Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Obama Administration has a new initiative called the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. 

Three cabinet members are working together to link housing and transportation programs to benefit the environment.

U.S. Transportation secretary Ray LaHood singled out Portland as a model of the idea recently, praising the city's transit and mixed-use neighborhoods.

We decided to call Ethan Seltzer at the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University.  I asked him what about Portland draws the attention of national leaders.