Last year Portland Oregon voted to Defund their Police,,,,,

Quote:Portland City Council defunds police bureau by $15 million
The Portland City Council has passed the 2020-21 budget 3-1, after failing to pass it last week. Included in the budget are plans to cut at least $15 million from the police bureau, eliminating 84 positions.

And 

Quote:On Wednesday, Eudaly voted no again, and said her primary concern a week earlier had been that Portland was not reducing the overall number of police officers. She had proposed cutting many more positions within the police bureau.
Defund the Police

Okay, Now Portland Oregon has a problem and they are Whining about it.

Quote:Portland, Ore., Can’t Find Police for Unit to Fight Rising Murder Rate

 Gee, Stupid, I wonder Why!!??
Isn't Portland the Democrat City of Utopia and Love and Nonviolence??

Quote:Leaders in Portland, Ore., are looking to combat the city’s rising homicide rate by resurrecting a police unit focused on gun violence. But after a year of growing tension within the department, they can’t find enough officers to join.

Really, Why????

Quote:“They’re demonizing and vilifying you, and then they want to put you in a unit where you’re under an even bigger microscope,” said Daryl Turner, head of the union that represents Portland’s officers.
Portland SUCKS

What did they expect? My lord, only a dumb airhead wouldn't know where this would go. Serves them right, if you ask me. They made their bed, now they have to lie in it. Sorry if it's all lumpy and uncomfortable for you.  

(08-03-2021, 03:47 AM)Mystic Wanderer Wrote: What did they expect? My lord, only a dumb airhead wouldn't know where this would go. Serves them right, if you ask me. They made their bed, now they have to lie in it. Sorry if it's all lumpy and uncomfortable for you.  

Stupid can hurt you; it really can...

I'm sure if they protest and riot because of the crime rate. It will solve that for em too. 

Lol, like they didn't know the entire world was like "defunding police isn't a good idea." Morons.

When a person is in the 'Now Zone', it's very difficult to see the whole situation. For instance, the current politicised
flu-panic is practically over according to the media in the UK, but in Australia, the Coof seems to be a dangerous virus
that is waiting for anyone to step out of their home.

Two ends of the same spectrum and obviously two different narratives, but the cause and solution are supposed to be
the same. The overall social-qualities, geographical differences, political-control of the two countries are not taken into
account and they both are just seen through the lens of any current woes.

So when it comes to offering tourists the best sides of Portland Oregon, one might think the Latourell Falls of the Columbia
river or Washington Park would be what perspective visitors would ask about. However, being in that 'Now Zone' demands
any advertiser of Portland's potential as a holiday destination, to answer queries that reflect a very poor-light on the city
from those outside of it.

From TravelPortland.com, a website where in most places in the US, possible vacationers would be asking about attractions,
comprehensive amenities, nearby food outlets, good accommodation and other questions that could benefit a trip to Portland.

Quote:Safety in Portland: Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that visitors have questions about what’s going on in Portland; we have answers.
Updated July 30, 2021

Portland — like many cities — is currently confronting issues related to social justice, livability and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid it all, Portland is a safe place to visit. Read on for detailed answers surrounding safety, protests and visitor experience.
..............................................................

Is It Safe In Portland? Answers to Your Questions
Is Portland Oregon safe to visit?

Demonstrations associated with multiple movements and belief groups have occurred in Portland since May 2020.
While most of the demonstrations have been peaceful, national media have covered numerous instances of violence
that arose from the protests.

Portland saw protests against systemic racism and police brutality for over 100 days during the summer and fall of 2020.
Protests have significantly decreased following the election and with recent city efforts to address concerns directly.

What about the violence I saw on the news?

Most protests — and people at protests — are peaceful. Demonstrations in Portland have at times included clashes
between groups of opposing political ideologies, confrontations between protesters and local and federal police officers,
and one shooting.

The wanton destruction of property by a very small group does not represent the values of Portland.
The peaceful protests which seek to build unity while advocating for needed change best represent the character of Portland’s
residents and the city’s hopes for the future.

We do not condone violence or vandalism.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has proposed more tools for investigating protest-related violence and tougher penalties for people
caught engaging in violence and vandalism.

Remember, this is a page that is supposed to expound the virtues of Portland! Think a two-child family trip and instead worrying
if the kids will get quickly bored or the hotel isn't as nice as last year, you're wondering if you'll witness a burning building or one
of your children will be hit by a stray bullet!

The current circumstances of the city are so stained, that even those who are trying to lure visitors to the North-West State
are batting away questions of safety with the idea that you just roll the dice and take your chances!

Quote:What’s it like in downtown Portland right now? Is downtown Portland safe?

More activities and attractions in downtown Portland are opening every week.

Like many other metropolitan downtowns in the United States and worldwide, Portland’s current downtown closures are primarily
related to pandemic restrictions. Many offices are mandating remote work for employees, resulting in thousands of fewer people
downtown during business hours each day, which then in turn affects other small downtown restaurants and stores.

Protests are not a primary factor for downtown closures as most demonstrations have quelled and the protests making headlines
in 2020 mostly occurred in a small area of downtown late in the evening while nearly all businesses were closed.

Many downtown attractions, including the Portland Saturday Market, Portland Farmers Market at PSU, Oregon Historical Society
and Portland Art Museum are open and welcoming visitors.

Beyond protests, is violence on the rise in Portland? How dangerous is Portland?

Portland’s current violent crime rate remains below the average for violent crime in large U.S. cities.
That said, statistics show that gun violence in Portland is on the rise, mirroring similar trends in cities nationwide.
Police documented approximately 900 shootings in 2020, compared to 393 shootings in 2019. 2020 saw the highest number of
homicides in Portland since the early 1990s.

Portland’s increase in gun violence is concerning, which is why plans are in place to address it.
Most of the reported gun violence and homicides have occurred in neighborhoods away from hotels and business districts popular
with visitors.

In December 2020, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Police Chief Chuck Lovell and Office of Violence Prevention Director Nike Greene announced
first steps in a new plan to decrease shootings and homicides. The plan includes assigning more detectives to investigate and follow up
on shootings, as well as more outreach and hospital-based trauma responders.

The mayor also enlisted the Police Bureau and Office of Violence Prevention to submit budget requests that better reflect their needs to
respond to gun violence.

Why are there so many homeless people in Portland?

Homelessness is a national issue that is impacting Portland and many other cities.
Due to a lack of shelter available for those in need, our unsheltered population is often visible.
Please read Travel Portland’s Homelessness in Portland page for additional information about this issue, as well as more details on
proactive measures to address homelessness in the city.

How is Portland addressing police reform?

In June 2020, the Portland City Council approved a budget diverting $15 million from the police bureau to social services.
Nearly $5 million from the police bureau was redirected to Portland Street Response, a new program to dispatch unarmed first responders
to answer calls for people experiencing homelessness.

As of January 2021, Mayor Ted Wheeler — with support from the rest of the city council — has stressed police reform, affordable housing
and the vivacity of downtown to be the top priorities of his second term in office.

And fair enough, the Coof impacts any strata of human society and so the question has to be asked.

Quote:What COVID-19 restrictions are in place in Portland?

As of June 30, 2021 COVID restrictions have been lifted in Portland and the state of Oregon.
For more details, please visit Travel Portland’s Visiting Portland During the Pandemic and More COVID-19 Info & Resources pages.

A few years ago, the title -as another name for Portland, would've been Beirut!

(08-03-2021, 12:10 PM)BIAD Wrote:

Quote:Beyond protests, is violence on the rise in Portland? How dangerous is Portland?

Portland’s current violent crime rate remains below the average for violent crime in large U.S. cities.
That said, statistics show that gun violence in Portland is on the rise, mirroring similar trends in cities nationwide.
Police documented approximately 900 shootings in 2020, compared to 393 shootings in 2019. 2020 saw the highest number of
homicides in Portland since the early 1990s.

Plain English translation: "You are only about 3 times as likely to get shot in Portland today as compared to a year and a half ago."

Quote:Portland’s increase in gun violence is concerning, which is why plans are in place to address it.
Most of the reported gun violence and homicides have occurred in neighborhoods away from hotels and business districts popular
with visitors.

Hedge-word: "most".

Quote:In December 2020, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Police Chief Chuck Lovell and Office of Violence Prevention Director Nike Greene announced
first steps in a new plan to decrease shootings and homicides. The plan includes assigning more detectives to investigate and follow up
on shootings, as well as more outreach and hospital-based trauma responders.

Plain English translation: "Yes, you will get shot in Portland, but we are hiring more medical staff to plug any holes created in you by our mostly peaceful citizens, and more investigators to ask you questions AFTER you get shot".

Quote:The mayor also enlisted the Police Bureau and Office of Violence Prevention to submit budget requests that better reflect their needs to
respond to gun violence.

Plain English translation: "We don't care about ball-bat violence or bicycle chain lock violence, as those are perpetrated by our Antifa pets. We only care about gun violence, and will not be addressing any other types of violence perpetrated against you in Portland. We do not believe violence is the problem here, we believe guns are."

Quote:How is Portland addressing police reform?

In June 2020, the Portland City Council approved a budget diverting $15 million from the police bureau to social services.
Nearly $5 million from the police bureau was redirected to Portland Street Response, a new program to dispatch unarmed first responders
to answer calls for people experiencing homelessness.

As of January 2021, Mayor Ted Wheeler — with support from the rest of the city council — has stressed police reform, affordable housing
and the vivacity of downtown to be the top priorities of his second term in office.

Plain English translation: "We are addressing police reform by defunding the police to starve them out and cut their jobs, while reapplying that money to hire more social workers to hand out hypodermic needles to the homeless population".

This passage also begs the question of what is "affordable" housing to a homeless population with no income beyond panhandling just enough to buy their next bottle or crack rock?

Quote:A few years ago, the title -as another name for Portland, would've been Beirut!

Beirut was a tad less dangerous than Portland. In Beirut, you could potentially cross the street unscathed if you could run and zig-zag fast enough. In Portland, that avenue of approach is blocked by the mobs of "mostly peaceful" protesters. Don't worry, though - those mobs will not shoot you, they will instead thrash you with sticks and metal objects. Gun violence bad, all other forms of violence good. It's just a matter of having visitors adjust their attitudes towards what is good violence versus what is bad violence perpetrated upon themselves...

... you see, it is not Portland, it is the bad attitudes of visitors to Portland! They just ain't got their minds right yet!


.

In the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, they get whatever they elect. 

This falls squarely on the voting citizens of Portland. There where other choices. Other candidates. Other ways to go. But, nope. 

It's amazing Portland (as well as other cities) has survived thus far. I guess the mayor and the rest of the bunch are as inept at destroying a community as they are at maintaining one. Sort of a purgatorial limbo. 

Enjoy, fine citizens of Portlandia.

I live in Washington State. We of course have Seattle which is almost on par with Portland. My sister and I went on a road trip which involved driving through Portland. It used to be such an incredibly beautiful city. We drove by miles of tent cities on side walks with garbage thrown all over pouring out into the streets. It was so depressing and potentially dangerous, we decided to avoid it on our way back up the coast. Seattle, which use to be wonderful is now pretty much the same. It seems their is plenty of fentynl and meth to go around.

To be fair, most of Oregon is not of the same ilk as the pathologically woke Portland area. I have a sneaking suspicion dark forces are conspiring to make "port" cities unlivable and are waiting to buy the land out when it does.

(08-04-2021, 01:29 PM)pointessa Wrote: ...To be fair, most of Oregon is not of the same ilk as the pathologically woke Portland area.
I have a sneaking suspicion dark forces are conspiring to make "port" cities unliveable and are waiting to buy the land out when it does.

I think you hit the nail on the head there, Pointessa. There's a lot of 'land-vulturing' going around!