Portland Negatives (Green: foreclosures, rentals, evictions)

[subsound]

That's terrible Minervah, people are jerks! One guy tried and do the same to my wife near Marquim hill, he drove off when she was getting her pepper spray out.

I wonder if that sort of thing has ever worked.

I started carrying a tazer around once I got here, and I'm not a small guy. Some people really have a screw loose around here, and once they have a vehicle they can really take it on the road.

Originally Posted by bliss61

Most men will not stand up for you; they are so wounded and so oversold on sex that they can't tell the difference between honor and addiction to sex and alcohol. Too many men have lost their way. Too many men believe this is normal behavior and they slap each other on the back and make excuses for each other.

I am down right astonished to hear such a sexist comment. So 3 people in a city of over a million, and alarmist journalism about an underground minority in other countries constitutes the behavior of 50% of the population.

It shows no respect for the people around you for insulting and derogatory behavior based on their gender (race, religion, or any other -ism). This comment shows you are as much scum as the people you're criticizing, just at the other extreme.

[Venusian_Artist]

Originally Posted by bliss61

You need to carry pepper spray, if you are going to live in Portland. It is the sad truth. There is no one to protect you. Most men will not stand up for you; they are so wounded and so oversold on sex that they can't tell the difference between honor and addiction to sex and alcohol. Too many men have lost their way. Too many men believe this is normal behavior and they slap each other on the back and make excuses for each other.

A few of things:

1. Sorry you've had to endure bad treatment from men. There are bad ones and good ones--just like women. The "blame men first" hand is way over-played, and unfairly one-sided. Women have their dark side as well.

As for chivalry, some women get offended when you even talk to them. While I wouldn't hesitate to help anyone of any gender in need, I would not go out of my way in non-urgent matters to be chivalrous to a demographic that thinks so poorly of my own, simply because it's the path of least resistance.

2. With that out of the way, don't get caught up in the extraordinary vividness fallacy. Just because it happened to you does not mean it's the norm. Society has rarely been safer.

3. It is your responsibility to protect yourself. Since you are a 61-year-old woman, you have no chance against a strong young man in a violent confrontation, unless you have a weapon and are willing to use it.

Pepper spray is fine, if you have practiced to get it out quickly and hit your target; a gun is better. Firearms strike fear in the hearts of even the most jaded attacker.

The Department of Justice estimates that in 99% of all successful self-defense scenarios with a gun, the weapon is never fired. The presence of the gun alone is enough to cause a criminal to capitulate or flee.

And in the event it does not deter, a small caliber pistol, which you should be able to handle with little difficulty, will allow you to take down a much larger, younger man, with little effort. Think about it.

[Taboo2]

Women are absolutely jusitified to be wary of men they do not know.

Men can overpower even the strongest of women. Being 5'11" i know this is true. Women should always carry protection because there are plenty of men AND women out there looking to Eff you up and hurt you and take your purse or dignity. Stay alert and on guard, when you are alone, ALWAYS.

Last time some dude pulled over and asked for "a date" to my friend (she was just walking to the store), she said "money up front" and took it and ran and he chased her and started hitting her and luckily my friends boyfriend was driving past and saw the commotion and kicked the guys arse. This was in the bay area, but it could happen anywhere.

I am sorry your nice Oregon is not so safe anymore, but it happens to the nicest of cities. The mere population growth spurs criminal activity.

I used to carry a bat in my car. Now it's a knife in my purse. I really doubt Portland's ghetto peeps are worse than SF or Oakland's. I just don't think the criminal element is as vast.

Now horny old men? Yeah you may have cornered the market on that from what it seems. Watch yr back ladies, watch yr front too.

Originally Posted by Venusian_Artist

A few of things:

1. Sorry you've had to endure bad treatment from men. There are bad ones and good ones--just like women. The "blame men first" hand is way over-played, and unfairly one-sided. Women have their dark side as well.

As for chivalry, some women get offended when you even talk to them. While I wouldn't hesitate to help anyone of any gender in need, I would not go out of my way in non-urgent matters to be chivalrous to a demographic that thinks so poorly of my own, simply because it's the path of least resistance.

2. With that out of the way, don't get caught up in the extraordinary vividness fallacy. Just because it happened to you does not mean it's the norm. Society has rarely been safer.

3. It is your responsibility to protect yourself. Since you are a 61-year-old woman, you have no chance against a strong young man in a violent confrontation, unless you have a weapon and are willing to use it.

Pepper spray is fine, if you have practiced to get it out quickly and hit your target; a gun is better. Firearms strike fear in the hearts of even the most jaded attacker.

The Department of Justice estimates that in 99% of all successful self-defense scenarios with a gun, the weapon is never fired. The presence of the gun alone is enough to cause a criminal to capitulate or flee.

And in the event it does not deter, a small caliber pistol, which you should be able to handle with little difficulty, will allow you to take down a much larger, younger man, with little effort. Think about it.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by bliss60

Since being back (and not for long), I reunited with the woman who I met in the 7th grade, in Portland, so that means we have known each other for 45 years (yikes). Anyway, I went off to California and she stayed here. She lives in Vancouver and works as a hair stylist in Portland (for at least 15 years).
Some of her clients are the street walkers and "dancers" and what upsets her the most is that her hometown of Portland is sleezy, really sleezy. Today, she wondered outloud if police and city officials are on the take for postitution and drug profits because it is hard to believe they allow so much of these industries to thrive here....really thrive.
There are literally hundreds of all nude clubs in ALL Portland neighborhoods (so please don't respond that there are some areas that don't have them) and one black tar heroin street party in downtown Portland was promoted on the internet. About 500 people showed up.
Why Portland? This is real big business here and as a veteran of West Coast travel, I never see as much of this in Seattle, San Francisco, LA or San Diego.
My friend said that residents on 82nd are so fed up, they are taking photos of men, hookers and license plates.
So why does Portland not only tolerate and almost promote this sleezy image to the world?
Where are the police...I do not see as many police cars here as I see in other cities?
Being liberal is one thing...raising children here is something entirely different. Being liberal is one thing...I am really embarassed and should I wonder about the Oregon Lottery machines 3-4 to a block in this economy?
I know these times are terrible and getting worse but I wish we could all agree to a higher standard for this city and work together to make it a better place. Yes, I will try to do something about it before I leave.

Oh yeah? Most sources I find say "more than 50," so I'm guessing your "literal hundreds" isn't quite so literal, but a bit fantastical.

I remember talking with an auditor for the State who said she audited the returns of the dancers at strip clubs. She was probably a lady in her 60s, and had nothing but great things to say about those women.

Living in the inner SE, I have such establishments within a few blocks of my home. And I must say there's much more ruckus/trouble/street presence from the 7-11 than there are at either the strip club or the adult bookstore, which both are indistinguishable from their neighbors, and I rarely ever even see patrons entering or exiting. Yet I know they do. They're very low-ley places, and I don't have a bit of a problem with them being there.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by suncat

Yes. It is worse.

And Portland within the next 5 years when the economy starts booming again will draw more and more yuppies making it impossible to afford for anyone who makes a lower salary. It seems Portland has become a city thats cool if your rich otherwise, it seems like it doesnt fit. I think the lower class living in many spots will be pushed out. It just seems rents are gonna be driven up largely. Might as well go the whole way and pay the full deal moving to (established for yrs) Boston than move to (new) Portland for 3/4ths of the price and get lesser. Portland is great, but may fastly become overrated.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by meltinjohn

And Portland within the next 5 years when the economy starts booming again will draw more and more yuppies making it impossible to afford for anyone who makes a lower salary. It seems Portland has become a city thats cool if your rich otherwise, it seems like it doesnt fit. I think the lower class living in many spots will be pushed out. It just seems rents are gonna be driven up largely. Might as well go the whole way and pay the full deal moving to (established for yrs) Boston than move to (new) Portland for 3/4ths of the price and get lesser. Portland is great, but may fastly become overrated.

It's already overpriced for people at the older end of the spectrum like me. The only reason I can still afford to live here is because I have a great landlord who tries to keep the rents down. I have seen the lower class living spots disappear one of which Hawthorne used to be when I first moved to the area.
I am not knocking Portland for young ambitious people with money. They seem to be doing very well. But for those who come here and say "I'll wash dishes or drive a cab or do manual labor or work in a grocery store; be prepared to get in line with the rest of the wannabes.
For me what was great here is no more but there are new things now that people seem to want. I look at other cities and see things that are a lot more to my liking. So for me what you are saying is true. It's great for some; not so much for others.
Wherever you go you take your chances. That's life.

[beatphl]

Originally Posted by cn1221

oldtintype,

I dont think Portland is all negative. The people in Portland are generally very nice. Although the weather is gloomy and cloudy its not humid or uncomfortable. It can get cold but its not as bad as the midwest. If you like coffee shops and bookstores there are plenty in Portland. Also the west hills and the zoo are very nice and there is some good hiking up there. Also there are many nice places to eat and shop in NW Portland. So I do see some positive in the city, its just the negatives outweigh them for me.

You know it's okay if you don't really like it here. By the it's okay to say it out loud too. It seems every time someone says something negative about Portland, people "born and raised" here jump on you and tell you to move. I moved here from a large city and while Portland has some great aspects the negatives outweigh it for me too. I made a choice to come here and I deal with it. But every once in awhile I would like to be able to voice how I really feel. But no chance of that, they either look at you like your crazy, tell you to move, their feelings get hurt or even better they will argue their point, then when you ask them if they ever lived anywhere else say they haven't. I have driven across country 4 times and have lived overseas and I have to say Portland and it's people are very special, very special indeed. I guess that's it's charm. I know I will get slammed for this but who cares.

[beatphl]

Originally Posted by GucciLittlePiggie

this cheers me up, as i'm from albany and have been living outside boston for 7 years now. my 2 big worries about moving to portland are the jobs and weather. the weather less so, because 6 months of clouds and rain is a lot better than 6 months of dirty snow piles, and the temps aren't as biting. the job situation still scares me. i am in biotech, and i need a job that pays 40-50k for 3+ years experience. i have no idea if that's reasonable or not, and my fiancee is trying to get into marketing, human resources, or something similar, has an MBA, and would like to make the same. again, no idea if that's possible out there. the property cost being half or less of boston suburbs helps, but we're not going to move across the country to go work at powell's books and a local coffee shop.

as far as the rest of the criticisms from the OP, a too-liberal city is a lot better than a too-conservative stepford-ville. i'd rather see people chastised for not recycling than for being openly gay in public, for instance. i don't know about the schools, but i don't really care. we'll do private school if they're that bad, but that's 10+ years away.

another question, actually: i have to get a new car in september. (fiancee has a crappy one that won't make it with us). we were thinking of getting a nice car to share, instead of 2 so-so cars. is it realistic to have 2 20-somethings ride the max all the time, to work, and to stores, etc.... or is it like riding the buses in downtown boston, that is sort of a last resort, not a good way of life?

Look I know the price of everything in Boston is crazy but unless you want to live far out of the city in Portland rents are not the cheap. Close in to the city for a decent place is going to cost $1,000 and up for a one bedroom. If you live far out from the city you can use the MAX but as far as shopping, it's more of a last resort. By the way the recycling thing is at a whole different level here than most east coast recycling, not that there is anything wrong with that. As far as openly gay I have been here for 4 years and can only remember seeing anything openly gay once maybe twice. As far as the lack of dirty snow piles, just remember you get sun in the winter in there. Don't expect to see it here all winter (I'm not joking). These are just my opinions. You know what they say, every ones got one.

[beatphl]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I see all of your posts are negative about Portland. You have nothing else to add to the 'city forum' but your miserable life/experience in Portland. Nothing else to give. Nothing good has happened. Nothing you like.I am sorry for you and hope life improves, really. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Who are you to tell someone they have nothing to add to the city forum . You set a great example of one more negative Portland has to offer.

[Bluesbabe]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Bliss60,

It's a crazy town alright. I was waiting during the early evening on 42nd and Sandy for the #75 bus to take me to Hawthornewhen a young man (30's or so) pulled up and asked me if I wanted to "go" with him. I said "No thanks." He circled the block and then came back and asked if I wanted a ride. "No thanks again."

I was really getting nervous and it was getting dark. Finally my bus came. I don't know if he made a third attempt.

OK. The irony of this story is that I am 62 years old, overweight and very average looking. Hey, maybe I should be flattered. But...er...I don't think so.

It creeps me out when someone can't understand the word 'no'.

A few years ago I was walking home from the bus stop in winter and, though it was dark, was on a fairly busy street. And this guy in a low-rider car drove by, circled around ahead of me and came back to offer me a ride and I told him no. He moved on slowly but I saw him turn up ahead again, so I walked up the driveway to this house, pretending it was my place. He paused but then kept going. And I was glad, because I dang sure didn't want to knock on someone's door.

But I no longer walk that street in the dark. And this was in Hillsboro, by the way.