This Week in the Mercury

Film Shorts

Film

Film Shorts

In Which We Hit It and Quit It


Not in My Parking Lot

News

Not in My Parking Lot

Car Camping Plan Upsets Neighbors



  |  

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Neighborhoods Survey Says: Portlanders' Perception of Downtown Stinks, but It's the Safest Place to Live

Posted by Melanie "The Intern" Johnson on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 10:44 AM

portland__oregon_postcard.jpg
Every year, the city sends a survey out to 10,000 Portlanders, inquiring about their perceptions of city services and quality of life. This month, the results are in!

One of the more publicized statistics from the 2011 survey is that ratings of downtown (sorry, Pioneer District) have taken a nosedive over the past few years. Maybe it's the constantly climbing parking and bus fees to actually get there, maybe it's all the loogies people feel the need to hock onto the city's sidewalks (YOU'RE ALL DISGUSTING), but rankings of downtown as a "good" or "very good" place to shop, live and work have dropped from 69 percent in 2008 to 58 percent this year. The surveys were filled out in July and August, so that perception can't be blamed on Occupy Portland.

But that perception is contrary to the facts: residents of downtown and Northwest Portland reported the lowest crime rate of any neighborhood in the city. Two percent of downtown dwellers reported home burglaries in the past year and nine percent reported car break-ins. Compare that to the statistically most crime-ridden neighborhood: East Portland. Eight percent of Portlanders who live east of I-205 reported homes burglaries in the past year and 24 percent had their cars broken into. Northwest and downtown residents also feel safer both alone and around police than other neighborhoods.

Despite this, everyone should probably head over across the river come the 2012 Zombie Apocalypse— East Portland respondents were by far the most disaster-prepared of all the districts, with 70 percent of reporting that they'd have enough supplies to last their household a week or longer.

Other interesting factoids below the cut!

— Feelings of overall security around Portland police are at a five-year low, with NoPo dropping a whopping 13 percent in citizens' approval of police (down to 53 percent from 66 percent in 2007). Southeast residents report the strongest approval of police.

— Unlike most neighborhoods, Southwest Portland has gotten significantly happier about housing affordability in the area.

— East of the river, Portlanders hate potholes; almost every neighborhood there was markedly more unhappy with the street maintenance process, with North Portland the most ticked off about the state of their streets.

— There is one thing that Portland neighborhoods seem to be united in, and it's concern for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Every survey block reported more speeding cars and were increasingly worried about the well-being of those not in vehicles.

— Meanwhile, the parks are seeing fair use, with 41 percent of residents visiting a city park near their home at least weekly (not surprisingly, the 41 percent figure is an average of some pretty disparate neighborhood numbers — 57 percent of downtown/Northwest residents regularly hang out in their local parks, while only 20% of East Portlanders use theirs.)

 

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Down with sidewalk loogies!
Posted by catbot on December 22, 2011 at 11:07 AM · Report
2
It can be blamed directly on the street kid bums and city subsidized stinking junkies that constantly Occupy Portland downtown
Posted by D on December 22, 2011 at 11:30 AM · Report
3
Every bit as classy as you are relevant, D.
Posted by rich bachelor on December 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM · Report
4
Could the downtown perception be caused by the Boregonian and the Portland Busybody Alliance, Vancouver Lars, Bojack and Victoria? Nah. You might look at statistical significance, the actual "decline" is minor year to year.
Posted by Portland is Great! on December 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM · Report
5
I, quite frankly, am shocked that perceptions somehow clash with measurable reality. Horrors!

Also, that's kind of an awesome/horrifying picture of Harbor Drive. I'm so glad that is no longer an thing.
Posted by The Right Reverend Rocktimus Prime on December 22, 2011 at 12:28 PM · Report
6
The constant barrage of petitioners and spare-changers make me want to avoid downtown.
Posted by LokNaar on December 22, 2011 at 12:55 PM · Report
7
"...rankings of downtown as a "good" or "very good" place to shop, live and work have dropped from 69 percent in 2008 to 58 percent this year .... But that perception is contrary to the facts: residents of downtown and Northwest Portland reported the lowest crime rate of any neighborhood in the city."

This is after you note: "Maybe it's the constantly climbing parking and bus fees to actually get there, maybe it's all the loogies people feel the need to hock onto the city's sidewalks..." Perhaps the perception has nothing to do with the notion of safety? The perception may not be contrary to the 'facts' if the facts revolve around traffic, parking, panhandling, desirable destinations, and so forth.

As a resident of SE Portland, I'm really happy with my options locally between Powell and Woodstock for just about everything. Downtown is the thing in my way between my home and my job.
Posted by Sok on December 22, 2011 at 2:03 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use