State leaders gather to solve urban vs. rural ‘culture wars’
Published: November 15. 2008 4:00AM PST
SALEM — Oregon can be more than a bit player on the global economic stage, but the state cannot reach its full potential because of infighting between its rural and urban areas.
That was the recurring theme Friday at a conference sponsored by four Oregon universities aimed at a goal that few states have been able to accomplish: conquering the rural-urban divide.
“We need to focus not on culture wars, but the things we agree on and that contribute to the competitiveness of the state as a whole,” said Bruce Weber, a professor and the director of the Rural Studies Institute at Oregon State University.
Those include a robust education system and transportation networks, he said.
Presenters at the daylong Toward One Oregon conference included university professors and presidents, economists, newspaper editors and Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who said policymakers cannot gain a basic understanding of urban and rural concerns without spending time in both.
Tension between rural and urban dwellers and government leaders is nothing new, and neither is the search for common ground.
The same dynamic occurs across the nation and even in counties, such as Deschutes County, with a large urban hub and outlying areas.
Conference presenters did not promote specific legislation, but several lawmakers were among the crowd of roughly 150 — and one of them, the chairman of the Oregon House Rural Policy Committee, said he hoped Friday’s discussion could help lawmakers reconsider the types of bills they pass.
For instance, it sounds like a good idea to have a specialized doctor treat child abuse victims — until you realize that there are no such specialists in many rural counties, said Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney, who attended the conference, said she appreciated the fact that officials and academics from across the state are aware of the rural-versus-urban split — she just wished for more practical advice about how to deal with it.
“We can all identify the gaps and the needs,” she said. “So what do we do on the ground?”
For instance, are there good examples of how rural counties have banded together to provide public services or seek federal grants?
Ethan Seltzer, the director of the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University, said he marvels at the energy spent on rural-versus-urban tensions.
“We’re all in this together, and we have no choice,” he said. “A global economy doesn’t care about the distinctions between the various regions of this state.”
James Sinks can be reached at 503-566-2839 or at jsinks@bendbulletin.com.
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more articles are available only to E-Edition members.
Sign up today!
