What do you think of Downtown Portland? (compare)

[Cliftonpdx]

Originally Posted by CanuckInPortland

All cities sweep their problems into certain areas. Downtown Portland has a problem with homeless, though Portland doesn't have anywhere as bad as parts of the west side or east side of Chicago(the outer east doesn't even come close to comparing to the crime or run-down feeling in parts). Even just a little south of the Loop things change pretty quickly.

Eventually Portland will probably get tougher on the homeless, though I work downtown everyday for seven years and walk across it and it's about par for the course for West Coast cities with mild climates. Basically the only place one can be homeless on the street in Oregon is in Portalnd(maybe Eugene also) and the only resources for them for the most part are all downtown. So it's going to be concentrated in downtown Portland. It's not really a hobo on every corner though it's concentrated in Old Town/Chinatown and around the remaining SRO places.

I am guessing Portland will get tough on homelessness right after the useless mayor and many of its city council are booted out of office. There has always been an issue with homelessness, but it seems like this current city council and mayor have zero interest in addressing the actual issues, instead they would rather throw their hands up in the air and pretend like there is nothing they can do.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by Cliftonpdx

I am guessing Portland will get tough on homelessness right after the useless mayor and many of its city council are booted out of office. There has always been an issue with homelessness, but it seems like this current city council and mayor have zero interest in addressing the actual issues, instead they would rather throw their hands up in the air and pretend like there is nothing they can do.

Based on recent articles out there, city leaders want this issue to get really bad. They will then use the issue to scam taxpayers out of more $ to "fix" the problem.

This is a common approach taken by gov't bureaucracies (especially the most lefty ones) to create problems and scam $ from taxpayers to solve the problem they created. Happens all the time but the citizenry always falls for it.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by CanuckInPortland

The Southside of Chicago is beautiful, isn't it...

Every part of every city has it's good and bad area and that includes Chicago's South Side. The Near South Side, Beverly, Hyde Park and Bridgeport are all nice South Side Chicago neighborhoods and popular ones too. They are ones that people want to live in.

Sorry to be off topic but as a native Chicagoan, I like to set the record straight.

[Cliftonpdx]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

Based on recent articles out there, city leaders want this issue to get really bad. They will then use the issue to scam taxpayers out of more $ to "fix" the problem.

This is a common approach taken by gov't bureaucracies (especially the most lefty ones) to create problems and scam $ from taxpayers to solve the problem they created. Happens all the time but the citizenry always falls for it.

I am not so sure about that, Hales will be out of office by January and won't care one bit what the city does with the homeless. Everything he has done up until now has been to put off dealing with the actual issues by creating useless ideas.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by Cliftonpdx

I am not so sure about that, Hales will be out of office by January and won't care one bit what the city does with the homeless. Everything he has done up until now has been to put off dealing with the actual issues by creating useless ideas.

I know. That's why the scenario described is likely. The bureaucracy is not run by a mayor but by a faceless council and unelected bureaucrats.

[Cliftonpdx]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

I know. That's why the scenario described is likely. The bureaucracy is not run by a mayor but by a faceless council and unelected bureaucrats.

The city's council has faces, 6 of them to be exact and each one can be voted out of office with Novick and Fritz up for reelection this year and Hales leaving office knowing full well he had no shot at winning reelection.

What the city needs is people who are actual problem solvers and are able to look to the future for where Portland should be going like the city has done in the past.

[thedownlow]

Originally Posted by pdwpdx

Downtown Chicago is amazing!

Portland couldn't even compare to Chicago. Not even 1% of how cool Chicago is compared to Portland. Unless you're a bum.

[Cliftonpdx]

Originally Posted by thedownlow

Portland couldn't even compare to Chicago. Not even 1% of how cool Chicago is compared to Portland. Unless you're a bum.

What does that even mean? The two cities are completely different. And for the record, I have spent a lot of time in Chicago and love both Chicago and Portland for lots of different reasons. They are both uniquely cool cities.

[58rhodes]

Originally Posted by thedownlow

Portland couldn't even compare to Chicago. Not even 1% of how cool Chicago is compared to Portland. Unless you're a bum.

Chicago doesnt have MT Hood--case closed

Why are people trying to compare Portland to Chicago? Chicago metro is about 9.5 million people. Portland is 2.3. Obviously there's going to be a lot more going on in downtown Chicago.

I think any rational person would expect Portland's visible homeless problem to be pretty bad (same for other cities with moderate climates). Sleeping outside is a doable thing here. Chicago doesn't normally even get above freezing in January and barely gets above freezing in February - you think maybe that makes it a little more difficult to get by outside?

I would actually say Portland's downtown is remarkably clean compared to most cities I've visited. There are a few not so great pockets but overall it's pretty nice.