Tag: City Council
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City Policy Makes PDX a Destination for “Lifestyle Vagrancy”
City Policy is Making Portland a Destination for “Lifestyle Vagrancy,” Lawlessness, and Crime Increase Police Staffing and Fight Our Panhandling Epidemic With Community Education Public comment to Portland City Council Delivered October 28th, 2015 Testimony as PDF (80KB) Click to view video Thank you for allowing me to speak today.…
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Do You Know The Difference Between Policy and Law?
One of the biggest questions we run into is “why isn’t law enforcement enforcing the law”. This is a great question but, also a complicated one. Herein lies the conundrum of law and policy. The State of Oregon’s legislature writes state laws. Local city government officials that “we” vote for and put into office set…
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Keep Portland Weird (But Safe)
This past summer the North Park Blocks experienced a dramatic rise in unlawful activity – traveling gangs, aggressive panhandlers, drugs, public sex, off-leash dog attacks. That situation was turned around when City Hall finally took notice and Portland Police stepped up their presence to enforce the law in the park. We saw smart policing based on…
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It’s About Behavior, Not Homelessness
Last week an intern was walking to their office on the North Park Blocks. On NW Flanders (a few doors west of the park) they encountered this couple. Mayor Hales and members of Portland City Council don’t get it. Let’s simplify the situation for them – we don’t know the housing status of this couple,…