Category: Uncategorized

The 2012 Portland Plan was ushered in based on the fundamentals of prosperity, education, health, and equity. It was formulated in response to Portland’s issues deemed most urgent by city officials, such as income inequality, job scarcity, low high school graduation rate, and conservation concerns. The objectives are based on quantitative data on Portland’s neighborhoods, in addition to feedback from members of Portland’s community. Under the Portland Plan, targets were set for the entirety of the city, together with specific communities (City of Portland). 

One strategy to emerge from the plan is the concept of the complete neighborhood. The initiative gained attention for being one of the first cities in North America to outline the concept of 20-minute living. The idea is for residents to have feasible access to a majority of their daily essential destinations through walking, biking, or using public transportation. Portland city officials have specified their desire to have “80% of its approximately 635,000 residents living in complete neighborhoods by 2035” (Vician, 2024). 

One example of the Portland Plan in action is the establishment of public street plazas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and city dwellers were encouraged and aided in organizing events and activities in public areas. The aim was to promote inclusivity and vibrancy in the community. A typical street plaza consists of mobile amenities such as shaded picnic tables intended to foster socialization and relaxation while individuals enjoy coffee or meals. Originally meant to be temporary amidst the pandemic, the project was converted into an indefinite one in 2022. The most recent 2024 evaluation of the public plaza’s reception indicates strong public support, with “96% of survey respondents recognizing substantial community benefits” (City of Portland, 2024). 

In addition to public gathering spaces, among the latest updates of the plan is a proposal to upgrade sidewalks in the east and southwest neighborhoods of Portland, which was adopted on May 7th, 2025, by the Portland City Council. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has alerted the public to the dilapidated condition of the majority of the city’s streets. Specifically, “172 miles of Portland’s nearly 5,000 miles of streets lack sidewalks either on both or one side of the street” (Zielinski, 2025). Portland approximates the execution of the work to cost $200 million over the course of four years. The plan does not outline how the revenue will be generated to cover the costs associated with the project. Alternatively, the city’s Finance Committee will be consulted to present a recommendation for how the sidewalk construction will be financed, with District 4 Councilor Mitch Green having proposed using bonds. 

Further, upgrades delineated in the plan have also been met with some opposition at the local level. A portion of Portland natives cite concerns over displacement and gentrification. For example, the historically black neighborhood of Albina experienced these unintended consequences during the 1960s when the light rail line and highway constructions displaced residents, businesses, and homes. The Portland Plan acknowledges this history under a segment on gentrification. In essence, when the government invests in the development and growth of neighborhoods as outlined in the plan, wealthier residents often move into them, which can contribute to a higher cost of living. It can result in “involuntary displacements of residents and businesses that can occur as the result of rising property values, redevelopment, or land clearance” (City of Portland, 2012, p. 70).

This history continues to influence a certain number of current residents. Portland local Matt Boyd had plans to open a church and buy a home close enough to walk to from there. He had hopes that his parishioners could walk to the place of worship and to each other’s homes for meetings. In three years, Boyd moved four miles away to a cheaper neighborhood that was in the process of being redeveloped, citing gentrification and an inability to buy in his former community. The Portland Plan acknowledges it is a challenge to “figure out how to provide all Portlanders with quality of life improvements while improving trust and confidence in local government without the negative consequences of gentrification and displacement” (City of Portland, 2012, p. 70). These concerns were identified during public forums, workshops, fairs, and meetings, which led to the plan designating a framework for equity. The emphasis is on “underrepresented Portlanders and communities fully participating and influencing public decision-making” (City of Portland, 2012, p. 18).

Despite these potential threats, the Portland Plan is ongoing. It specifies 25-year goals and 5-year action plans, consisting of 142 actions. Teams to evaluate progress have been put in place while the City Council tracks progress. The most recent July 2025 project newsletter from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability summarizes progress regarding the plan. Among the highlights was the RICAP 11 amending draft zoning codes to “remove barriers in order to streamline housing development across the city” (City of Portland, July 2025). Oversight currently occurs in the form of 5-year action plans to guide updates, which “establish near-term investment priorities and associated budgets in accordance with the plan” (Prosper Portland, 2024, p. 4). Moving forward, outcomes will be reliant on transparent evaluations, collaboration, and adaptation. These factors will be critical in addressing the city’s challenges and assessing the success of Portland’s long and short-term aspirations.

References

City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. (2012). The Portland Plan [PDF], 18, 70. https://www.portland.gov/bps/planning/documents/portland-plan/download

City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. (n.d). The Portland Plan. Portland.gov. https://www.portland.gov/bps/planning/about-bps/portland-plan

Portland Bureau of Transportation. (2024). About Portland’s street plazas. Portland.gov. https://www.portland.gov/transportation/planning/plazas/plazas 

Prosper Portland. (2024, August 14). Resolution 7571 [PDF], 4. https://prosperportland.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Resolution-7571.pdf

Vician, T. (2024, February 8th). Walkable metropolis. World News Group. https://wng.org/articles/walkable-metropolis-1707015205

Zielinski, A. (2025, May 7th). Councilors advance plan to improve sidewalks in Portland’s east and southwest neighborhoods. Oregon Public Broadcasting. https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/07/councilors-advance-plan-to-improve-sidewalks-in-portlands-east-and-southwest-neighborhoods/

In the last few years, my household has averaged a couple of packages arriving at our front door each day. This consumerism in action was getting out of control, and I was inspired to write about it. It’s become a fairly normalized practice, especially among younger generations. I can’t imagine this to be healthy or productive. People love stuff, but how come? Why do we feel the need to make never-ending purchases? Consumerism has convinced us that our happiness and social acceptance are tied to our purchases, a process that has caused considerable damage to our well-being. In actuality, we grow as people and find joy not through our material possessions but rather our connections, which can be achieved through simple living.

Research has shown that extraneous purchases do not increase our happiness levels after our basic needs are met. Further, the excitement from newly acquired items dissipates quickly. So, I’ve attempted to compile a list of reasons why we buy in excess. First, people upgrade their possessions to feel like they’re upgrading at least one feature of their lives. Certain individuals believe that acquiring items is synonymous with personal improvement. Instead of doing the inner work required to truly better ourselves, we update our products. Buying the latest gadget, beauty product, or trendy clothing item feels like self-care. We ensure our items are in working order rather than our mental health. 

The desire to shop isn’t only a facade for advancing ourselves. Another key component to the rise of consumerism is retail therapy. I frequently see people joke that shopping is their coping mechanism, but all jokes have some truth to them. If there’s a minor inconvenience, they add items to their cart and proceed to checkout. We mistakenly believe buying things provides us comfort and fills a void by giving us something to look forward to. I view it as a control thing. We feel we have little to no control over certain aspects of our lives, but we can control the quality and quantity of our possessions. 

Ultimately, material pursuits fail to compensate for our perceived flaws. We use it to make up for our shortcomings, but we are not truly evolving. This practice prevents us from confronting the real trouble in our lives. We’re more inclined to impress others with our possessions than with our best qualities, and who we are as people. 

Accumulating too many items has negative consequences. Here’s the logic. Each item I own is something I must keep track of in my head. I have to be cognizant of where to store it, when to use it, how to utilize it, where to wear it, and how to dispose of it, among other considerations. As might be expected, this expends a great deal of mental energy. The more items I have, the more I’m bogged down.

Naturally, the state of our habitat has a powerful impact on our emotional well-being. Living in a home that’s in disarray can engulf our minds. When you do away with physical clutter, you minimize mental overload. Your mind is freed up to attend to the more important things in life. For instance, I can prioritize my career and hone my craft as a writer. I find I have better ideas and can think more clearly when my living space is stress-free. My mood and emotional state are lighter and more positive. I can pursue activities or hobbies I’ve always wanted to. Subsequently, it allows me to be there for the esteemed people in my life. 

Letting go of unnecessary items gives us more time and mental clarity to address the facets of our lives we feel we have lost control of. Minimalism diverts our attention and energy towards personal growth. An emphasis on possessions should not take precedence over nurturing our relationships, especially the one we have with ourselves. 

These realizations did not come easily. The catalyst for these changes was a particularly rough period in my life some time ago. My solution was to eliminate everything unnecessary so I could focus on how to pull myself out of this place. I donated many items that were not serving me and clothes I no longer wore. With my well-being on the line, I couldn’t handle negative distractions. Anything that was not conducive to my success and healing got the boot.

This stripped-down approach can be applied to the digital world, another thing we consume in excess. I recently deleted my Instagram and TikTok accounts. I don’t need to keep up with the lives of strangers through a screen. There’s no beef; I simply don’t want to feign friendship with people I haven’t talked to since high school. Additionally, I don’t watch influencers. I can only concentrate on what’s going on in my life. When I catch up with someone online and become aware of their struggles, it takes a little piece of me each time. Not interacting helps me limit mental expenditure. Most influencers who create online content are not offering anything substantial beyond entertainment. If I can’t think of anything positive I’m getting out of it, I won’t engage. 

Even under minimalism, there are necessities we can’t avoid buying. It is not equivalent to deprivation; you can still own quality items. The essence is to consume mindfully. Minimalism is about living with the least amount of items necessary for you, and that looks different for everyone. I’m not advocating for you to get rid of most of your belongings, nor am I suggesting it’s possible to live without certain things. That’s for you to decide.

Clothing addiction, in particular, was the issue for me. Even with this, I still use fashion as a creative outlet. However, I steer clear of impulse purchases and resist the temptation to buy a new outfit for every occasion. Now, I’ve equipped my wardrobe with fewer versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits that stand the test of time. I also value quality skincare, makeup, and beauty products. Although, I don’t fall into the hype when a product goes viral and I get told I need it in my life. I finish all my products before considering a new brand, and I don’t have more than two of any one type of product. 

This is not a beginner’s guide on how to get into minimalism, but I have some tips. I go by the saying, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Every item purchased is intentional and thoroughly researched. I carefully consider how much it will benefit me, often spanning the course of months or even years, for more consequential purchases. If I’m not dying without it, I can certainly wait to buy. 

Yes, I was indeed a bona fide shopaholic in the past. My epiphany was this: Nothing physical, nothing tangible, no material possession, item, or object has ever made me happy. Happiness does not derive from that. To date, my family and close friends are the only things that have brought me joy. (Fine, you can throw in my pets). Connecting with people is all I need. I have never found solace in objects. They have never soothed any hardship I was going through. I’m comforted by connection.

In short—and I don’t care if it’s corny—we should be content with what we already have. A simple life is a happy one.

Further Reading

• https://medium.com/@sidtheminimalist/the-psychology-of-consumerism-understanding-our-drive-to-acquire-9480e5c349de
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2023/06/28/5-mental-health-rewards-of-embracing-minimalism-according-to-a-psychologist/