Christopher Hitchens
The Enlightenment is Humanity’s ONLY Salvation.
Looks like Portland is getting in the bandwagon too
KGW8 Local News Full Article:
‘PORTLAND, Ore. — For many who live in the neighborhoods near Southeast Knapp Street and 105th Avenue, Tuesday morning couldn’t come soon enough. For those who stay in tents and RVs on the side of the road, it was a day that felt like defeat.
Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Portland camp removal crews, along with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) tow trucks, started clearing a homeless encampment that’s been growing on Knapp Street for years.
Lacey, who has lived there in a tent for the past few months, just got an RV — a step up, they explained. The bottom of the RV scraped along the pavement as PBOT towed it away.
“Betrayed by my own city," Lacey said as they watched it go. "I just got to figure it out, I guess, suck it up.”
KGW had spoken with Lacey one week earlier when their dog was hit by oncoming traffic at the camp.
"I just can't do it like this anymore," Lacey said.
It's been just over one month since Portland’s new homeless camping ban was enacted. Since July 1, city outreach teams have referred 11 campsites to Portland Police because people there would not accept shelter. Officers issued seven citations instead of jail after the Multnomah County Sherriff said she would not book people for violating city code.
“That’s nothing. I mean, what citation is going to get paid?” said Mark Dahl, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 33 years.
“It seems like there should be a solution to it, but it doesn’t seem like we’ve got it yet,” added Fred, who bikes along Knapp Street three times a week.
A homeless couple waited on the back of a trailer Tuesday to hear if their RV meets the requirements for Northeast Portland’s Sunderland RV Safe Park. Police stopped them from driving it because they didn’t have insurance. Meanwhile, PBOT towed it.
“It's a little upsetting, but it's understandable. I guess it is the law,” Crystal said.
“They decided they can just come and take our stuff and make our lives harder,” added Crystal's friend, John. "We’re homeless. That doesn’t mean we’re pieces of trash."
“Again, it's a joke. I’ve listened to Ted Wheeler; I’ve listened to the county chair: 'We're going to address this issue.' I see no hope,” said Dahl, who is now looking to move out of Multnomah County, “because I see nothing getting better, there's no future with Multnomah County really doing anything about this type of situation.”
It's a situation that’s like another defeat for those with homes and without.
“I'm going to sleep on the trail, probably next to my stuff. It's just like, you never get to catch up,” Lacey said through tears.
A KGW crew saw two teams of outreach workers at the site Tuesday. Neither would talk on camera. Many homeless people were offered shelter, some accepted and some, including Lacey, did not due to poor past experiences in shelters.
Portland police told KGW that no citations were handed out during the camp removal Tuesday.’
Kinky Link: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/portland-camping-ban-city-removes-southeast-portland-homeless-encampment/283-923f9cef-16d9-4d9c-b3d8-36517bc6c1ae
KGW8 Local News Full Article:
‘PORTLAND, Ore. — For many who live in the neighborhoods near Southeast Knapp Street and 105th Avenue, Tuesday morning couldn’t come soon enough. For those who stay in tents and RVs on the side of the road, it was a day that felt like defeat.
Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Portland camp removal crews, along with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) tow trucks, started clearing a homeless encampment that’s been growing on Knapp Street for years.
Lacey, who has lived there in a tent for the past few months, just got an RV — a step up, they explained. The bottom of the RV scraped along the pavement as PBOT towed it away.
“Betrayed by my own city," Lacey said as they watched it go. "I just got to figure it out, I guess, suck it up.”
KGW had spoken with Lacey one week earlier when their dog was hit by oncoming traffic at the camp.
"I just can't do it like this anymore," Lacey said.
It's been just over one month since Portland’s new homeless camping ban was enacted. Since July 1, city outreach teams have referred 11 campsites to Portland Police because people there would not accept shelter. Officers issued seven citations instead of jail after the Multnomah County Sherriff said she would not book people for violating city code.
“That’s nothing. I mean, what citation is going to get paid?” said Mark Dahl, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 33 years.
“It seems like there should be a solution to it, but it doesn’t seem like we’ve got it yet,” added Fred, who bikes along Knapp Street three times a week.
A homeless couple waited on the back of a trailer Tuesday to hear if their RV meets the requirements for Northeast Portland’s Sunderland RV Safe Park. Police stopped them from driving it because they didn’t have insurance. Meanwhile, PBOT towed it.
“It's a little upsetting, but it's understandable. I guess it is the law,” Crystal said.
“They decided they can just come and take our stuff and make our lives harder,” added Crystal's friend, John. "We’re homeless. That doesn’t mean we’re pieces of trash."
“Again, it's a joke. I’ve listened to Ted Wheeler; I’ve listened to the county chair: 'We're going to address this issue.' I see no hope,” said Dahl, who is now looking to move out of Multnomah County, “because I see nothing getting better, there's no future with Multnomah County really doing anything about this type of situation.”
It's a situation that’s like another defeat for those with homes and without.
“I'm going to sleep on the trail, probably next to my stuff. It's just like, you never get to catch up,” Lacey said through tears.
A KGW crew saw two teams of outreach workers at the site Tuesday. Neither would talk on camera. Many homeless people were offered shelter, some accepted and some, including Lacey, did not due to poor past experiences in shelters.
Portland police told KGW that no citations were handed out during the camp removal Tuesday.’
Kinky Link: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/portland-camping-ban-city-removes-southeast-portland-homeless-encampment/283-923f9cef-16d9-4d9c-b3d8-36517bc6c1ae
