What I Love, Hate, Like, Dislike about Portland Oregon (crimes, tenant)

[Squidlo]

I think its odd having a warm Christmas. First time was 1980, I was in Phoenix. Loved the weather. It doesn't feel right after growing up in Portland. Same issues here in Houston. It's pretty cold for winter here, feels like early fall in Portland. Just isn't the same.

So-Cal folks that grew up with it. That is their experience warm and no snow. I prefer a nice cold Christmas, snow if I can get it. A nice fire and some warm beverages, hang out with friends and family, now that is the way you do it!

[Minervah]

In the end though, is it really all that important where you live regardless of the weather as long as you’re with friends and family? I think people are getting too hung up on what kind of climate they live in. There really is no absolute “best” for everyone. What’s important is who’s there with you to share the holidays.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by Minervah

In the end though, is it really all that important where you live regardless of the weather as long as you’re with friends and family? I think people are getting too hung up on what kind of climate they live in. There really is no absolute “best” for everyone. What’s important is who’s there with you to share the holidays.

That is a great outlook and true.
I am glad for you that you can think this way - considering the weather you are having lately - yikes!

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by CAjerseychick

OMG please, try to walk a mile in other peoples shoes- I had to move here unexpectedly, and the folks were so kind, neighborhoody - and I came from the countryside where I found folks, suspicious, judgmental, very close minded.
My 91 year old neighbor had a Trump sign on his lawn- and you know what ? He is a kind neighbor who traded tomatoes and fresh corn with us for our zucchini and collards and news...
Another one keeps an eye out on the neighborhood cars and anything that seems awry (I had my car door open once last week and sure enough he rolled up to make sure it was me and not someone else)-

Less hype and more in the know, please- take your opinions of Portland from real time folks living here.

Its really NOT any worse than any place else (and IMO a lot, tons, better)-
I say this while I am baking cookies for tomorrows (todays) solstice gathering- one of three we are invited too-
as well as our neighbors.

I love the neighborhood Cooking group where we trade recipes...
Chat about events like the City Gleaners (they share out local crops from backyard orchards) or just trade stuff for free - Portland Roosters- Community is what you make it.

I am not sure what you all are railing about.

Relax already. I am sorry you feel the way you do about Portland.

Any place is what you make of it, and Portland is far from the worst.

OK - thanks for answering my question.
I agree with what you say about people you have found here.
Frankly though, these experiences you list are more about people, not Portland and will happen anywhere.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

That is a great outlook and true.
I am glad for you that you can think this way - considering the weather you are having lately - yikes!

Yeah, especially because my family is visiting here in Cleveland now from Toronto. They had to go through Buffalo and Erie. A challenge but, we can do be together now since I moved to Cleveland so no one’s complaining.

[psichick]

Originally Posted by Minervah

In the end though, is it really all that important where you live regardless of the weather as long as you’re with friends and family? I think people are getting too hung up on what kind of climate they live in. There really is no absolute “best” for everyone. What’s important is who’s there with you to share the holidays.

This.

And to throw it out there, I will say the best thing about Christmas in SoCal when you're growing up is that it rarely rains on Christmas day so when you get that new bike, new skates (gawd I'm aging myself), new unicycle, new rc car, etc you get to go outside, probably in pants and a t-shirt, maybe a sweatshirt (hey, I grew up there, 60 is cold), and play outside. I'm grateful for that experience

I never thought about it until 4 days ago when I was iced in and couldn't even go down my driveway without fear of breaking something (pure ice). I wanted a white Christmas since I never had one, ever! And then it turned to ice. Boo!

[sorupaa]

I’m glad there’s internet or els I’d be alone. My best friend lives in Illinois. No family usually I don’t really talk to them except for my dad.

[2bpurrfect]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

Whine, whine, whine - rents are stabilizing and even coming down. There are "For Rent" signs everywhere now. New stock is quickly coming onto market which would have always happened anyway with or without corrupt Portland Gov't.

If folks just let market forces work, these types of "problems" work themselves out. Hell, when economy slows down again (and it will), will the loud whiny people of Portland cry for the landlords whom may now be losing $. I doubt it. Not saying they should, but that is the reality of business and risk.

Portland busy body, corrupt government usually just lengthens the time and cost it takes for market to fix things.

Excuse me? Nobody here is saying oregon/portland gov't has done a good job re: housing and zoning regs etc , of course they are part of the problem! who are you talking to anyway? Caring about the poor and people who are dying on the streets is FAR from "whining". It's called loving my neighbor , and caring about the society i live in. It's good to NOT practice callous disregard, fyi.
What we are seeing is a result of several things. I'd rather be part of a good solution NOT part of the problem by being apathetic, cold and callous about others' hardships. And that cold callousness is part of the problem in PDX as elsewhere with the same problems.
Landlords are cashing in right now, if it levels off they will still be ahead. And their own home will not be endangered, as the tenants are now.
If you don't want to solve problems fine, nobody's asking anything of you. Many are having a TERRIBLE time, the rents have gone way up but they have not gone back down of course. move along, leave it to us who actually care about the people and lives involved.

[Squidlo]

Originally Posted by 2bpurrfect

Excuse me? Nobody here is saying oregon/portland gov't has done a good job re: housing and zoning regs etc , of course they are part of the problem! who are you talking to anyway? Caring about the poor and people who are dying on the streets is FAR from "whining". It's called loving my neighbor , and caring about the society i live in. It's good to NOT practice callous disregard, fyi.
What we are seeing is a result of several things. I'd rather be part of a good solution NOT part of the problem by being apathetic, cold and callous about others' hardships. And that cold callousness is part of the problem in PDX as elsewhere with the same problems.
Landlords are cashing in right now, if it levels off they will still be ahead. And their own home will not be endangered, as the tenants are now.
If you don't want to solve problems fine, nobody's asking anything of you. Many are having a TERRIBLE time, the rents have gone way up but they have not gone back down of course. move along, leave it to us who actually care about the people and lives involved.

I care too. I am not really sure how much my caring about people is really helping right now.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by 2bpurrfect

Excuse me? Nobody here is saying oregon/portland gov't has done a good job re: housing and zoning regs etc , of course they are part of the problem! who are you talking to anyway? Caring about the poor and people who are dying on the streets is FAR from "whining". It's called loving my neighbor , and caring about the society i live in. It's good to NOT practice callous disregard, fyi.
What we are seeing is a result of several things. I'd rather be part of a good solution NOT part of the problem by being apathetic, cold and callous about others' hardships. And that cold callousness is part of the problem in PDX as elsewhere with the same problems.
Landlords are cashing in right now, if it levels off they will still be ahead. And their own home will not be endangered, as the tenants are now.
If you don't want to solve problems fine, nobody's asking anything of you. Many are having a TERRIBLE time, the rents have gone way up but they have not gone back down of course. move along, leave it to us who actually care about the people and lives involved.

Ok - you care - Great. What do you want to do about it? Create more laws? Build a bigger enforcement mechanism to ensure the laws you create are adhered to? Create a socialist utopia? Come on - where brilliant ideas do you have?

Don't tell me to go away. Stupid ideas affect all of us and we ain't goin nowhere.
I care about society too but realize that many times the proposed cures coming from snake oil salesmen and are waaaay worse than the disease.

No amount of protection will cause life hardships to cease to exist.

In the big picture, life today is awesome compared to yesterday. This is true for almost everyone in the USA.

If you want to go around wringing your hands for all the fabricated issues made up in today's world - be my guest.

Rents are stabilizing and more places are vacant now. Employment is available to those that WANT IT. This is not to say that all life is easy but people can make do, better themselves, take advantage of even small opportunities and grow a good life. IF THEY WANT TO.

That is a better message than looking to state or local government to "fix" something.