12 Comments
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Louisa McCleary's avatar

This kind of thing has got to stop. We need cops and mental health experts patrolling, and a change in the law that will allow perpetrators of actual physical assaults to be held or placed for mandated treatment, and supervised, inexpensive housing where people can live, no camping allowed. A fantasy in this city, I suppose. The Mayor's plan for overnight shelter will do nothing to address the drug use and untreated mental illness that is driving the decline of our city. No wonder businesses continue to leave, and ordinary people left to cope with theft, assaults, trash, needles, and the consequences of people using the streets as their restroom.

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mechanic's avatar

And this community is going to be safe from low barrier shelters - how?

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KS's avatar

These incidents should be forwarded to our district 4 council reps. Olivia Clark, Mitch Green, and Eric Zimmerman. They need to be aware of the public safety crisis in our neighborhood.

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JW's avatar

I have done so, and received zero response. They do not care - I’d sign a recall for all three.

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Cathleen Callahan's avatar

Those of us heard from the police commander at the town hall that there are bicycle patrols out. I have not seen them, nor has anybody else I talked to. Rather than smoke and BS , we need police patrols in The Pearl.

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Paul Douglas's avatar

That would mean adequately funding the police and the DSA cabal (Mitch, Candace, Sameer, Tiffany and Angelita) will never stand for that. You’re absolutely right, we need police to enforce the law and a legal culture that has actual penalties for scofflaws and the interests of crime victims at the front and center.

But this is Portlandia so don’t hold your breath.

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JW's avatar

What is going to take to get some ongoing, noticeable police presence Pearl? I never see police cars around.

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JM Johnson's avatar

And there were two assaults on 21st and 23rd during the late afternoon/early evening on the 4th. This information is from the 911 calls so presumably they will be included in the official statistics.

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Thomas Dodson's avatar

Arrest and prosecute and if severe mental illness is driving their behavior then civil commitment in local hospitals for a max of six weeks. We need practical local civil commitment laws passed by the state and more jail space apparently. No housing unless they comply with treatment and abstinence.

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nwpdxsupporter's avatar

Wow shocking? What is it going to take for these things to be taken seriously? Someone getting seriously hurt (nope - Guy sucker punches random women in the face and gets released TWICE). I'm afraid it is going to take someone losing their life for action to take place. How sad is that????

Also has anyone been downtown lately? Its like a zombie apocalypse. It is actually crazy to see the hords of drugged out people.

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Thomas Dodson's avatar

It is horrible downtown, people injecting drugs in bus stops, huffing drugs in groups, people yelling aggressively obstructing traffic, and wailing in the rain on sidewalks. They are rotting with their right to refuse help and need hospital care. Kids are witnessing people dead from overdoses or exposure. Evil people assaulting others with cold blooded intention.

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Paul Wittig's avatar

When is the last time anyone saw a police officer walking a beat?

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