Portland has failed spectacularly in its efforts to end homelessness. No secret there. Now the Oregonian has launched a sweeping series about the scope of the problem. The O suggests, at the end of today’s interesting piece, that local officials have “all but endorsed” homeless camping. Not the case, but stick with this series.
There are a couple options when a desperate woman hops unexpectedly into your car and chucks a can of Steel Reserve at your head. One local retiree got the hell out of dodge (PUN INTENDED), watching helplessly as 38-year-old Brooke Defrees (allegedly) peeled out in his SUV. But he got it back!
The Supreme Court’s going to decide this marriage equality thing, once and for all. By June. And everyone wants to know just how it’s going to come out (there’s optimism from advocates of same-sex marriage, given past rulings).
Here’s a statement from Mitt Romney, mulling another presidential bid. Try not to strangle yourself from laughing and vomiting all at once: “Under President Obama, the rich have gotten richer, income inequality has gotten worse and there are more people in poverty than ever before.”
Remember the whole “freedom fries” and “freedom toast” epoch after Sept. 11, when red-blooded Americans were furious that France had dared question the hasty policy decisions of a frightened nation? Now France is mulling some of those same policies following the Charlie Hebdo saga. Other European countries, too.
Meanwhile, the US is actually easing up on the reins. Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder has announced the end of a program that allowed cops and deputies the nation over to seize people’s property and keep it even if they weren’t ever charged with a crime.
I, like you, am anxious to see how the valiant Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team performs against the University of Maryland today. That broadcast will be down a commentator. Former Trail Blazer Greg Anthony, in DC to call the game for CBS, was arrested in a prostitution sting.
What’s awful in Florida today? Oh, just a sniper team using actual mug shots of black men for target practice.
Mexican authorities are still trying to piece together what exactly happened to 43 students who went missing last year. They’ve now arrested a cartel leader in the case, because it’s almost certain that the students were rounded up by police, turned over to a drug gang, and slaughtered.
A couple of teenagers are being jerks all over the South.
Today’s sunset: A cruel 4:56 pm.
A thousand times this.
I’d be curious to see the stats on what percentage of Portlands homeless over the years, in an improving economy now.
According to the article, the amount of homeless is the same as ’07.
I wonder how much the total population has grown since then?
It would seem to me that the percentage of homeless has fallen then.
I’m not a huge fan of Anna Griffins writings, but part of the problem is spelled out right in the article. Dude says he can’t work and heard it was easier to live job-free in PDX so hopped aboard a bus.
Why wouldn’t folks, when they hear of ‘dignity’ village, which hasn’t worked out to be what it was envisioned to be, Bud Clark Commons, and ‘right to dream’?
I thought homelessness was George Bush’s fault?
It is crazy to me that Greg Anthony has been suspended at least for the remainder of this college basketball season for attempting a consensual sex act with another adult.
“We can’t have a lack of shelter beds, a lack of permanent housing, and then say it’s illegal to camp,” said Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury. “Of course it’s not ideal. Of course we need to find another way. But what else can we do right now?”’
That sure sounds like an endorsement of homeless camping by a high-ranking local official.
I NEVER drive around with my doors unlocked. Maybe the drivers door might be unlocked, but that’s all. And I stay alert for anyone approaching my vehicle. Besides, I have a guard Chihuahua/something on duty in the car.