Once again Matt you are so far away from reality that it isn't even funny anymore.

The word is that the cops are getting ready for the sweep that will happen early this evening. Extra officers and RRT are being called in, which is good, because it is about time that these people move along. This is NOT a "protest", it is just a bunch of lazy idiots who feel entitled to things they do not deserve.

Way to go Matt, the Mayors office just cancelled the 3:30pm press conference.

Matt, hate to complicate your logic, but look up legal realism.

"Portland, we can and should do better. It’s about our self-respect as a city."

Well, this is much better then calling people who don't agree with you "cunts". You're learning.

Matt,

You have a special talent for knee jerk political opinionating. I suggest you get some advanced education in political theory or, better yet, the law. Then, you should become an opinion columnist or pundit. (Think Bill O'Reilly but liberal).

Anybody else want to slag Matt without putting up anything close to an intellectual argument?

I vote for #3 - can we please have #3!?!?!?!

Oh, man. That may be the best blog title I've ever seen.

"That" being the title to Matt's blog.

I really should start thinking about posting in complete sentences.

Let's see. Public space is exactly that. We cannot allow one (tiny) group of people to monopolize usage which is exactly what this group is doing. Plus, they're not really protesting, they're camping. This is obvious because I don't remember seeing such civic minded, constitutionally savvy people hanging around city hall until they got booted out of their last campsite.

If they need help, there are plenty of people who can be convinced to do so but it's not my responsibility, nor is it the general responsibly of the public to take care of everybody who had a bad family. This is not a socialist country. Talk to a rich businessperson or individual investors who would be open to starting up a sustainable cheap housing program integrated with jobs that are suitable for people of their caliber. It is NOT Portland's job to give out free housing to everybody who shows up with a sad face and wretched dog.

How are they monopolizing the sidewalk? There's always been an open walkway--I've never had a problem walking my bike through.

Is mattdavisopenshismouth.com actually written by Matt Davis? If so, why haven't I heard of it before?

Because I'm hopelessly modest, mate. Can't you tell?

Here's the thing: City Council is a representative government. They have to respond to public pressure, and it seems to me that since everyone on Council agrees that sidewalk ordinances and camping ordinances are a good thing (as pointed out in this blog), they're representing the will of the public at large. I really believe that.

I also believe that if the public at large decided the homeless should park their asses anywhere they please, Council would let that happen.

So my question Matt: are you holding City Council responsible for this mess - who appears to be doing their jobs? Or don't you think we should be changing the minds of people and what people think of the homeless?

Unless you are a part of the solution to the homless camping issue then please don't read what Matt is writing he is trying to hold all of us as fellow Oregonians acountable. And he is always spot on. (just saying) kisses and take care

@14: I think city council as a whole needs to rethink its attitude to the camping ordinance and sit/lie ordinances.

Sam Adams, Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman are all in favor of the camping ordinance, and have left Potter out on his own to deal with the protest. The fact is, if they'd gotten together and decided to repeal the ordinance, they could have forced Potter to do it, no matter what kind of "tool" it may be, for law enforcement.

Only Leonard voted against the sit/lie ordinance, since then he has cited civil rights concerns.

It would be nice to see Saltzman say he wants to open up one of his parks as a safe "green zone" for homeless people to camp in, overnight.

Adams is too busy marketing the city to out-of-towners to want to get involved with petty issues like civil rights.

But yes, I do think the change really needs to start in Portlanders' minds. I've read some pretty hateful invective aimed towards homeless people on Blogtown over the last 18 days, much of it surprising for a so-called liberal city. We can't hate people for being poor, and we can't judge them for it. Yet most of us seem pretty ready to do so.

The fact that the protest has reached into so many homes through the media will at least have people considering the issues, and in my mind, that can only be a good thing. Most of us forget about homeless issues until we walk past a panhandler. Not this week.

"These people’s existence, under the current law, is a protest in itself."

And the fact that the turd in my toilet exists is a protest of the burrito I ate last night. The simple fact that homeless exist is a protest. Brilliant. Your logic defies any reason.

The law was made BECAUSE these people choose to camp in places that interfere with others right to walk on the sidewalk.

But your article did solicit a number of comments and probably increased The Mercury's hit count. Nice way to get those web stats up.

When a "journalist" calls a group of people a name like "cunts" anything that "journalist" said that might have been good is lost. Its not taken seriously. That "journalist" is shoved to the side and categorized as "looney", "blowhard", or "crybaby".

Is the point to attract attention to the story? It may work for a few but for most people its a real turn off.

If you want to be taken seriously try acting like a real journalist. Witty insults work much better than "cunts". But maybe that's why this is an alternative paper, because it prints those kinds of words since "regular" media doesn't. But because of that, the "alternative" press is not taken nearly as seriously.

BTW I think most of the insults hurled at the homeless the last 18 days is more of a reaction to your style coverage than pure hatred of the homeless themselves. Your stories attract a certain comment. Kind of like the Portland Tribune attracts a very conservative crowd od commenters.

hi larry, you stupid cunt.

@ 16-

there's a difference between panhandling and being homeless.

@ 16-

there's a difference between panhandling and being homeless.

@ 16-

there's a difference between panhandling and being homeless.