THE BIGFOOT MYSTERY

RE: “Discovering Bigfoot Is a Bigfoot Documentary Made by a Bigfoot Hoaxer” [Film, Oct 25], Ciara Dolan’s months-old review of a film by Todd Standing. In Dolan’s review—which has proven unexpectedly controversial in Bigfootdom—she noted Discovering Bigfoot largely consists of watching Standing “wander around the wilderness and yell into the darkness every night. Every so often, he’s joined by fellow bigfoot experts—some, he emphasizes, have PhDs—who gasp at odd footprints in the mossy earth and stick apples on tree branches while yelling ‘GIFT!’”

Ciara, you should be ashamed to write such trash about this man’s documentary. He is out there in the wild putting his life on the line to find the truth about the Bigfoot mystery. You’re sitting behind a computer screen sipping on a Starbucks! Grow up!

Jack M.

MAYOR OF COLUMBIA

RE: “Portland Has Strict Standards for Outlawing Sidewalk Sitting—Unless Cops Ask” [News, Dec 6], “Good Morning, News” [Blogtown, Dec 11], and “Hall Monitor: Crossing Columbia” [News, Dec 13], the Mercury’s ongoing coverage of the cozy relationship between Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle and Mayor Ted Wheeler—and the regulations Boyle and Wheeler hope will prevent homeless people from sitting near Columbia’s flagship store. Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey urged Boyle to, “instead of using your money to buy off politicians... actually do something yourself about the homeless problem,” and urged everyone else to “STOP BUYING COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR.”

I’m disappointed to see the Portland Mercury’s call for a boycott of Columbia Sportswear. I work downtown and I live in inner Southeast, so I witness the effects of Portland’s homeless problem every day. I understand it is a complicated issue and that we need to have compassion for people who are in terrible situations. I also understand that it is dangerous to conflate homelessness and crime.

However, there is a crime problem that cannot be denied. I see cars with their windows smashed on a daily basis. I see people walking the streets presumably having a mental health crisis and/or suffering delusions from drugs—yelling at the air and passersby, stumbling into traffic, threatening physical harm to other pedestrians, etc. I myself have been threatened, screamed at, and even sexually assaulted. I see people shooting up in broad daylight, and used needles left in parks and on streets. I’ve seen people defecating on the Springwater Corridor, and my husband has arrived at work on multiple occasions to be greeted by human waste in front of his downtown office.

These are safety and human health issues that are very concerning. And this should not be happening in downtown Portland, a commercial hub. There’s nothing wrong with Tim Boyle imploring the mayor to work to solve these problems.

Portland is facing some tough issues. But rather than take such an extreme stance as to call for a boycott of a company that is so vital to Portland’s economy and image as an outdoorsy, progressive, inventive city, I think it’s best to take a measured approach. Let’s recognize that there is room to be compassionate but also to put measures into place to cut down on crime and ensure that people shopping downtown (and moving about anywhere in this city) have the right to feel safe.

Regan Fisher

You can’t be serious. My girlfriend and I moved to Portland from Albuquerque, New Mexico. We found the homeless situation in Portland to be far worse than anywhere we’ve ever been. A junkie was openly waving around a needle in downtown a few feet from us while talking to himself. Another junkie was overdosing in the street. There was human feces on the sidewalks. It was disgusting, gross, and not a place you’d want to raise children. We quickly moved out of Portland because of the homeless and obvious drug use. As an outsider looking in, Portland has a very limp wrist when it comes to the homeless and the citizens are being taken advantage of. Good for the Columbia Sportswear CEO to think about leaving unless the city cleans up the homelessness and drug use. Albuquerque has a problem too, but nowhere near as bad as Portland. In short, GET REAL!

Cameron Smith

This week’s letter of the week goes to Cameron Smith—who also wins two passes to the Laurelhurst Theater, which makes all the movie theaters in Albuquerque look like crap! Cameron, since you’re unable to use these passes, Wm. Steven Humphrey has graciously agreed to use them in your stead.