ABSTRACT
Portland Metro's actions embody many elements of the smart growth strategy. Although a few Southern California cities, especially in Ventura County, have passed smart growth ballot initiatives, most jurisdictions remain predisposed to development. The chapter focuses on aggregate population and employment data in the metropolitan regions. The Los Angeles Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of five counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. The comparison that many observers find hard to believe is that Portland, despite decades of density-promoting planning, has such a low density compared to Los Angeles. The rationale for the focuses on Portland is justified by its reputation as a paradigm for urban sustainability efforts. The chapter suggests that smart growth ballot initiatives are more window-dressing than a recipe for change. It argues by drawing some parallels with Los Angeles, widely regarded as the epitome of unsustainability.
