Portland, OR or Seattle, WA - liberal? (Phoenix: houses, construction)

[AvoidIdaho]

I have a general question comparing Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. If you had to pick, which would you say in general is more liberal and open-minded? I'm thinking that Seattle is more cosmopolitan and has more going on. Our family was thinking of moving to Portland or Seattle from nothern California. We lived in northern Idaho for over a decade and really don't want to repeat the conservative Californian-hating vibes. Which one would you recommend? Which is more progressive?

Thanks in advance

[Steve97415]

Broad sweeping generalizations about cities only go so far. Both Portland and Seattle are fairly progressive cities that trend toward the blue side of the political spectrum. But both are also big enough to have substantial factions of conservative backlash. I would use more conventional criteria for deciding between the two: climate, job opportunities, housing affordability, etc.

IMO, both are also post-climax cities, i.e., their best days are behind them and their current population sizes now exceed the carrying capacity for best livability. But if you are determined to live in a major metropolitan area, those are probably two of the best in the West.

[bobmulk]

My observation is that Seattle is more liberal. Portland, to me, is self-consciously liberal. Tries to hard to be politically correct.

I'm a native Oregonian. Seattle I feel is more cosmopolitan and progressive than Portland. It is home to many large corporations because Washington is more business friendly. You'll find the home of Starbucks, Nordstrom, Costco, Microsoft, Weyerhaueser, Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Safeco in Puget Sound. Everyone knows where Seattle is, Portland is kind of a self-congratulatory wannabe world city.

But...Seattle is out of control size-wise. Although Oregon's ultra-strict land use controls gall me sometimes, at least Portland doesn't sprawl forever like Seattle does. Traffic starts in Olympia and doesn't let up until way after Everett. It's nightmarish.

I love visiting Seattle, but I prefer Portland because it's more manageable. You don't feel overwhelmed by the sheer velocity of the city. It seems like it's on a more human scale.

[Nea1]

Portland needs a reality check on it's growth, it needs to spread out more so housing and traffic ( yes 26 and 17 are a complete nightmare) doesnt get more out of hand, the houses there stack up on top of each orther. Seattle has to grow, more people are moving there , as with any large city traffic will be an issue, I have been to LA, Phoenix, Dc and atlanta and they all have traffic issue, but nothing has ticked me off more than sitting at a standstill for 20 minutes then getting to travel a whole 100 feet then waiting another 20 minutes Like I do on the 26!!!!!!!! Portland isnt that big, there is no reason for this.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Nea1

Portland needs a reality check on it's growth, it needs to spread out more so housing and traffic ( yes 26 and 17 are a complete nightmare) doesnt get more out of hand, the houses there stack up on top of each orther. Seattle has to grow, more people are moving there , as with any large city traffic will be an issue, I have been to LA, Phoenix, Dc and atlanta and they all have traffic issue, but nothing has ticked me off more than sitting at a standstill for 20 minutes then getting to travel a whole 100 feet then waiting another 20 minutes Like I do on the 26!!!!!!!! Portland isnt that big, there is no reason for this.

You obviously haven't spent much time in Phoenix.

The traffic in PHX is MUCH worse than anything I've ever seen in Portland or Seattle. I've lived in all three cities for years at a time. NOTHING compares to the traffic in Phoenix. It's a mess, people just don't know how to drive down there. Adding that to the constant road construction on every highway, snowbirds with their blinker stuck on for 30 miles while driving 45 mph in a 65 zone, and a severe lack of public transportation and you have the driving hell that is Phoenix. At least Portland and Seattle have decent public transportation. The only lightrail system in the valley is one that they've just begun building in Tempe.

[Nea1]

I have been here awhile and I havent had any troubles yet, except for accidents, but 26 always backed up for no reason.