Rumor What's going on in Portland?

A private equity firm saved beloved Portland restaurants from bankruptcy. Then it stopped paying its bills

 

Almost 40 year veteran suburbanite here. I grew up in inner SEP and lived there for awhile as an adult also. From the time we moved to the 'burbs until about 6-7 years ago my wife and I went into Portland several times a week to eat and knock around. Great times. But that Portland is gone and the jury is still out as to whether it's gonna come all the way back or not. You also need to understand the that the Portland YOU grew up in and the Portland us older folks grew up in were two very different places. The PDX area has grown exponentially and the traffic in and out of Portland proper sucks a major hoagie. It isn't worth the time, effort or gas. The City of Portland has pushed population density to the max, while deliberately eliminating parking options so as to push people into using a substandard and inefficient transit system (that truly does not serve the suburbs well at all). The city government has done little if anything positive (until lately) about the homeless problem, and regardless of reason, the city in general is dirty and run down (far more than it ever was). Portland east of 82nd is (and always has been) the land that Portland forgot (and doesn't ever want to remember). The pandemic forced a lot of great businesses to close. The list goes on. I'm a Portland native and I reserve the right to complain about it because it's a problem that should never have happened....and one that should have been fixed more than a few years ago. I'm just glad to see SOME improvement after too many years of them having their thumbs up their asses.

Diss the suburbs all you want, but why does the severity of the homeless problem literally (and so very obviously) disappear at the city limits? Why is the city so filthy everywhere one looks? Seriously Do you spend any time in the 'burbs at all?? Are we supposed to feel guilty if our little suburban outposts are clean, well paved, have excellent public services, are generally graffiti free, and have lower crime rates than Portland? The 'burbs are thriving because we aren't Portland, nor do we want to be. So because we are sad, disgusted, amused, angry or whatever about the current state of the Portland that we grew up in, we're "fearful creatures". You don't have any more "ownership" of that city than anyone else, and our opinions of it are at least as valid as yours. I love Portland and always will, but you need to seriously get over your superior "Urban attitude". It has no foundation.

 

Portland is not your theme park.

I’ve lived in the suburbs, and I’ve lived in the city. The suburbs offer just as much shopping and commerce as the city does, even the same stores; so why go to the city? Is it because the suburbs leave you feeling hollow and wanting? Do you just want to complain about the filth and homeless? Why do you go to the city when you don’t want to engage with the reality of it being a city?

Why complain about the city if you don’t want to be there and you don’t want to visit and you don’t care about it? Why are you bitching about it?

What is your objective?

 

The wife and I are having dinner downtown tonight and for a sunset walk along the river. Hope we survive.

 

Seriously, what is everyone’s objective when they whine and moan and complain about Portland? You are not actually concerned, or you’d want to do something. You’re not trying to alert people; everyone in Oregon who doesn’t live in Portland knows all about it already.

Suburbanite opinions about Portland are just about as valuable as cold farts, and equally as welcome.

 

Hope the roving rape gangs of homeless graffiti artists don’t murder you for your shoes or whatever it is they think happens here.

 

This is where we will be on Thursday.
First Thursdays are fantastic.

 

Where did you ever come up with the weird idea that Portland was my (or anyone else's) "theme park"? And no, the suburbs do not offer as much shopping or commerce as the city does, proportionally or otherwise. Another strange claim. My particular suburb is a culinary wasteland (and always has been) which is one of the main reasons we would go into Portland. No, the suburbs don't make me feel "hollow and wanting" (hyperbalize much?) unless it pertains to physical hunger. And fortunately, other suburbanites are tired of dealing with the traffic and other issues, and more than a few of these 'burbs are becoming small food meccas (Beaverton comes to mind). I complain about the filth and homeless because I am still a Portland property owner, and even if I wasn't, there is no real good excuse for it. It boils down to a lack of will and civic pride. And as I thought I made generally clear at the beginning of my missive, I rarely go into Portland anymore because I actually (and honestly) do not "want to engage with the reality of it being a city" that doesn't take pride in itself. Or makes an effort to present it's best face. You just want to diss the suburbs because it makes you feel superior. I know, been there, done it, outgrew it......

 

This is also a place we’ll go walk with the dogs. Peninsula Park Rose Garden

 

Okay, I'll engage with you honestly: Why'd you choose to live there?

 

I say get out and live. Stop going out of your way to Google bad shit and go live….. but if you must, keep fighting the fight!

There is a chicken place on Mississippi we are going to this weekend. Supposed to be amazing. Then heading over here to get some plants for the house…. Hope you enjoy your neighborhood and what it has to offer as much as we do.

 

Because I was offered a career level job in Salem. No effing way I could live in Salem (And I will offer no apologies) and after a year plus, the commute was killing me. To say that I was angry about leaving Portland is a major understatement.....but I got over it (it took awhile) and adjusted to the trade offs. Like I said, I love Portland. It is, and always will be my home town. My roots are deep and I am disgusted with how the City of the 1990's evolved into what it is today. I looked down my nose at the podunk 'burb I moved to 38 years ago but am extremely proud of what it has morphed into.....and that is why I stay.

 

I left Portland in 2001 and it was even back then too much humanity for me. I never was by nature an urban creature as my roots are Iowa dairy farm roots. Wilsonville definitely doesn't have the culinary options the city does nor the shopping. I like the tennis courts though and the library there.

 

may i ask what your objective is for ignoring reality? What is your issue with others pointing it out?

no the suburbs don't have clubs like the city does. You are way off base. The city offers many shops not found in the burbs. You state false claims.
ive lived downtown more than once in my life and lived within the city limits for over half my life. Ive esneed the right to an opinion so you can fuck off with your cold farts of bullshit.

If you don't like me pointing out what i see then use the ignore button.
What exactly is your issue with me countering a false statement?
What is your objective with arguing with reality and trying to shovel it under the rug? What is your objective with shoveling bullshit loke cold farts??????

Burying ones head in the sand and muttering all is fine now, doesn't help.

If one cant handle people stating what they see without trying to belittle them or mock them then maybe they should find another thread to participate in.
For fucks sake….

 

Oh don’t worry; I have so little respect for you it’s almost comical, but amazingly that doesn’t have anything to do with your opinions on Portland.

I don’t see many people here willing to talk seriously about Portland’s real issues because it sure seems like most people here are stuck on the “eww filthy!” level of discourse. People like that aren’t really bringing anything to the situation and I see that when I drop my level of discourse down to your level, suddenly everyone is up in arms and offended. It’s really telling.

 

I figure it’s a vast country. Lot of options for folks as to where they feel at home

 

i care not for your respect or the myriad of fantasies you like to live in. Im just done trying to play nice to make your life easier. I tried that and you spat in my face in return. So i lost all respect or caring for you a long time ago. doesn't change the fact that im going to continue to speak the truth about what i say. Whether you continue to play games or not.

And for your better than thou bullshit about discussing it? Like any type of discussion in here will solve anything? You think this forum has that power? That spread? Just how many fantasies do you live in?
Doing something about it is voting certain ways or volunteering for cleanup. Or being active in the community. No amount of discussion in this forum is changing shit, so get off your high horse about, “people just saying how icky it is and not discussing”

if you cant handle people stating or posting what is going on in portland, then move on. Period.

 

Beautiful evening out tonight. Living life in P-Town!