Is homelessness in Portland worse than other cities? I don’t travel a lot bit have been to a few cities recently and Portland seemed to have way more camps than other cities, including Seattle where I did not see any large encampments. I’m sure they exist but, for example, I expected Pioneer Square Seattle to be a big camp but I didn’t see any tents there — just a lot of people hanging out in front of the train station. In Portland the camps were more visible and I wonder if it’s because of this law.
Decriminalization of drugs has nothing to do with where camps exist in Portland. PBOT is responsible for clearing camps throughout the city, and camps have to be reported for PBOT to know about them. When their crews get around to addressing them, they get about a week usually to pack up their things and move. To another place in the city.
SEVENTY TWO HOURS to leave public space because homeless people don’t have the same US Constitution rights as you
The last camp swept at the park across from my house was almost a week. Posted on Sunday, cleared on Friday morning.
Honestly, seems pretty lenient. When I’ve been asked to leave a public space I had to do it right then or be arrested.
You had somewhere to go.
And a place for your worldly belongings besides about your person.
I don’t see #PDX or any city as being worse or better.
One homeless person is to many and people who always assume drugs are behind it, should stop.
One homeless person is to many
I agree. What I don’t understand is how CBs have yet to be deployed to build mass shelters.
They are building them. Wheeler is pushing his concentration camps ran by an organization from California. I went to one and they seemed like they were trying to get me to join a cult. Thanks but I’ll defend my first amendment right before I stay in those. Just the logo alone spells cult to me.
CBs aren’t building mass shelters here. That is another private program you talking about. We need actual mass shelters so there’s no legitimate legal excuse for people to choose public property to camp on, and get people out of the rain and freezing weather that will be coming in just a few weeks. Then we need permanent housing, but so far politicians have been too pussy to nut up and publicly claim publicly owned housing is the only answer and then take immediate action on it.
There was a NY Times article that said things like, “Portland is a homeless drug addict’s slice of paradise.” So it seemed like it could be linked.
I agree that everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live.
Yes, you get a ticket instead of going to jail now. But a lot of cops don’t bother writing the ticket. Unlike in the 90s when you could get yourself a $900 ticket for having a couple grams of cannabis on your person, and people frequently did get those tickets.
They don’t bother because nothing happens if you ignore it. This is unlike Portugal where there are social consequences to ignoring treatment, although they are also starting to have a growing drug problem and funding issues.
And as their tax paying employer, those employees should hit the unemployment line.
Thanks to the union, trying that will cost you more than paying their salary (not that the tiny proportion coming from your specific taxes gives you any say).
Yes, I would love to see PPA dissolved in my lifetime. Get rid of PPB and give the finding to MCSO until a better police force can be figured out. With no union for employees.
There’s no conservative “conspiracy.” M110 is a complete failure and national embarrassment. Everyone’s empathy for the zombies destroying our communities has worn thin.
I’m pretty sure the previous laws were a qualified failure as well.
