Is all of Portland really this depressingly bad? (Lake Oswego, West Linn: apartment complexes, rent)

[pitpat4]

Our family moved to Portland two months ago. We took the smaller, dumpier house in the west hills over the bigger, fancier house on the northeast side of town. Maybe this shielded us from the breed of superbum described in many of these posts. We haven't seen any shirtless, urinating, begging zombies here. When we do venture downtown we are at times asked for spare change. Is it really that hard to say no ( or yes, if you're so inclined) and move along? If I ever become so outrgaged that a man without a home would pee on a bush, well then I'll pack my family up and move to...oh, say, Billings, Montana--where that man will be arrested and I'll feel better

[Minervah]

Oregon Health Plan has helped thousands of lower income people.

Nimby: Have you ever applied for coverage under the Oregon Health Plan?

Scone: You are so right. If you look through these threads you can see the same people starting different threads asking the same questions only a expressing them a little bit differently until they get the answers they want to hear.

[pdxscott09]

It really is bad that the OP experienced most of the bad parts of Portland. Portland it one of my favorite cities but it does have its share of problem and the OP seamed to find them all. If your in neighborhood with RV parks and trailer parks, you should probably should have realized that its best to turn back. I myself have never seen a bum/transient/homeless urinate or delicate in a bush or anywhere, maybe a drunk 21 year old outside of a bar would. lol, anyways. I have never had any problem with them bum or street kids in Portland. I usually don't but the few times I have gave them my loose change they have been gratefull. Portland is a great place but is sound like your mind is already made up.

[williedogg23]

I've been here for 3 years now and the issue is, consistency. You can ask next door neighbors how they like it here, and probably they will have different opinions.
I'm not too interested in the rain this much, now I mean this much by this often. I have lived in southern Missouri, same amount per year, but more in one day or three days then one week here. This place IS beautiful though, 2nd only to Alaska that I've found. Mountains, trees, flowers, wildlife, rivers, ocean, GREEN. I often hike in the gorge, definately look into it, but if its raining, theres no one out there, like no ones used to the rain. 2008 did have a long summer though into October and November it was still nice, and now its Jan. 09. I just got back from newport where it was 65 and gorgeous, very unseasonal, but no one in the water. In fact, I've rarely seen anyone in the ocean at the beach, summer or not. Which begs, how fun is an ocean we don't get into. Back in Portland, 48 and windy. The weather is an issue if you are used to it being nice everyday, or at least most of the time. I've also lived in Tucson and western Nebraska, lots of sun, so I'm not in love but have maintained well and get out more then a lot of the locals. I'm saying if you are going to have rain, it needs to be warm, if its cold, then less frequent. Also, the people I see downtown or anywhere outside when it rains are just in a hurry to get indoors. Downtown is right by the Willamette river which you don't swim in, too contaminated, sounds great, right next to the busiest part of town. I mean I love the IDEA of Portland but the actuality of it is you struggle through 8 months to get to 4 months, with occasional breaks. Only place where I've heard scattered sunspots as a weather term.
Jobs are what you hear, but you have to know someone I guess. The current economic situation doesnt help anyone and all businesses are looking to get through. I had no problem getting a job here when I arrived, but I knew the GM. I was recently laid off by a small business and am not getting even a call back although I have plenty of experience and credibility in my field. The scene here is almost fake, like money but no ambition and plans only to make the most money with the least amount of work.
No heart unless it fills pocketbooks fast. So alot of times you work hard for someone just taking advantage of you. I know this might be everywhere, but here I just see many more two-faced people then anywhere. This is very difficult if you have a genuine care for the well-being of others as I do, I have a two year old and I can't see myself raising her here. Also, I recycle, but I did before I moved here and Portland is supposedly the greenest city they say, because....... theres not trash on the streets, wrong, theres not pollution in the rivers, wrong, because they are making an effort to get better, yes. I commend them for that but its like thanking someone for shutting the door when they leave, shouldn't this be expected.
Music scene is highly deceptive, bands play here, on their way to Seattle but I mean who is FROM Portland. No one! There are many underground garage bands, basement bands and artists including myself but that doesnt make the music scene here flourish. The northwest is about the landscape, The Oregon Trail, volcanos, and rain. The artists that are from here, stay here, and are loved locally, but no one outside the Northwest has heard of them. Getting into some shows are like getting Super Bowl tickets at the 50 yard line. Theres bands playing every night, and next week and last week, same songs or borrowed from other artists. I'm not ragging, just being brutally honest.
You are safe here, White Non-Hispanic (75.5%), which doesn't guarantee safety but as long as you aren't looking for trouble you won't find it. Example, ride the Max from Gresham to the Zoo, where in many other cities you might be worried by the co-passengers, here, everyones just happy to be out of the rain. The Max is almost the best public transportation there is anywhere, outside of New Yorks subways, and they are constantly looking to improve. Everywhere there is crime, but this is a Kansas suburb compared to St. Louis, Memphis, K.C., New Orleans, D.C., etc. Of course all those are considered midwest to eastern cities. The attitude out west is much more laid back. California, although only next door, completely different animal.
There are amazing areas of agriculture around, Hood River, Dundee Hills Wine. I worked with a chef who got almost everything organic from within 100 miles, from meat to fish, to fruits and veggies. Alot of restaurants label items from where they got them, Draper Valley Chicken, Carlton Farms Pork but if you aren't familiar, doesn't mean anything. That being said, I feel people here have to tell you how good they are, but if you are that good, do you have to say anything? Or does it just show?
For all these reasons, I am looking to relocate, somewhere closer to the rest of my family, midwest, and somewhere more sunny. I've narrowed it down to a couple areas based on my travels and past places I have actually lived. I'm not saying don't come here, I'm saying visit for 3 months, 2 in the winter and 1 in the summer, because thats what its like. If it was up to me, I'd have a house in Arizona or Florida in the Winter and one in Alaska or Oregon in the summer, perfect set up, and be a pilot with my own plane. Anyways, don't just take my advice with a grain of salt, I didn't write this to be negative or positive, just to give you my honest opinion.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by williedogg23

I mean I love the IDEA of Portland but the actuality of it is you struggle through 8 months to get to 4 months, with occasional breaks. Only place where I've heard scattered sunspots as a weather term.

You mean you haven't been enjoying the sunny weather we've had for the past week?

[HR-Hack]

Why do people who are the most miserable feel most compelled to "share" their misery. Is it to obvious to suggest that if you don't like where you live, then move. Chances are, both communities will be "happier" with your departure/arrival.

I'm looking forward to relocating to PDX. If I have to hurdle over a few homeless folks now and then, perhaps it will keep me in better shape.

[love that sunshine!]

My ex-husband lives and works in Beaverton and lives in the Peterkort community just off Cedar Hills. Nice homes but zero area for kids to play. It is more of a professional neighborhood in that there are not many kids. I have a middle school child and I am always hearing that there are "no kids to play with at dads house" Not only that, the Beaverton schools are good, but that is relative to the Portland schools, etc. You need to check out each school. Go to www.greatschools.com for some info. The drive from Vancouver/Camas to Beaverton during standard business hours is tough. There is a bus service that is handy. Fisher's Landing has a transit center that is new and has a lot of options for routes, etc. Check it out under C-Tran. For the quality of life, taxes, schools, housing, etc, I would vote hands down for the Fisher's Landing area. The schools are top notch. Fisher's Landing Elementary, Shahala, Mtn View HS are all excellent. Academics, Athletics and Music are excellent. They have an advanced level study and advance placement in HS. In Camas, the schools are excellent too. Two new schools were just built in the recent years: Columbia Valley elementary and Union High. Very good reviews from parents, etc. Traffic is horrible in Beaverton. Not bad at all in Fisher's Landing. You can live, work, eat out, see a movie, bowl and grocery shop etc all within a 2 mile/2 minute radius-not kidding! One more thing... Washington has a sales tax of appx 8.2% Oregon does not. Washington does not have a state income tax, Oregon does.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by love that sunshine!

... For the quality of life, taxes, schools, housing, etc, I would vote hands down for the Fisher's Landing area. The schools are top notch. ... Athletics and Music are excellent. They have an advanced level study and advance placement in HS. In Camas, the schools are excellent too. ... You can live, work, eat out, see a movie, bowl and grocery shop etc all within a 2 mile/2 minute radius-not kidding! One more thing... Washington has a sales tax of appx 8.2% Oregon does not. Washington does not have a state income tax, Oregon does.

+ free college in WA instead of High School for grades 11 & 12, if you pass the entrance examine in grade 10. (Running Start program)

There are +/- on each side of the river, and unfortunately the weather is pretty similar (If that is a problem). The bigger issue is business taxation, and the future of taxation in both states. There is significant problems for the left coast state's funding (AK excluded). But you also don't find Palin gushing all over the bogus ideas coming out of Sacramento, Salem and Olympia. Those yay-hoo's are all 'peas-in-a-pod'

I wonder if we can change are state motto's and license plates to the 'Me-Too-States'

[Casportsfan]

Originally Posted by gnab gib

Yeah, my wife grew up just outside Detroit. Unfortunately, one of the first things we both thought was that a lot of the Portland we saw reminded us of the burned-out areas of downtown Detroit.

Whether anyone is going to hurt us isn't even the point. The point is finding an environment we want to live in and possibly raise a family someday.

"Weird" is one thing. Disgusting is another. Ann Arbor is weird, too, but in a good way.

We did a good deal of research on the area and heard about the homeless situation, but we kept hearing so many wonderful things about the city that we never expected it could be this bad. I almost would have been relieved to see a bum who looked unkempt and down on his luck, rather than a bunch of kids in grunge clothes who looked like they were begging because they could get away with it. At Saturday market, there was some young lady, late teens to early 20s, sitting on the sidewalk in her little black hipster outfit and casting out a styrofoam cup attached to a string and a stick. On the cup was written, "Fishing for beer money." Unreal! I'm not about to hand over a few quarters to people who freely admit that they're going to go booze my money away later that night. Get a freaking job.

Anyway, we were just a little disillusioned to think this was the best Portland (or Oregon, for that matter) had to offer. It sounds like not all hope is lost, though. Thanks to everyone else for your suggestions. We'll check out the areas you recommended over the next few days!

I am planning a move to Seattle, and Portland is a little lower on my list, but I've been there many times to check it out. A couple words: Seriously, get real.

I am from an area just north of San Francisco, and I hate to tell you, but in almost any major city you are going to encounter bums in downtown. I also have a friend in the Alberta area and that area and ones adjacent to it are not all that great, they look a bit sketchy.

What you are saying is on par with me saying, "I visited San Francisco because I heard about all the beauty and diversity, and all I found were bums harrasing me in downtown, and in Hunters Point I seriously thought I was going to get carjacked"!

Well, duh. Every city has some really bad parts. Some major metro cities have a nice downtown, but even here in Sacramento, you don't want to be in downtown at night. I am a 240 lb. man and even I get a little scared walking around downtown Sac. And South Sac is a mess too with gangs. Does that diminish all the good parts of the city?

My advice: Get rid of the dream you had where Portland was "paradise", and use some logical adult thinking. Pick a nice part of the city and move there and try to steere clear of downtown.

For what it's worth, in my last trip to Portland, I stopped at a Pizza Shop downtown, and had a nice conversation with a local about the city. I then patroled all areas of downtown, and even got lost and another local let me follow her to the freeway and signaled to where I should turn.

I didn't notice ANY of what you are talking about, and again, I'm from around SF which has a NOTORIOUS reputation for homeless, amongst the highest in the nation. I thought the city was absolutely beautiful, had it's own unique character, and you really have to have a more realistic view before you move to ANY city of 2 million or more. Sorry, but you're never going to escape bums in any city that size, especially downtown.

Maybe you should research where the BAD neighborhoods are instead of the good ones before trolling around. That way, you won't have the unrealistic negative one sided picture you currently do and you might stumble upon a really nice area that doesn't get a lot of pub.

[k8cav]

boy...im hoping to move to portland almost sight unseen, having only one cousin that lives there but says she loves it...along with alot of other people that have given input...she says stay southeast...i live near detroit, and im totally tired of michigan...i love the water, and summer is nice, but dont blink or you might miss it!...