I love Oregon, I have lived here all but two years of my life and I'm not sure college really counts since my laundry was still coming home on the weekends. But, how could Tigard or Beaverton not make the top 100 of best places to live?

Both are absolutely beautiful. There are parks, bike paths, and shopping. We have everything thing here you could possibly want. Is it because we are too close to Portland? Have we gotten Portland's bad rap, because when someone asks where we are from we answer "Just outside Portland"?

Portland has high taxes, homelessness, and government policies that I would think even a five year should know are stupid and take away from the livability of the city. Raising taxes on businesses and then not protecting them from protestors and then when they leave you complain that you have less money for schools? Protesters and the homeless generally don't pay taxes, so helping them to make your city a better place isn't the smartest corner to stand in during a fight.

Schools in Beaverton and Oregon are some of the best in the country and even their sports programs are second to none as far as I'm concerned. (I seemed to have turned out all right.) Do I still have an issue with schools and their political views and what they are teaching our children? You bet I do, but that is why I home school. But, if your kids do have to go to public school, then there are no better schools. (My brother is a teacher in Tigard, so I may be biased.)

So, please, to you out there that are looking at the best cities to live in around the United States, please don't include us as part of Portland. We don't. Maybe you can reconsider Beaverton or Tigard and if you need to have someone show you around and show you why we should be in the Top 100, give me a call, I would love to take around our beautiful cities here in Washington County.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739