Portland Tribune: Police Passive with Homeless Population

Police passive with homeless population
Reposted from:
Police Passive with Homeless Population
Portland Tribune October 2015

Written by Peter Korn

Hayley Purdy can’t figure out why police officers bike, drive and walk by the social chaos she lives with on the North Park Blocks and do virtually nothing.

Throughout the summer Purdy and her neighbors documented the increasing disorder in their part of downtown. They watched the proliferation of illegal campsites and the garbage piling up and they’ve had a few angry confrontations with squatters over broad daylight drug dealing.

Daryl Turner says he knows why. The Portland Police union chief says street officers have been walking by situations involving illegal homeless camping and sidewalk obstruction when in years past they would have taken action. And that’s because city officials refuse to provide police with clear direction and support in dealing with the growing number of homeless people who violate city ordinances, according to Turner.

“We have never, ever, by any leadership, been given clear direction on how to deal with the homeless population on sidewalks and in parks,” Turner says. “Without clear direction, cops don’t know what the city wants.” Continue reading “Portland Tribune: Police Passive with Homeless Population”

Mayor Visits Park – What Happens Next?

Shooting Up in North Park Blocks Sept 3, 2015
Shooting Up in North Park Blocks Sept 3, 2015

Dear Mayor,
Thank you for your walk in the North Park Blocks initiated by the Emerson School this morning. I would like to share with you the events of my day subsequent to your walk.

By noon:

  1. I had to call Clean & Safe to remove shit that someone smeared on one of our office entryway doors. Our offices face the North Park Blocks.
  2. I watched two guys shoot up sitting on the curb on the park block at Flanders & 8th, took photos (on guy above), called the police immediately and gave Portland Police dispatch complete descriptions of what they were wearing and the fact they have a small red grocery cart and a bike. No one showed up nor has the police dept. called me back. And yes, I told Dispatch I had photos.
  3. Two of my employees watched a guy pull down his pants and take a dump in the park (basketball and bocce ball court block) between Flanders and Glisan.It is my understanding that you intend to walk the Park Blocks again in October. I would encourage you to time your walk later in the morning as illegal activities ramp up during the morning. Your walk this morning at 8:00 a.m. was too early for many of the daily illegal activities to start.

Notes From The Field: Clean and Safe Board

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week was my second Clean and Safe board meeting. Each meeting I become more educated about the inner workings of Clean and Safe and how they make Portland a better place. There may be the impression by some that Portland Clean and Safe is another one of those not for profits that cater to the needs of certain under-represented segment of the population however, this is not the case at all. The Portland Clean and Safe board’s agenda focuses on protecting the interests of businesses, business owners and citizens who contribute to the improvement of Portland. For example; Portland Clean and Safe board members attended a city council meeting last week where there was going to be a decision on continued support of the Portland Police Departments walking beats. These walking beats and new approach to policing contributed to a 26% drop in crime in Downtown Portland. There were similar results in the Hawthorne district as well. This was approved in part because of the case board members presented. Unfortunately, three members of the city council, Amanda Fritz, Steve Novick and Nick Fish voted down the enforcement of the sit lie ordinance which prohibits “vagrants and street people” from sitting or lying in high traffic sidewalk areas. This is somewhat discouraging but, these same city council member consistently vote this way. You can see the repercussions of these failed policies under the 405 bridge in Northwest, along both sides of the waterfront or when you have to step over somebody parked in front of your building. Despite increased Portland Park Ranger patrol this situation with the “homeless criminal element” that has infested our city has not be able to be managed and remains a menace and a danger.

Your participation is important and dare I say critical. I will do my best as your Residential Representative on Portland Clean and Safe to keep you apprised as to meetings, important decisions and tips on how you can help.

There has been an uptick in car prowl activity in the Portland area. In order to address this, Clean & Safe will be hosting a Car Prowl Summit on December 2, 2014 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. The summit will be a chance to learn about the scope of the problem, justice system/prevention resources, and an opportunity to brainstorm solutions. Please see below for further details.

Car Prowl Summit

Where: Building Conference Room, 200 Market St. Portland, OR 97201

When: December 2, 2014, 2:00-3:30 p.m

Agenda

Welcome/Introductions – Lynnae Berg

Overview of Crime Analysis/Prolific Car Prowlers – Commander Day

Prosecution/Importance of reporting /role of private security – ADA Laurie Abraham

Prevention Strategies/Past Initiatives – Jacob Brostoff

Roundtable discussion of issues and strategies – All participant
Please RSVP to Jessica McDonald at jmcdonald@portlandalliance.com if you plan to attend.

 

Keeping informed is a step in the right direction. Bringing friends and neighbors to meetings is another step. Making sure our collective voice is heard is a really big step. I want to hear from you. Comments… criticisms, suggestions; I welcome them all.

Portland Civility Summit 2.0

Dear Neighbors and Residents,

If you don’t already know me then please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Thom King. I have recently joined the board of Portland’s Clean and Safe program. I will be proudly serving as the residential liaison for Portland Clean and Safe. My goal as residential liaison is to improve the communication lines between Portland Clean and Safe and residents in the area that Portland Clean and Safe services. I am here to answer questions, listen to comment and suggestions that I can bring to our quarterly board meeting.

At our last meeting I was made aware of a meeting occurring on November 17th that will address community issues including those of safety, crime, and livability. I would like to invite you to participate in the Portland Civility Summit meeting and help lend a voice to the concerns of our community.

Here is the official description of the meeting: Participate in a conversation with community members, police, social service agencies, business leaders and city officials. Lend your voice to the conversation on respect, justice, civic duty and community values. And learn what has changed since Civility Summit 2013. Additionally, learn about this summer’s innovative community policing strategies.

You should attend if:
You use and enjoy the public spaces in Portland
You work, play, or live in Portland
You study or worship in Portland
You are a Portland business
You care about our community
You want to know what works to make our public spaces more welcoming and safe
You want to make Portland even better

To sign-up to attend the Civility Summit 2.0 and for more information, visit the Eventbrite page, http://www.eventbrite.com/e/civility-summit-20-tickets-8501477147

Lastly, I encourage you to email me at thom.king (AT) stevivia.com. I can add you to my database and keep you apprised of updates and happenings that affect your lifestyle and community.

Thank you!

Sincerely yours,

Thom King
Board Member – Portland Clean and Safe
Board Member – Flanders Lofts Homeowners Association