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BKMS's avatar

This is outrageously sad! I lived in Oregon from age 5 to 30. I grew up in Bend and moved to the Portland area in 1970. I even worked for the Multnomah County DA’s office (Harl H. Haas) for a few years I am appalled by the deterioration of Portland.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

Awh, DA Haas! I went to law school with his second wife! Also, in the 80s, the DA was Des Connell. Remember him? I had several cases, about 20 years ago, against his daughter. She passed away a year or two before he did. Very sad.

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Ken France's avatar

For the life of me, I don’t see how anyone in good conscience could still be doing any commerce with Portland or Oregon.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

Yep! We gave up the dream house we built in 1988 and expected to live in the rest of our lives. Domestic terrorists owned the streets AND way too many residents of our burb, West Linn, were full of hate for anyone they perceived as "conservative."

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Ken France's avatar

It’s awful I can only imagine. Never lived or visited Portland never will.

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John Vezmar's avatar

Those of us who have abandoned Oregon’s communist taxing and regulatory policies, collapsed education system and woke DEI programs experience a deep sense of relief and freedom when we exit the state. Some 35 years ago, Oregon had a booming economy, a brilliant future and an education system second to none. Today’s communist inspired Democrats have sent the state into an economic death spiral – and their willfully ignorant voters refuse to acknowledge their failure by adding more oppressive taxes and opposing President Trump's America First policies.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

Did you see my recent cross-post about Dems demanded taxes be raised? Democrats have lost the ability to discern "cause and effect."

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John Vezmar's avatar

Yes, I did. Democrats are zombies. Bob Hope acknowledged that fact 65 years ago.

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Greg lund's avatar

Years back i also had my insurance, series 6 and 7 licenses and did a lot of business benefit packages. I enjoyed that industry...until 911 hit.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

How did 911 change the insurance industry?

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Greg lund's avatar

Not so much the insurance industry, but it sure became harder to sell other financial products

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

I understand the Patriot Act was drafted in 1998, waiting for an excuse to take more of our freedoms away. That is probably why Clinton ignored numerous warning signs: 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the two 1998 bombings of our foreign embassies, to name just three.

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Debbie Lind's avatar

My Friend’s son and his family live there and they are looking to get out! It is awful what has been done to that city.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

A nightmare! I can't tell you how many I know who have escaped in the last 6-7 years. We left our dream home in 2020. Did you read my article "Portland Is Dying?"

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Debbie Lind's avatar

I did! It is a travesty!!

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

But predictable.

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Scot Winters, MD/PhD's avatar

When I graduated in 1980 with a BSChemEngrg, and years of experience working in electroplating and other chemical processing at Caterpillar, I interviewed at Tektronix in Beaverton, and was involved in a little bidding war for my skills at that time. Then, about a week after my visit, Mount Saint Helens blew up. I decided to go elsewhere at that time. I worked for several more years, before getting my MSMechEngrg, then PhD in ChemEngrg, then MD, residency, and fellowship in PulmCritCare at U of North Carolina, and medical practice in NC for many years. I find it interesting that Tektronix is now planning to move close to me, many years later, together again! Life is a big circle. Welcome Tektronix, to North Carolina!

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

WOW! May I assume that you are close to retirement now? Our biggest regret, for a number of reasons, is returning to Oregon after teaching in Taiwan. In our mid-20s, we should have started adult life elsewhere.

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Scot Winters, MD/PhD's avatar

I never wanted to retire, but I'm now disabled with neuropathy and vasculopathy. Working in a lung disease clinic, I was mandated to get the "vax." I think that's my biggest regret, but at this point in my life, I do wonder how my life would've been different if I'd made different choices earlier in life. Like what if I had taken that job in Beaverton? Things likely would have been quite different. Is it wrong for me to like hearing that maybe it was a good thing for me to NOT move to Beaverton? Sorry, but I do like hearing that maybe I did the right thing? I can't change it at this point anyway. I'm probably not going to go to work for Tektronix when they move here, but I still look back and think, what if? What if? But I'm at peace.

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Phil Hannum's avatar

there were reports in 2017 about employees at Columbia Sportswear's Sorel brand headquarters in downtown Portland expressing concerns about their safety due to the presence of homeless individuals nearby

Key Concerns:

Harassment and Threats: Employees reported being harassed and threatened by homeless individuals near the office.

Camping in Doorways: Homeless individuals were reported to be camping in the building's atrium and doorways.

Car Break-ins and Defecation: There were reports of car break-ins and human waste being found near the office. 

These concerns led to Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle considering relocating the Sorel brand headquarters. He openly discussed the possibility of moving and even wrote an op-ed about the issue. 

Impact on the City:

Protests: Boyle's statements about potentially moving prompted protests outside a Columbia Sportswear store in Portland. Some saw his concerns as an attack on the homeless population.

Increased Scrutiny: The situation highlighted the broader issue of homelessness in Portland and led to calls for increased police presence and city government action. 

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

Phil: THAT has been a concern in many, many areas. My former CPA in Oregon City, who had 10-12 employees, always had a man walk a woman to her car because there was both Section 8 housing AND a homeless camp nearby. In case you were not aware, Section 8 housing is notorious for crimes of all times. Police cars practically live there.

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Phil Hannum's avatar

I was a police officer & Detective, but Falls Church did not have Section 8 - to my knowledge - during the years of my policing. Their current website directs City residents to nearby Fairfax County for Section 8 assistance. I have good friends in NJ that owned rental units & accepted Section 8 renters. The Portland, Oregon, Columbia Clothing flight out of town was driven by longtime employees who had to walk a gauntlet each morning to get to the front doors of their HQ Employer. The homeless people set up tents on the sidewalk, which was also where they pooped. Columbia employees had to Dodge tents, people & ploppers. The hygiene issues crossed the line when the sidewalk-residents started smearing their feces on the glass doors & handles at the HQ front entrance. Hence the move following little support from Elected leaders.

As a tourist, why would I want to visit such places?

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

We had the 25-year-old daughter of a former student come live with us 2014-15. She was from Taiwan. She loved downtown Portland. When she returned for a visit in 2019 she was APPALLED at the homelessness. With Democrat policies, homelessness exploded! There is no homelessness in Taiwan.

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Phil Hannum's avatar

“Culture Shock” does not have to take many years. On the other hand, I have visited Japan about 10 times over the last 20 years…always clean, always predictable, no “shock” because the people drive their culture & do not permit the things our urban governments decline to enforce. Hygiene is very important in Japan, probably Taiwan too.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

I, too, have been to Japan. I have also returned to Taiwan many times over the years. The last time was 2016. Taiwan is not quite as clean as Japan, BUT, the public would NOT tolerate riots, perverts dancing in front of children, etc, which we have tolerated for decades now.

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Phil Hannum's avatar

Pluralistic Society

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Randall Murray's avatar

Tek is my client as well. Systems consulting. This is massive. Sure on one hand not as significant as Dutch Bris due to their prolific stands. But for any long term business knowledgeable person, losing Tek is huge. Not just the patents but they spurred and spun off so many companies. They were the incubator that created the silicon forest.

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Randall Murray's avatar

Also for years people, so called progressives have talked about how bad MS education is. And I “hate” to note to them OR just above. And what’s interesting. Pretty sure MS has a large percentage of those who OR Gov said couldn’t pass tests? Stats seem to imply differently.

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Diane L. Gruber's avatar

Randy: Be sure to read the following. Diane

https://dianelgruber.substack.com/p/portland-is-dying

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Randall Murray's avatar

Did. Not sure why I didn’t see before but caught up. One reason it’s nice when you link past posts in some of your new posts. Thank you.

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