New president of Metro says Portland’s regional government must plan for the future, prioritize housing and jobs

Think Out Loud

New president of Metro says Portland’s regional government must plan for the future, prioritize housing and jobs

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Published on Jun 10, 2026, 1:08:13 PM
Total time: 00:19:46

Episode Description

Juan Carlos González was elected president of Metro in May, and then appointed to serve out the remainder of the previous president’s term. He made history in 2018 becoming the youngest member and first Latino to serve on the Metro council. His priorities for the council are creating more affordable housing and jobs in the region. Metro has begun what it calls Future 50, a planning process designed to shape the metro area through 2077. We sit down with González to hear more about his priorities and vision for the next 50 years.

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OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.