I like your article and agree with every aspect of it...but...

There was a particular part that kind of mad me chuckle. The part where you said that the PBA was a special interest group that was only interested in making downtown attractive to consumers. That statement requires a great big "So what!" I like to know that the coffee shops, bookstores, and vintage clothes places I frequent are making money. I hate having to worry that they might shut down because people are too afraid to visit that part of town during their open hours. As it is they are paying inordinately large rents, and they are being taxed out of business.

But then who knows, I am a Portlander and might change my mind in a few weeks.