Portland Gloom (income, jobs, diverse)

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

IMO, in 25 years I've seen a great deal of change here, in both directions.

I like the diversity of offerings for food, books, entertainment, local parks, farmer's markets, CSAs. This was a good place to raise a family and keep the kids busy and well-occupied. It's a wonderful place to visit, and I plan to do that often, but I need OUT. And while I'm moving someplace more open, I need more winter sun, too. I don't want to leave the northwest, but I'm tired of winters which are, in majority, drippy and silver and gray and dark green. I love the green, but not that much.

What's finally gotten to me are the crowds and traffic everywhere - it's not possible to have a quiet, peaceful camping experience within 3-4 hours of Portland anymore, it's more like sitting in a wooded parking lot and listening to your neighbor's generator. Because of a knee/hip problem, I can't backpack very far, so the only solution is drive a long distance. Camping's gone from a minimum once a month (more in the summer, less in the winter) to once a year. I've lived outside the urban growth boundaries (in the Portland metro area and in Clark County) and watched unchecked, unrestricted development take two-lane country roads and fill them with speeding traffic. It's not enough just to stay off the highways during rush hour anymore.

These are woes that exist in a lot of growing or up-and-coming places, it's not really Portland-specific. But, even 10 years ago, I could live near the city and not be a city person.

It sounds like you need to make the move for your own peace of mind and happiness. I understand EXACTLY where you're coming from and it's true things do change. Sunshine and camping are something that I'm exposed to on a regular basis and glad that you'll have it soon as well

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by travelnursey

I am more of a big-city person anyway, so I know what I like may not jive with other people's version of a great city. It's true, to compare NYC to Portland is like.... comparing a gecko to a dinosaur. Haha. I don't know what makes you think it is a "horrible" place, but I'm guessing that the some of the same things that I love about NYC are what you hate, ie., crowds, fast pace, up-front people, etc. There were other reason why I moved away from Portland besides it being "boring", which I think I stated in another post. All I'm saying is that Portland is overhyped, in my opinion. It seriously lacks cultural diversity, the job market is horrendous, the gloom is very real and very oppressive, the people tend to be pretty passive and homogenous (ie., granola or out-of-work but supersnotty hipster-esque), and all people seem interested in doing on a Saturday night is going to the nearest pub for cheap beer or going out to one of the dizzying array of strip clubs.
So yeah, I think that the Portland gloom is real. I just don't understand how the hype over Portland began, in the first place. ???

I happen to like NY city as well (very much) outside of the high cost of living it would be a perfect city. I can say that because I grew up there and know what a REAL city feels like. Having all the ammenities, cutlure, resources, variety, four seasons and the best public transportation is terrific. I can't even imagine how anyone could compare NY with Portland. Your description of Portland fits a book I'm presently reading as well as what so many others have mentioned before. Thank you for sharing your experience

I think the "HYPE" began by some people raving about Portland being a liberal metropolis where you are free to be and live as you please, least restrictive, most tolerant and low cost of living. That in addition to having good air quality and public transportation. In my opinion, the Public Transit is the main selling point of Portland. The air quality and scenic beauty are also credible (for those that care.) It's a city with some good features but I agree that it's over hyped in many ways. The weather, cost of living, education and the economy give serious cause for consideration. Also, the attitudes of the local hipsters is something many others have noticed as well, as you had pointed out. Portland is a good fit for some and a bad fit for others......

Another thing, Portland reminds me of Las Vegas, in the sense of how much the city has changed over the years and perhaps what all the "hype" was over. I have come across many people who indicated that Portland was a city much like Vegas and Los Angeles where you could "run away" to and start a new life. That's why you see so many homeless people in Portland because they are NOT welcomed in Las Vegas, as Vegas is very hostile towards them and LA is just to expensive, so they run to Portland, only problem is that even though Portland may have some tolerance for the homeless it's not a city that's "progressive" on this issue in the least.

[nanannie]

Here we go again-You have never stepped foot in Oregon or Portland but you are giving out all your "advice " - again???,How many of your last threads you posted in had to be locked?You have never been to Portland,but "the main selling point the public transportation system?" ANd there so many homeless people in Portland >you say because they dont let them in Vegas??? Never mind,I give up

[oldtintype]

What book would you be reading? And the homeless run to Portland from LA and Las Vegas? Is this after their stop in San Francisco for some R&R? I'd love to see where you got this info from as well as your statistics that prove that there are more homeless people here per capita than other cities.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by travelnursey

I am more of a big-city person anyway, so I know what I like may not jive with other people's version of a great city. It's true, to compare NYC to Portland is like.... comparing a gecko to a dinosaur. Haha. I don't know what makes you think it is a "horrible" place, but I'm guessing that the some of the same things that I love about NYC are what you hate, ie., crowds, fast pace, up-front people, etc. There were other reason why I moved away from Portland besides it being "boring", which I think I stated in another post. All I'm saying is that Portland is overhyped, in my opinion. It seriously lacks cultural diversity, the job market is horrendous, the gloom is very real and very oppressive, the people tend to be pretty passive and homogenous (ie., granola or out-of-work but supersnotty hipster-esque), and all people seem interested in doing on a Saturday night is going to the nearest pub for cheap beer or going out to one of the dizzying array of strip clubs.
So yeah, I think that the Portland gloom is real. I just don't understand how the hype over Portland began, in the first place. ???

Here's some interesting info:

Portland lists 11,000 homeless children in school.
Oregon counts more than 11,000 homeless students | KATU - Portland, Oregon | Education


Unemployment figured as of July 2007 nearly 100,000

VIOLENT CRIME 2006 = 1,867
RAPE 138
ROBBERY 591
ASSAULT 1,125
PROPERTY CRIME 15,260

Portland Oregon Crime Reports, Crime News, and Crime Statistics

[oldtintype]

Portland lists 11,000 homeless children in school.
Oregon counts more than 11,000 homeless students | KATU - Portland, Oregon | Education


No OREGON lists 11,000 homeless children in school. That is for the STATE of Oregon, not the city of Portland and it includes migrant workers, people who live in hotels or with other family members, etc. It doesn't mean they're all in shelters or in the street!

And according to the Portland Business Journal, 90+ thousand were unemployed in the STATE of OREGON, and unemployment figures for the state are 5.4 percent in August, 5.5 in July.

There is a big difference between the entire state and the City of Portland.

[mtllcafxr]

Originally Posted by aawest

I am sick of people coming to Portland and saying how livable it is. The city isnt livable anymore. Its expensive, crowded, and the traffic is getting worst every year. The recreation in the city is over hyped. You have to drive at least 40 minutues to get to any good recreation (gorge, coast, mountains). People are always saying how they like having the opportunity to drive out to the desert or the coast but they never seem to get around to doing it.

The traffic is getting worst every year in Portland as the highways havent been upgraded for all the growth. Most of the transportation funds went to building the light rail which very few people actually ride. The sunset highway and 217 are getting just as bad as anything Ive seen in L.A. Taking I-5 into Vancouver can take hours during rush hour.

Portland business economy is horrible and there arent many corporations that have operations here. Nike is the only real company that is based in Portland and they are actually out in Beaverton. Oregon also had one the worst unemployement rates in the country for many years. Thanks to everybody moving here from California housing prices are also expensive.

People are always drinking coffee here and saying how much they love reading a good book on a rainy day. It is a very depressing lifestyle. Everything in the city becomes wet, muddy and mossy looking during the rainy season. The rain in Portland isnt heavy but a grey depressing mist that can hang over the city for months.

Many people in Portland drive priuses and act like they are cool because they drink Starbucks everyday and go to Powells books. They have an attitude that they are smarter than everyone else and Portland is the greatest city in the world because it has a light rail and a tram.

Portland isnt as smart and hip as people would like you to believe. It isnt recreation heaven and isnt free of traffic and sprawl. The weather sucks, the economy is bad, its expensive, traffic is getting worst, and recreation is over rated. Portland hasnt won me over with its charm and I'm happy to be leaving.

ive been to portland and really liked it, but i also hate sunshine and love gloomy weather and rain, it is just beautiful to me. kinda wierd to say it IS a depressing lifestyle as if it is a fact. lots of people really enjoy it. im not even close to unhappy but when it is sunny im not in as good of mood compared to when its gloomy, with those beautiful clouds floating over the mountaintops and the rain falling, it really boggles my mind that so many more people enjoy sunshine more than gloom.

[starchild1]

Originally Posted by Supernova7

Do you consider Portland to be a city or more of a town?

More of a village.

[User24]

All the bad things people say about Portland on here is all true. And once you start roasting your own coffee, it's much fresher and better than what they have at Starbucks or bookstores, and another attraction of the downtown Portland disappears.

The reason why many Portlanders complain on here is because they are actually looking for alternatives, but don't really know how to ask. It's part of the proud attitude of the Pacific Northwest.

Southern California and Florida are great alternatives. SC if you want more attractions, FL if you want friendlier people. Avoid extreme cold or humid states.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by User24

Southern California and Florida are great alternatives. SC if you want more attractions, FL if you want friendlier people. Avoid extreme cold or humid states.

Then why would you suggest FL - quite humid.

Personally, I much prefer anywhere in the Pac NW to SoCal or the southeastern states. It depends on what you like.