This whole situation makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. Portland needs to get its shit together. These people have no place to sleep and no place to even sit and the shelters are already packed. They have NO homes people. Are we that ass backwards that this is how we handle the homeless crisis?

This situation has completely opened my eyes to a new reality that I either ignored or simply haven't seen.

What would happen if a couple hundred of us joined with these folks and simply stood there on the sidewalk? Would the cops just arrest all of us?

Thank you Amy for all the fantastic coverage and especially for getting video up. Unbelievable.

What's the deal with Sam Adams on this issue? What is his stance? How about Sho?

Some questions running through my head:
-Are the shelters packed? Is there some confirmation on that?
-Is it a violation of someone's right to be forced to move to the sides and back of the building like that? Is this an attempt to push the protesters/camp-ins more out of sight? Or is it a legitimate attempt for safety? A combination?
-Why was Larry arrested? Was he being confrontational in his attempt to walk through the cops? Was he trying to walk peacefully through the police and was harassed and then became defensive? Does this distinction even matter? Is it legitimate to arrest someone for walking through a group of cops on the sidewalk, whether or not they're confrontational?
-Were the police well-behaved? Is this the wrong question? Is the correct question: were the police necessary?
-Why did people voluntarily give themselves up for arrest? Was that a misguided attempt to make a statement or a wise decision?
-Why were the protesters moved to the curb side? Is the forced movement a power show or a confusion of legitimate safety concerns?
-Is it the right of people to be able to sleep "wherever they want"?

any thoughts?

Wow, all that these videos prove is just how batshit crazy these "protestors" are. I am so happy the Mayor is finally showing some balls and saying enough is enough. These people need to put some energy into getting a job and taking care of themselves.

Shutting this down soon is a very good thing!

Also, Patrick Nolen is a disgusting human being who needs to get a life. I can't wait to see his fat ass hauled off to jail one of these days soon...or maybe him getting his ass kicked by some cops for interfering. He is a total and complete loser!

I also have to say that the cops were outstanding. They were VERY professional. Good job! Hopefully on Tuesday they can get some stick time on these crap heads though!

PJ,
a lot of those questions are subjective, depending on who you ask you may get different answers. The city says we do not have enough space for everyone to sleep inside. They also say that we need an anti camping law. how we can reconcile those two things I do not know. if a person has no roof to sleep under, it seems unfair to me to also make it illegal for him to sleep without a roof.

"Wow",
I am sorry you feel that way about me. I would imagine if we ever met and spoke, you would find I am a reasonable human being. Hopefully you would realize I am not someone you should wish to get beat up (not that I feel you should wish that on anyone).
Downtown Precinct Commander Mike Reese and I are on good terms, I am not sure, but I do not think he feels I did anything wrong today. Maybe I will ask him next time I see him. We have spoken in the past about the importance of both of our jobs in keeping Portland a great city. The one time while filming today that he asked me to move, I moved, no questions. I was there to observe and film what happened, nothing more.
thanks
Patrick

I visited my City Hall's sidewalks last night. I gave my cell phone number out and will be there with camera rolling if actions happen again. My sense was the protesters are there for both personal and political reasons, and regardless of their purpose, they have rights protected by the constitution which trumps all city laws.

Hey, Mercury editor! Don't you have a intolerance policy about personal invective?

Let's keep the blogs safe for reasonable discussion folks.

dear Wow,

why is patrick nolan a disgusting human being? he's a news reporter. reporting the news with amy. they are a news team. is the guy who works for KATU who shows up with a camera to tape footage of breaking news also a disgusting person?

i guess i don't understand where you are coming from.

actually amy and patrick were the only actual news source down there to cover this story.

i think they made a huge effort to show the patience and calmness with which the police handled the situation, and also the civility that was demonstrated by the protesters.

there were a million ways this whole situation could have gotten out of hand, but everyone did their part to protect people's safety and make their civil protest heard.

the fact that we can view what happened and begin an open discussion about it is a right, not a privilege, and the only ones in the city of portland who made that happen were amy ruiz and patrick nolan.

merc reader #3001,
thanks for your comments. I was there, but I am not a reporter for the Merc (Amy is, but not I) I work for a local non-profit named Sisters Of The Road as their community organizer. I know Amy thru a friend of mine named Matt Davis (also a writer for the Merc) I was at city hall to take pictures of how much of the sidewalk the protest was using (as I have done the last week or so). I felt it was important to have a pictorial record of the protest's "sidewalk use". I just happened to be at the right spot at the right time. (Matt, you have a good round of golf man?). that being said, I did feel it important to let Amy have some of the footage. it is important that other people see the different sides of the protest happening at City Hall right now.
thanks
Patrick

These protests gain no traction because the majority of Portlanders don't have sympathy for those who refuse to accept personal responsibility for their actions. Those who chose to live alternative lifestyles - this includes the dedicated campers who refuse to utilize shelters, those who choose not to seek help for their chronic drug use - have a right to do so as long as they don't impact the lives of the citizens who pay taxes. This isn't about poverty - to suggest so is an insult to those in poverty who conduct themselves with dignity and respect for society.
Portland taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with dealing with the migratory druggies who suck resources away from those who would actually improve their lives with the help.

Jay,
the City itself says they dont have enough beds or housing for everyone. the 1,438 people that sleep outside does not count the 3000 or so that were in shelter of some sort that would otherwise be homeless. the city pays for 3,000 places, but cant afford the other 1438(+). so asking people to just seek out shelter is missing the point a bit.
also, I think you may not have read the protest rules sign "no drugs or alcohol allowed"
The non-profit I work for, Sisters Of The Road, has a great book out about homelessness, "Voices From The Street". from 'Voices' and the database that went in to making it you can learn that A) about 60% of homeless people have a job (and pay taxes) I for instance had 3 different jobs while homeless. B) most homeless people do not start off on the street with a drug problem. and C) the bulk of the homeless population does not travel from the city they last had a home in (Street Roots also has a great article on this)
if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.
thanks
Patrick

We *cannot* have these dirty, non-cultural creative people camping out at City Hall!

Don't they know that the city serves the people in the Pearl and South Waterfront and the Portland Business Alliance? Everyone else does what they're told - got that?

Jay - the police there are the ones who have no responsibility for their actions.

It's been proven repeatedly that discipline of police officers as a joke - cops who commit multiple torts and crimes are not only not punished, but promoted.

However, anything that a homeless person does is manifested in his being homeless - if you've already got yours, you can be a pedophile (Neil Goldschimdt) and nothing will happen to you. If you have nothing, even the smallest transgression will make you an outlaw.

The Oregonian has a more balanced article up about the issue. I love the part where it's mentioned that people should be able to sleep in the north Park blocks with a cop stationed there. Not asking for anything free, eh?

actually, I mentioned that for two reasons "El Seven"
A) there are already more officers posted to "secure" less homeless people, so it would actually save money for the city to have one officer in one spot...
B) you would want it to be recognized as a safe place for people to be at. (part of the reason people sleep in groups is that there is safety in numbers). if you have a cop there, people will feel more safe in the long run.
thanks
Patrick

The city does have the money. Imagine that $200k for helping our jobless and homeless, instead of spending it on a center for illegal workers.
Different priorities is the real issue.....

RICH4MAYOR!!!