pacergal
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
The YouTube videos I've seen from downtown Portland are scary. Along with the homeless, shoplifters who don't make any attempt to hide their thefts are a daily occurrence. I read an article where a shopkeeper said one of the shoplifters with arms full of merch, said "I'll see you tomorrow" on the way out the door. Merchants have just closed shop...as their hands are somewhat tied.
Portland is not as bad as TV makes it out to be. We go downtown for dinner sometimes. Would I go down late at night and just walk around? No. But I wouldn't anywhere else either.
Yes, there are homeless, yes there are thefts. But those in charge are working on it.
I've been to Sacramento and Seattle recently. They have the same problems. See homeless camps, panhandlers, etc.
Covid and the work from home issues exacerbated the problems, as the core workers disappeared, along with shoppers. And the decision to not sweep camps and force homeless into shelters at night allowed the problem to grow.
I am starting to see changes, which is good. Portland is a beautiful city.