Portland , Oregon was more than a pleasant city to visit or to call your home. It was a cultural attitude, layers of unwritten beliefs laid down by generations of citizens who reflected a sort of spiritual understanding of how civilized people should treat each other. Tolerance of human strangeness. Compassion for those in need. Respect for courageous strivers like those brave pioneers who blazed the Oregon trail.
As a native Oregonian I find the destruction of that place of civic mystique a terrible loss that cannot be allowed to continue. I have an idea that might work to heal this open wound. First, identify the elements that have created the problem: (1) Thuggish behavior of people who have infiltrated legitimate groups of protestors and vandalized buildings. (2) Encampments of people who have been labeled "homeless" and have trashed the city with their irresponsible squatting.
Citizens Protesting:The Constitution protects the rights of citizen to protest in the streets. It does not protect a right to vandalize and loot. Using legitimate protests as cover for vandalizing and looting must be made a federal crime with severe penalties. Hard time in federal prisons. In the event of protests public officials must give heavy publicity to the severe penalties for those offenses. Because of its connection to protected protesting, new federal legislation must be drafted to make this happen.
Public encampments: Squatters must be registered with civic authorities and classified as to their reason for not complying with municipal regulations. Welfare class citizens must be provided with public assisted shelter in an organized location. People with mental disabilities must be referred to appropriate authorities. Who pays for this? Portland Fund Me on line. Focus on Portland citizens as well as citizens all across America who will be told Portland's need, like Phoenix, to arise from the ashes of its predecessor.
Take down the freaking plywood. Rout the squatters. Let Stumptown live again.
