Judi, thank you for this very rational, well-thought-out letter to Keith Wilson.
I haven't seen you recently to tell you this, but I sold my condo at NW 16th and W Burnside, mainly because of the crime and drug activity around my building. I'll be purchasing a condo in the Milwaukie area in about two weeks, and it's so serene and peaceful there, next to the river.
I hope your letter makes it's rounds of Portland political leaders, and thanks again.
HI Wes. I figured you'd moved as you'd mentioned it before, and you hadn't posted in months and months. I know that the area around where you had lived has become even more of a shitshow. Every day it's more of the same here. As far as Portland's leadership . . . well, none of the three city councilors from my district, nor the mayor, have responded to this letter that I sent to each of them at the beginning of the week.
Can't blame you for moving. We're considering Clackamas County as well.
JVP claims the statistics that middle class people and the wealthy are leaving Multnomah County are "old data". From my "lived experience", I think she's full of horse manure.
Thanks. I can guarantee JVP that I'm NOT one of the middle class/wealthy leaving Mult. Co. I had a modest 400 sq ft studio condo in NW, and I'm pretty tolerant and liberal. But when you have to carry a can of bear mace around downtown to feel safe, it's time to get out of downtown. (And I know some of the houseless people by their first name, and they know me. Because they are decent people. But it's the lawless druggies that made me pull the trigger (figuratively!).
JVP is not dealing with the reality that the majority of Portlanders deal with, especially those of us in these neighborhoods (Pearl, NW, River District, Old Town, and Stadiumhood). Nor does she appear to care.
Very good letter. Well written, truthful and thoughtful. I hope our well-meaning new mayor listens to you and others of us in NW Portland who share your concerns.
Thank you, Mike. I sent this letter to the mayor and District 4's three councilors at the beginning of the week and so far, not one of them have responded. At least Mitch Green was on the Zoom meeting on Wednesday night; no other city leader was or at least did not identify themselves. Doesn't sound like Mayor Wilson cares much about the neighborhoods.
I suppose people are giving him the extreme benefit of the doubt when they say that he is well meaning. This large, neighborhood changing decision made in a complete (and ongoing) void of community transparency or engagement seems pretty underhanded and intentional. Not a good look for him or the district representatives, I think.
Hope they come to their senses soon, before they manage to completely annihilate the neighborhood.
I completely agree with all you've written. Very underhanded and intentional, and I'd say that, looking back, it's a good description of his campaign, too: intentionally underhanded with his promise to "end homelessness." He forgot to tell the voters that that would mean further degrading the neighborhoods. You can't have 10-12 hour shelters with no services, and oh, here's a sandwich, and then force the people out at 6 am and think that everything is going to be wonderful for them or the neighborhood. It's been proven around this city that it just doesn't work. But I'm afraid the mayor has his own metrics to meet: just provide 1500 beds by Dec. 1st and voila! Look, no tents! What a nightmare he's unleashing.
Exactly - the honest platform the mayor and current city/county members should have run on is gross negligence. That’s about all we’ve seen from them so far. Not the people to lead a revitalization, I’m afraid.
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt opinion. It is time for Portland to return to basics. Law enforcement for people with behavioral disrders who break laws designed to insure public safety, civility, and a beautiful public space should included jail time for offenders. Those with severe disorders that impair their capacity to conform their conduct to the law, after appropriate punishment which by the way often includes medical and mental health in jail, should receive hospital treatment for a maximum period of six weeks to receive modern psychiatric are which could assist many of them. The Portland Oregon Civil Commitment Plan is a way forward for Portland. Currently the city has no effective plan to deal with those whose severe mental health problems are impacting our city.
Judi, thank you for this very rational, well-thought-out letter to Keith Wilson.
I haven't seen you recently to tell you this, but I sold my condo at NW 16th and W Burnside, mainly because of the crime and drug activity around my building. I'll be purchasing a condo in the Milwaukie area in about two weeks, and it's so serene and peaceful there, next to the river.
I hope your letter makes it's rounds of Portland political leaders, and thanks again.
HI Wes. I figured you'd moved as you'd mentioned it before, and you hadn't posted in months and months. I know that the area around where you had lived has become even more of a shitshow. Every day it's more of the same here. As far as Portland's leadership . . . well, none of the three city councilors from my district, nor the mayor, have responded to this letter that I sent to each of them at the beginning of the week.
Can't blame you for moving. We're considering Clackamas County as well.
JVP claims the statistics that middle class people and the wealthy are leaving Multnomah County are "old data". From my "lived experience", I think she's full of horse manure.
Thanks. I can guarantee JVP that I'm NOT one of the middle class/wealthy leaving Mult. Co. I had a modest 400 sq ft studio condo in NW, and I'm pretty tolerant and liberal. But when you have to carry a can of bear mace around downtown to feel safe, it's time to get out of downtown. (And I know some of the houseless people by their first name, and they know me. Because they are decent people. But it's the lawless druggies that made me pull the trigger (figuratively!).
JVP is not dealing with the reality that the majority of Portlanders deal with, especially those of us in these neighborhoods (Pearl, NW, River District, Old Town, and Stadiumhood). Nor does she appear to care.
Very good letter. Well written, truthful and thoughtful. I hope our well-meaning new mayor listens to you and others of us in NW Portland who share your concerns.
Thank you, Mike. I sent this letter to the mayor and District 4's three councilors at the beginning of the week and so far, not one of them have responded. At least Mitch Green was on the Zoom meeting on Wednesday night; no other city leader was or at least did not identify themselves. Doesn't sound like Mayor Wilson cares much about the neighborhoods.
I suppose people are giving him the extreme benefit of the doubt when they say that he is well meaning. This large, neighborhood changing decision made in a complete (and ongoing) void of community transparency or engagement seems pretty underhanded and intentional. Not a good look for him or the district representatives, I think.
Hope they come to their senses soon, before they manage to completely annihilate the neighborhood.
I completely agree with all you've written. Very underhanded and intentional, and I'd say that, looking back, it's a good description of his campaign, too: intentionally underhanded with his promise to "end homelessness." He forgot to tell the voters that that would mean further degrading the neighborhoods. You can't have 10-12 hour shelters with no services, and oh, here's a sandwich, and then force the people out at 6 am and think that everything is going to be wonderful for them or the neighborhood. It's been proven around this city that it just doesn't work. But I'm afraid the mayor has his own metrics to meet: just provide 1500 beds by Dec. 1st and voila! Look, no tents! What a nightmare he's unleashing.
Exactly - the honest platform the mayor and current city/county members should have run on is gross negligence. That’s about all we’ve seen from them so far. Not the people to lead a revitalization, I’m afraid.
Totally agree.
Nobody could have said it better. Thank you Judi.
Thank you, Janet. I could have said a lot more :-)
Excellent letter!! Thank you for writing!
Thank you, Paul.
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt opinion. It is time for Portland to return to basics. Law enforcement for people with behavioral disrders who break laws designed to insure public safety, civility, and a beautiful public space should included jail time for offenders. Those with severe disorders that impair their capacity to conform their conduct to the law, after appropriate punishment which by the way often includes medical and mental health in jail, should receive hospital treatment for a maximum period of six weeks to receive modern psychiatric are which could assist many of them. The Portland Oregon Civil Commitment Plan is a way forward for Portland. Currently the city has no effective plan to deal with those whose severe mental health problems are impacting our city.