State of the Westside 2026

Join us on Thursday, November 19 for the 2026 State of the Westside, featuring a conversation with Metro Council President Juan Carlos González, whose leadership is reshaping the region’s approach to growth, land use modernization, and long‑term competitiveness.  

President González—Metro’s youngest and first Latino president—has stepped into regional leadership with a clear mandate: get the region back on track by modernizing land use planning, strengthening affordability, expanding access to living‑wage jobs, and restoring confidence in the Portland metro’s economic future.   

His administration has emphasized three pillars:  

• Affordability: expanding access to housing and good jobs.  

• Belonging: ensuring every community has a voice in regional decision‑making.  

• Competitiveness: positioning greater Portland to lead on transportation, climate, and economic opportunity.   

This year’s program will explore how Metro’s evolving regional vision—through transportation investments, land use modernization, and coordinated growth management—can help reverse troubling economic trends and strengthen the Westside’s ability to attract and retain business investment.  

As the region navigates economic uncertainty, President González’s focus on predictable processes, modernized land use tools, and a unified regional strategy offers a timely and necessary conversation about how greater Portland can become more affordable, welcoming, and economically resilient.