Much Ado About Trash

It seems as if garbage is the number one concern around here. More often than not, there are changes made to the trash and recycling scheme. Reminders are issued, rules are revised, bins are moved, and containers are revamped. Yet, rules are broken with great aplomb.

One unit owner recently complained that the recycle bins prevented her from moving her car in and out of her parking space in the garage. It was explained that she was forced to manually move the blue recycle containers, move her car, and then replace the recycle bins in order to maneuver her vehicle. There are other cars that would be similarly affected but no other complaints are known to have been voiced. Nevertheless, the row of eight or so blue recycle containers have been replaced by one large open container, relieving one driver’s distress. Numerous new signs have been placed describing what goes where.

Today two additional containers were noted in this area, one clearly labeled for plastic bags. Previously plastic bags were tossed in with the recyclable plastics, but recently it was announced in the form of a reminder that plastic bags were not to be included. Now there appears a separate container for plastic bags only. However, that container looks to be more a potpourri of, well, trash.

With all the trash talk, there are whispers. Those who want to do the right thing wonder what to do with styrofoam that is too large for the trash chute, and where to dispose of compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, and how to rid themselves of toxic batteries. No matter really. Those who do not wonder just do.

The City Has Rules

Participants at the City Hall encampment were issued warnings today. They were presented with fliers detailing city code and enforcement policies.

OregonLive.com reported today, “The flier reminded campers to remove all personal property from sidewalks, to not obstruct other sidewalk users, to remove all structures from the sidewalk, that marijuana use and open alcohol containers are prohibited, and that ‘no one should be having sex on the sidewalk’ in accordance with public indecency laws.”

 

City Hall Today

One protester set up camp in front of City Hall one month ago. He announced a hunger strike, at first “mostly fruit juices” and then “a liquid diet.” He sat on the sidewalk’s edge surrounded by signs and a handful of supporters, eager for publicity.

Now beginning his second month, city council members have each expressed their lack of support, not for the homeless but for the growing encampment, its message, and its methods. It has been reported that last Sunday night, 70 or more “supporters” joined the new encampment. Sleeping bags, tarps, blankets, and debris continue to line the street.

A hunger strike appeared not to be a huge draw. This protest was slow to grow. Perhaps the emergence of a food source might change the character of the protest. We have seen it happen before.

 

The New Encampment

The Occupy Portland takeover of Chapman and Lowndesdale parks ended back in November with a major confrontation with police in riot gear and a few dozen arrests. Since then, there have been sporadic attempts at re-encampment and promises of more to come. Nevertheless, the Occupy Portland movement has been essentially quiet, joining forces from time to time with protests of specific interest groups. One Occupy Portland activist took a stab at running for mayor. He now has planted himself in front of City Hall. His latest antic includes a hunger strike.

Cameron Whitten has established a section of sidewalk in front of City Hall as his new home. He is surrounded by a handful of cronies and a plethora of signs, akin to what was seen just across the street at the Occupy Portland encampment last fall. He purports to be advocating an end to homelessness. To this end, he remains around the clock in plain sight. He is on day 21 of a self-imposed hunger strike. He reportedly is living on a liquid diet consisting mostly of fruit juices.

Handouts are available describing the grievances and demands of this 21-year-old who only recently was associated with Occupy Portland but is now trying to make a name for himself and himself alone.

I found Cameron Whitten on this 21^st day of his hunger strike at his station. He was friendly and jubilant, and was eager to smile for the camera.

Mitt Romney Draws a Crowd

Mitt Romney held a fundraiser luncheon this afternoon at the Governor Hotel on SW 11^th Avenue and Alder Street. Attendance at the event ranged from $2,500 to $50,000 per plate.

The crowd gathered flowing into the street and chanting all the while. Police were on scene.

Protesters from the Occupy Portland movement were joined by Planned Parenthood and the AFL-CIO.

The 99%

Election Day has come and gone. Results are in. Charlie Hales with 38% of the vote and Jefferson Smith with 31% of the vote will compete in a runoff election in November.

Cameron Whitten, representing “the 99%” placed fifth, collecting 1086 votes.  His tally represented 1% of the votes, according to statistics provided by KATU News (and others).

Ironic? Running on the heels of his activities with the Occupy Portland movement, Cameron Whitten spent the last few months raising hell in opposition to “The 1%.”

Kilroy Was Here

.

.

We noticed fresh graffiti at many street corners along SW Broadway today. In large white chalk lettering was written “Cameron Whitten for Mayor.” Graffiti.

 

Chapman Square Today

The effects of the Occupy Portland protest movement and its demands for political and economic change remain unknown to date. The effects on just one park, Chapman Square, are evident now, six months later, as the park continues to undergo restoration.

23 Hats

Our mayor is not seeking reelection. Twenty-three people have tossed their hats in the ring to fill the vacancy. It is a rather interesting group vying for the position. Among the candidates are two individuals with criminal records: Tre Arrow, an environmentalist activist, who pled guilty in 2008 to two charges of arson and just recently was arrested on charges of domestic violence, and Cameron Whitten, age 20, a leader in the theoretically leaderless Occupy Portland movement who has been arrested numerous times for his activities in connection with the movement. Portland city code allows residents with criminal records to run for the office of Mayor.

Other candidates include two community college students, a manager of a Red Robin restaurant, several candidates linked to cashiering, management, or ownership of convenience stores, a “single, disabled homemaker,” and a taxi driver, among others. There appears to be a few candidates in the mix with at least some political background or relevant experience. We can hope that Portland does not show its “weird” side on election day.

Time of Renewal

Our walk through downtown this afternoon through the rain and blowing wind was met with the re-emergence of Occupy Portland. They are out today to renew their efforts and join a national day of unified protest. Their route remains intentionally undisclosed; their goal to protest large corporations. They plan a deliberate attempt to disrupt business and the evening rush hour.

Participants assembled in late morning and began their march through downtown. Their chants are accompanied by drums and whistles as helicopters hover above. Police on bicycles, motorcycles, and on foot are stationed around the downtown area waiting for their call to action. Police in full riot gear are similarly ready and waiting.

Yellow umbrellas are the signature banner of the day.

Usually the early signs of spring take center stage now. Daffodil stalks are emerging, cherry trees are budding. However, nature is unseen today amid the clamor of protest.

Yesterday’s News

The Occupy movement has had some strong supporters, both in the public spectrum and in the political arena. Many have attended rallies and protests, some have been guest speakers, and still others have been enthusiastic spokesmen. The most outspoken come from the suburbs, from 4- and 5-bedroom houses on quiet cul-de-sacs, to spout their wisdom and spur the underemployed, the unemployed, and the homeless to spectacular newsworthy acts. They encourage encampments and promise such bases will be reestablished.

Who pitches tents on public property? Who chains themselves to fixtures and to each other to make arrests more demonstrable?  Who climbs and mauls public art work? Who carries signs and placards through rush hour traffic and downtown streets? Not the supporters from the suburbs.

Who pays for repair and restoration of the damage and destruction, the public security, the city employee overtime? Not the supporters from the suburbs.

Those of us living and working in the city did not have to visit an encampment to know what went on; we could not avoid it! We did not have to watch television news to see police in riot gear; they crossed our paths. Small businesses incurred extra costs for needed added security and then watched business traffic decline as patrons chose to stay safe and stay away. Employees were docked for lost days because of businesses that had to shut down or because they were afraid to show up for work.

It is city dwellers whose taxes pay for all these efforts in the name of the 99% – city taxes, and now Clean & Safe. We pay for that, too.

From the President of Clean & Safe: “The Mayor’s office informally asked if Clean & Safe would be willing to donate $4500 to restore/fix the bronze elk statue on Main Street, whose antlers are believed to have been damaged during the Occupy Portland protest.  The Executive Committee approved this donation on behalf of the full board, and tomorrow the Mayor’s office will issue a press release thanking Clean & Safe for providing the funds to restore this iconic, century-old City treasure.”

Occupying the Condohood

From Occupy Wall Street to Occupy Portland to Occupy the Condohood, the Occupy movement continues to spread.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has swept across our country and around the world and now  has taken root in our own private living space. The concept that a group can take over a park, a street, a port, or a community room because it belongs to them, presupposes that it does not belong to anyone else. They occupy to suit their own whim or fancy. Whether in protest or with narrow-mindedness, it is an occupation that meets the needs of a few in the face of many and with the belief (or so they say) that they are acting on behalf of everybody.

Condominium living combines private ownership with joint ownership. Individual units within a building or complex are privately owned with common areas owned jointly. The dictionary defines it:

An apartment house, office building, or other multiple-unit complex, the units of which are individually owned, each owner receiving a recordable deed to the individual unit purchased, including the right to sell, mortgage, etc., that unit and sharing in joint ownership of any common grounds, passageways, etc.

 

When common space is decorated by one or a few to satisfy their own personal religious or cultural beliefs without regard for all of the members, they are occupying that space. Some may need a reminder, but Christmas is a religious holiday, even if some extract only the cultural aspect by their own design. Decoration of a common area with a “holiday” theme eliminates Jews, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witness, atheists…to name only a few, from enjoyment of their space. Like the Occupy Portland protesters who took over our parks, calling it theirs and preventing others from the enjoyment of those parks, our community room has been similarly occupied.

Our community room has become the Christmas room. Whose common space?

Shemanski Park

I am learning Portland geography, one park at a time, thanks to the Occupy Portland movement. As they take over a park and bring the city to its knees, each park becomes known to all of us, and by formal names I, for one, did not even know existed.

Those of us who live and/or work downtown know the South Park Blocks well. We are familiar with the landmarks that line the perimeters, the sculptures and fountains and the varieties of flowers and trees that are hosted. Now we know (and perhaps I stand alone) that the South Park Block between Main Street and Salmon Street is Shemanski Park, featuring the Shemanski Fountain, donated by a businessman by that name.

Occupy Portland has decided to use Shemanski Park as its base. They have tried to set up an encampment in the past few days and riot police were forced back into action to clear this park. This of course, follows the ruination of Chapman and Lownsdale Squares by such encampments since the Occupy movement began. Relentlessly, the occupiers returned several times, and after a few confrontations, numerous arrests, and a dwindling crowd over the course of several days, the occupiers can still be found, with tables and chairs, food, and signs, and just enough participants to call themselves a camp. Under the guise of darkness they come alive, their numbers grow, and their bold and outrageous behaviors erupt.

Shemanski Park by day. Occupy Portland demonstrates its intent to establish a new encampment here.

Tents or No Tents

On Facebook today, a friend posted about people pitching tents outside stores in her area. This followed this morning’s local news here about 50 people erecting tents in our South Park Blocks. Naturally, I assumed the facebook post was about the Occupy movement somewhere. Because she posted about people pitching tents in front of stores in wait of Black Friday shopping deals, I assumed the Occupy movement was setting up early to prevent shopping. It took me a few minutes to realize that the tents of which she spoke were set up by eager consumers vying for the best access to the limited quantity Black Friday deals yet a week away.

On the home front, however, 20 policemen were at the scene at the South Park Blocks and SW Jefferson Street this morning de-tenting five newly erected tents and leaving about 50 people in the park untented. About noon, we ventured out. Caddy corner to our building, a police paddy wagon was parked. One block further, a group of protesters gathered where the tents had been, their chants audible several blocks away.

This evening, the Occupy Portland group held their nightly general assembly at that same location. Their speeches, echoed in chorus by the group, were heard from a distance. It has been reported that their goal is to occupy our South Park Blocks at least overnight tonight, sleeping bags only, in an effort to thwart the law.

I do not ever recall hearing about tents being pitched in anticipation of a big sale. Apparently camping wherever you happen to be and for whatever reason has become quite popular.

 

Occupy’s Gift

From the people who chanted “whose park – our park” for the past 5 weeks, the people who said the parks belong to them, they give us, the taxpayers, Chapman Square today.

Not one blade of grass survived.

Business As Usual

Brilliant colors of autumn adorn our downtown landscape. This late explosion of color is attributed to the unusually warm autumn weather. Our routine afternoon walk through downtown proved to be nothing out of the ordinary, but adorned by a blaze of color.. Shoppers filled the streets, traffic flowed as usual. Buskers dotted the sidewalks with instruments and voice. The hustle and bustle of Saturday afternoon downtown was business as usual.

At Terry Schrunk Plaza, Occupy Portland conducted several workshops. At one such workshop, a Lawyer’s Guild prepared a group of interested protesters intent on being arrested for civil disobedience in what to expect.

In the hours and minutes before midnight, the moment the city and the Occupy movement face off, life goes on.

 

War Zone

The City of Portland has given Occupy Portland participants until midnight tomorrow night to leave the occupied parks and take all their belongings with them. In the meantime, police have been busy removing hazardous materials and potential weapons from the parks. City workers from various agencies are circulating through the encampment offering assistance and making information available regarding social services.

 Police are readying themselves for the forceful removal of all persons from the parks. As they plan, so plan the occupiers.

Occupy Portland has numerous activities planned throughout the day tomorrow. Various groups in support of the movement are expected to march through the city during the daytime. In the evening, an “Occu-Fest” is planned – a “family friendly” potluck dinner with music and dancing in the park, and everyone is invited, from Portland’s 99% to supporters from the region and around the country. The festivities are scheduled to continue until the partygoers face the armed brigade at the midnight hour. Movement spokesmen have stated that they will not leave the parks. A confrontation is inevitable.

There are reports of “as many as 150 anarchists” joining the protest. There are also reports of weapons being collected, created, and readied at the encampment. In rebuttal, organizers insist that they are peaceful and will conduct themselves with passive resistance. The police chief has suspended all leaves and every police officer will be working 12-hour shifts until further notice. Even Mother Nature has interjected much colder, wetter weather.

Our mayor has been taking measures to prepare the protesters, the citizens of Portland, and cities across the country for what is about to happen and why. He has penned open letters to Occupy Portland, given local press conferences, appeared on National Public Radio, and tonight on the PBS NewsHour. His message is clear: the eviction is imminent. David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times and analyst on the PBS NewsHour following the Mayor’s statements, said it best: “You have a right to raise issues, you have a right to protest. You don’t have a right to occupy parts of your city.”

We are 6 blocks from the encampment, and only 5 blocks from Terry Schrunk Plaza where the occupiers have recently expanded to a third camp. With a call for supporters from anywhere and everywhere to join in a show of solidarity, it is unlikely that a confrontation can be confined to just the current encampments.

We will hunker down. As events unfold in the coming hours, I hope that the peaceful view from our living room window remains unchanged.

Echoes of the Past

Our mayor announced today in an open letter to Occupy Portland that the encampment has proven to be unsustainable as it exists. He warns of changes that must happen, “But we cannot wait long,” he urged. “I look forward to
finding solutions in the coming days,” the mayor concluded.

We can presume that the participants in the encampment will not simply pack up and leave when asked. Based on behaviors of the past few weeks, we can also assume that they will be asked several times and then warnings will be issued, and the process will take some time.

From the beginning, we have seen peace signs in the camp as well as at rallies and demonstrations. We have seen participants flashing V for victory signs. Will their final hour be marked with chants of “Hell, no! We won’t go!”?

 

Call for Positive Change

The Occupy Wall Street movement which has been emulated and replicated in cities and towns across the country and around the world initially had specific (although vague) grievances. They complained of economic and political  inequities dividing the very rich from the rest of society. They had then, and continue to have, no specific agenda or plan, their plan only to demonstrate their anger and their frustration through unending sit-ins, as well as rallies, marches, and demonstrations.

Costs to local governments, businesses both large and small but particularly small, and taxpayers have been high and climbing on a daily basis. In Portland, occupied public property (Lownsdale and Chapman Squares) has been destroyed. Even the women’s public bathroom in that area has been destroyed and has been shut down. Police protection has been increased to maintain and sometimes restore peace. Small businesses see patronage decline sharply, especially in the area nearest the encampment and along march routes and near demonstrations.

It seems likely that serious health concerns will develop and more services will be required not only for the encampment, but for the community at large.  Meanwhile, helicopters circle overhead daily adding ominous overtones to the area.

It is apparent that the encampment is not occupied by the same people involved in the Occupied Portland movement. The encampment has become a filthy, rat-infested, overcrowded ghetto with drugs and alcohol flowing openly. These are not the organizers, the participants, the supporters of a movement seeking change.

The Occupy movement needs to work for the people, not against them. For real change to happen, we need to change the political structure. Why does Occupy Portland not seek candidates to promote and support for public office? Portland has an upcoming election to replace Congressman David Wu. Why not start there? Even late support for a write-in candidate would be a beginning.

City leaders claim to have open dialogue with Occupy Portland organizers. Dismantling the encampment and instead providing a small storefront from which they can coordinate activities has a better chance of positive action versus the chaos and destruction that accompanies the present method. Work with Occupy Portland ensuring permits for demonstrations, marches, rallies, and events.

Let’s clean up this mess before the clean-up requires drastic measures!

Pied Piper Needed

As the Occupy Portland movement continues, their activities have been newsworthy. One of their newer goals seems to be expansion. Their first attempt in Jamison Park in the Pearl District led to 27 arrests, thankfully peaceful. A second attempt in Terry Schrunk Plaza similarly ended in arrests, this time 10. The encampment continues to attract more “participants,” leading to filthier, overcrowded conditions.

The establishment of a tent city in Lownsdale and Chapman Squares downtown has attracted homeless people. That population continues to grow. Drug and alcohol abuse is reportedly rampant. Mental illness comes alive in the hours of darkness. How many actual protesters inhabit this space is unknown. Some protesters have stated publicly that their desire to expand to other parks is primarily because they cannot continue to live with the current conditions.

The face of the encampment has changed dramatically since the occupation on October 6. At that time, participants were clean, enthusiastic, and energized. Slowly that presentation has evolved to match the current squalid conditions. Interestingly, a recent rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square with benefit performance for Occupy Portland by Pink Martini and Storm Large attracted a crowd of about 2,000, all clean, lively, and notably older than those at the encampment. Those protesting at Jamison Park were also notably more presentable and with purpose.

It looks like the encampment is attracting homeless, lost souls. Here they have a place to congregate and are provided food and supplies through donations to Occupy Portland. They abuse illicit drugs and alcohol openly. However, the encampment does not empty out to participate in marches and rallies. My guess is that most of these people do not even know what day it is.

As conditions continue to deteriorate, there is ample evidence of need for a Pied Piper. I suspect the approaching colder weather will not impact either population.