Dealing with violence etc. on Max Train/Buses (Portland: lawyers, home)

[pdxMIKEpdx]

It seems the decline of Portland continues.

I wouldn't say "decline" but a return to an altered normal Portland, the way it was pre 2000.

But a bit more expensive, a bit more graffiti and a bit more "trouble-making" people.

Nothing like "old times".

[LANDSALMON2]

I'm 63 I was born in Portland in 1956 and have slowly moved further and further away from stumptown because I want no part of the cesspool that is Portland. I don't go down town unless I have to. It sickens me to have to step over used needles and feces in the streets of what used to be a beautiful city, to navigate the homeless camps and pan handlers, just to get where I am going. I Uber in I Uber out as quickly as possible.

Max used to be fun to ride, but now it is just free passage for the Homeless,Drug addicts and the mentally unstable that have taken up residence on the streets of Portlandia. Wanna get mugged? Ride Max

But Hey! Keep Portland Weird, Right!

[pdxMIKEpdx]

It's not that bad if you are between 20-30 years old, new here, and don't have a clue of how Portland used to be.

In fact, if you squint your eyes, and look at Portland as a "whole", it is still a very beautiful city.

If you "know" Portland, and have lived here for more than 10 years, that's another story.

[Rob Allen]

I was also born in 1956 and moved here in 1994. My office is just south of downtown and I go all over the downtown area regularly. I've seen exactly one used syringe on the sidewalk and zero piles of feces. I do see homeless people and their tents but have never been harassed or seen anyone who seemed dangerously unstable. It's rare to even be asked for spare change. I was riding MAX regularly until a few months ago and it was safe and clean and full of completely normal-looking people.

Before Portland I lived near New York, Boston and Los Angeles. People don't know how good they have it here.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

I was also born in 1956 and moved here in 1994. My office is just south of downtown and I go all over the downtown area regularly. I've seen exactly one used syringe on the sidewalk and zero piles of feces. I do see homeless people and their tents but have never been harassed or seen anyone who seemed dangerously unstable. It's rare to even be asked for spare change. I was riding MAX regularly until a few months ago and it was safe and clean and full of completely normal-looking people.

Before Portland I lived near New York, Boston and Los Angeles. People don't know how good they have it here.

My experiences are more reflective of yours as well.

I moved here for college in 1982 and have lived here off and on in the mid-80s, early 2000s, and now since 2016, although because I have family all over the area I have been back frequently during the times I lived elsewhere.

When I was in college in the early 80s there were hookers openly walking the streets on Burnside, Sandy, and 82nd Ave. It was blatant. There were porno shops up and strip clubs along SE Division where I lived and also Burnside. There was so much street crime that vigilante groups were popping up like the Guardian Angels. Bike theft was just as epidemic as was car theft. Everyone used the "club" on their car steering wheel and took their car stereos out when parking on the street or you'd could back to a broken window and your stereo gone. And honestly, I think there were just as many homeless alcoholics hanging around Old Town as there are today. I worked for a time at a bike shop in Old Town in the early 80s and businesses were installing drip lines along their buildings to try to keep the riffraff from sleeping on the sidewalks in front. That was 40 years ago. The meth heads of today were mostly heroin junkies back then.

My 13 year old daughter likes exploring the city so we do long walks all over the place. Yes, you encounter homeless in the usual places where they've been for decades. But I have never seen human feces and I don't recall ever seeing syringes. Dog poop yes, left by entitled dog owners. But that's another topic. Trying to cross the street in the car-centric sprawl that is Clackamas or Tualatin is more dangerous than walking around just about anywhere in central Portland.

[StealthRabbit]

At least Portland homeless are not as violent / hyper as Seattle's. (Yet). That place can be quite dangerous after dark. They lose more police per month, than they can hire.

There are only a few homeless my current Texas town, but found one last night very wacked out on drugs, accosting people in a cafe. Very dangerous for all female night shift. Glad the cops finally arrived before someone shot him. It would have been possible, as he was grabbing people a physically pushing them. He had his state hospital arm bands on, so 2 of us engaged him in his interests that kept him away from staff and other customers. Problem is, drugs make all things possible and nothing rational. They trigger very easily, especially when cops arrive.

[EasyBeezy]

Originally Posted by LANDSALMON2

I'm 63 I was born in Portland in 1956 and have slowly moved further and further away from stumptown because I want no part of the cesspool that is Portland. I don't go down town unless I have to. It sickens me to have to step over used needles and feces in the streets of what used to be a beautiful city, to navigate the homeless camps and pan handlers, just to get where I am going. I Uber in I Uber out as quickly as possible.

Max used to be fun to ride, but now it is just free passage for the Homeless,Drug addicts and the mentally unstable that have taken up residence on the streets of Portlandia. Wanna get mugged? Ride Max

But Hey! Keep Portland Weird, Right!

I work downtown and am there at minimum 5 days a week, and have been for the last five years. It definitely has its issues, but the image of stepping over used needles and feces is a huge exaggeration. You may rarely spot a needle if you look carefully in certain secluded spots. I have seen feces twice in five years. I get that some people just don't like Portland, but why make up stuff to justify the hatred?

I first came to Portland in 1996. For me, the biggest change other than the housing price is that Portland used to actually be really clean, and now it is absolutely filthy, with garbage and graffiti everywhere. Still love it though. Can't beat the access to outstanding natural beauty and there is always something to do here.

[Guineas]

This is why America can't have good public transit. It soon gets overrun by vagrants and low lifes. Countries in Europe and East Asia just simply don't tolerate that population. It's time to start enforcing loitering laws.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by Guineas

This is why America can't have good public transit. It soon gets overrun by vagrants and low lifes. Countries in Europe and East Asia just simply don't tolerate that population. It's time to start enforcing loitering laws.

Looks like Oregon may go other way.
https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-b...re-enforcement.

I am positive this development will increase public perception of the Max and public safety as well.
"Keepin it weird."

[PNW-type-gal]

Please stick to the topic, which is Portland transit. Off topic national-level political posts will be deleted.