The mayor is being accused of mocking a lady who claims she relocated to Portland, Oregon because of the city’s progressive principles after she questioned him about the homelessness situation in the area.
Gillian Rose criticized Portland’s management of its homeless population during a virtual city council meeting on Wednesday, saying the filthy encampments that are common around the city make life difficult for locals.
Rose, who was clearly in tears, stated, “You have to stop allowing this.” I’m bored up with politicians caving to a woke agenda that has been nothing short of an epic disaster, and I’m furious, unhappy, and disgusted up.
Democrat Mayor Ted Wheeler said, “Thank you, you’ve made your argument strongly plain,” chuckling loudly. We appreciate you being here and offering your viewpoint, so thank you.
Following the meeting, Rose told KOIN-TV that Wheeler had laughed off her worries, which she said “sort of just validated my point.”
It was “very disrespectful honestly and unpleasant to hear,” she continued.
On Saturday, DailyMail.com contacted Wheeler for comment, but they did not answer right away.
Rose talked strongly about the severe effect Portland’s large homeless population has on quality of life during her comments at Wednesday’s council meeting.
She said that she had made the four-year journey to the city from the East Coast because she accepted its left-leaning ideals.
“What’s happened here is not progressivism,” she said, “I came here in hopes of being a part of a progressive community where it felt like its officials cared about social concerns.”
Many homeless individuals litter the streets with their own waste and excrement while openly doing drugs; this is not progressive; it is irrational and disgusting, Rose said.
She reportedly warned the mayor of the city that Portland had indeed turned into a laughing stock around the nation.
Rose described Powell Boulevard as a “open drug market” since it had grown congested with tents and litter.
She said that when she and her boyfriend were out biking on Spring Water Trail, a homeless guy swung violently at them both.
I believe something is very, seriously wrong when you contemplate carrying a rifle or bear mace while riding a bike, she remarked.
When a homeless camp appeared in front of a property that his customers were going to purchase, Rose’s buddy, a realtor, lost the sale.
According to her, a neighbor who works as an occupational therapist at Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center typically treats homeless patients who have burn injuries from accidentally starting themselves on fire or diseases brought on by drug use.
The irate citizen pleaded, “Please stop squandering our money and ruining our wonderful city and please start becoming leaders.”
According to Rose, who spoke to KOIN, the foundation of the homeless problem is undoubtedly untreated drug addiction, and the issue will persist until local authorities recognize and address this issue.
They attribute it to the high cost of housing, Rose added. That is a contributing factor, but it is also enabling, and they are unwilling to give up that story.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic amid the economic slump, Portland’s unsheltered population has increased dramatically.
5,228 persons in Multnomah County were homeless as of January, 3,057 of them were discovered sleeping on the streets.
Wheeler has tried to tighten regulations in locations where camping on the street is permitted in response to the issue’s rising outcry.
Wheeler issued an emergency order banning encampments close to risky highways and the city-approved small house communities that had been built to address the problem.
The injunction was extended in August to prohibit sidewalk tents along important jogging paths near the city’s schools.
However, a large number of Portlanders claim that nothing has changed and that encampments always swiftly reappear following a sweep to remove them.
Residents of Portland have become tired of the rise in violent crime in the city, which saw a record 90 murders, breaking the previous high of 66 established three decades earlier.
Portland is now on track to virtually equal last year’s homicide total.
According to police records, as of this week, the city has reported 68 killings in 2022, which is almost equal to the 69 homicides recorded at the same stage last year.