OT Readers Respond: Portland Is Too Dangerous

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MARIS61 said:
The Dairy Maid, right where Millennial Park is now.
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No, it was nearer the Lake theater. The Pinafore was between the Lake theater and the Dairy Maid.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
That building is a trip. I got to tour it once. It was suppose to be the west coast training center for Greyhound. It's huge underground. There are motel rooms and a pretty large movie theater/training center all underground, all never used. They built it and them immediately mothballed it.
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The real trip was the old Greyhound bus station on 4th and Taylor. What a sleazy dump. I spent a week in the basement of the place helping to lag steam pipes with ground asbestos (thanks Dad!) as a teenager in high school. Every time I went out to the truck for parts or equipment my uncle would give me a strict time limit and orders not to talk to anyone. And if I got hung up trying to find what I needed in the truck, he always came looking. I never quite figured out what the deal was (hey, I grew up in total Catholic immersion to that point) until I went to Navy boot camp and the company commanders explained in graphic detail the type of creatures the Greyhound bus station attracted. The irony is that the bus station was where the Navy corralled all it’s recruits prior to shipping us off to boot camp. Thank God for safety in numbers.....”Go By Greyhound” took on a whole new meaning....and still makes me shudder.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
That building is a trip. I got to tour it once. It was suppose to be the west coast training center for Greyhound. It's huge underground. There are motel rooms and a pretty large movie theater/training center all underground, all never used. They built it and them immediately mothballed it.
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The Greyhound station used to be in SW Portland a bit farther South than the old Meier and Frank building.

While we're at it, how many remember the old farmers market approximately SE kitty corner from the old Meier and Frank building? It had concrete stalls and sold lots of fresh produce, meat, sea food and various sundries. They had a Jewish Deli and restaurant nearby that had the greatest Reuben sandwiches, Mrs. Neuschin dill pickles and coke. I still salivate remembering that.
 
UncleCliffy'sDaddy said:
The real trip was the old Greyhound bus station on 4th and Taylor. What a sleazy dump. I spent a week in the basement of the place helping to lag steam pipes with ground asbestos (thanks Dad!) as a teenager in high school. Every time I went out to the truck for parts or equipment my uncle would give me a strict time limit and orders not to talk to anyone. And if I got hung up trying to find what I needed in the truck, he always came looking. I never quite figured out what the deal was (hey, I grew up in total Catholic immersion to that point) until I went to Navy boot camp and the company commanders explained in graphic detail the type of creatures the Greyhound bus station attracted. The irony is that the bus station was where the Navy corralled all it’s recruits prior to shipping us off to boot camp. Thank God for safety in numbers.....”Go By Greyhound” took on a whole new meaning....and still makes me shudder.
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I've been in and out of that building many times. I think it was on an upper floor where I got drafted into the Army.
 
riverman said:
Don't move to Oregon period...stay in California...horrible rain, horrible crime, just stay away...good advice!
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I always tell out-of-staters, especially Southern Cal. ones, about the cold rain running down the back of your neck.
 
Portland is surprisingly not dangerous for all the homeless people, but it is not a utopia either. The homeless problem is a problem and its embarrassing when I have friends from out of town and Im trying to tell them how awesome Portland is as a city as we step over people in sleeping bags with piles of garbage. I spend a lot of time down town and here are some recent issues I have had.

Me my sister and my nephews, all 3 are in the 10 year range, were climbing the stairs from the street to one of the bridges and we all had to step over a passed out homeless persons complete heroin set up, including needle, spoon and empty heroin foil. I was so fixated on the needle that I did not notice the giant pile of shit that he had decided to take right there. My sister was so fixed on the shit that she did not see the heroin gear.

My and my father were walking past the greyhound station and caught a homeless lady in midshit clean up. She got all excited when she saw us see her and so then she proceeded to follow us for a block trying to get a reaction from us while her friends had a good laugh.

Someone asked for change, which I usually don't have or give but decided to empty my pockets. Which was a few pennies and nickels. After looking at what I gave him, I got a big "FUCK YOU" as he threw the change down and stormed off.

With all that said, I have never felt unsafe in Portland and the main problems seem to be located in the Chinatown area, from Union station down to the waterfront and other side of Burnside, with the epicenter being the greyhound station. Closing the bus station and clearing it out should do wonders for the city. The newer parts of the Pearl and NW are pretty much homeless free.
 
donkiez said:
Portland is surprisingly not dangerous for all the homeless people, but it is not a utopia either. The homeless problem is a problem and its embarrassing when I have friends from out of town and Im trying to tell them how awesome Portland is as a city as we step over people in sleeping bags with piles of garbage. I spend a lot of time down town and here are some recent issues I have had.

Me my sister and my nephews, all 3 are in the 10 year range, were climbing the stairs from the street to one of the bridges and we all had to step over a passed out homeless persons complete heroin set up, including needle, spoon and empty heroin foil. I was so fixated on the needle that I did not notice the giant pile of shit that he had decided to take right there. My sister was so fixed on the shit that she did not see the heroin gear.

My and my father were walking past the greyhound station and caught a homeless lady in midshit clean up. She got all excited when she saw us see her and so then she proceeded to follow us for a block trying to get a reaction from us while her friends had a good laugh.

Someone asked for change, which I usually don't have or give but decided to empty my pockets. Which was a few pennies and nickels. After looking at what I gave him, I got a big "FUCK YOU" as he threw the change down and stormed off.

With all that said, I have never felt unsafe in Portland and the main problems seem to be located in the Chinatown area, from Union station down to the waterfront and other side of Burnside, with the epicenter being the greyhound station. Closing the bus station and clearing it out should do wonders for the city. The newer parts of the Pearl and NW are pretty much homeless free.
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All of those things suck, and I wish wasnt happening in Portland. Having lived in San Diego, San Francisco, Portland and working a ton downtown Seattle, I can tell you none of that is unique whatsoever. Its unfortunate and its disgusting, but its a widespread issue that for some reason, our politicians cant figure out. Not that its an easy or simple solution, but its not only continuing, but its getting worse. I too am embarrassed when people visit and see tents all over the place - unless they are from another city with the same problems.
 
calvin natt said:
All of those things suck, and I wish wasnt happening in Portland. Having lived in San Diego, San Francisco, Portland and working a ton downtown Seattle, I can tell you none of that is unique whatsoever. Its unfortunate and its disgusting, but its a widespread issue that for some reason, our politicians cant figure out. Not that its an easy or simple solution, but its not only continuing, but its getting worse. I too am embarrassed when people visit and see tents all over the place - unless they are from another city with the same problems.
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Ive read where non profits that cater to the homeless get million in funding, and it's a magnet?
 
Hoopguru said:
Ive read where non profits that cater to the homeless get million in funding, and it's a magnet?
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I was having a discussion with my girlfriend about the portland homeless and why nothing seemingly is being done about it and more importantly, why? Perhaps this is the why?
 
I have no idea if businesses get funding for catering to the homeless, but if they do, that is a good example of how dysfunctional we have become.
 
The Professional Fan said:
I was having a discussion with my girlfriend about the portland homeless and why nothing seemingly is being done about it and more importantly, why? Perhaps this is the why?
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I dont think that is it. Really what is there to do? The problem is a symptom of our society issues such as drug/alcohol addiction, income disparity, mental health and displaced/forgot veterans. You can either give them aid, lock them up, or chase them out of town. None of those fixes addresses the underlying issues that are causing the problem, at best it just makes it someone elses problem.
 
calvin natt said:
if you think portland is dangerous, you need to get out more.
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I'd say he's better off staying in Portland. You should have seen the crime in St. Louis it would make your toes curl.
Now, my Alabama aunt is telling me about all the crime in Birmingham.
Portland's violent crime rate comes in less than the national average. My town of Lake Oswego comes in as the safest city in Oregon.

https://realestate.usnews.com/places/oregon/portland/crime
 
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