Did you know that the Portland Metro area is currently employing as many people as it did in 2001? That’s right. No new net jobs have been created since then. “We lost some jobs, we gained some jobs, but we’re back where we were in 2001,” says Christian Kaylor, Workforce Analyst at the Oregon Employment Department. “From what I’m hearing, 26 other states are in a similar position, but it’s still pretty bleak.”
Yet people STILL want to move here!? “For the first six months of 2009, more people moved to Oregon than to any other state,” says Kaylor—who has been tracking the numbers of moving vans coming to Oregon compared to other states. “And they don’t have enough moving vans in California or Michigan, because people keep moving away from those states.”
Hey, You! Come to our Brewhaha next week, where the topic up for discussion will be why Oregon is so lousy at creating jobs. Kaylor is one of the guests.
Are you “fun-employed?” Is it not so much fun, any more? Or are you simply one of the millions of people across the state who are plain old “unemployed,” and hating it? We’ll have resume expert Dawn Rasmussen on hand form Pathfinder Career Services to help you turn that thing into a golden ticket. Not to mention career folks from idealist.org who can help you get connected with so-called “ethical” job opportunities, if you’re not comfortable logging for dollars or fishing them salmon runs dryyy to the bone.
We’ll also be asking experts to offer their prescriptions for improving the state’s economy. Confirmed guests so far include Portland Development Commission Economic Development Director Erin Flynn, Urban League Communications Public Affairs Coordinator Midge Purcell, former US Senatorial candidate, Steve Novick, and we’re lining up some other hot ones, too, including, fingers crossed, the folks who want to build a Casino down in Wood Village, and fingers double crossed, the mayor’s economic development fellow, Skip Newbury. If you’d like to be involved, shoot me an email. We want the discussion to be as involved and informative as possible.
The most important guest of all is of course YOU. Bring your incisive questions and economic perspectives, if you please. God knows my ability to ask these folks probing questions is akin to Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney, even with the benefit of so-called “research.” #lackinganeconomicspHD
Hey Matt! Do you see any correlation between an anti-business stance in PDX and less jobs? No? (Sigh) Didn’t think you would.
Yes, I do. Although it has nothing to do with unconstitutional laws about sitting on the sidewalk, which is, I suspect, where you’re driving.
I would love it if you would come to the forum to air your views.
Errr…actually, sit/lie is not the most important thing in my life, since I don’t have a bunch of “advocates” fawning over me as their champion. But as a business owner it is a symptom of how imbalanced this city has become in maneuvering an unchecked liberal agenda. I spent my twenties as a pretty left-wing kid…and then I learned how stuff actually works. It’s not until you have a personal stake in the community’s economy that you get it. If you had two cents to rub together that you actually earned yourself you might get it too. But in the meantime it’s easier to observe, judge, garner attention, tap at your laptop and play hero to the underclass by grandstanding picnics.
Trying to run a business in Portland is like running on a treadhill where somebody keeps pressing the incline button. Eventually, folks are gonna leave the gym for greener pastures, mixed metaphors aside.
So you’re a business owner in Portland? Do you want to come sit on the panel? We’re in need of a small business perspective…
Matt, spartacus is never going to do anything so bold as to actually be forced to defend their views. All that spartacus is able to do is use shitty mixed metaphors and ad hominum attacks. And also to always be super-vague about details so that no one is able to fact check or refute anything they ever say.
What Spartacus really likes is having a comment deleted because Spartacus said something about the irrelevance of the mercury.
and Graham, I do recall you getting kind of ad hominummy when Matt said something about IT douchebags.
spartacus, you have a political axe to grind in regards to how mistreated you feel that the business community is by the City of Portland.
I am an online asshole and/or troll. My main political agenda is making fun of people.
You espouse facist/libertarian/Randian beliefs about how laws shouldn’t apply to people you don’t like.
I am an online asshole and/or troll. I espouse desire for great LULZ.
I hope this compare/contrast has greatly relieved you of any misconceptions you might have had in regards to why your arguments for an oppresive police state are silly.
Let’s hope the discussion at next week’s event is a little more constructive!
“Trying to run a business in Portland is like running on a treadhill where somebody keeps pressing the incline button.”
Spartacus, if your business is the metaphorical jet plane, count me the fuck IN.
If you haven’t moved on to other topics, I would be more than happy to participate in the panel discussion as a small business owner. Matt, if you are still looking, shoot me an email. (As long as the event doesn’t involve any gimmicks like monopoly money or fake game show hosts :>)