A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Tim Hohl / KPAM 860
Protestors and police on the sidewalk across from City Hall. Police moved in and moved the protestors out Thursday morning.
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A three-week protest by the homeless in front of Portland City Hall ended abruptly this morning as police moved in.
Just before 6 a.m., two officers began stringing yellow police tape around City Hall while another dozen officers wearing blue protective gloves, began asking protesters to move. Most were given just a couple of minutes to gather their belongings.
There was some shouting, but no visible struggles and no arrests until one protester refused police orders to get out of the crosswalk. He was quickly handcuffed and put in the back of a squad car. Police identify him as 20-year-old Andrew Newman. He was charged with Interfering with a police officer.
Many of the protesters left with their belongings, while a small group yelled at officers from the park across the street.
Some of the protesters say they will go back to the sidewalk in front of the building as soon as the police tape comes down. Portland Mayor Tom Potter told KPAM 860 that the homeless have a right to protest, but cannot camp on the sidewalk.
Portland police say they will enforce all applicable laws related to camping and sleeping on the sidewalk.
A cleanup crew spent about an hour picking up garbage and pressure washing the sidewalk.
For the past three weeks, a large number of homeless have been camped out in front of the building, hoping the city would add more shelter beds and relax anti-loitering laws.
Ya gotta love it. We get to pay thousands of dollars to clean up after the homeless. My guess is that they had to clean up urine, feces, drug paraphernalia and lots of litter.
This was not about protesting. This was a bunch of people who don't want to work and want to live off the hard working taxpayers.
How do I know this? Because I was homeless and know what it is like to live on the streets. I now have a job and work hard to meet my needs. It is much harder than living like a lazy slob on the street but it is also so much more gratifying.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Homeless people are in two categories, the mentally unstable (1%) and those who decided long ago that they didnt want to be part of the big picture (99%) by either doing drugs, alienating themselves from everyone around them, defying authority, and thinking that WE (the taxpaying public) owe them money for nothing.
Cleaning the street is great... however, we need to clean up the city... eliminate these people from our beautiful from downtown portland so we can walk around and enjoy what portland has to offer without the constant... "excuse me, do you have any money?"
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:47 AM
Portland has made itself a prime destination for the homeless. Go to other cities. You don't see as many. Next time one walks up to you, ask them where they are from. Probably not here. We offer very little insentive to better themselves. A shelter? They can sleep and then leave to hang out to do whatever they want.
Offer them a shelter, and some sort of skills training. If they refuse it. Then tell them that they have just excluded themselves from any type of assistance that Portland has to offer.Offer a solution to them. If they refuse. Cut them off. Someone who wants help is a homeless person. Someone who doesn't is a bum!
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 02:26 AM
I remember travelling across country, relocating to Portland. In Nashville, I walked past a bum who asked for money. I told him no, but I if he was ever in Portland, OR, I'd buy him lunch. His eyes lit up as he said "Portland, Oregon! That's heaven for people like me! I've had lots of friends move there and want to move there myself!" And right then, I realized I wasn't going to like it.
Incidentally, I'm planning on moving back East in six months. This city panders to the homeless like no one's business.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 02:34 AM
About time Portland grew a set.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 02:37 AM
There but for the grace of whatever go us all.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 02:59 AM
Josta is absolutely correct. My work allows me (well, forces me!) to have contact with many of Portland's "homeless." Funny thing is, most aren't from here. Time after time I've asked these folks, "Why not return home, be close to your family?" The unanimous response: "Why should I leave? I get everything I need right here."
I understand and support government and non-profits lending a helping hand to families and individuals who are "down on their luck" and needing temporary support until they get back on their feet. But Portland's completely open and perpetual services have attracted the worst kind of homeless; parasitic blood-sucking leeches. And as long as Portland continues to be a willing host, we'll never rid ourselves of them.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 03:05 AM
I hear they came up with a new way of dispersing them. They get a bunch of potential employers together and threaten to give the bums a job,.... you should see them run back to their cardboard boxes.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 03:27 AM
It is not a way to live in a city that is progressive. I am a native for 27 years living hand to mouth for a while and feel alienated in ways that i never felt in new york. I like the city and things that come with it,but feel the city wants nothing to do with me because i am homeless.If I try will people give me a chance again,or should I move and find a more compatible city?
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 04:05 AM
Not all the people that are out there asking you for change are homeless.The most of the group are in an apartment,short on money or social security,and doing as they please.I am in that category that is waiting for the sysmem to open up and clean out so I can get back into the flow to make it.You can't get into a job without it,and to you who judge before you know,it is a wise man who said,"Listen before you leap."
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 04:16 AM
roofwork,
I commend you for trying to get on your feet, but with all due respect, you are the vast - VAST - minority of the people who camp on sidewalks, drag grocery carts and have the perpetual drunk look on their faces, refusing service and panhandling for money. I don't think this is about you and people like you at all - no one denies that the down-trodden who are trying to get on their feet exist.
However, you can't dismiss that hundreds of people live on the streets by choice, the "spange" or panhandle as their way of making money and simply refuse to assimilate into society by getting into shelters, into jobs and on with lives that force them to get off the sauce and be accountable, contributing citizens. THOSE are the ones this is about.
Kudos to you.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 04:21 AM
The lord be with everyone who is helping out,and bless you for your kind words of help.I am also one who is considered using the system.We all need to find a better way to police the city.Drugs and Alcohol ae big problems,and the people are caught in the middle.You can not help someone who is in trouble if you make money on it.In return you can't get a job if you don't try.God be with us all.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 04:39 AM
Like they Say for aparmtent parking lots dont have to worry about your car .Your car probably won't get stolen, but your garbage -will- be gone through.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 05:25 AM
I seldom read so much hate is such condensed form. Sisters of the Road has a database of 515 interviews with people who were homeless each 2 - 3 hours long. If your willing to move beyond hate and work toward solution check it out. If you are stuck get pleasure by attacking the weakest voice in society then you'll keep making comments like those above.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 05:45 AM
These people need help. There is much more than one percent of the homeless population that is at least, mentally unstable. Shelters are full and Cascadia Behavioral Health Care, the largest provider of housing and mental health treatment is going under. I agree they are a pathetic bunch with the spanging and the pollution and I do not believe in giving handouts to them because they are already to content. I think we need to offer them help and if they refuse then maybe we need to force them. Parental tough love and hopefully they will thank us later. And if they don;t so what atleast we can thank ourselves. I don't know people let's think about it seriously.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 05:50 AM
shelters are not full. The city opened a 100 new beds recently and only half of them are being used. I do not like the sit,lie rule ethier but, think it is stupid that the homeless are hacking off the one group of people they need to impress to get the law changed.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:02 AM
To change a law allowing people to be vagrants and pollute the streets. I don't want that. Do You? The homeless are not enough to change laws. what about the rest of us, the majority?
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:08 AM
they need education, hope, dignity and pride. Not a society that doesn't care.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:10 AM
The city officials should be ashamed that it will pay a couple hundred thousand dollars for a illegal immigrant work center, and do little to nothing for the homeless
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:13 AM
many of these people can potentially recover. Addiction is treatable. Those that are un treatable should be treated as any other handicap.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Dan N,
I live downtown and don't really need to go to a shelter and read these people's stories, I can and have talked to them. I've watched them throw trash in my front yard and urinate in public into my neighbors yard, when there's both a trash can and a public restroom within 200 feet. You can maybe get suburbunites to buy your lines, but not those of us who live amongst the homeless. Sorry.
Also, please stop with the "these poor people need help" stories, when over the past several days we've heard many of these protesters on TV saying they don't want shelter, they want to live under a bridge and siphon tax payer dollars through utilizing public welfare to eat. If you WANT to live under the bridge, you're likely not looking for or want work, so please don't give me the downtrodden story.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:18 AM
My heart goes out to each and everyone of our homless people. I wish that the city would get off their political butts and do the right thing to provide shelter for these people. What i am not in favor of is handing out to these punk ass run away kids and people who just plain feel that society owes them a living. The is no place in this town for free loaders, and moochers. And people who just like to stir the hornets nest. Go away...........far away. or better yet, go home. mom and dad are worried about you.
I am a 56 year old naitive Portlander. Im for the most part proud of this city, but not of city governement. Pople like Sam AND Sho need to go away as well. We need a mayor who is here to serve ALL the people, not just the elitest of the Pearl.
What ever happend to Balonie Joes?....its been gone for years.that place i think worked very well for the homeless. Now its gone.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:24 AM
right on Laura
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:26 AM
As a home owner in the Lloyd District, I have homeless people who live in the bushes at the park next door. I often in the Summer hear them arguing, and find used condoms on the sidewalk after their female visitors leave. My brother has talked to one of them and the homeless man told him "I dont want to work for the man" he then offered hims some crack, which I often see them smoking in the park. The cops say they are unable to remove them from the park, so they are only asked with their highbeams off the car and on the speakers in the middle of the night to keep it down. I pay my taxes and work very hard for everything I have, but still they are able to live in the bushes next door. I don't know about anyone else but I would not allow myself to become homeless nor would my family.
One day getting on I-5 I saw a man deficating next to the off ramp. Have they no shame doing this in public?
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:32 AM
give them all guns to the Police can shoot them.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:34 AM
You are the problem. It is obvious to me that people who prefer bridges to beds need help. They don't know it but that doesn't mean it isn't true. Luara you are a retard and steveo I hope the cops beat you tonight.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:38 AM
The situation perpetuates itself. If I were sleeping under bridges and in bushes I would have trouble finding work too.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Society needs to make change so that we don't have people urinating and deficating and littering the world.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Not everyone can be as perfect as all of you.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:45 AM
And they are poor by definiton but I didn't say these poor people. I said these people need help. No Doubt
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:49 AM
St. Johns Kid,
I as well wish that the City of Portland would, as you say, "get off their political butts and do the right thing by providing shelter". My recomendation is prison. And while they are at it, toss Potter in with the whole lot of them!
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:50 AM
Tax dollars pay for prison and they don't help either.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:52 AM
If Frank Ivancie were still mayor that camp would have lasted about ninety seconds. Well, maybe five minutes and ninety seconds. It would take five minutes to hand out the axe handles.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 06:56 AM
If they don't want to help themselves, no amount of do-good'ing will get them off the street and turn their lives around. People need to accept responsibility for their lives and actions.
What if more of us just gave up? Where would society be then?
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 07:01 AM
Road Warrior society sounds good to me
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Hi Laura
I hope you can heal some day.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Ahhh, the priveledged white folk are inconvienced by the homeless, boo-hoo. Suck it up people, dang!
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 08:09 AM
So was it the feces, semen, or syringes that finally broke the camel’s back? Seems like sanctimonious talk about “compassion” runs head on into reality when city hall has to see and deal with typical transient behavior on a daily basis.
Maybe now members of the city council will have a little more understanding for residents and business owners of inner city neighborhoods like Buckman who regularly deal with a transient population that, after years of being catered to and coddled, has no sense of consideration, civic pride, or personal responsibility.
Sometimes the best way to show compassion for someone is to expect something of them and hold them to standards the rest of us are held to.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Hey Buckman Res
We tried to track that rumor and security at city hall said no syringes, semen or feces outside the toilet was found in any restrooms at city hall. A syringe was found in a public restroom two blocks away but nothing was shown to prove it was connected to the protest.
It's just more propoganda
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Dan, thanks but I'm quite healed. Don't assume that because my point of view differs from yours that I am somehow damaged and you're whole.
Ghost - "The situation perpetuates itself. If I were sleeping under bridges and in bushes I would have trouble finding work too." This is exactly my point. Of course, you'd have trouble finding work! So then, logically explain to me why someone would be ASKING to live under the bridge, not in a shelter where you'd have an address to claim and a shower to clean up under - both helpful and necessary in order to find a job. Thanks for proving my point.
Also, how does society need to change? I said there's a public restroom and trash cans within 200 feet for anyone to use. What does SOCIETY have to do for a transient to put trash in a trash receptacle and urinate in a restroom? I'm genuinely curious.
And name calling really reduces you and your argument to very little.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Actually, they were told and offered more beds in the shelters. They don't care & refused. They just want to break the laws, regardless.
If they really wanted shelter, they could have it.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Dan,you are so right...hate,hate,hate ...no soulution's
here's the soulition post your address and phone number and we will send them right over. you can give them food and shelter and take them off the street ...problem solved
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 09:47 AM
HOSE THEM DOWN WITH THE FIRE HOSES!!!!!!!!!
Send the dogs after them........ mace them....... shoot them with rubber bullets......... tazer them....... tear gas them..... and if they are still there.... bash their damn heads with billy clubs!
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Agreed! There were far fewer able bodied "homeless" twenty-somethings when "wall counseling" was still an authorized police method.
And the bums didn't give you any sh@t if you ignored them. They used to be smart enough to avoid drawing attention to themselves, for fear of being thrown in jail or run out of town.
Now, the spangers know the cops can't touch them unless they get caught dealing or assaulting somebody.
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Liberal
1. Non-Violent - I have a mental disorder
Conservative
1. Violent - Send the dogs after them
2. Violent - mace them
3. Violent - shoot them with rubber bullets
4. Violent - tazer them
5. Violent - tear gas them
6. Violent - bash their damn heads with billy clubs! (My very favorite)
Oh yeah, 7. Violent - HOSE THEM DOWN WITH THE FIRE HOSES!!!!!!!!!
When I grow up I wanna be a nice church going conservative just like you, YOU WIMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 09:07 PM
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Re: Police sweep in on City Hall protestors
So instead of doing something positive or productive, they camp in front of city hall. It's mighty hard to help people who aren't willing to help themselves.
"Paying taxes in the burbs"
(email verified)
Thu, May 15, 2008 at 01:19 AM