A question for those wanting to move to Portland (transplants, find a job)

[pdxMIKEpdx]

I have a question for people that want to move to Portland (or Oregon).
When I read these forums I see the same old topics:
Stuff like Weather, Recreation, Gay friendly, Affordable Housing, Commute times, etc.
The questions I never see (and have never seen) asked are about local politics and politicians, urban development plans, how the city spends it tax dollars, etc
I think that finding out in what future direction a city is moving is important.
Especially if I plan to live there a while.
Do people wanting to move here even care?
Are they just planning to move here for a couple of years until the wow wears off and then move someplace new?
I sure would like to know what the political ambience is and who the major players are if I was moving somewhere.

AFAIK, discussing local politics is not discouraged by the CD rules as long as the discussion remains civil...
This is what it says:
All posts unrelated to local matters will be deleted or moved.
Threads dealing with controversial topics that often degenerate into flame wars, such as politics or religion, may be moved, closed, or deleted by moderators at their discretion without any warning to the participants.

[christiner81]

I care. I've googled a lot of that stuff, so I don't feel the need to ask on here. Also, I'm coming from Arizona, where we bring up the rear in poverty, education, and conservative politics.

[Cinnamon_Girl]

Originally Posted by christiner81

I care. I've googled a lot of that stuff, so I don't feel the need to ask on here. Also, I'm coming from Arizona, where we bring up the rear in poverty, education, and conservative politics.

As do I and I'm coming from South Carolina, where we are usually only surpassed by Mississippi in poverty rates, lack of education spending, conservatism, and I'll add obesity/diabetes and religious monoculture.

My vote usually only counts insomuch as encouraging hope that change may one day be possible. I'm not sure I can wait that long, though.

[andys06]

You are normally able google things like that, see things like that, news/ websites monitor that.

Honest things, as weather, commute, gay friendly are things YOU as citizens for said city would only know, things you have seen and done.

I've never understood people who are so against others moving into their city. Be happy that people want to move in an area where you are, it makes you lucky. Just because people don't ask certain questions doesn't mean they don't care, it means they are already educated on that. Or, maybe things like that matter first.

[Nell Plotts]

It isn't like we are against people moving to Portland (or Oregon for that matter) but many of us want to add a splash of reality. Yes, jobs are tough to find everywhere but jobs in Portland are historically scarce. When I graduated from the U of O back in the day my Mother encouraged me to find employment in another community, not only because she thought I needed a broader prospective but because it is easier to find a job here if you have experience.

Like those who arrived in a covered waggon, it takes a lot of preparation and grit to be a success in Oregon.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

It isn't like we are against people moving to Portland (or Oregon for that matter) but many of us want to add a splash of reality. Yes, jobs are tough to find everywhere but jobs in Portland are historically scarce. When I graduated from the U of O back in the day my Mother encouraged me to find employment in another community, not only because she thought I needed a broader prospective but because it is easier to find a job here if you have experience.

Like those who arrived in a covered waggon, it takes a lot of preparation and grit to be a success in Oregon.

I love this comment. I moved here in the late 70's with a job transfer. About three or four years later my company closed its office in Portland. It took me about six months to find another job in my field.

That is no time at all compared to today. The last layoff I had was in 2001. It took me until 2004 to find permanent full time work.

I don't like the "Visit but don't stay here" thing. I understand that McCall was talking about the difficulty in getting employment idea but most people I know who used that quote speak it literally.

Everyone deserves a chance to live where they want to live but they have to be sensible and above all be prepared for the conditions in which they may find themselves. I have known too many people who just plunked themsleves down and waited for everything to come to them easily. Those are the ones who are no longer in Portland.

[OROSO]

Yes, people are sure posting some stupid questions . . .

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Like those who arrived in a covered waggon, it takes a lot of preparation and grit to be a success in Oregon.

Or end up like Donner Party and get eaten!

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

Or end up like Donner Party and get eaten!

That was California, not Oregon

And that only happened because the leader was lost, which is another apt comparison.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by OROSO

Yes, people are sure posting some stupid questions . . .

Not necessarily stupid but definitely ill-informed. Many potential transplants have gotten too caught up in what they see and hear about Portland in the Media. Some actually believe that all of Portland is like the show "Portlandia."

Some believe that Portland will be vastly different in than the place they are trying to get away from and don't bother checking to see what conditions actually exist. Or they think they will be leaving their problems far behind. But they don't think about how they may find those same problems and/or new ones.

It's better to ask any kind of questions at all instead of creating a utopia in your mind.