Three Cheers for Saltzman!

We have more people living on the streets of Portland than are in emergency shelters on any given night. This does not include all those who are turned away and told there is no room for them. Dignity Village was created because there was no room for the "houseless" and the city goes around bragging about it. R2D2 was started because people have a right to be safe at night and they have no place to go. The mayor and Commissioners have now said they are through with Cameron Whitten, well we are not through with you 5 insensitive people who do not care about the most vulnerable among us. Cameron started his hunger strike with 3 demands and has agreed to drop all but one, stop the damn fines by the city against R2D2. The city says no! There will be a protest this Friday evening at 4:30 PM in front of City Hall and across the street to tell the 5 people in city hall that we are losing patience with their lack of understanding, that there is an emergency just outside their place of work. Most authorities will tell you there are a large number of veterans in this group of homeless/houseless people. Some put the figure at 25%. This council should understand this simple concept, Mayor Adams' political future is over, Leonard is running away, Fritz is in the battle of her political life against Mary Nolan and that leaves only saltzman and the fishman; they will be run out of office if something is not done. Cameron has offered a compromise but our representatives and their staff say they are finished with him---I think not!!!!!

Joe Walsh-Lone Vet
Individuals For Justice
Member of Oregon Progressive Party

I called Dan Saltzman's offices to complain about his treatment of R2D2 on Wednesday, and talked to his assistant, she told me that Dan hasn't met with anyone regarding the R2D2 yet. She also told me that he can't show the R2D2 encampment special treatment, or it wouldn't be fair to others. She said, he wants to talk to the R2D2 people to try to relocate the encampment somewhere else within the city. After reading this, either his assistant is unaware of a lot of his actions or she was lying to me. Either way, I'm a bit pissed off at their unprofessional actions in the treatment of the R2D2 encampment and how they treat Cameron.