Commissioner Jeff Cogen http://www.commissionercogen.com/ en 2008-07-18T14:26:04-08:00 Save 55 percent on used material at The Title Wave Used Bookstore http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/save_55_percent.html From the Library:
Find incredible discounts on used bestsellers, children’s books, videos, music scores and more at The Title Wave Used Bookstore’s annual Ginormous Sale, Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. All used material will be 55 percent off!
The Title Wave is Multnomah County Library’s volunteer-operated used bookstore, offering shoppers a selection of more than 20,000 used library materials, including books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, videos, records, cassettes and magazines at bargain prices.
The Title Wave is located at 216 N.E. Knott St., Portland. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.multcolib.org/titlewave or call 503.988.5021.

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Sidebar Alerts karolcollymore 2008-07-18T14:26:04-08:00
Menu labeling changing behavior? http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/menu_labeling_c.html Listen to this NPR story from the show Day to Day on New York's new menu labeling policy. What do you think?

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Front Page News karolcollymore 2008-07-18T13:56:23-08:00
Do you really know what you are eating? http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/do_you_really_k.html According to Multnomah County's health officer, Gary Oxman, people routinely underestimate what calories are in our foods. So, my co-workers and I decided to figure out what calories were in our favorite foods. With all the chatter around Jeff's proposed menu labeling policy, we thought we'd put our money where our mouths were...so to speak. I'll give you the scandalous details after the jump. Do you know what you are really eating? Take the fast food quiz.

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Top Stories karolcollymore 2008-07-18T09:55:03-08:00
Take the poll on menu labeling http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/take_the_poll_o.html News Radio 1190 KEX has posted a poll about Commissioner Cogen's proposed menu labeling policy. What do you think? You can take the KEX poll here. Please come back and let us know how you voted!

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Front Page News karolcollymore 2008-07-17T08:46:02-08:00
Menu labeling could become a "Food Fight" http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/food_fight.html Jeff is making news today with his proposed menu labeling policy. This, from the Willamette Week:

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is set to vote July 31 on a proposal by Commissioner Jeff Cogen and the county health department requiring chain restaurants to put calorie counts on menus.

The premise: Reading that your grande peppermint white-chocolate mocha packs 530 calories, or that your ultimate bacon cheeseburger has 1,060, will scare diners into eating and drinking healthier.

The proposed policy goes before the Board on July 31st.

Read the rest here and come back and let us know what you think.

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Front Page News karolcollymore 2008-07-16T10:03:41-08:00
SE Jenne Road to close during sewer project http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/se_jenne_road_t.html A section of SE Jenne Road between SE Foster Road and SE 174th Ave. in east Multnomah County will be closed from Monday, July 14 until November 14, 2008 during construction of a sewer project. The City of Gresham’s Pleasant Valley sewer interceptor will provide urban services for a recently annexed area. The sewer line will be installed along SE Jenne Road, which is too narrow to remain open to through traffic during construction.

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Sidebar Alerts karolcollymore 2008-07-11T11:14:42-08:00
New website promotes clean rivers and streams http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/new_website_pro.html From the Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams:

Do you clean up after your dog? Watch the chemicals in your garden? Take your car to an automated car wash that recycles wash water? All of these ideas and more will help keep rivers healthy. The Regional Coalition for Clean Rivers and Streams will launch a new website the week of July 7, 2008 that presents lots of information in a fun, interactive way about how we all can keep rivers healthy. CleanRiversandStreams.org provides detailed information about how to keep our daily activities from polluting local rivers and streams.

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Top Stories karolcollymore 2008-07-10T16:05:45-08:00
Sustainability film series: Kilowatt Ours on July 27th http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/sustainability_1.html Multnomah County presents:

“Kilowatt Ours”
A PLAN TO RE-ENERGIZE AMERICA
Sunday, July 27th @ 5:00 pm
McMenamins Bagdad Theater
SE Hawthorne & 37th Ave in Portland
Followed by a SMARTER ENERGY panel discussion
Questions? Click here.

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Sidebar Alerts karolcollymore 2008-07-09T15:22:02-08:00
Top 15 green politicians http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/top_15_green_po.html Around here we like to think Jeff is the number one green politician so when I found this list, I was hoping he was on it. Alas, he wasn't. But Grist online magazine put this list together of leaders worldwide that are making strides in improving the environment. Check it out!

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Top Stories karolcollymore 2008-07-09T13:38:55-08:00
I-5 Bridge: How do you feel? http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/i-5_bridge_how.html The Columbia River Crossing - otherwise known as the I-5 bridge - is causing quite the uproar around Portland. Residents and groups focused on the environment are not in favor of the proposed models; they do not feel it meets all levels of sustainability, among other things. Others are worried about health impacts and some just worried that it's going to be ugly.

Why are we talking about it? Well, the southern end of any bridge would land in District two. That impacts constituents in various ways from health impacts (such as air quality and noise) to displacement. So what do you think - bridge or no bridge?

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Front Page News karolcollymore 2008-07-08T09:57:40-08:00
Reminder: urban/rural reserves open house in Gresham tonight http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/reminder_urbanr.html From The Gresham Outlook:
Residents are invited to join in a conversation about how the Metro region should take shape over the next several years.

The public meeting will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 7, at the Multnomah County East Building, 600 N.E. Eighth St.

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Sidebar Alerts karolcollymore 2008-07-07T10:46:04-08:00
New library for Troutdale, too http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/new_library_for.html From the Gresham Outlook:

Multnomah County Commissioner Lonnie Roberts is officially recommending the downtown Troutdale Discovery Block for the long-proposed branch library facility.

Roberts called the property at Second Avenue and Historic Columbia River Highway a “keystone development in the center of historic downtown Troutdale” in a news release issued Thursday afternoon, July 3. He and fellow commissioners will discuss and likely vote to recommend the site at the Thursday, July 17, Commission board meeting, said Roberts’ assistant Tom Mack.

“As a result of extensive negotiations, District 4, the Library, and Facilities and Property Management agree that the Discovery Block is ideal as the site for the new branch,” Roberts said in the release. “An accessible downtown location, a solid civic presence, adaptive logistics and design, and a competitive financial structure all contribute to this recommendation.”

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Top Stories karolcollymore 2008-07-07T09:52:41-08:00
Libraries closed for July 4th holiday http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/libraries_close_1.html All Multnomah County libraries, Library Administration and The Title Wave Used Bookstore will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day. The Title Wave Used Bookstore will also be closed on Saturday, July 5. Library locations and normal operating hours are available at www.multcolib.org/hours.

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Sidebar Alerts karolcollymore 2008-07-03T07:52:22-08:00
Important: Bridge closures for July 4th holiday http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/important_bridg.html Several Multnomah County roads and one bridge will be closed for firework displays and community events on the Fourth of July.

The Hawthorne Bridge will be closed to road and sidewalk traffic from approximately 9:30 pm until after a fireworks display is completed to ensure the public’s safety. Fireworks will be launched from two barges near the bridge.

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Top Stories karolcollymore 2008-07-02T13:45:16-08:00
Urban/Rural reserves public meetings http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/07/urbanrural_rese.html Public meetings seek community input on long-range land use planning
Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington counties join Metro and residents to help select Urban, Rural Reserves

Residents of Multnomah County and the entire Portland metropolitan area are invited to join a conversation about how our region will take shape at open houses scheduled in July.

Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Washington County and Metro are leading a regional effort to designate urban and rural reserves to accommodate future growth and protect valuable farmland, forest land and natural areas that define the character of this region.

Urban and rural reserves will provide greater predictability for landowners, farmers and communities about where the urban growth boundary may expand over the next 40 to 50 years, while protecting important farmland and natural areas from urbanization for that same period of time.

A Regional Reserves Steering Committee has been established, made up of city officials, representatives from agricultural, business, environmental and conservation communities, and social and economic equity organizations, and a commissioner from each county and a Metro councilor. On June 9 the committee approved an initial broad study area—approximately five miles outside the Metro urban growth boundary—as a starting place for considering areas to be designated as reserves.

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Front Page News karolcollymore 2008-07-01T13:50:56-08:00