The conditions created by all the issues we’ve discussed have prompted some people to leave Portland.
And many of you have differing views about just how much the population is changing. Too many.
People, double the population of last season, the Midwest. And the Midwest has much better infrastructure. A lot of people are moving out of Portland and moving to some of the suburbs.
The latest census data shows the Portland metro area’s population has stayed pretty steady in recent years. We’re just not seeing the explosive growth we did in the prior decade. Molten.
Mccounty, however, where Portland’s urban center lies, has lost people since 2020, while most surrounding metro counties have grown.
With all the issues we’ve explored tonight, the one thing no one shied away from talking to us about is the quality of life in Portland and how it impacts them day to day. I always wish that people were downtown more.
The streets often feel a little empty. I don’t.
Like all the graffiti. I don’t like the homelessness. They don’t like to trash that. The homelessness leaves everywhere.
What is our tax dollars going to? It’s disgusting. Like, and that’s, you know, what we were built on. Like downtown was thriving at one point.
I used to work night shift as a nurse. The homeless, I knew who they were. They knew who I was. Super friendly, very respectful. Now the homeless are super aggressive. If you tell me you don’t have cash, they get confrontational. You don’t feel safe. I’ve had.
Friends that I had to close restaurants cuz people would carry machetes in front of them. People would drop their pants and take food off their plates on patios. And these are expensive joints. Nobody’s gonna spend money if you have to worry about that stuff. You got enough stuff to worry about. Run out of business.
Feel like downtown particularly is dying a little bit. And the other thing is we need better shopping. Maybe that’s something that we can hopefully attract to bring back life.
Creating a more family friendly environment where people that live here and that visit here can travel more comfortably would be a great thing.
I talked to one of our area’s most influential business leaders who’s doing his part to help.
When I meet with my friends who live in the south or other parts of the world, they say, why are you still there?
When it comes to the city of Portland and its issues, Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle does not mince words.
You know, I always thought that peace in the Middle East was the most difficult thing to accomplish. But it’s actually picking up trash in Portland, Oregon.
Boyle has called Portland home for most of his life. And like many others we’ve talked to, he’s been disappointed to see what’s become of the city he loves.
Anybody who’s listening in portal who this is Portland. That’s the same reaction. His.
Concerns go back many years. In 2017, he moved to Sorel headquarters downtown, but quickly wondered whether he made a mistake when employees reported being harassed and threatened.
I’ve been vocal about it. You know, you’re concerned about the public safety of our employees who’s live in Portland and work in Portland. And if you’re gonna say something about it, you better do something about it.
Boyle did, donating $3 million to help build the Harbor of hope shelter in Portland. He’s also donated funds consistently to clean up trash around the.
City. You know, if somebody threw trash on your front lawn, it’s not your trash, it’s not your job, but it’s your frontline. You gotta you clean it up. That’s what should happen in the city of Portland.
In December, he committed to a yearlong project to the tune of around $400,000.
We have an experiment going on. 4:05. We’ll see if the powers to be can make the street in 405 clean.
He’s hoping everyone can pitch in. Promoting a website called how can I help Portland dot com and pushing for billboards that say Portland is, is not a trash can.
Portland is not a trash can. But we need elected officials who realize it isn’t the test trash can.
Ultimately, Boyle did move the Sorel headquarters back to Washington County in 2022. But the Columbia store is still in the heart of the city. Our.
Downtown Portland store was always the tourist destination, and since there are fewer tourists in Portland now, it’s been a challenge. And frankly, there are voices here who would like us to close it. I’m not ready to throw in the towel yet.
I asked him if he thinks things will get better and it turns out he’s resting a lot of his hope on the upcoming local elections for both district attorney and city and county leaders.
Hopefully, we have people there who are not taking the job because they wanna tell people they live in the greatest and that they’re a leader in the greatest city in the world. But there are leaders who say this is tough. I’m a tough person. I’m gonna make it happen, and I’m committed to being a leader that can make the city back to what it. I don’t wanna give up. This is too great a place.
As we said right when we started, this is just the beginning of BC and B Herd Portland. You’ll see much more on this effort in Fox 12 newscast going forward. Thank you for joining us. Now we want all of you to take.
Part. You can go to BCB Herd Portland. Com or the Fox 12 app anytime to share your own comments and questions. Join the conversation and be seen, be heard.
Interaction has to increase and we have to be comfortable talking to one another about these issues.
Hopefully, the right people see it get us back to where we were before it went crazy out here.
If your goal is to change Portland and make it better, I believe this is a good way to start. But I still am coming downtown because I love Portland and I’m not given up on her. Good for you guys to highlight different perspective.