Sightline Institute

When today’s seniors find homes they want to downsize to, others can move into the homes they depart—freeing up some of Oregon’s 600,000 bedrooms that sit empty every night. It's good for seniors; it’s good for everybody. https://www.sightline.org/age-friendly-homes-for-oregon-neighborhoods/

Portland’s inaugural proportional ranked choice voting elections in 2024 had notable differences from the comparable 2020 presidential election. In 2024, the number of organizations making endorsements nearly quadrupled, campaign spending dropped, and money didn’t predict the winner as reliably as before.

Q+A with Lewis & Clark College professor Dr. Ellen Seljan:

In Portland’s Revised Elections, Endorsements Add Up In Portland’s Revised Elections, Endorsements Add Up

Oregon legalized townhomes on most urban land. But not everyone can handle all those stairs.

Single-level homes inside attractive, neighborhood-scale condo or apartment buildings served by elevators would open the door for Oregonians to downsize within their communities.

Age-Friendly Homes for Oregon Neighborhoods Age-Friendly Homes for Oregon Neighborhoods

Vancouver's Villages Plan was supposed to create 17 vibrant neighborhood hubs and guide growth through 2050, but it fell apart in July after three years of drafting and public consultation.

What would it take for leaders to legalize apartments citywide?

The Death—and Lessons—of Vancouver’s Villages Plan The Death—and Lessons—of Vancouver’s Villages Plan

It has been a brutally destructive fire season, and future summers are on track to be hotter and drier. The Northwest still has time to choose a more fire-resilient path.

Fire Hazard: The Mounting Costs of Northwest Sprawl Fire Hazard: The Mounting Costs of Northwest Sprawl

Another update: USPS’s rules on mail-in ballots, dictated by Trump’s Executive Order, will not go into effect for the 2026 midterms.

How Threats to Voting by Mail Could Affect Cascadia How Threats to Voting by Mail Could Affect Cascadia

Vancouver, BC, has been championing transit-oriented development for decades: apartment towers now cluster near train stops across the metro skyline.

Bill 47 aims to take the concept province-wide—but its central weakness is the discretion it leaves to cities.

British Columbia’s Transit-Oriented Housing Law: A Progress Report British Columbia’s Transit-Oriented Housing Law: A Progress Report

The cost of wildfire goes far beyond direct firefighting. https://www.sightline.org/2026/07/08/the-rising-costs-of-oregons-sprawl-into-fire-country/

Oregon lawmakers approve more than $120 million to cover cost of 2026 wildfires • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon lawmakers approved nearly $123 million to help cover the costs of this year’s record-breaking wildfire season.

Last month, Elon Musk donated $1.5M in support of Alaska's Ballot Measure 2—and his influence only came to light because of the law he is seeking to repeal.

Ballot Measure 2 would not only repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting and open primaries election system, but also its anti-dark money transparency laws.

Ballot Measure 2 Would Allow Dark Money Back into Alaska’s Elections Ballot Measure 2 Would Allow Dark Money Back into Alaska’s Elections

Wildfire risks are driving up costs for Northwest utilities • Washington State Standard When power lines are blamed for starting a wildfire, costs to utilities can stretch into the billions and trickle down to consumers.