As your Metro Councilor, I have heard you ask time and time again for more transportation choices. You want to be able to get to where you need to go, safely and comfortably, in whichever manner works for you, be it walking, bicycling, using transit or driving in a car.

Serving as your elected Metro Councilor has provided me with the opportunity and motivation to participate in more events than when I worked in the private sector. These opportunities have given me new experiences and more exposure to the integrated relationship between nature and the lives we lead every single day.

You and I are human, which means we all walk. No matter how you travel, as some point you are walking to and from your home, your car, your business, the bus or MAX train. You are a pedestrian. Unfortunately we have safety issues in our community with people being hurt by cars driven by fellow community members.

Yes, our economy is recovering from the Great Recession. A frequent question I receive is “How is Metro helping restore and grow jobs in our region?” While many are familiar with the uniquely Oregon responsibility that Metro has for land use planning, your regional government does many more things to support jobs and a healthy economy for all.

When you look at the faces of your friends, your neighbors, the children in your area, your fellow church members, your colleagues at work, what do you see? I see my fellow human-beings, who share the same basic hopes and dreams that I have for myself and my loved ones, the desire to be happy and safe today and in the years ahead.

Where would we be without trees? Ah, the cooling shade they provide on hot summer days. Remember how they served an anchor home base role in your childhood games such as tag and hide and seek? Trees and shrubs also enhance the look of our homes and neighborhoods. They also breathe--yes, breathe--providing cleaner air for us.

Starting this fiscal year (FY 2012-13), Metro, your regional government, is investing, along with other local public and private partners, in a multi-year program, an Export Initiative, aimed at helping local businesses expand their global market reach, thereby achieving increased market success and more employment growth.

You know the expression “Many hands make light work” – well, recent activities and walk-abouts remind me that your community needs your help.

Remember my New Year’s resolution to clean out my garage? Well, I’ve started, organizing old containers of paint, sprays, art supplies and other items. Occasionally, to solve a household cleaning or maintenance need, I end up purchasing a product that has the words "warning" and "caution" or even "poison" on the label.

Did you know that Metro, your regional government, is responsible for the Oregon Zoo? It is, and that gives me, as a Metro Councilor, the pleasure and responsibility to ensure that the elephants, bears, butterflies and other creatures in our care enjoy a high quality of life.