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Scottmil's comment IS ridiculous. I can't imagine that he lives downtown where he has to encounter homeless people multiple times a day, sometimes even on his very doorstep. So far I've heard no mention of the street people who don't want any services. Kids known as "road warriors" travel from city to city and pandhandle aggressively; they're loud, they're pushy, their large dogs are frightening to our small dog when we are out walking it, and even to us. And they come to Portland because they know they won't be hassled. The "sit-lie" ordinance didn't stand up in court, city police are too busy with other matters, and business-financed security officers only cover certain blocks and neighborhoods. And yes, homeless people DO choose one city over another; my wife overheard a homeless man telling another one that police made life so unpleasant for him in New Orleans that he made his way to Portland, which has a national reputation for being soft on people on the street.

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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