and limit pollution.

Drivers would pay a fee, depending on congestion, to use all freeways from Everett to Lakewood. The proposal would provide the first monetary incentives to use transit, carpool or limit trips. Some initial reaction is here.

Why does it make sense? Because the region can't possibly build its way out of congestion. The only way to accommodate growth is a combination of changing habits and building new infrastructure. Criticism of the very idea completely misses that point.

Where will all the people live

The best way to accommodate Cascadia's growth is with more development, in tandem with infrastructure such as transportation and business.

"It's a question of where," architect/critic Witold Rybczynski said this morning on KUOW (begins at 14:00), noting that the U.S. adds more than a million houses a year. "If you create a village, people will start to act like villagers."

Rybczynski's sounds like he's advocating suburban development, or at least singing its praises compared to urban centers. The trick is incentives to steer development. Sprawl doesn't take into account the larger costs in traffic and the environment.

The LA Times mostly panned his book. The Denver Post interviewed him.

Think twice before selling that bridge

Privatizing bridges, ferries and roads is one way to fund new projects and upkeep. But it isn't necessarily a good deal for taxpayers, according to a series of articles in BusinessWeek.

The magazine could also have considered British Columbia, where the governing BC Liberals have pushed privatization of health care, transport and other services. Just today there's an example of how the results have been mixed.

It would be interesting to see analysis of how these deals could be structured on a local level to better benefit the community as well as investors. What terms can be required? What can the rest of Cascadia learn from B.C.'s example?