Good for Eric Zimmerman. It's fine for Mayor Wilson says he wants to "do it with outreach workers" (without specifying what "it" is), but if that doesn't work, what is Plan B? Also agree with Councilor Zimmerman that clearing of tents in the area- including under the 405 overpass- should go hand and hand with the opening of the proposed shelter.
I think you’d need a plan A to have a plan B - the mayor has no real plans, only feel good platitudes and an amazing capacity to ignore his constituents.
On Tuesday August 13th at the City Council meeting on Homelessness & Housing, Wilson stated "I'm not a law and order guy." Unfortunately that's what our Central City desperately needs, law and order. Wilson misses the mark. Wilson doesn't have the resources now, nor will he have the resources after these shelters open. And our Central City, NW/Pearl communities will continue to deteriorate.
Good to see one District 4 councilor, Zimmerman, challenge Wilson... hopefully he'll keep at it.
There is no additional security provided for the Moore St. shelter. We've been told time and time again it's an "enhanced enforcement zone" (specifically from the mayor himself- when he personally called my husband back in Jan- when we were livid, to find out on the NEWS that they were opening a shelter across from our home!) and Wilson flat out lied. There is NO enhanced security whatsoever. We've been told to call 911 if we fear for our safety- that's IT. To have NO onsite security for the shelter is truly mind blowing considering it's a low barrier shelter. I've suggested a 24/7 security officer walking around the perimeter to monitor things to which the city responded with "We've found they aren't helpful bc they can't do anything, they have to call police for help." I totally disagree! Having security onsite, monitoring what's going on can deter negative behavior. Next, the security officers should have a direct line of communication for escalated police response. It's only a matter of time before a incident happens like the one not long ago at a Salem shelter (a shelter guest stabbed five ppl).
Completely agree! outside the shelters at 6:00 am onwards is going to be a dealer's paradise, and the shelter user's universe to what they wish. Including the necessities: bathroom, food, garbage.
The issue is not just removing encampments within 1000 feet if the Northrup Shelter. It is having the power and resources to NOT allow encampments within this zone in the future. According to the Portland.gov website this is not going to happen.
states that the city must give 72 hours prior notice before removing a camp.
Besides the 72 hour notice, the city must have adequate personnel to go to the encampments and post removal notices. This could add 1 day to a week to the removal process. My understanding is that this could take up to 10 days. And once an encampment is removed, there is little negative consequence to another camper immediately moving in.
Unless the city changes zoning rules that allow immediate removal of unathorized encampments within the Engagement Zone, the NW 16th corridor is going become even more crowded with tent cities.
Happy to see at least one representative displaying some common sense and backbone in trying to stand up for the actual neighborhood. The mayor is actively backing off enforcement of law & order of any kind and frankly, seems completely incompetent and dangerously negligent. He has no plans to enforce a camping ban, which was supposedly the whole point of this hare-brained shelter plan. This shelter in its current form must be stopped and it would be very wise of the other district 4 reps to stand up as well and assist in halting this or their tenures are going to be very short.
It's a good start Eric Zimmerman - BUT NOT ENOUGH!!! What happens at one thousand, one hundred feet? or two hundred feet? That is MY HOME! My children, my neighbors, etc. I appreciate you calling Wilson to task. And - THIS IS NOT ENOUGH! Outreach workers? Sure. In the company of police if said camper just doesn't feel like it today.....
I’m not sure if Zimmerman has ambitions for a mayoral seat but if he does, I wouldn’t just vote for him but actively campaign for him, which would be a first. As far as I’m concerned his blunt yet common sense approach has given me the most optimism out of what I otherwise view to have been unexpectedly disappointing behavior from these elected officials.
I've made voting mistakes before (Mike Schmidt in his first run for County DA for example) but I'm proud to say that Keith Wilson's recent actions and behavior have confirmed why I voted for Rene Gonzalez for Mayor last year.
For those of who drive down Thurman on a regular basis, it is always an adventure to see if the city is anxious about the council and mayor's response to public camping. As the mayor was getting ready to announce the new shelter in the Pearl, whoosh! the camp under the off ramps was cleaned up. Then, once the announcement was made a week later it was back. Then yesterday, when the noise was ramping up again and the mayor was feeling some pressure, it was empty. This constant ping pong clearance of that area is a great litmus test of the city's actual commitment to clean, safe, livable spaces. And it is important to note, that constantly moving people and disrupting their lives makes it less likely that outreach groups can have any effect on providing the services they need. And if resources are strained, how can the city afford to keep playing this game?
Zimmerman, Green, and Clarke--the election is only about 15 months away.
Mayor Wilson's unwillingness to get tough with illegal campers is reminiscent of the failed approaches employed by his two predecessors. Portland voters got fooled once again with a mayoral candidate claiming to resolve this issue once and for all. Fooled once, shame on you. Fooled twice, shame on me. Fooled thrice, shame on Portland voters in general.
Had there been a credible opponent who would have taken a more “tough love” approach, including arrests for those who were unwilling to undergo treatment or seek job training, Wilson likely would have lost. But Portland voters time and again seem enamored of liberal candidates who set unrealistic goals and fail miserably in basic governance. LA, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland are all examples of this ongoing trend. It is no wonder that these cities are piñatas for Trump and his authoritarian sycophants. If only Portland would elect practical centrists for a change!
Rene Gonzalez was the credible candidate for a commonsense, tough-love approach to defending everyday citizens from the drug addicts and the homeless, and standing up to the Homeless Industrial Complex. But between ranked choice voting and the Portland electorate's persistent gullibility, KW became our Mayor. I trust that Keith Wilson's revealing of his true colors will dissuade rational, moderate voters from making that mistake again.
Good for Eric Zimmerman. It's fine for Mayor Wilson says he wants to "do it with outreach workers" (without specifying what "it" is), but if that doesn't work, what is Plan B? Also agree with Councilor Zimmerman that clearing of tents in the area- including under the 405 overpass- should go hand and hand with the opening of the proposed shelter.
I think you’d need a plan A to have a plan B - the mayor has no real plans, only feel good platitudes and an amazing capacity to ignore his constituents.
On Tuesday August 13th at the City Council meeting on Homelessness & Housing, Wilson stated "I'm not a law and order guy." Unfortunately that's what our Central City desperately needs, law and order. Wilson misses the mark. Wilson doesn't have the resources now, nor will he have the resources after these shelters open. And our Central City, NW/Pearl communities will continue to deteriorate.
Good to see one District 4 councilor, Zimmerman, challenge Wilson... hopefully he'll keep at it.
There is no additional security provided for the Moore St. shelter. We've been told time and time again it's an "enhanced enforcement zone" (specifically from the mayor himself- when he personally called my husband back in Jan- when we were livid, to find out on the NEWS that they were opening a shelter across from our home!) and Wilson flat out lied. There is NO enhanced security whatsoever. We've been told to call 911 if we fear for our safety- that's IT. To have NO onsite security for the shelter is truly mind blowing considering it's a low barrier shelter. I've suggested a 24/7 security officer walking around the perimeter to monitor things to which the city responded with "We've found they aren't helpful bc they can't do anything, they have to call police for help." I totally disagree! Having security onsite, monitoring what's going on can deter negative behavior. Next, the security officers should have a direct line of communication for escalated police response. It's only a matter of time before a incident happens like the one not long ago at a Salem shelter (a shelter guest stabbed five ppl).
Completely agree! outside the shelters at 6:00 am onwards is going to be a dealer's paradise, and the shelter user's universe to what they wish. Including the necessities: bathroom, food, garbage.
The issue is not just removing encampments within 1000 feet if the Northrup Shelter. It is having the power and resources to NOT allow encampments within this zone in the future. According to the Portland.gov website this is not going to happen.
https://www.portland.gov/homelessness-impact-reduction/campremovalpolicy?utm,
states that the city must give 72 hours prior notice before removing a camp.
Besides the 72 hour notice, the city must have adequate personnel to go to the encampments and post removal notices. This could add 1 day to a week to the removal process. My understanding is that this could take up to 10 days. And once an encampment is removed, there is little negative consequence to another camper immediately moving in.
Unless the city changes zoning rules that allow immediate removal of unathorized encampments within the Engagement Zone, the NW 16th corridor is going become even more crowded with tent cities.
Happy to see at least one representative displaying some common sense and backbone in trying to stand up for the actual neighborhood. The mayor is actively backing off enforcement of law & order of any kind and frankly, seems completely incompetent and dangerously negligent. He has no plans to enforce a camping ban, which was supposedly the whole point of this hare-brained shelter plan. This shelter in its current form must be stopped and it would be very wise of the other district 4 reps to stand up as well and assist in halting this or their tenures are going to be very short.
It's a good start Eric Zimmerman - BUT NOT ENOUGH!!! What happens at one thousand, one hundred feet? or two hundred feet? That is MY HOME! My children, my neighbors, etc. I appreciate you calling Wilson to task. And - THIS IS NOT ENOUGH! Outreach workers? Sure. In the company of police if said camper just doesn't feel like it today.....
I’m not sure if Zimmerman has ambitions for a mayoral seat but if he does, I wouldn’t just vote for him but actively campaign for him, which would be a first. As far as I’m concerned his blunt yet common sense approach has given me the most optimism out of what I otherwise view to have been unexpectedly disappointing behavior from these elected officials.
I've made voting mistakes before (Mike Schmidt in his first run for County DA for example) but I'm proud to say that Keith Wilson's recent actions and behavior have confirmed why I voted for Rene Gonzalez for Mayor last year.
For those of who drive down Thurman on a regular basis, it is always an adventure to see if the city is anxious about the council and mayor's response to public camping. As the mayor was getting ready to announce the new shelter in the Pearl, whoosh! the camp under the off ramps was cleaned up. Then, once the announcement was made a week later it was back. Then yesterday, when the noise was ramping up again and the mayor was feeling some pressure, it was empty. This constant ping pong clearance of that area is a great litmus test of the city's actual commitment to clean, safe, livable spaces. And it is important to note, that constantly moving people and disrupting their lives makes it less likely that outreach groups can have any effect on providing the services they need. And if resources are strained, how can the city afford to keep playing this game?
Zimmerman, Green, and Clarke--the election is only about 15 months away.
Mayor Wilson's unwillingness to get tough with illegal campers is reminiscent of the failed approaches employed by his two predecessors. Portland voters got fooled once again with a mayoral candidate claiming to resolve this issue once and for all. Fooled once, shame on you. Fooled twice, shame on me. Fooled thrice, shame on Portland voters in general.
I'm guilty of voting for Wilson and was duped by his plan to attack homelessness and now regret my vote!
Had there been a credible opponent who would have taken a more “tough love” approach, including arrests for those who were unwilling to undergo treatment or seek job training, Wilson likely would have lost. But Portland voters time and again seem enamored of liberal candidates who set unrealistic goals and fail miserably in basic governance. LA, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland are all examples of this ongoing trend. It is no wonder that these cities are piñatas for Trump and his authoritarian sycophants. If only Portland would elect practical centrists for a change!
Rene Gonzalez was the credible candidate for a commonsense, tough-love approach to defending everyday citizens from the drug addicts and the homeless, and standing up to the Homeless Industrial Complex. But between ranked choice voting and the Portland electorate's persistent gullibility, KW became our Mayor. I trust that Keith Wilson's revealing of his true colors will dissuade rational, moderate voters from making that mistake again.
Welp, the encampments have been removed as of my walk down to LAF on 8/30/25.