Climate Solutions welcomes David Bragdon back to Oregon for our 4th Annual Dinner in Portland

By Ann Gravatt
Climate Solutions

Like the Willamette meteorite - which landed in Oregon a long time ago but in recent years has been on display in a brick building adjoining Central Park in Manhattan - a fragment of New York will return to Portland on Wednesday, December 5 for  Climate Solutions 4th Annual Dinner. David Bragdon, who served nearly eight years as Metro Council President for the Portland metropolitan region and has worked the past two years as an official in the administration of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, will deliver the keynote address.

Bragdon was born in New York City, moving to Portland at the age of 12 in 1971, coincidentally as New York entered a deep fiscal decline and Oregon commenced its bold innovations like urban growth boundaries, mandatory bottle recycling, public oceanfront, as well as the neighborhood-led revival of Portland including its transit system. As an adult, Bragdon became part of that civic fabric in Portland, working in the transportation field at the Port of Portland and then serving on the Metro Council.

In 2010, David returned to New York City that was very different from the crime-ridden metropolis of the 1970s, and has had a first-hand look at many of Mayor Bloomberg's environment and energy policies that have not only been part of New York's strong economic performance but also part of its ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030 compared to a 2005 baseline. Because of the damage from super storm Sandy, New York is accelerating its pre-existing efforts to accurately calculate the risks of climate change and develop sound strategies to invest in the most cost-effective resilience measures.  

Both Portland and New York City are known for their strong environmental protection efforts. As someone who has worked in the policy arenas for both cities, Bragdon will comment on the similarities and the differences between how two very different places approach these issues, and how both cities are learning from each other. Portland has pioneered techniques like green infrastructure to better manage stormwater and bike lanes to provide more options for transportation, and in recent years, New York City has made great strides in implementing energy programs and policies.

New York City has taken the lead in the financing for energy efficiency retrofits in both public and private existing buildings,  disclosure of energy use in existing buildings and in its unprecedented investment in parks and other public spaces, initiatives which Portland and other cities are hoping to emulate. 

Climate Solutions is looking forward to welcoming David back to Oregon next Wednesday night for our 4^th Annual Dinner in Portland. I hope you’ll join us.