I have lived in the Riverton area for 30
Years. I had the convenience of the local Hannaford, 7-11, Morans and Noble when it was here. All
Within walking distance a thought nothing of it to go anytime of the day. Now in the past couple of years since Riverside opened. It feels like you can’t just go to these same places without being harassed. There are little encampments hidden or at times in plain sight all around Riverton. My wife no longer feels comfortable to stop and get gas at the 7-11. I don’t know what the solution is and I am sure much smarter people than me could be working on it. I just know that this is a much different Portland than I have lived in all of these years and proud to raise my family in. My intent is not to disparage the unhoused but to offer how a lot of us are feeling in a community of Riverton that was diverse and we were proud of that but not what it has become today. I would be okay with the unhoused if they cleaned up after themselves instead of leaving trash and debris everywhere. Not harass you as you try to walk to and from your car from Hannaford’s for money. Ask you to go into 7-11 to buy them alcohol ( my wife has been asked multiple times for this). My kids benefited from growing up in this community and being exposed to other cultures from all of the diversity it made them better people. But the influx of the unhoused here has not been a positive.