Life in Portland, the city that does not work

My life of late has been consumed by two Portland problems: the homeless and unbridled growth.  Unbridled growth is destroying us.  Our city is overwhelmed. And our elected officials are doing squat.

In the words of  Tom McCall:  " We must respect another truism - that unlimited and unregulated growth, leads inexorably to a lowered quality of life.”

This is a shit bucket provided to the homeless in the park and emptied for them.  They haven't emptied it yet...  I think it pretty well sums up life in Portland these days.

Today is the day of the big Springwater Trail homeless camp sweep.  It's been in the works for at least six weeks and was postponed once.  The news reports that of the more than 500 people camped there, they have relocated 60, including a dozen they put on the bus to somewhere else.  And now they are going to force them off the trail into the neighborhoods.  They have been told to camp in small groups on public property  but not in parks and some other rules that not even I can follow.   They are angry.  Broken down vehicles that people live out of have become the norm on Portland streets.

I get a daily Google News alert on the topic "Portland Homeless".  Here are some of the links from the past few days.

Open Wapato jail to the homeless, says Commissioner Loretta Smith

Fire breaks out at homeless camp near Hawthorne Bridge

Police: Man tired of homeless campers throws bomb under RV

Lents neighbors wrestle with homelessness issues

Harbor businesses to challenge Terminal 1 homeless shelter

'Lents' year from hell:' Neighbors protest new homeless camp

Homeless on the Springwater Trail prepare to leave

Walking in the neighborhood

These people seem to have folks living in their yard.  It's been going on a LONG time....

It isn't this house.  I just like this house.  Things are all jumbled together in Portland, though.  Homeless.  Nice houses.  Etc.

I like these art deco chairs.

Community garden

Homeless car campers

Homeless campers along the edge of the park.

It hasn't gotten better...

"Mike Jenkins, also known as Pork Chop, said he moved to the Laurelhurst Park area from the Springwater Corridor. He said many others will make the same move when the corridor is swept by the city...“They’re coming,” Jenkins said. “Down here in Laurelhurst Park. Put ’em on Hawthorne. I’m gonna put ’em on Belmont, I’m gonna put ’em right in front of shopping centers.”"



Laurelhurst Park camping

And a quote from Nextdoor:

"Is this basically him saying 'If you won't let us utterly destroy a protected natural area, I'm going to make sure we shove ourselves in your face as much as possible.'?

That's the same entitled mentality of the people on SE Hawthorne who painted a sign saying that people had better start giving them moe money when they pass or they're going to be forced to continue breaking into houses to steal. JUST because you don't have a fixed address, that doesn't mean that 1) I owe you ANYTHING, 2) You can threaten me with "Let me continue my criminal behavior or else!''

And another quote:

"This used to be something that I saw more frequently at Col Summers Park last year and the year before-, but I think it was more if we, as neighbors called in. It wasn't proactive, but reactive. To be honest, I don't think police will even come unless there is a direct threat of violence or a weapon involved."

More of how it is here:

Daycare wagon stolen and found on Springwater Trail

Homeless campers build tunnel along river destroying trees

The horror of living in Lents

Springwater sweep postponed

Just a livability issue

Yesterday someone posted this photo of the homeless sleeping in the park playground.  She said:

"My toddler and I arrived at laurelhurst park this morning at 8 am. Up since five and ready to play. Instead of sliding and swinging kids we were greeted by a group of homeless people and dogs sleeping under the playground. I am so sick of this!

I let a park ranger know and it took them about forty minutes to pack up and then he had to once again to tell them to leave as they just hung out.  Now smells like booze and pee here.  Please rain."

Homeless in the park

These are the homeless sleeping and hanging out in the park nearby today....

Walking in the park

One of my favorite things about where we live is all the places we can walk and that the walks are very pleasant.    We run most of our errands on foot.  It's amazing what we can walk to in a mile or so.  In a mile and a half, the world is our oyster.  Many of our destinations take us through Laurelhurst Park.  It's a wonderful park with lots going on.  Today there were dog walkers,  runners, picnickers, sun bathers, hula hoop practicing and that is just the things I remember.

Our errand today was buying coffee at Stumptown.  It was John's second errand walk.  He went to the library and the grocery store earlier in the day.

I think this is my favorite azalea because it smells so good.  It gets too large for our yard though.

We had quite a rain the night before and there was some flooding in the park.

This little guy was fascinated by the ducks.

Today's walk through the park

A little out of focus but looking so happy...

Witch hazel and cherries blooming and smelling good,

Daily Walk

It was beautiful when we went for a walk today.

These were taken in the park.

And these were not.

Laurelhurst Park trees

I think they are enchanted.

Spring in the neighborhood

Magnolias and currants in the park...

At home ...

Omphaloides

flowering currant