Portland State U advice (Union: 2009, crime, daycare)

[katerinaver]

Hello,
I am a future grad student and was thinking to apply here. Could you tell me how the area is? Is it safe for kids? Any info. is appreciated!
I heard that you don't need a car if you're there, is that true?
Thanks

[Neal2009]

I am a student at Portland State. The campus is located right on the edge of downtown and is small and easy to get around. The area itself is very nice, lots of nice buildings, trees and cafes and very little crime. I think it is perfectly safe for a child, although I dont see many reasons why a child would be there, it is a university after all. If you are talking about daycare for kids, you will have to inquire at the university about that.

Portland is a city in which a car is not necessary, that is correct. We have the trimet system which consists of several buslines which go throughout the entire city and into the suburbs as well as a couple of max lines and a street car. Most of my friends do not have a car, and get around the city easily via trimet or their bike. I still have a car as I am an outdoors enthusiast and love traveling to the coast and into the gorge, but when I am in the city itself I very rarely use my car if I dont have to.

[crazylegs5150]

Ditto what Neal said. PDX is very easy to navigate around without a car though to get outside of town for activities , etc, will require a car. As for the PSU, it has the Portland Streetcar running pretty much through campus and will take you across town to the central hub, where you can transfer to the Lightrail and go to the airport, zoo, gardens, and all points beyond. The campus itself is compact and very green with lots of trees and shade. I liked what i saw of it. I cannot comment on actual programs as I only walked through the campus in summer. From what I've heard it is a decent school and has a very good urban design program. One of the best in the country. Imagine that.*sarcasm*

[jojo4]

I am not a student, but I live nearby. The area is safe for kids. How old is the kid? There is a Kindercare on 2nd right behind Keller Auditorium. There is a little playground on the south end of Park block right on campus. I see a group of 10ish grade school kids waiting for a bus at 4th and Harrison in the morning. I don't see many teenagers in the area. I think (not sure) Public school for this area is one of the best in Portland.
You don't really need a car. You can sign up for Zip car, a car sharing program for the occasional drive.

[figmalt]

I've never felt unsafe on campus, no matter what hour I was out and about. There are also a couple of childcare options (e.g. Helen Gordon Childcare Center Helen Gordon Main and another one in the Smith Student Union) right on campus. Like other have said, if you plan to only stay in the city, you can get by on Trimet just fine. There are lots of free or cheap things to do (i.e. wading fountains) in Portland - this is a great site to check out: OregonMom.com "Where to go with kids in tow!". Good Luck!

[TechmanOR]

I don't really see kids much and I agree that it should not be a problem for kids. Just educate them to not give anything to panhandlers.

For the next couple months, kids should really look out for construction activity. There are some trip hazards, a lot of excavators and such around etc. It's going under a major renovation right now. Getting around the campus is fairly complicated because of the construction and if you take the wrong door out, you'll walk right into the construction.

Transient presence and drug and alcohol related incidents caused by them are rampant as well as crime against property. Prowls are also fairly common in parking garages, so always be on the look out. People are out there to separate your valuables away from you, so don't leave anything valuable in your car. Parking in their structures is quite expensive and there are always people scoping out looking for things to steal.

Very very common, along with thefts from cars
Location: Parking Structure 1 (191) - 1872 SW Broadway
Offense: Trespass of Real Property - Pryor arrested for trespasssing on Portland State University property
Reported: 6/17/2009 - 2:22:00 PM

Some weirdest incident from the campus crime log:

Location: Peter W. Stott Center - 930 SW Hall
Offense: All Other Offenses - Suspect touches victim's penis two times at the Stott Center.
Reported: 6/7/2009 - 9:05:00 PM Disposition: Report Written-Original"

[katerinaver]

any more comments?

[TechmanOR]

New update... I was harassed by this aggressive panhandler with a knife in goddamn daylight while getting between buildings on campus. I don't quite feel safe anymore. He didn't pull the knife on me, but I sure felt like I he might pull it out and stab me if I don't comply or provoke him wrong.

I would not be surprised if these scums would intimidate kids into giving up lunch money.

A little while ago, a parking enforcement officer with the university was stabbed with a syringe needle.

[figmalt]

I rarely travel outside if I can help it -- I stick to the skybridges and tunnels because I'm tired of getting harassed by all the petitioners, "charity" organizations, and general panhandlers. Maybe it's different if you're female? I don't know. I've had a bigger problems with the clipboard carrying special interest groups than panhandlers.

[TechmanOR]

Originally Posted by figmalt

I rarely travel outside if I can help it -- I stick to the skybridges and tunnels because I'm tired of getting harassed by all the petitioners, "charity" organizations, and general panhandlers. Maybe it's different if you're female? I don't know. I've had a bigger problems with the clipboard carrying special interest groups than panhandlers.

You get used to those after a while. Say "I'm busy" or "no thanks" and that's the end of it and if you're really not a in a good mood, just ignore and walk past them and nothing comes out of it.

This is the first I've ever had someone follow me around after being told "don't have any money to give away, I'm broke myself", scream and curse, getting in my face and touching me and making threats of physical harm hoping to milk me out. He was armed, I wasn't, yeah I better GTFO.

I'm pretty sure he was hoping his threats and his appearance with a knife would cause me to break down and open up my wallet. It was an intimidating experience for me and surely, it will be for women and children.

But, if you're unarmed, male or female, you're pretty much screwed if he decided to use the knife. You can never predict what a criminal may do when you resist his demand.

In April, a man from Portland was hospitalized after being assulted by a panhandler after refusing to give up his jewelry.

Local News | Oregon man seriously injured in panhandler assault in Pioneer Square | Seattle Times Newspaper