Portland copes by child-proofing
Part of public realm is off limits for intended purpose
We’ve been “child-proofing” our city for quite a few years, and it doesn’t look like our subjects will grow out of it. I don’t mean literal child-proofing, in which breakable or dangerous objects are moved to higher shelves until the toddler in the midst learns the meaning of no.
I refer to the measures we must take to protect people and property from vandalism, crime, trash and unspeakable bad behavior in the public realm. We’ve been making special accommodations so long we may assume libraries must be day centers for the dispossessed, benches must be removed from parks lest they be taken over by bands of scary people and public restrooms must be barricaded or be trashed beyond recognition.
Stadium Fred Meyer built an appealing mezzanine overlooking West Burnside Street, but it has been closed to the public for years after some treated it like their living room requiring full-time monitoring by staff.
Families tolerate ungovernable tendencies in their young for a time, but the goal is always inculcated independent, responsible behavior. Portland has deemed a significant sector of the population beyond any accountability, while the rest of us are on our own to limit the harm as best we can. Have we become too accustomed to accepting too much disorder?
As more than one parent has said from time to time, “That’s why we can’t have a nice house.”
It’s really challenging for me as someone with health issues to find a bathroom when I’m out and about because of this child proofing and at times it’s maddening. When I go to the burbs there’s no locks on any bathrooms and it’s so refreshing.
There’s also more and more items at stores locked behind glass. Plaid Pantry’s no longer let people in at night and just have a little window to sell products (I don’t blame them). Bottle drops for green bags had to change their deposit windows because homeless people were getting stuck between the bars trying to get cans. At Fred Meyer you have to show your receipt to security to leave the store. Safeway has installed one way gates. Trimet bus drivers are behind protected glass.
And somehow it’s been normalized. It’s not normal. And the loud minority claims “it’s like this everywhere.” It’s not. Just go to any neighboring city.
Another example is when a disabled person in a wheelchair is told by a TriMet bus driver they cannot board because the priority seating area is occupied by a homeless person and their belongings. I understand that homeless individuals also need transportation, but what I do not understand is how the city has allowed such a small number of people to create so much disruption and disorder. A cynic might conclude that it is by design. I realist might conclude it's just incompetence.