Mr. Classan’s diagnosis is spot on. What he did not say — and needs to be said for those who have forgotten — is that the City, County, and State as well as private enterprises poured billions of dollars into building the infrastructure, buildings, and amenities that now comprise the Pearl District. And to casually flush these investments down the drain in the interest of providing a homeless shelter for a small number of individuals, which is opposed by the vast majority of local residents and businesses for good reason, is simply poor governmental policy.
Excellent points. There’s at least one I’d disagree with. Mayor Wilson clearly demonstrates a lack of respect for his constituents. Hiding details about this shelter and not even sharing about his plan initially with us does not show respect. He has refused to show up to neighborhood meetings to hear and discuss our concerns, instead fast-tracking his destructive plan with absolutely no concern for our neighborhoods and residents. He has betrayed us, demonstrating a lack of leadership ability and respect.
Completely agree - everyone keeps stating that this mayor is respectful and well intentioned. His actions support neither of those to be true and have in fact pointed strongly to the opposite being the case (he also outright lied about the length of the building lease, he provided a purposefully bogus/bias study on shelter crime impacts to the media and concerned residents as a way to try to “shut us up”- is he a pathological liar?) Let’s call a spade a spade.
Also I disagree that some of the effects of this (dropping property values, etc.) have been invisible. The devaluing of our downtown/NW area (and most other quadrants as well - what part of the city hasn’t the impact of rampant drug use and homelessness touched now) has been very apparent for some years, but our entire government refuses to open their eyes and do what actually needs to be done. Enough voters have apparently been happy sticking their head in the sand as well - it’s time for everyone to wake up.
For reasons that continue to escape me, Portland voters repeatedly have elected City and County leaders that place far more emphasis on the interests and concerns of small segments of the population than on maintaining and enhancing the economic vitality and perceived public safety of the overall city. Portland’s economy has been steered into the dumpster through more than a decade of bad policy decisions by City and County officials on adequate funding and moral support for law enforcement, trash and graffiti cleanup, and other livability areas, all of which have resulted in the closure of countless businesses, relocation of major employers to Clackamas, Washington and Clark counties, and the decision by thousands of residents (including my wife and me) to move out of the city.
Very good editorial setting out very clearly the problem Portland has with the homeless. Mayor Wilson has good intentions, but he is learning on the job, so it may take him a while to realise that you are right - just providing overnight shelter is not enough.
This just came out and is worth your time to read. Now more than ever, unity and strength in numbers matter. Please attend the Monday community meeting:
📍 Portland Armory – Center Stage
🗓 Monday, July 28th
🕠 Doors Open at 5:00pm | Program Begins at 5:30pm
Our neighborhoods, our residents & business owners — and yes, even those in crisis — deserve better. Let’s show up and be heard.
totally agree with this - except - as others note befor me - Mayor Wilson is absent from public meetings. How does this indicate respect? Does he expect strong confrontation? LISTENING and ACTING is his job! Not as a dicatator, but as a HIRED representative. Had the Mayor been present to listen from the beginning of this process, the boiling point in this community would be so much less. Mayor Wilson - the niegborhood wants you to succeed! We want this issue to be solved. AND - we are the citizens with the lived experience, the energy, and the deepest desire to HELP YOU. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I just walked down Couch into the Pearl, and photographed the destruction, disaster that is my city today. Called 311 about a dump site left from campers. The response? "We'll try." WTF! Another call to ODOT regarding campsites/ garbage / drugs/ etc. Response? An email SURVEY to understand my feeling of the online reporting process. Portland is not serious about solving any of this, I fear.
This is the one executive order that I 100 percent support that our hideous Trump administration has signed. Might just be talking points or maybe something positive will happen. Why doesn’t our own governor and mayor see the obvious, wake up. We critically need long term psychiatric and rehab facilities along with step down group housing outside the city with mental and medical health services. There’s 2.6 billion in the budget, come on they are giving buildings away.
Mr. Classan’s diagnosis is spot on. What he did not say — and needs to be said for those who have forgotten — is that the City, County, and State as well as private enterprises poured billions of dollars into building the infrastructure, buildings, and amenities that now comprise the Pearl District. And to casually flush these investments down the drain in the interest of providing a homeless shelter for a small number of individuals, which is opposed by the vast majority of local residents and businesses for good reason, is simply poor governmental policy.
Excellent points. There’s at least one I’d disagree with. Mayor Wilson clearly demonstrates a lack of respect for his constituents. Hiding details about this shelter and not even sharing about his plan initially with us does not show respect. He has refused to show up to neighborhood meetings to hear and discuss our concerns, instead fast-tracking his destructive plan with absolutely no concern for our neighborhoods and residents. He has betrayed us, demonstrating a lack of leadership ability and respect.
Completely agree - everyone keeps stating that this mayor is respectful and well intentioned. His actions support neither of those to be true and have in fact pointed strongly to the opposite being the case (he also outright lied about the length of the building lease, he provided a purposefully bogus/bias study on shelter crime impacts to the media and concerned residents as a way to try to “shut us up”- is he a pathological liar?) Let’s call a spade a spade.
Also I disagree that some of the effects of this (dropping property values, etc.) have been invisible. The devaluing of our downtown/NW area (and most other quadrants as well - what part of the city hasn’t the impact of rampant drug use and homelessness touched now) has been very apparent for some years, but our entire government refuses to open their eyes and do what actually needs to be done. Enough voters have apparently been happy sticking their head in the sand as well - it’s time for everyone to wake up.
For reasons that continue to escape me, Portland voters repeatedly have elected City and County leaders that place far more emphasis on the interests and concerns of small segments of the population than on maintaining and enhancing the economic vitality and perceived public safety of the overall city. Portland’s economy has been steered into the dumpster through more than a decade of bad policy decisions by City and County officials on adequate funding and moral support for law enforcement, trash and graffiti cleanup, and other livability areas, all of which have resulted in the closure of countless businesses, relocation of major employers to Clackamas, Washington and Clark counties, and the decision by thousands of residents (including my wife and me) to move out of the city.
Very good editorial setting out very clearly the problem Portland has with the homeless. Mayor Wilson has good intentions, but he is learning on the job, so it may take him a while to realise that you are right - just providing overnight shelter is not enough.
This just came out and is worth your time to read. Now more than ever, unity and strength in numbers matter. Please attend the Monday community meeting:
📍 Portland Armory – Center Stage
🗓 Monday, July 28th
🕠 Doors Open at 5:00pm | Program Begins at 5:30pm
Our neighborhoods, our residents & business owners — and yes, even those in crisis — deserve better. Let’s show up and be heard.
totally agree with this - except - as others note befor me - Mayor Wilson is absent from public meetings. How does this indicate respect? Does he expect strong confrontation? LISTENING and ACTING is his job! Not as a dicatator, but as a HIRED representative. Had the Mayor been present to listen from the beginning of this process, the boiling point in this community would be so much less. Mayor Wilson - the niegborhood wants you to succeed! We want this issue to be solved. AND - we are the citizens with the lived experience, the energy, and the deepest desire to HELP YOU. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I just walked down Couch into the Pearl, and photographed the destruction, disaster that is my city today. Called 311 about a dump site left from campers. The response? "We'll try." WTF! Another call to ODOT regarding campsites/ garbage / drugs/ etc. Response? An email SURVEY to understand my feeling of the online reporting process. Portland is not serious about solving any of this, I fear.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ending-crime-and-disorder-on-americas-streets/
This is the one executive order that I 100 percent support that our hideous Trump administration has signed. Might just be talking points or maybe something positive will happen. Why doesn’t our own governor and mayor see the obvious, wake up. We critically need long term psychiatric and rehab facilities along with step down group housing outside the city with mental and medical health services. There’s 2.6 billion in the budget, come on they are giving buildings away.