Ariel Méndez
@amendez.bsky.social
City of Bend Councilor building walkable, bikeable, kid-friendly communities. Associated Faculty, Poli Sci @ OSU-Cascades.
What fun to participate in the Bend Christmas Parade. Thanks to Firefighter Nick Thomas for driving the 1927 engine and for maintaining it in running order. What a labor of love. Thanks, Nick!
December 7, 2025 at 12:03 AM
What fun to participate in the Bend Christmas Parade. Thanks to Firefighter Nick Thomas for driving the 1927 engine and for maintaining it in running order. What a labor of love. Thanks, Nick!
When you mention high "FAR," I often think "lot coverage" instead. Because nice skinny buildings with lots of open space can be high FAR, but they can't be high lot coverage.
So which is better to focus on? FAR or lot coverage? Or is it some mix of both?
So which is better to focus on? FAR or lot coverage? Or is it some mix of both?
December 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
When you mention high "FAR," I often think "lot coverage" instead. Because nice skinny buildings with lots of open space can be high FAR, but they can't be high lot coverage.
So which is better to focus on? FAR or lot coverage? Or is it some mix of both?
So which is better to focus on? FAR or lot coverage? Or is it some mix of both?
Looks like the latest Bulletin editorial inspired some cars vs bikes emails to council.
Often missed is that more people riding bikes = less traffic.
I had high hopes that the subject “Bikes Rule” would be about how awesome bikes are, but it was not to be…
Often missed is that more people riding bikes = less traffic.
I had high hopes that the subject “Bikes Rule” would be about how awesome bikes are, but it was not to be…
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Looks like the latest Bulletin editorial inspired some cars vs bikes emails to council.
Often missed is that more people riding bikes = less traffic.
I had high hopes that the subject “Bikes Rule” would be about how awesome bikes are, but it was not to be…
Often missed is that more people riding bikes = less traffic.
I had high hopes that the subject “Bikes Rule” would be about how awesome bikes are, but it was not to be…
Now I have another reason to pick up this tank top I saw on Marketplace!
To be clear, the map is bad not just because it gives partisan advantage, but because it divides the county by arbitrary lines that must be redrawn a minimum of every decade. There are better ways to ensure representation.
To be clear, the map is bad not just because it gives partisan advantage, but because it divides the county by arbitrary lines that must be redrawn a minimum of every decade. There are better ways to ensure representation.
November 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Now I have another reason to pick up this tank top I saw on Marketplace!
To be clear, the map is bad not just because it gives partisan advantage, but because it divides the county by arbitrary lines that must be redrawn a minimum of every decade. There are better ways to ensure representation.
To be clear, the map is bad not just because it gives partisan advantage, but because it divides the county by arbitrary lines that must be redrawn a minimum of every decade. There are better ways to ensure representation.
Are you looking for Oregon-specific data? The Oregon Travel Study is a new dataset that will provide unprecedented granularity due to a new smartphone-based data collection tool for survey respondents.
November 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Are you looking for Oregon-specific data? The Oregon Travel Study is a new dataset that will provide unprecedented granularity due to a new smartphone-based data collection tool for survey respondents.
I got to visit the Mazama site here in Central Oregon. Hottest sustained temperature in the world (331º C) with wells deeper than 10,000 feet.
Plans for more wells, turbines, grid upgrades are underway.
Plans for more wells, turbines, grid upgrades are underway.
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I got to visit the Mazama site here in Central Oregon. Hottest sustained temperature in the world (331º C) with wells deeper than 10,000 feet.
Plans for more wells, turbines, grid upgrades are underway.
Plans for more wells, turbines, grid upgrades are underway.
Thank you Sarah and Annie for courageously sharing your stories of losing your adult children to traffic crashes. I am so sorry.
Local action can buck national trends. Together, we can save lives! #wdor
www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/b...
Local action can buck national trends. Together, we can save lives! #wdor
www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/b...
November 16, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Thank you Sarah and Annie for courageously sharing your stories of losing your adult children to traffic crashes. I am so sorry.
Local action can buck national trends. Together, we can save lives! #wdor
www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/b...
Local action can buck national trends. Together, we can save lives! #wdor
www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/b...
Melissa Steele is City of Bend’s new Deputy Fire Marshall for Wildfire Preparedness, a result of council’s wildfire prevention goals.
The Flat Fire at the end of summer threatened 800 homes but only destroyed 5 thanks to home hardening.
“Own your zone!”
www.bendoregon.gov/government/d...
The Flat Fire at the end of summer threatened 800 homes but only destroyed 5 thanks to home hardening.
“Own your zone!”
www.bendoregon.gov/government/d...
November 14, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Melissa Steele is City of Bend’s new Deputy Fire Marshall for Wildfire Preparedness, a result of council’s wildfire prevention goals.
The Flat Fire at the end of summer threatened 800 homes but only destroyed 5 thanks to home hardening.
“Own your zone!”
www.bendoregon.gov/government/d...
The Flat Fire at the end of summer threatened 800 homes but only destroyed 5 thanks to home hardening.
“Own your zone!”
www.bendoregon.gov/government/d...
Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service and for defending the constitution.
November 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service and for defending the constitution.
For contrast, here is Bend’s (pop 106k) council chambers.
November 7, 2025 at 3:33 AM
For contrast, here is Bend’s (pop 106k) council chambers.
"two-tenths of 1 percent or .002."
This would get us 15-minute headways on a couple @cascadeseasttransit.com routes. Be aware that enough signatures supporting a referendum would mean a funding pause until the Nov 2026 election.
Better transit is too important to wait.
This would get us 15-minute headways on a couple @cascadeseasttransit.com routes. Be aware that enough signatures supporting a referendum would mean a funding pause until the Nov 2026 election.
Better transit is too important to wait.
November 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"two-tenths of 1 percent or .002."
This would get us 15-minute headways on a couple @cascadeseasttransit.com routes. Be aware that enough signatures supporting a referendum would mean a funding pause until the Nov 2026 election.
Better transit is too important to wait.
This would get us 15-minute headways on a couple @cascadeseasttransit.com routes. Be aware that enough signatures supporting a referendum would mean a funding pause until the Nov 2026 election.
Better transit is too important to wait.
From the inbox: Why did the city allow the owner of a private parking lot to start charging for parking? Businesses validate customer parking, but could the city require free parking?
The mayor generously replied and attached an article summarizing Donald Shoup's The High Cost of Free Parking.
The mayor generously replied and attached an article summarizing Donald Shoup's The High Cost of Free Parking.
November 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
From the inbox: Why did the city allow the owner of a private parking lot to start charging for parking? Businesses validate customer parking, but could the city require free parking?
The mayor generously replied and attached an article summarizing Donald Shoup's The High Cost of Free Parking.
The mayor generously replied and attached an article summarizing Donald Shoup's The High Cost of Free Parking.
I'm 2 episodes in to "Down Cemetery Road" and the main character rides her bike everywhere. I don't know if anyone else notices but I think it's great!
November 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I'm 2 episodes in to "Down Cemetery Road" and the main character rides her bike everywhere. I don't know if anyone else notices but I think it's great!
Crowded at the Old Mill! I always wonder if they are good for business or not
October 31, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Crowded at the Old Mill! I always wonder if they are good for business or not
The NL also apparently has it. Methodologies aside, it seems very similar to property tax. www.dutchnews.nl/dictionary/e...
October 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The NL also apparently has it. Methodologies aside, it seems very similar to property tax. www.dutchnews.nl/dictionary/e...
In the inbox: Complaint about delineators scraping vehicles b/c they are placed "perfectly in a driver's blind spot, especially for trucks whose back wheels naturally cut the corner."
Continual replacement of battered delineators isn't a long-term solution. However...
Continual replacement of battered delineators isn't a long-term solution. However...
October 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In the inbox: Complaint about delineators scraping vehicles b/c they are placed "perfectly in a driver's blind spot, especially for trucks whose back wheels naturally cut the corner."
Continual replacement of battered delineators isn't a long-term solution. However...
Continual replacement of battered delineators isn't a long-term solution. However...
Is any of this significantly off?
October 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Is any of this significantly off?
This is why it's called Mirror Pond! From last night's bike ride home after soccer coaching.
October 24, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This is why it's called Mirror Pond! From last night's bike ride home after soccer coaching.
October 19, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The developer commented, "we never want to under-park a project, ever."
Well, I never want to subsidize another giant parking lot, ever. We need the affordable housing, but we should be in the business of affordable neighborhoods, not affordable parking lots.
Well, I never want to subsidize another giant parking lot, ever. We need the affordable housing, but we should be in the business of affordable neighborhoods, not affordable parking lots.
October 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The developer commented, "we never want to under-park a project, ever."
Well, I never want to subsidize another giant parking lot, ever. We need the affordable housing, but we should be in the business of affordable neighborhoods, not affordable parking lots.
Well, I never want to subsidize another giant parking lot, ever. We need the affordable housing, but we should be in the business of affordable neighborhoods, not affordable parking lots.
While NW Coalition for Energy choice gets over $500,000 in funding to keep the gas flowing, Cascade Natural Gas is donating $9k of bikes to Jewell Elementary kindergarten today at 12:15p.
I obviously support educating kids on bikes, but I won't be attending.
I obviously support educating kids on bikes, but I won't be attending.
October 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
While NW Coalition for Energy choice gets over $500,000 in funding to keep the gas flowing, Cascade Natural Gas is donating $9k of bikes to Jewell Elementary kindergarten today at 12:15p.
I obviously support educating kids on bikes, but I won't be attending.
I obviously support educating kids on bikes, but I won't be attending.
"NW Coalition for Energy Choice" is a dark money group funded in part by Cascade Natural Gas that appears to be organizing emails against electrification in Bend. The group gets over $500,000/yr.
Some of the people who testified last night against electrification are board members.
Some of the people who testified last night against electrification are board members.
October 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"NW Coalition for Energy Choice" is a dark money group funded in part by Cascade Natural Gas that appears to be organizing emails against electrification in Bend. The group gets over $500,000/yr.
Some of the people who testified last night against electrification are board members.
Some of the people who testified last night against electrification are board members.