I have a client in Portland, and I visited most weeks from last August until Mid-March. Oregon closed restaurants for dining the week before I left. I'm staying and working downtown, 1 block from the Federal Circuit Court building, and 4 blocks from the Hatfield Federal Building (where most of the protests are happening). I took the metro train from the airport to downtown. It was nearly empty
About half the buildings downtown are boarded up at the street level. Those that are boarded up have graffiti on the boards, but there doesn't seem to be much graffiti on actual buildings. Portland has had a homeless problem for a long time, on virtually every block, even in the winter. It seems like there are more tents than before, and the homeless have moved off the main sidewalks into tents at the edge of parking lots. There also seems to be more of a police presence, and police are now in groups instead of being alone.
Protesters walked by my hotel last night, banging a drum. Many were carrying BLM signs. I didn't see many people who were obvious minorities. Most were college age or under 30. Local news showed footage this morning. It was apparently mostly peaceful. Two arrests for throwing bricks at cops.
The Hatfield building is obviously boarded up, but doesn't look any worse than the other buildings downtown. The Circuit Court building has roses growing around it, and they are all intact. Pioneer Square across the street is nearly empty.
I've never felt unsafe in Portland, and I've walked about 25 square miles over the 7 months I've been traveling there. I probably walked 5 blocks last night, and still didn't feel unsafe. The only bad thing is a lot of restaurants are shut down indefinitely, including nearly all the restaurants at the airport.
About half the buildings downtown are boarded up at the street level. Those that are boarded up have graffiti on the boards, but there doesn't seem to be much graffiti on actual buildings. Portland has had a homeless problem for a long time, on virtually every block, even in the winter. It seems like there are more tents than before, and the homeless have moved off the main sidewalks into tents at the edge of parking lots. There also seems to be more of a police presence, and police are now in groups instead of being alone.
Protesters walked by my hotel last night, banging a drum. Many were carrying BLM signs. I didn't see many people who were obvious minorities. Most were college age or under 30. Local news showed footage this morning. It was apparently mostly peaceful. Two arrests for throwing bricks at cops.
The Hatfield building is obviously boarded up, but doesn't look any worse than the other buildings downtown. The Circuit Court building has roses growing around it, and they are all intact. Pioneer Square across the street is nearly empty.
I've never felt unsafe in Portland, and I've walked about 25 square miles over the 7 months I've been traveling there. I probably walked 5 blocks last night, and still didn't feel unsafe. The only bad thing is a lot of restaurants are shut down indefinitely, including nearly all the restaurants at the airport.
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