Old Town Plan For Change

PORTLAND, Ore. — They say their community is in crisis with mentally ill homeless, violence and crime.  The pandemic has made it worse.

“Everyone who is living or working here is suffering.”  Homeless, mentally ill people in obvious need of help.  “They walk the streets naked even in winter, they lick our windows.”  But business and community leaders don’t see the city or county doing enough.

Now, Portland’s Old Town leaders are pitching a plan for change.   It’s a 90 day plan to repair, rebuild, and reopen the Old Town corridor.  It has goals for the community, the city of Portland and Multnomah County, like cutting property crime by 40%, removing graffiti within three days and untagged or illegally parked vehicles within 24 hours, making sure sidewalks have 60″ walkway clearance and increasing street light lumens.