In addition to the resurrected fences, huge boulders have now been installed in various areas. Yet just yesterday, I reported a tent at NW Raleigh & NW 16th to 311, the shelter, and PDNA. It was set up on the sidewalk outside the fence.
As I understand it, the City of Portland remains responsible for all streets and sidewalks under the 405, and the Northrop Shelter is also responsible within the 1,000-foot area surrounding their facility.
To our NW neighbors to the west: please stay diligent and REPORT, REPORT, REPORT. The Pearl has been relentless about this, and yes—it’s tiring, but it’s the only way to stay on top of our parks, streets, and sidewalks while addressing our community livability!
Now- can city / county / state provide aka fund the necessary drug treatment and mental health treatment needed to address the epidemic? Along with enforced no camping no drug use?
We ALL know what is needed. No secret. Let's stop fkng around!!
This comment, right here! 100%. So tired of hearing about this 1000 ft “engagement zone.” For one thing, that zone is absolutely not being addressed and neighborhood volunteers and our resident funded security/outreach STILL do the city’s heavy lifting in that area, out of necessity. Second, the city is responsible for safety and sanitation in the whole of Portland ALL THE TIME. This idea that drug addicts can’t and won’t just walk 200 more feet and plant themselves in one of the parks to do drugs all day is typical braindead Portland government logic, if one wants to call it that.
People in the neighborhood need to start including shelter community communications manager Rob Layne in their letters to the city - according to him, he’s surprised to hear there are problems, since his shelter teams do a great job (as recently stated on KGW’s The Story).
Since the shelter opening I have noticed increased camping (again) on NW Johnson between 17th and 22nd. It's basically whack a mole. I dread what will happen by December.
Kudos to Eric Zimmerman for addressing this issue. I hope one of his next targets is to have the state address both sides of the Vaughn on-ramp onto 405, which has been as much of a mess lately as ever. Though It’s unclear if the right side of the closed section of Vaughn St) is state or city property.
The fences to me telegraph that the city has lost control of maintaining beauty in the public space. To me camping illegally in the city is a criminal justice problem and if people don't conform their conduct to the law they should spend the night in jail, or maybe two nights. Some people are unable to obey the law in part because of severe mental illness and should get civilly committed after their jail time, to get them cleaned up, detoxed, and perhaps medicated. Many of the severely mentally ill or drug addicted can't tolerate, or be tolerated, in a shelter environment and this can create unsafe conditions in them. Still, I am glad in way that Zimmerman is doing something, even though it is a way of avoiding the fundamental problem.
I too have been frustrated by campsites and garbage under the freeway. Was reporting them using PDX Reporter until the reporting zones became off- limits even before shelter opening. I tried calling DOT and left a message. I'd prefer to have a name and telephone number and would call daily to insist on accountability.
I agree with Zimmerman: "We cannot backslide here."
Thank you to councilman Zimmerman he hears us!
In addition to the resurrected fences, huge boulders have now been installed in various areas. Yet just yesterday, I reported a tent at NW Raleigh & NW 16th to 311, the shelter, and PDNA. It was set up on the sidewalk outside the fence.
As I understand it, the City of Portland remains responsible for all streets and sidewalks under the 405, and the Northrop Shelter is also responsible within the 1,000-foot area surrounding their facility.
To our NW neighbors to the west: please stay diligent and REPORT, REPORT, REPORT. The Pearl has been relentless about this, and yes—it’s tiring, but it’s the only way to stay on top of our parks, streets, and sidewalks while addressing our community livability!
Good on you councilman Z.
Now- can city / county / state provide aka fund the necessary drug treatment and mental health treatment needed to address the epidemic? Along with enforced no camping no drug use?
We ALL know what is needed. No secret. Let's stop fkng around!!
This comment, right here! 100%. So tired of hearing about this 1000 ft “engagement zone.” For one thing, that zone is absolutely not being addressed and neighborhood volunteers and our resident funded security/outreach STILL do the city’s heavy lifting in that area, out of necessity. Second, the city is responsible for safety and sanitation in the whole of Portland ALL THE TIME. This idea that drug addicts can’t and won’t just walk 200 more feet and plant themselves in one of the parks to do drugs all day is typical braindead Portland government logic, if one wants to call it that.
People in the neighborhood need to start including shelter community communications manager Rob Layne in their letters to the city - according to him, he’s surprised to hear there are problems, since his shelter teams do a great job (as recently stated on KGW’s The Story).
Can you share Rob Layne's contact info?
Rob.Layne@portlandoregon.gov
Since the shelter opening I have noticed increased camping (again) on NW Johnson between 17th and 22nd. It's basically whack a mole. I dread what will happen by December.
Kudos to Eric Zimmerman for addressing this issue. I hope one of his next targets is to have the state address both sides of the Vaughn on-ramp onto 405, which has been as much of a mess lately as ever. Though It’s unclear if the right side of the closed section of Vaughn St) is state or city property.
The fences to me telegraph that the city has lost control of maintaining beauty in the public space. To me camping illegally in the city is a criminal justice problem and if people don't conform their conduct to the law they should spend the night in jail, or maybe two nights. Some people are unable to obey the law in part because of severe mental illness and should get civilly committed after their jail time, to get them cleaned up, detoxed, and perhaps medicated. Many of the severely mentally ill or drug addicted can't tolerate, or be tolerated, in a shelter environment and this can create unsafe conditions in them. Still, I am glad in way that Zimmerman is doing something, even though it is a way of avoiding the fundamental problem.
I too have been frustrated by campsites and garbage under the freeway. Was reporting them using PDX Reporter until the reporting zones became off- limits even before shelter opening. I tried calling DOT and left a message. I'd prefer to have a name and telephone number and would call daily to insist on accountability.
I agree with Zimmerman: "We cannot backslide here."