Crime, homelessness, gangs in Portland: getting better or worse? (homes, neighborhoods)

[Minervah]

It might be the type of homeless people. Back in the 80's when I moved to the SE neighborhood of Buckman, there were homeless people in my neighborhood. We knew them, they knew us. They even said "Hello." Neighbors gave them soda pop cans and bottles so they could have some cash, they did odd jobs for people and just sort of melted into the landscape. No one was ever harmed by them. We even had some "colorful characters" like the lady who pushed her cats around in a shopping cart.

It was kind of a lower income class area. Then came gentrification. Our usual homeless people sort of disappeared. Eventually there were replaced by teen brats who begged on the streets wearing some pretty nice clothes and shoes. They were nasty and rude. People's yards began to be used as toilets and worse. Cars were broken into. There were thefts.

The homeless downtown were pretty mild then. Now they harass people at bus stops. I was threatened a couple of times. Once the cops intervened, lucky for me. But then I was downtown all the time since I worked there all week so I had a greater chance of getting hassled.

Has it gotten worse? I would say "yes" from my own experience. Statistically, I don't know. I suspect, however, it's like that in all cities that have a homeless problem to begin with. You just live with it. I doubt Portland is going to fix it anytime soon.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Minervah

It might be the type of homeless people. Back in the 80's when I moved to the SE neighborhood of Buckman, there were homeless people in my neighborhood. We knew them, they knew us. They even said "Hello." Neighbors gave them soda pop cans and bottles so they could have some cash, they did odd jobs for people and just sort of melted into the landscape. No one was ever harmed by them. We even had some "colorful characters" like the lady who pushed her cats around in a shopping cart.

It was kind of a lower income class area. Then came gentrification. Our usual homeless people sort of disappeared. Eventually there were replaced by teen brats who begged on the streets wearing some pretty nice clothes and shoes. They were nasty and rude. People's yards began to be used as toilets and worse. Cars were broken into. There were thefts.

The homeless downtown were pretty mild then. Now they harass people at bus stops. I was threatened a couple of times. Once the cops intervened, lucky for me. But then I was downtown all the time since I worked there all week so I had a greater chance of getting hassled.

Has it gotten worse? I would say "yes" from my own experience. Statistically, I don't know. I suspect, however, it's like that in all cities that have a homeless problem to begin with. You just live with it. I doubt Portland is going to fix it anytime soon.

I wonder if that change took place with the rise of meth use. It seems like long-term meth users completely lose their filter for what is acceptable behavior and just do whatever they want.

I was threatened once too when I was working downtown. Just walking to work with a co-worker and this 20-something meth freak must have thought I looked at him wrong or something. It was about 8 in the morning so maybe he hadn't slept for a few days.

I don't think the City can do anything about the problem with homelessness. There's so much inertia of years of not dealing with the problem that doing anything would be viewed as harsh

[Phrogg]

Originally Posted by jjpop

I don't think the City can do anything about the problem with homelessness. There's so much inertia of years of not dealing with the problem that doing anything would be viewed as harsh

That's how it was back when I was there too: something should be done, but even fifteen years ago, it had "always been like that" and was therefore very hard to change. That said, what I've read on here (thank you all for all your responses!) about providing the homeless with outhouses and storage units is a whole new kind of permissiveness. Portland will someday (hopefully soon, but...) have to figure out some kind of balance between permissiveness and public safety.

[thedownlow]

Originally Posted by Phrogg

That's how it was back when I was there too: something should be done, but even fifteen years ago, it had "always been like that" and was therefore very hard to change. That said, what I've read on here (thank you all for all your responses!) about providing the homeless with outhouses and storage units is a whole new kind of permissiveness. Portland will someday (hopefully soon, but...) have to figure out some kind of balance between permissiveness and public safety.

Not if whoever is in office will continue to be in office. Nothing gets done. Rinse...Repeat..Rinse...Repeat.

[Phrogg]

Originally Posted by thedownlow

Not if whoever is in office will continue to be in office. Nothing gets done. Rinse...Repeat..Rinse...Repeat.

How long does the current mayor have left in his term? (I forget: does Portland have term limits?)

[crisw]

Originally Posted by Phrogg

How long does the current mayor have left in his term? (I forget: does Portland have term limits?)

He's not running again; the vote for a new mayor is this year. As you can imagine, homelessness is at the top of the issues list being discussed by the candidates.

[thedownlow]

Originally Posted by crisw

He's not running again; the vote for a new mayor is this year. As you can imagine, homelessness is at the top of the issues list being discussed by the candidates.

And once again, all talk, no action....

[Pansori]

Interesting thread. I lived in Portland back in the late 90s early 2000s and am considering a move back in the Beaverton area. I currently live on a main street in Columbus, Ohio, where our homeless population seems to be concentrated in one area of the city. On my regular commute (either car or bike) I see maybe 1 or 2 homeless people, at most (that is if I see any at all).

When my husband and I visited the Bay area this last October I was surprised at the amount of homeless. I recall the homeless people in Portland being concentrated around Pioneer Square and Burnside as well. It's great that crime is down, but disappointing that the homeless population has gotten so out of control.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by crisw

...... homelessness is at the top of the issues list being discussed by the candidates.

Since it isn't possible to do anything about the homeless without hurting someone's feelings, the homeless issue in Portland is in a complete gridlock and is totally intractable.

[Suburban_Guy]

Just the usual mix of Crips, Bloods, and various Latino gangs, many of these off shoots from the Los Angeles area.

Gang violence in Portland breaks all time record

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...EPtitWz4&hl=en