Everyone knows things are bad in Portland.
We don’t go into town anymore and neither do our friends. Portland, a former jewel of a town, is now just a place to get through on the way to the airport, or someplace you absolutely must go. Homeless camps and filth in every nook and cranny. Graffiti mars buildings and walls and anything that doesn’t move. The city is famous for the number of car thefts, street side chop shops, brazen derelicts in the streets and parks, and shootings and violence on the rise. My son had his catalytic converter stolen while the car was parked in his business’ parking lot in broad daylight. The cost to replace it was about a third the value of the car. Now he has a steel plate welded and bolted to the bottom of the car to prevent further thefts.
People are escaping. My daughter and her husband left their Portland hospital jobs a few months ago and have settled in Alaska. They were not the first to leave their departments due to a decrease in the quality of life here. Has anyone thought about the decline in the quality of medical care here as skilled personnel continue to leave the state?
Portlanders may not like what they see, but they vote for the same types of politicians over and over again. Until the public goes beyond just feeling bad about the way things are and starts getting a brain and backbone and do what it takes to turn things around, the city will only get worse. Hint: Chaos and indulging in feelings is easy. Establishing structure and rational thinking is HARD!
Study: Frustration reaching all-time high among Portland voters
PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – A recent study among Portland voters has revealed pessimism and frustration is reaching all-time highs.
The study was conducted by consulting group DHM Research and released Monday by the Portland Business Alliance. The study to weigh voter approval, or lack thereof, in the City of Portland is conducted on a yearly basis.
Results released found 88 percent of Portland voters feeling the quality of life is getting worse in the city. This is a significant rise from the 49 percent who reported feeling the same way in 2017.
Additionally, 81 percent of voters feel the City Council is “ineffective when it comes to providing public services.”
Additionally, 81 percent of voters feel the City Council is “ineffective when it comes to providing public services.”
According to the released report, voters participating in the survey also showed an overwhelming support (90 percent) for officers to begin wearing body cameras, while 83 percent support funding to hire and train new police officers.
Other numbers:
• 62 percent of voters feel the city is heading in the wrong direction.
• 66 percent of voters reported a lack of trust in local officials.
• 56 percent of voters support a switch to a unified city government.
• 70 percent of voters in favor of district elections.
"We have been conducting annual voter sentiment in the region for years, and never have we seen such unequivocal alignment in the priorities that our community is asking elected officials to execute,” said President and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance Andrew Hoan.
For an entire breakdown of the report, visit the Portland Business Alliance website.
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