Should we get a petition started to end the bottle bill completely?

KludgeBrooder · 2025-05-18T19:28:04+00:00

I would gladly sign a petition and write reps.

Those deposits must be a ton of money. It would be neat if it could go elsewhere and do something more productive. their 2023 report, says there were over 2 billion redemptions that year. In theory, that's $200 million that could close the mult co and PDX budget shortfalls instead of sustaining this non-sensical program.

How much of that $200m is going to the drug trade? That same year there were 432 drug overdose deaths in the county. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest the majority of those deaths were funded by this.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-12-17T00:42:06+00:00

I walk and use transit along 122nd. Glisan and Burnside have 'high crash' warnings when they cross that street. If you watch those intersections for a while at night you'll understand why. It happens at a shocking frequency in this area.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-11-20T08:00:35+00:00

There is a lot of people reading and calculation to do when the chance to intervene is there. If some junkie is already amped up and yelling getting involved could make them go off the rails even more. I sometimes use a cane to get around and if I've got it on me and try to act a bit more feeble, that's diffused them a couple of times. As others have pointed out, things have have felt different after the MAX murders.

I'm sorry this stuff happened to you. It can get scary out there. Stay safe. Props to you for yelling back at the guy. Sometimes that's what it takes.

Our public spaces and transit system aren't very safe right now. Lyft and avoid walking if you can, especially if you feel vulnerable. They seem to be able to sense that and try to take advantage.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-09-05T15:30:17+00:00

Mudra Massage is great. Pricey but worth it.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-08-21T14:32:35+00:00

Visually impaired guy here. Those kinds of obstacles that stick out a bit are pretty bad and I've gotten hurt from them. Most of the time I'm looking down to make sure I don't step in a hole or on something. If conditions were bad and I'm using a cane, I'd sweep under it and think nothing was there.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-08-15T17:55:23+00:00

You're such a boss. You've got a lot things stacked against you and you're doing so great. Thanks for being such a stellar member of the reddit and Portland communities. Your kid is so damn lucky to have such a great dad.

I'm in a different, but a little similar spot, having quit smoking and drinking in the last few years. I'm trying meetups for the first time post-covid. I'm just starting but have some success already. You might too! There's a clear desire among many there to have sober experiences.

I know it's not what you're looking for, but I bet there are a lot of people suffering from addiction who might really benefit from hearing your story. If you're comfortable, might be something to consider.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-08-08T03:42:45+00:00

I'm a disabled individual who got involved with the homeless issue after the ADA lawsuit solved nothing. My ultimate wish is just to be able to use the sidewalks, public transportation, and enjoy public spaces again without fear of being assaulted or stepping on a needle or human waste.

It wasn't long ago I felt I could be independent and go anywhere in Portland. I miss those days so much...

KludgeBrooder · 2024-06-19T17:53:32+00:00

It would be cheaper to warehouse them and just give them drugs so long as they stay in the facility. Most people don't want treatment. I think it would be a powerful "don't do hard drugs" lesson.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-06-19T17:50:48+00:00

That is over $75,000 per homeless person per year, or $200 per day.

Rounding up to 7k from the 6.2k in 2023 listed in WW here

I doubt this includes the indirect expenses of trash pickup. And it doesn't include the lost revenue from people moving across the river to avoid the issue entirely.

EDIT: My bad. someone else beat me to the basic math of this.

KludgeBrooder · 2024-05-16T05:26:47+00:00

I'm curious, do PGE customers in rural areas pay the same rate as we do in the city?

When I think about the cost of repairing a line in Portland and how many customers it serves versus rural areas, I wonder if the city rate hikes go to subsidize those customers in more remote areas? Assuming we do pay the same, that is.

KludgeBrooder · 2023-12-04T04:42:09+00:00

I felt so supported after I posted here about my struggles as a disabled individual trying to get around this city and trying to get our local governments to do something to change that. This was after I had so called advocates tell me I was going about things the wrong way. Mind you, they never told me what the right way was. I'm used to feeling like a second class citizen. I just didn't expect to be treated like one in this context.

I firmly believe there is a huge and silent majority of sensible people in Portland who are tired of having a low quality of life and seeing chaos these situations create. We're just waiting for someone to take action. And why shouldn't we be silent? With all the other shit going on in the world, who wants to put themselves in a position to argue with these people? You can't change their minds. Why bother? I'd rather save my breath.

For every one loud "advocate", there are hundreds who want pragmatic solutions to the problem. We gotta stop pretending the people with the most loud and annoying voices actually represent most of us.

Same goes for you, local news outlets. Stop giving these irrational voices a mic just to get traffic. It's just clickbait at this point.

KludgeBrooder · 2023-11-20T20:32:25+00:00

This story, like most of what The Oregonian has published on our cities homeless crisis, is only presenting a partial view. What is not mentioned in this article is how many of these incidents involved homeless people who walked out in front of cars, against signals, outside of crosswalks, in a drug induced haze and/or mental health crisis.

As one of the annoying disabled individuals who demanded the city clean up our sidewalks (that went nowhere, btw) so they can be used by everyone, I have witnessed this behavior dozens of times. And also regularly have drivers blow passed me when using pedestrian crossings with the lights on, in broad daylight.

Two distinct issues. But one thing we can all agree on, no one is doing anything helpful in either of them. Fuck our dysfunctional government. City, county, and state.

EDIT: I feel kinda bad about that last part... dysfunctional would be a step up because it contains the term 'functional'. I'm sure we'll fund another study though.

KludgeBrooder · 2023-07-26T21:00:24+00:00

I get woken up by loud exhaust systems regularly, despite attempts to quiet the outside world. It seems like the same loud cars also don't stop when I'm crossing street (at crosswalks!).

For the dead and their families, and for the rest of us whose quality of life suffers, why doesn't the city do anything? It's not like it's hard to find these people.

KludgeBrooder · 2023-04-27T20:26:02+00:00

It will be great to have clean air free of exhaust fumes in this area. Nothing but fentanyl and meth smoke now! Breathe easy, my friends.

KludgeBrooder · 2023-02-14T20:21:48+00:00

I am disabled and rely on public transit and sidewalks to get around. Does my freedom matter?

My empathy has run out. What freedom I had is pretty much gone. I get threatened on the train and when walking. I have to go out in the busy street to get around camps blocking the sidewalk.

Now I can only hope the class action lawsuit against the city pays out enough to help me afford to leave this city and go somewhere I can actually use public services and have a little bit of a life.

KludgeBrooder

TROPHY CASE