August 3, 2025 • 30 mins
Oregon's mattress recycling program is growing. Small watercraft in Oregon need a new permit next year. PGE opens its network of wildfire monitoring cameras. Rates are going up at Oregon State Parks. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signs several bills to increase housing affordability.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford. This week, Oregon's
mattress recycling program is spreading across the state. New rules
are coming for small watercraft in Oregon. Fort In General
Electric makes its network of firewatch cameras available to you.
Rates are going up at Oregon state parks and Governor
Tina Kotec take steps to increase housing. Oregon has a
(00:27):
mattress recycling program starting this year. Mike O'Donell COO of
the Mattress Recycling Council, joins us on Local Voices. Mike
explain how the program works.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thank you so much for having me and having MRC
on your show.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Brad So.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
MRC was created in twenty fourteen in response to three
state laws California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island with the first
states in the nation to pass statewide mattress recycling laws,
and those laws required the industry to step up, create
(01:03):
a nonprofit and put the pieces together to start recycling
mattresses statewide.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
And that's where we got our start.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It is so difficult get rid of a mattress. I mean,
you know before this there are a few places that
will take them, but they've got to be clean and
you know, no stains. But I mean it's if you
want to get rid of a mattress, with the exception
of dumping in a landfill, there really haven't been many
options there.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Haven't, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And historically and even to this day, one of the
best options for residents is to give it back to
your retailer if you're using If you're buying a mattress
from your local shop, more often than they provide that
take back service, and that's a great way to have
your mattress either reused or recycled.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Terrific. Tell us about Oregon's mattress recycling program. How does
it work? Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, So we started Oregon on January first. We're excited
because this is our fourth state that's adopted mattress legislation
and this is great for Oregon. It folds right into
other statewide recycling programs that Oregon has for things like paint,
electronic waste packaging, and so mattresses. Now we are launching
(02:17):
an Oregon. We've been on the ground for seven months.
We've been establishing permanent collection sites and signing up collection
events in rural and underserved areas of the states, as
well a mattress isn't something that a consumer gets rid
of very often. It occurred to me that I went
about fifty years of my life without ever getting rid
(02:39):
of a mattress. They were always moved into a second
room or I was able to give it to somebody else.
But sooner or later, your old mattress needs to get recycled,
and that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
How is it paid for?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So the program is funded by a per unit fee
on all mattresses and box springs that are sold in
the state of Oregon. And it's not just individual consumers.
If you're a hotel, if you're a university, everybody has
to pay into the system. And the fee is twenty
two dollars and fifty cents per unit. And that money
(03:13):
pays for everything that the Mattress Recycling Council does, all
of our advertising, the collection, the transportation, the recycling, the
administration of the program. We are a nonprofit, so consumers
can feel good that we're using the money wisely.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So with science charging the extra fee, is there any
other impact on mattress sellers?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So the impact for the local retailers within the state
of organ is that they do need to notify consumers
about the existence of the program, whether you're buying it
online or through a local retailer. They are obligated to
provide information about MRC's by by Mattress program and through
by bymattress dot com, your listeners can find places to
(03:56):
drop off their old mattresses for recycling.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
So if I buy a mattress and the company drops
it off and they offer to collect my old mattress,
then generally they would take it to the recycle's That's
how it would enter the recycling process.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Generally speaking, yes, Brad.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Now, if they're generating large quantities of mattresses, we are
going to provide a trailer to them. So we're aggregating
large quantities of mattresses all at one time to both
save the program money. We also like to get mattresses
back from retailers. They tend to be cleaner, they're intact,
and we get a higher recycling rate from those units,
rather than having to get them from your local transfer
(04:35):
station or dump where they tend to be more dirty.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Right, So, if I have a mattress that I just
don't need anymore, I'm not buying a new one. Where
would I or how do I find out where I
would take that.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
The best place to go is buy by mattress dot com.
We are continually uploading that site with new drop off
locations throughout the state of Oregon, and that's where would
go to find your best location.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right, So then what happens to the mattresses? How
are they recycled?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
So whatever mattresses come into a collection site, first of all,
there's a triage. Some mattresses are good enough to be reused,
where they're then sent off to folks that are able
to rehabilitate them and maybe put them back into circulation
for people that need to have a mattress where the
otherwise would not would not be able to.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We partner with Community Warehouse in Portland.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
They've done a great job redistributing mattresses that are in
good shape.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
If they're not, the recycler starts. But I guess peeling
back the layers.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
You start by trimming all the way around the perimeter
of the mattress and peeling back the top layers and
then the layers of foam underneath it until you get
to the metal. The top three components that we recycle
out of mattresses are that top quilt panel, the layers
of foam below it, the metal from the springs, and then.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The wood from the box springs.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
And if you get all those components recycled, we are
able to recycle about seventy five percent by weight of
all mattresses that come into the program.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
So does a constanty thing for the person getting rid
of the mattress. If I take it to a drop
off location and drop it off, do I have to
pay anything?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Nope, yep, you paid for the fee upfront, and that program.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
That fee pays for all of the legacy mattresses that
are currently in circulation in the state of Oregon.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Mike, here in the Portland area, where's the best way
or what's the best location that people can use to
drop off their mattresses.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
We've got three important locations in the Portland area right now, Brad.
If your mattress is in good condition, consider dropping it
off at Community Warehouse.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
They've got a location.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
In Portland again that can be found on by bimattress
dot com. Community Warehouse does a great job redistributing mattresses
that are in good condition back to the community. If
your mattress is not in reusable condition. Consider Portland Metro's
Central Transfer Station or environmentally Conscious Recycling in Northeast. Locations
(07:16):
and hours for all of them are on our website.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Like talk to us a little bit about the benefits
of recycling material from a mattress.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
You know, before mattress recycling programs existed, we were thrown
away millions of tons of foam, steel, wood. All of
these components occupy a disproportionate amount of space in our landfills.
I think in Oregon there are upwards of six hundred
mattresses every single calendar day being landfilled in the state.
(07:46):
These are usable commodities. Virtually all the foam that we
collect today's recycled back into carpetpad and we're developing alternative
uses as well. There's just a lot of environmental benefits
to keeping these products in circulation rather than directly and
filling or burning them.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Wow, that's great. So if you don't have a way
to get a mattress to a collection location, are there
options to help with that, you know, besides strapping it
to the roof of my car.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, you know, many local solid waste companies provide curbside
pickup that may or may not be an extra fee,
depending on where you live within the state of Oregon,
but we'd recommend checking with your local solid waste company
to see what options exist.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Sure, I know ours does does offer that. Mike, anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you about.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, you know, by by Mattress. Our program has been
around for ten years and over that time, we've recycled
over fifteen million mattresses in Box Springs, making us one
of the largest mattress recycling organizations in the world. We're
thrilled to be coming to Oregon. Our programs are mature,
we're pretty good at what we do, and we look
(08:53):
forward to expanding into all communities across the state of Oregon.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And you know, we're just getting started.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Wow, fifteen million mattresses that is that is great. Tell
us one more time. What's your website?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Bye by mattress dot com. That is bye bye mattress
dot com.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Mike, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's michae
O'donald's coo the Mattress Recycling Council with details about Oregon's
new mattress recycling program. Again. Their website is by bymattress
dot com. Starting next year, if you own a watercraft
shorter than ten feet in Oregon, you'll need a permit
Ashley Massey where the Oregon State Marine Board joins us
(09:30):
on local voices Ashley, what's the new rule for these permits?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Beginning January first? In twenty twenty six, non motorized boats
under ten feet will be required to purchase the waterway
access permit, which basically means kayaks, rafts, and stand up paddleboards.
The current law currently applies to boats ten feet and
longer and has been in place since twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
What about things like inner tubes or floaties?
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Great question? So what you traditionally consider pool toys, floaties,
other beach toys, and single inner tubes, They are not
going to need a permit. Those are currently exempt.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
How much the permits cost?
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We have three different permit options. There's a seven day
permit for six dollars. That'll be the price in twenty
twenty six. A one year permit will go from seventeen
dollars to twenty and the two year permit will go
from thirty to thirty five dollars.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
So why is it necessary to do this? What will
the revenue fund.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
That's a great question.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
So we've got aquatic and basis species knocking on our doorstep.
The Snake River in Idaho was found to be contaminated
and wound up shutting off a huge stretch of the
river in twenty twenty three, impacting a lot of different entities.
In addition, we've also found our California neighbors have found
(11:02):
golden muscles in their waterways. And the things that make
this particular type of mollusks so dangerous is that they
can adapt. They adapt and grow quickly. They're filter feeders,
and they ultimately could collapse entire fisheries. They colonize, so
they form these thick mats of muscles. They're very difficult
(11:28):
to remove, and they can clog intake pipes, they can
clog turbines for hydroelectric dams, and so they are a
real threat to Oregon, and so we want to fortify
our borders. Currently, we've only got five inspection stations and
they're only open for parts of the year, and they're
also not open twenty four hours a day. Boats are
(11:50):
traveling into the state all the time, and so this
is the very first line of defense that we have.
We've got to make sure that all boats coming into
this state from infected states can be inspected and decontaminated.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So how are the permits enforced.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
We contract with thirty one county sheriff's offices and the
Oregon State Police, and so they are on the water
and actively involved in educating voters. First, the thing that
the Marine Board has traditionally done is whenever there's been
a new law enacted, we have a phase in period
and we'd like to spend the first season to educate
(12:30):
voters and do rigorous outreach so everyone's well informed well
in advance what.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Happens if somebody doesn't have a permit.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Again, education is the first thing we try to do.
Just let them know the different easy ways to get
the permit, and then it's really up to the officer's
discretion on whether to warn or take it the next
step further and have them purchase a permit. It's easy
to do. Their available online through our Boat Oregon store.
They're also available from the organ Apartment of Fish and Wildlife.
(13:02):
They're e licensing system and you can also purchase them
from ODFW licensing agents.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
So are there's a sticker, then that go on the
on the kayak or whatever.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
They're actually a downloadable permit, and so there's a couple
of things that voters can do, and we've seen a
variety of really effective approaches. One thing you can do
is print out the permit. Some people will put the
permit into a ziplock or some kind of dry pack
or dry bag when they're outvoting. Another option is to
(13:37):
copy it onto your cell phone or mobile device, either
as a photo or as a downloadable file that you
can show the Marine law enforcement when asked.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you just have to carry it and then show it.
It doesn't need to be a sticker on your boat exactly.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
This is not a registration type of system. The permit
is transferable to other water craft and you only need
one per boat. So say a family of four is
out rafting, you only need one permit. Another example can
be you know, if you've got two or three different
kayaks and you're only going out in one, then you
(14:16):
only need to carry one permit. It's only if all
three are in use at the same time that you
would need three permits.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Sure astutely, anything else you'd like to add, this program.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Is very important, not only for aquatic and basis species
prevention and to help fund boat inspection stations. But the
other piece is that the Marine Board does a lot
for recreational boaters, and one of the things that this
permit revenue will do is help fund waterway access, meaning
boat ramps and single car parking, low free board docks,
(14:51):
a lot of different amenities that are important for paddlers
to help them get to the water safely. So some
of the revenue will go directly to facility grants for
waterway providers. And you know, we've already been able to
leverage four point five million dollars to develop and improve
(15:12):
non motorized access sites, and we've got lots of information
on our website including where these grant dollars have gone
and the scope of different projects that have already hit
the ground. We're going to be dedicating another one here soon,
Miller's Landing and Ben It's another great example where access
is being created so it's easier for people with a
(15:34):
variety of different mobility challenges ada accessible can get to
the river so they can enjoy themselves.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So if people want to learn more about it, where
can they go?
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Visit boat dot Oregon Dot gov Forward slash WAP and
there's an FAQ page with lots of detailed information about
the existing program and what's coming.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
In twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Ashley, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's Ashley
Massey the Oregon State Marine Board. We have details on
new permit requirements for widercraft under ten feet. They take
effect January first. You can learn more and buy the
permits on the Oregon State Marine Boards website. Port In
General Electric is making its network of wildfire detecting cameras
available to you. John Farmer with PGE joins us on
(16:20):
Local Voices. John tell us about this network of cameras.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Yeah, So PGE employs a wide range of really innovative
technologies to help prevent wildfire in our communities. And one
of these technologies are these is the fire detection cameras
that we have. We've been using these since about we
started installing them back in twenty twenty one and we're
(16:45):
at about we have about four years sold spread throughout
some of the kind of the outskirts of the Portland
metro area, through a lot of our higher wildfire risk areas,
and these cameras monitor for smoke twenty four to seven
one hundred and sixty degree view of the landscape. And
now those cameras are accessible to anyone who wants to
(17:06):
go on and take a look.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So a science PGE using them. Are there other agencies
that use them as well?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Yeah, so these cameras are really designed as a first
response kind of alert system for our emergency response organizations
and firefighting agencies. So you know, the think of the
you know, the Clackamus fire chief who gets a notification
straight to their phone that says there's smoke detected in
(17:35):
this specific area, and then that allows that fire chief
or that emergency response organization to understand what they need
to do, where do they need to go, and then
go assess the situation. Now, folks who are logging on
to check it out aren't going to be signing up
for notifications or alerts. We want we want our emergency
response organizations to have that capability because they're using it
(17:58):
to go do their job, which is to prevent wildfire,
fight fire. But yeah, we have over two hundred different
folks using the system from representing about fifty different agencies.
And when I say agencies, you know, think of our
firefighting agencies, Bureau of Land Management, US four Service organ
Department of Forestry, things like that, Like folks who are
(18:20):
going to be heavily, heavily involved in any sort of
fire or wildfire response.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I know that when I've been in some rural areas,
I'll see, you know, transmission towers or I'll see a
PGE substation and you know, kind of out in the
middle of nowhere, right, And so is that where these
cameras are located? Up high? I imagine, right, so they've
got a good view.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
Yep. So a lot of these cameras are on pre
existing infrastructure, big towers that are way up high, and
we have positioned them. So we do a lot of
risk analysis to understand where the greatest risk for wildfire
is and that helps us, that helps inform where we
put these cameras. So if you look at the mat
(19:02):
on the web page where you can see all the cameras,
you can kind of notice a little circle around the
kind of Portland metro area. And that is because that
area those areas kind of on the outskirts, you know,
think mount Hood Corridor, Stacata, forest growth, kind of those
outskirt areas of the Portland metro area. Those are where
(19:24):
you're going to see some greater fire risk for wildfire,
which again is why we have those cameras there, because
we know we need to make sure we are ready
to respond as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Now, it's kind of interesting just to look at the
cameras and do some sight seeing around the state.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
So I think when you think about how this is
going to be beneficial for you know, residents, customers, folks
like that, I think for me, it's if you think
about the real time decision making that has to happen
during any sort of emergency. So in the case of
a fire, right, I'm sure we can all remember time
(20:00):
in the relatively recent past where there was there was
wildfire going on. And sometimes information can be it can
be confusing, it can be hard to dissect what's you know,
the information that you're getting there can be a lot
of it. And so this this is just a tool
that we're putting into people's hands to say, hey, you
can go on and see what is happening right now,
and if nothing else, it just gives you it'll help
(20:21):
give a sense of where are we seeing the fire,
where are the agencies going, and do I need to
make any decisions for my family right now based on
what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So if people want to see these cameras, take a
look at them, what's the easiest way for them to
find them?
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Yeah, So, I mean you can go just just go
on to PGES website Portland General dot com and we
have a wildfire safety page there. You can search forward
or find it in the main navigator there and and
you scroll one or two scrolls down on that wildfire
page in there, and there's a there's a link right there,
and uh, it takes you right to the site and
(20:56):
you can check out all the cameras. You can kind
of see what they can see.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
It's kind of fun to just sit back and sight
see and look at some areas, especially from angles that
you don't normally see, to be able to look at
the state. So that's that's great. Join anything else you
want to add, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Just I think I'll reiterate you know, this is one
of the many ways that one of the many tools
we have in our toolkit to help prevent wildfire in
our communities, keep people safe, and yeah, just do our
part to prevent to prevent wildfire.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
John, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's John
Farmer with Portland General Electric and details about their network
of wildfire detecting cameras throughout their region. You can see
those cameras on the PGE website. Oregon State Parks faces
a fourteen percent budget deficit and needs to create revenue
to avoid cuts. Stephanie Nolton with Oregon State Parks joins
(21:48):
US on Local Voices to detail fee increases at the parks. Stephanie,
thanks for joining us. One change will be in the
day used parking fee.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Currently, Oregon Parkson Recreation Department charges parking fees at twenty
five parks across the state, and we waive that parking
fee at about two hundred and twenty five parks. And
so starting this fall, we're going to add an additional
twenty one parks to the list of parks that we
(22:17):
do not wave the parking fee at. And so those
twenty one parks are some of our busiest parks, including
Harris Beach down at the South Coast. It gets nearly
two million estimated two million day visits a year.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Are there ways that people can save on parking fees
if they're regular parks users?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
Absolutely, we offer our twelve and twenty four month parking
permit and people can purchase those. The twelve month permit
costs thirty dollars and so it just pays for itself
in three visits, and then the twenty four month permit
cost fifty dollars, So that can be quite a bit.
As say means if you're a frequent park visitor.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
How and when are camping rates changing?
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Yeah, for days, starting May first, twenty twenty six, we
are increasing the overnight rates at twenty nine of our
busiest parks and what we're doing is increasing those rates
to the top of the current rate range and that
will be during the busy season from May first through
September thirtieth. And what this means, for example, the top
(23:24):
rate for tent camping is twenty nine dollars and the
top rate for a full our V hookup is fifty two,
So it's still in line with parks across the country
and still even though it isn't increases, it is still
quite affordable. In addition to those changes, those parks will
(23:46):
also have those kind of high busy season rates during Friday,
Saturday and Sunday night visits as well.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Why are the increases needed.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
That's thank you for asking. It's part of an ongoing
effort to build a more sustainable funding future for Oregon
State parks. As a state, we've struggled to sustainably fund parks.
We get the majority of our funding from Oregon Lottery,
which we are grateful to receive. There have been changes
(24:18):
over the last few years to the percentage that we
get to allocate toward maintenance and operations, and so that,
alongside the increase in visitation, increasing and costs, has really
put us in a situation where we need to look
hard at the revenue and we're also looking at our
(24:40):
expenses too, just to make sure that we can continue
to maintain the level of service that people enjoy and
love now. And so in order to do that, we
need to make some changes, and these fee increases are
part of those changes that we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Anything else you want to add, yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
I also want to note that in addition to the
seasonal rates, they're going to be some additional increases. The
cabin inurt prices, for example, will go to the top
of the rate range year round, and that's at all parks,
and so rest sicurates, for example, will be seventy two
dollars a night, and then the deluxe cabins inurts will
(25:19):
be one hundred and twenty nine. And those deluxe cabins
and yards, I don't know if you've had a chance
to see them, but they include like a refrigerator and
like a TV, and I think they have sleeping for
like eight people, So they are quite deluxe. And so
the cabins are a little smaller, but they still do
have some of those amenities, which is quite nice. In addition,
(25:40):
the booatmarge fees will increase from fifteen to twenty dollars,
and then overnight parking, overflow camping, and primitive camping will
increase to at least fifteen dollars per night, and that's
year round at all state parks.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Stephanie, thanks for joining us on local voices. That's Stephanie
Nolton with Oregon State Parks and Detail on fee increases
that will start October first to help the department cover
a fourteen percent budget deficit and avoid making cuts. This week,
Oregon Governor Tina Cootec signs several bills dealing with the
high cost of housing and the lack of housing.
Speaker 7 (26:15):
We know that too many oregon families are struggling with
the cost of living and are being forced to make
really impossible choices staying in the communities they love and
where they work or their kids go to school, or
trying to find a place they can afford. We want
them to not have to make those choices, and in
too many cases, the state's lack of affordable housing pushes
(26:37):
oregon families out of their homes all together, into really
untenable CouchSurfing situations or worse on the streets because they
cannot find a place that they can afford. The housing
affordability crisis not only deepens our homelessness crisis, it's at
the core of the crisis that we are facing, and
(26:58):
it's an economic crisis well. When Oregonians cannot afford to
live where they work, or cannot find housing options that
align with their needs, our economy suffers, and employers lose
potential hires, basic services face chronic workforce shortages, and new
industries in our state.
Speaker 6 (27:17):
Struggle to get off the ground.
Speaker 7 (27:19):
As you all know, the state has not produced enough
housing at the right price points to match organ's needs.
This is the result of decades of underbuilding and red
tape that slows or stalls housing production, making building more
expensive and the cost of Oregonians go up. To turn
the tide on this and what we're doing today takes creative,
(27:41):
practical solutions to increase the supply of homes as fast
as we can. And this year the organ Legislature, with
all of your help, answered that call. The legislature passed
bold bipartisan policies that offer clear solutions to our crisis.
So today I'm signing five bills. House Built twenty one
to thirty eight will legalize and speed up the production
(28:05):
of middle housing to not only give Oregonians the housing
options that suit their lives, but also lower price the
lower the price of housing for everyone. I'm signing house
Built twenty two fifty eight, which will create pre approved
building plans we called it Oregon Homes, making approval processes
faster and more efficient and eliminate barriers to build more
(28:28):
small apartments, single unit homes, duplexus, town homes, and other
building middle housing options. Both of those bills, those two
bills really lean into the most feasible housing production within
our urban growth boundaries that we can do right now.
And it's going to make a difference for families across
our state, because when we build more kinds of homes,
(28:53):
those seniors who are living in a large home and
want to downsize in their community, they're going to have
different options. Those young families can afford to buy that
starter home close to schools and stores and parks and
their jobs, they will be more successful for first time
home buying. And when our central workers, like our teachers
and our nurses and our firefighters, can afford to live
(29:16):
in the community they serve, we all benefit. I'm also
signing House Built thirty thirty one today, which creates the
Housing Infrastructure Project Fund, and that is designed to invest
resources in the transportation and water and sewer and other
site development that's necessary to build new housing.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Other bills signed by the governor this week will create
a Revolving Loan Fund that in the future can get
subsidized construction loans in the hands of developers eager to
build both market rate and affordable housing and communities across
the state. Another bill will set aside twenty five million
dollars in local Innovation and fast Track funds to build
factory producer manufactured housing and modular homes can be built
(29:58):
faster and at a lower cost than traditional construction, positioning
them as a crucial tool to urgently meet the state's
housing goals. Thanks for listening to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
You can hear past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under
the podcast tab. Local Voices is a public affairs presentation
from iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford. This week, Oregon's
mattress recycling program is spreading across the state. New rules
are coming for small watercraft in Oregon. Fort In General
Electric makes its network of firewatch cameras available to you.
Rates are going up at Oregon state parks and Governor
Tina Kotec take steps to increase housing. Oregon has a
(00:27):
mattress recycling program starting this year. Mike O'Donell COO of
the Mattress Recycling Council, joins us on Local Voices. Mike
explain how the program works.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thank you so much for having me and having MRC
on your show.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Brad So.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
MRC was created in twenty fourteen in response to three
state laws California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island with the first
states in the nation to pass statewide mattress recycling laws,
and those laws required the industry to step up, create
(01:03):
a nonprofit and put the pieces together to start recycling
mattresses statewide.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
And that's where we got our start.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It is so difficult get rid of a mattress. I mean,
you know before this there are a few places that
will take them, but they've got to be clean and
you know, no stains. But I mean it's if you
want to get rid of a mattress, with the exception
of dumping in a landfill, there really haven't been many
options there.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Haven't, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And historically and even to this day, one of the
best options for residents is to give it back to
your retailer if you're using If you're buying a mattress
from your local shop, more often than they provide that
take back service, and that's a great way to have
your mattress either reused or recycled.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Terrific. Tell us about Oregon's mattress recycling program. How does
it work? Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, So we started Oregon on January first. We're excited
because this is our fourth state that's adopted mattress legislation
and this is great for Oregon. It folds right into
other statewide recycling programs that Oregon has for things like paint,
electronic waste packaging, and so mattresses. Now we are launching
(02:17):
an Oregon. We've been on the ground for seven months.
We've been establishing permanent collection sites and signing up collection
events in rural and underserved areas of the states, as
well a mattress isn't something that a consumer gets rid
of very often. It occurred to me that I went
about fifty years of my life without ever getting rid
(02:39):
of a mattress. They were always moved into a second
room or I was able to give it to somebody else.
But sooner or later, your old mattress needs to get recycled,
and that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
How is it paid for?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So the program is funded by a per unit fee
on all mattresses and box springs that are sold in
the state of Oregon. And it's not just individual consumers.
If you're a hotel, if you're a university, everybody has
to pay into the system. And the fee is twenty
two dollars and fifty cents per unit. And that money
(03:13):
pays for everything that the Mattress Recycling Council does, all
of our advertising, the collection, the transportation, the recycling, the
administration of the program. We are a nonprofit, so consumers
can feel good that we're using the money wisely.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So with science charging the extra fee, is there any
other impact on mattress sellers?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So the impact for the local retailers within the state
of organ is that they do need to notify consumers
about the existence of the program, whether you're buying it
online or through a local retailer. They are obligated to
provide information about MRC's by by Mattress program and through
by bymattress dot com, your listeners can find places to
(03:56):
drop off their old mattresses for recycling.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
So if I buy a mattress and the company drops
it off and they offer to collect my old mattress,
then generally they would take it to the recycle's That's
how it would enter the recycling process.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Generally speaking, yes, Brad.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Now, if they're generating large quantities of mattresses, we are
going to provide a trailer to them. So we're aggregating
large quantities of mattresses all at one time to both
save the program money. We also like to get mattresses
back from retailers. They tend to be cleaner, they're intact,
and we get a higher recycling rate from those units,
rather than having to get them from your local transfer
(04:35):
station or dump where they tend to be more dirty.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Right, So, if I have a mattress that I just
don't need anymore, I'm not buying a new one. Where
would I or how do I find out where I
would take that.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
The best place to go is buy by mattress dot com.
We are continually uploading that site with new drop off
locations throughout the state of Oregon, and that's where would
go to find your best location.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right, So then what happens to the mattresses? How
are they recycled?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
So whatever mattresses come into a collection site, first of all,
there's a triage. Some mattresses are good enough to be reused,
where they're then sent off to folks that are able
to rehabilitate them and maybe put them back into circulation
for people that need to have a mattress where the
otherwise would not would not be able to.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We partner with Community Warehouse in Portland.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
They've done a great job redistributing mattresses that are in
good shape.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
If they're not, the recycler starts. But I guess peeling
back the layers.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
You start by trimming all the way around the perimeter
of the mattress and peeling back the top layers and
then the layers of foam underneath it until you get
to the metal. The top three components that we recycle
out of mattresses are that top quilt panel, the layers
of foam below it, the metal from the springs, and then.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The wood from the box springs.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
And if you get all those components recycled, we are
able to recycle about seventy five percent by weight of
all mattresses that come into the program.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
So does a constanty thing for the person getting rid
of the mattress. If I take it to a drop
off location and drop it off, do I have to
pay anything?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Nope, yep, you paid for the fee upfront, and that program.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
That fee pays for all of the legacy mattresses that
are currently in circulation in the state of Oregon.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Mike, here in the Portland area, where's the best way
or what's the best location that people can use to
drop off their mattresses.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
We've got three important locations in the Portland area right now, Brad.
If your mattress is in good condition, consider dropping it
off at Community Warehouse.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
They've got a location.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
In Portland again that can be found on by bimattress
dot com. Community Warehouse does a great job redistributing mattresses
that are in good condition back to the community. If
your mattress is not in reusable condition. Consider Portland Metro's
Central Transfer Station or environmentally Conscious Recycling in Northeast. Locations
(07:16):
and hours for all of them are on our website.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Like talk to us a little bit about the benefits
of recycling material from a mattress.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
You know, before mattress recycling programs existed, we were thrown
away millions of tons of foam, steel, wood. All of
these components occupy a disproportionate amount of space in our landfills.
I think in Oregon there are upwards of six hundred
mattresses every single calendar day being landfilled in the state.
(07:46):
These are usable commodities. Virtually all the foam that we
collect today's recycled back into carpetpad and we're developing alternative
uses as well. There's just a lot of environmental benefits
to keeping these products in circulation rather than directly and
filling or burning them.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Wow, that's great. So if you don't have a way
to get a mattress to a collection location, are there
options to help with that, you know, besides strapping it
to the roof of my car.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, you know, many local solid waste companies provide curbside
pickup that may or may not be an extra fee,
depending on where you live within the state of Oregon,
but we'd recommend checking with your local solid waste company
to see what options exist.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Sure, I know ours does does offer that. Mike, anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you about.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, you know, by by Mattress. Our program has been
around for ten years and over that time, we've recycled
over fifteen million mattresses in Box Springs, making us one
of the largest mattress recycling organizations in the world. We're
thrilled to be coming to Oregon. Our programs are mature,
we're pretty good at what we do, and we look
(08:53):
forward to expanding into all communities across the state of Oregon.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And you know, we're just getting started.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Wow, fifteen million mattresses that is that is great. Tell
us one more time. What's your website?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Bye by mattress dot com. That is bye bye mattress
dot com.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Mike, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's michae
O'donald's coo the Mattress Recycling Council with details about Oregon's
new mattress recycling program. Again. Their website is by bymattress
dot com. Starting next year, if you own a watercraft
shorter than ten feet in Oregon, you'll need a permit
Ashley Massey where the Oregon State Marine Board joins us
(09:30):
on local voices Ashley, what's the new rule for these permits?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Beginning January first? In twenty twenty six, non motorized boats
under ten feet will be required to purchase the waterway
access permit, which basically means kayaks, rafts, and stand up paddleboards.
The current law currently applies to boats ten feet and
longer and has been in place since twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
What about things like inner tubes or floaties?
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Great question? So what you traditionally consider pool toys, floaties,
other beach toys, and single inner tubes, They are not
going to need a permit. Those are currently exempt.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
How much the permits cost?
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We have three different permit options. There's a seven day
permit for six dollars. That'll be the price in twenty
twenty six. A one year permit will go from seventeen
dollars to twenty and the two year permit will go
from thirty to thirty five dollars.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
So why is it necessary to do this? What will
the revenue fund.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
That's a great question.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
So we've got aquatic and basis species knocking on our doorstep.
The Snake River in Idaho was found to be contaminated
and wound up shutting off a huge stretch of the
river in twenty twenty three, impacting a lot of different entities.
In addition, we've also found our California neighbors have found
(11:02):
golden muscles in their waterways. And the things that make
this particular type of mollusks so dangerous is that they
can adapt. They adapt and grow quickly. They're filter feeders,
and they ultimately could collapse entire fisheries. They colonize, so
they form these thick mats of muscles. They're very difficult
(11:28):
to remove, and they can clog intake pipes, they can
clog turbines for hydroelectric dams, and so they are a
real threat to Oregon, and so we want to fortify
our borders. Currently, we've only got five inspection stations and
they're only open for parts of the year, and they're
also not open twenty four hours a day. Boats are
(11:50):
traveling into the state all the time, and so this
is the very first line of defense that we have.
We've got to make sure that all boats coming into
this state from infected states can be inspected and decontaminated.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So how are the permits enforced.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
We contract with thirty one county sheriff's offices and the
Oregon State Police, and so they are on the water
and actively involved in educating voters. First, the thing that
the Marine Board has traditionally done is whenever there's been
a new law enacted, we have a phase in period
and we'd like to spend the first season to educate
(12:30):
voters and do rigorous outreach so everyone's well informed well
in advance what.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Happens if somebody doesn't have a permit.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Again, education is the first thing we try to do.
Just let them know the different easy ways to get
the permit, and then it's really up to the officer's
discretion on whether to warn or take it the next
step further and have them purchase a permit. It's easy
to do. Their available online through our Boat Oregon store.
They're also available from the organ Apartment of Fish and Wildlife.
(13:02):
They're e licensing system and you can also purchase them
from ODFW licensing agents.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
So are there's a sticker, then that go on the
on the kayak or whatever.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
They're actually a downloadable permit, and so there's a couple
of things that voters can do, and we've seen a
variety of really effective approaches. One thing you can do
is print out the permit. Some people will put the
permit into a ziplock or some kind of dry pack
or dry bag when they're outvoting. Another option is to
(13:37):
copy it onto your cell phone or mobile device, either
as a photo or as a downloadable file that you
can show the Marine law enforcement when asked.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you just have to carry it and then show it.
It doesn't need to be a sticker on your boat exactly.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
This is not a registration type of system. The permit
is transferable to other water craft and you only need
one per boat. So say a family of four is
out rafting, you only need one permit. Another example can
be you know, if you've got two or three different
kayaks and you're only going out in one, then you
(14:16):
only need to carry one permit. It's only if all
three are in use at the same time that you
would need three permits.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Sure astutely, anything else you'd like to add, this program.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Is very important, not only for aquatic and basis species
prevention and to help fund boat inspection stations. But the
other piece is that the Marine Board does a lot
for recreational boaters, and one of the things that this
permit revenue will do is help fund waterway access, meaning
boat ramps and single car parking, low free board docks,
(14:51):
a lot of different amenities that are important for paddlers
to help them get to the water safely. So some
of the revenue will go directly to facility grants for
waterway providers. And you know, we've already been able to
leverage four point five million dollars to develop and improve
(15:12):
non motorized access sites, and we've got lots of information
on our website including where these grant dollars have gone
and the scope of different projects that have already hit
the ground. We're going to be dedicating another one here soon,
Miller's Landing and Ben It's another great example where access
is being created so it's easier for people with a
(15:34):
variety of different mobility challenges ada accessible can get to
the river so they can enjoy themselves.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So if people want to learn more about it, where
can they go?
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Visit boat dot Oregon Dot gov Forward slash WAP and
there's an FAQ page with lots of detailed information about
the existing program and what's coming.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
In twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Ashley, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's Ashley
Massey the Oregon State Marine Board. We have details on
new permit requirements for widercraft under ten feet. They take
effect January first. You can learn more and buy the
permits on the Oregon State Marine Boards website. Port In
General Electric is making its network of wildfire detecting cameras
available to you. John Farmer with PGE joins us on
(16:20):
Local Voices. John tell us about this network of cameras.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
Yeah, So PGE employs a wide range of really innovative
technologies to help prevent wildfire in our communities. And one
of these technologies are these is the fire detection cameras
that we have. We've been using these since about we
started installing them back in twenty twenty one and we're
(16:45):
at about we have about four years sold spread throughout
some of the kind of the outskirts of the Portland
metro area, through a lot of our higher wildfire risk areas,
and these cameras monitor for smoke twenty four to seven
one hundred and sixty degree view of the landscape. And
now those cameras are accessible to anyone who wants to
(17:06):
go on and take a look.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So a science PGE using them. Are there other agencies
that use them as well?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Yeah, so these cameras are really designed as a first
response kind of alert system for our emergency response organizations
and firefighting agencies. So you know, the think of the
you know, the Clackamus fire chief who gets a notification
straight to their phone that says there's smoke detected in
(17:35):
this specific area, and then that allows that fire chief
or that emergency response organization to understand what they need
to do, where do they need to go, and then
go assess the situation. Now, folks who are logging on
to check it out aren't going to be signing up
for notifications or alerts. We want we want our emergency
response organizations to have that capability because they're using it
(17:58):
to go do their job, which is to prevent wildfire,
fight fire. But yeah, we have over two hundred different
folks using the system from representing about fifty different agencies.
And when I say agencies, you know, think of our
firefighting agencies, Bureau of Land Management, US four Service organ
Department of Forestry, things like that, Like folks who are
(18:20):
going to be heavily, heavily involved in any sort of
fire or wildfire response.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I know that when I've been in some rural areas,
I'll see, you know, transmission towers or I'll see a
PGE substation and you know, kind of out in the
middle of nowhere, right, And so is that where these
cameras are located? Up high? I imagine, right, so they've
got a good view.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
Yep. So a lot of these cameras are on pre
existing infrastructure, big towers that are way up high, and
we have positioned them. So we do a lot of
risk analysis to understand where the greatest risk for wildfire
is and that helps us, that helps inform where we
put these cameras. So if you look at the mat
(19:02):
on the web page where you can see all the cameras,
you can kind of notice a little circle around the
kind of Portland metro area. And that is because that
area those areas kind of on the outskirts, you know,
think mount Hood Corridor, Stacata, forest growth, kind of those
outskirt areas of the Portland metro area. Those are where
(19:24):
you're going to see some greater fire risk for wildfire,
which again is why we have those cameras there, because
we know we need to make sure we are ready
to respond as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Now, it's kind of interesting just to look at the
cameras and do some sight seeing around the state.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
So I think when you think about how this is
going to be beneficial for you know, residents, customers, folks
like that, I think for me, it's if you think
about the real time decision making that has to happen
during any sort of emergency. So in the case of
a fire, right, I'm sure we can all remember time
(20:00):
in the relatively recent past where there was there was
wildfire going on. And sometimes information can be it can
be confusing, it can be hard to dissect what's you know,
the information that you're getting there can be a lot
of it. And so this this is just a tool
that we're putting into people's hands to say, hey, you
can go on and see what is happening right now,
and if nothing else, it just gives you it'll help
(20:21):
give a sense of where are we seeing the fire,
where are the agencies going, and do I need to
make any decisions for my family right now based on
what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So if people want to see these cameras, take a
look at them, what's the easiest way for them to
find them?
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Yeah, So, I mean you can go just just go
on to PGES website Portland General dot com and we
have a wildfire safety page there. You can search forward
or find it in the main navigator there and and
you scroll one or two scrolls down on that wildfire
page in there, and there's a there's a link right there,
and uh, it takes you right to the site and
(20:56):
you can check out all the cameras. You can kind
of see what they can see.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
It's kind of fun to just sit back and sight
see and look at some areas, especially from angles that
you don't normally see, to be able to look at
the state. So that's that's great. Join anything else you
want to add, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Just I think I'll reiterate you know, this is one
of the many ways that one of the many tools
we have in our toolkit to help prevent wildfire in
our communities, keep people safe, and yeah, just do our
part to prevent to prevent wildfire.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
John, thanks for joining us on Local Voices. That's John
Farmer with Portland General Electric and details about their network
of wildfire detecting cameras throughout their region. You can see
those cameras on the PGE website. Oregon State Parks faces
a fourteen percent budget deficit and needs to create revenue
to avoid cuts. Stephanie Nolton with Oregon State Parks joins
(21:48):
US on Local Voices to detail fee increases at the parks. Stephanie,
thanks for joining us. One change will be in the
day used parking fee.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Currently, Oregon Parkson Recreation Department charges parking fees at twenty
five parks across the state, and we waive that parking
fee at about two hundred and twenty five parks. And
so starting this fall, we're going to add an additional
twenty one parks to the list of parks that we
(22:17):
do not wave the parking fee at. And so those
twenty one parks are some of our busiest parks, including
Harris Beach down at the South Coast. It gets nearly
two million estimated two million day visits a year.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Are there ways that people can save on parking fees
if they're regular parks users?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
Absolutely, we offer our twelve and twenty four month parking
permit and people can purchase those. The twelve month permit
costs thirty dollars and so it just pays for itself
in three visits, and then the twenty four month permit
cost fifty dollars, So that can be quite a bit.
As say means if you're a frequent park visitor.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
How and when are camping rates changing?
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Yeah, for days, starting May first, twenty twenty six, we
are increasing the overnight rates at twenty nine of our
busiest parks and what we're doing is increasing those rates
to the top of the current rate range and that
will be during the busy season from May first through
September thirtieth. And what this means, for example, the top
(23:24):
rate for tent camping is twenty nine dollars and the
top rate for a full our V hookup is fifty two,
So it's still in line with parks across the country
and still even though it isn't increases, it is still
quite affordable. In addition to those changes, those parks will
(23:46):
also have those kind of high busy season rates during Friday,
Saturday and Sunday night visits as well.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Why are the increases needed.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
That's thank you for asking. It's part of an ongoing
effort to build a more sustainable funding future for Oregon
State parks. As a state, we've struggled to sustainably fund parks.
We get the majority of our funding from Oregon Lottery,
which we are grateful to receive. There have been changes
(24:18):
over the last few years to the percentage that we
get to allocate toward maintenance and operations, and so that,
alongside the increase in visitation, increasing and costs, has really
put us in a situation where we need to look
hard at the revenue and we're also looking at our
(24:40):
expenses too, just to make sure that we can continue
to maintain the level of service that people enjoy and
love now. And so in order to do that, we
need to make some changes, and these fee increases are
part of those changes that we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Anything else you want to add, yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
I also want to note that in addition to the
seasonal rates, they're going to be some additional increases. The
cabin inurt prices, for example, will go to the top
of the rate range year round, and that's at all parks,
and so rest sicurates, for example, will be seventy two
dollars a night, and then the deluxe cabins inurts will
(25:19):
be one hundred and twenty nine. And those deluxe cabins
and yards, I don't know if you've had a chance
to see them, but they include like a refrigerator and
like a TV, and I think they have sleeping for
like eight people, So they are quite deluxe. And so
the cabins are a little smaller, but they still do
have some of those amenities, which is quite nice. In addition,
(25:40):
the booatmarge fees will increase from fifteen to twenty dollars,
and then overnight parking, overflow camping, and primitive camping will
increase to at least fifteen dollars per night, and that's
year round at all state parks.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Stephanie, thanks for joining us on local voices. That's Stephanie
Nolton with Oregon State Parks and Detail on fee increases
that will start October first to help the department cover
a fourteen percent budget deficit and avoid making cuts. This week,
Oregon Governor Tina Cootec signs several bills dealing with the
high cost of housing and the lack of housing.
Speaker 7 (26:15):
We know that too many oregon families are struggling with
the cost of living and are being forced to make
really impossible choices staying in the communities they love and
where they work or their kids go to school, or
trying to find a place they can afford. We want
them to not have to make those choices, and in
too many cases, the state's lack of affordable housing pushes
(26:37):
oregon families out of their homes all together, into really
untenable CouchSurfing situations or worse on the streets because they
cannot find a place that they can afford. The housing
affordability crisis not only deepens our homelessness crisis, it's at
the core of the crisis that we are facing, and
(26:58):
it's an economic crisis well. When Oregonians cannot afford to
live where they work, or cannot find housing options that
align with their needs, our economy suffers, and employers lose
potential hires, basic services face chronic workforce shortages, and new
industries in our state.
Speaker 6 (27:17):
Struggle to get off the ground.
Speaker 7 (27:19):
As you all know, the state has not produced enough
housing at the right price points to match organ's needs.
This is the result of decades of underbuilding and red
tape that slows or stalls housing production, making building more
expensive and the cost of Oregonians go up. To turn
the tide on this and what we're doing today takes creative,
(27:41):
practical solutions to increase the supply of homes as fast
as we can. And this year the organ Legislature, with
all of your help, answered that call. The legislature passed
bold bipartisan policies that offer clear solutions to our crisis.
So today I'm signing five bills. House Built twenty one
to thirty eight will legalize and speed up the production
(28:05):
of middle housing to not only give Oregonians the housing
options that suit their lives, but also lower price the
lower the price of housing for everyone. I'm signing house
Built twenty two fifty eight, which will create pre approved
building plans we called it Oregon Homes, making approval processes
faster and more efficient and eliminate barriers to build more
(28:28):
small apartments, single unit homes, duplexus, town homes, and other
building middle housing options. Both of those bills, those two
bills really lean into the most feasible housing production within
our urban growth boundaries that we can do right now.
And it's going to make a difference for families across
our state, because when we build more kinds of homes,
(28:53):
those seniors who are living in a large home and
want to downsize in their community, they're going to have
different options. Those young families can afford to buy that
starter home close to schools and stores and parks and
their jobs, they will be more successful for first time
home buying. And when our central workers, like our teachers
and our nurses and our firefighters, can afford to live
(29:16):
in the community they serve, we all benefit. I'm also
signing House Built thirty thirty one today, which creates the
Housing Infrastructure Project Fund, and that is designed to invest
resources in the transportation and water and sewer and other
site development that's necessary to build new housing.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Other bills signed by the governor this week will create
a Revolving Loan Fund that in the future can get
subsidized construction loans in the hands of developers eager to
build both market rate and affordable housing and communities across
the state. Another bill will set aside twenty five million
dollars in local Innovation and fast Track funds to build
factory producer manufactured housing and modular homes can be built
(29:58):
faster and at a lower cost than traditional construction, positioning
them as a crucial tool to urgently meet the state's
housing goals. Thanks for listening to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
You can hear past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under
the podcast tab. Local Voices is a public affairs presentation
from iHeartRadio.
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