PORTLAND, OR – Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has been jumping back and forth on positions regarding the nightly riots that have taken over the city, and even those positions he’s been swaying left and right from aren’t even that well solidified either.
It’s incredible that @PortlandPolice officers have to tolerate this total lack of leadership.
Portland Mayor Says Let Violence ‘Burn Itself Out’ as Police Detail Nightly Destruction https://t.co/IWv7Xf1ikJ
— Betsy Brantner Smith (@sgtbetsysmith) August 27, 2020
For instance, Mayor Wheeler recently said that it’s time to stop the rioters:
“We have allowed our proud tradition of progressive protest to be stolen by a few dozen individuals engaged in violence and criminal destruction.
They’re intent on creating mayhem and attacking and harming people, not just property. Enough is enough. It’s time to rise up and to take immediate steps to repair and beautify our city.”
Then, within the same week, Mayor Wheeler said that he expects protests to get violent, but if left unchecked then it “will ultimately burn itself out.”
The mayor explained recently during a radio show appearance that the Portland Police Bureau have “tried everything”, and that some things have worked well while others have not:
“[The police have] tried everything from not showing up to preemptively dispersing crowds, and some of those strategies, in my opinion, have worked well. Others have not worked well. My expectation is the police bureau will evolve, and as they see a need for change, they’ll change.”
Perhaps one of the biggest follies from the mayor in all this, since he essentially is one of the most prominent proverbial blowhorns in the city, is that he’s taken months to actually suggest that maybe the protests are getting out of hand.
THREE MONTHS TOO LATE: Portland Mayor denounces nightly riots, promises business leaders he will do something to improve downtown https://t.co/cX7UmIFcPx
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) August 28, 2020
During the August 26th comments where Mayor Wheeler acknowledged that it’s time to end the rioting, he finally managed to point out a high-profile incident that was caught on camera that painted the rioters in a negative light.
Namely, he referenced the brutal beating of a man who was pulled out from his truck and mercilessly attacked by rioters:
“Rising up to decry structural racism is a noble cause; pulling people from their vehicles and beating them in the street is a horrific, violent crime.”
Mayor Wheeler later suggested that police and protesters need to “virtually lock arms” in order to end the violence and destruction in the city. I think that was already tried in Portland on June 2nd, when Portland Police Chief Frank Clark and Portland City Manager Jon Jennings took a knee to show their ‘solidarity’ with protesters.
Portland police chief, city manager take a knee with protesters in latest demonstration – Portland Press Herald https://t.co/UwnpeleUG2
— educated derelict (@deviousfranklin) June 3, 2020
Yet here we are nearly three months after that display and obviously that didn’t accomplish anything.
So, it’s with little surprise that local in the community are not at all convinced of Mayor Wheeler’s words on addressing the riots and making things all better.
Stacey Gibson, the owner of a Subway franchise in located downtown Portland, stated the following about Mayor Wheeler’s recent comments:
“There’s no consequence for the crimes that are being committed here and that’s not OK…Honestly, for me, it’s just a bunch of words.
He’s been saying a lot of different things and to me actions are the only thing that matters. I am so frustrated with the way the city is handling everything. We’ve got three months of rioting going on here, its absolutely ridiculous.”
And the businesses around the area appear to be packing up shop thanks to all the riots.
The businesses leaving aren’t just your local mom ‘n pop joints either – these are bonafide businesses like Google, Microsoft, Banana Republic, AirB&B, Saucebox and Daimler Chrysler.
Developer: Businesses leaving downtown Portland over riots https://t.co/k4FQeSRGoR pic.twitter.com/I4aKL67hhi
— KOIN News (@KOINNews) August 24, 2020
Greg Goodman, the co-president of the Downtown Development Group, wrote a letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler explaining what the unchecked riots is doing to Portland economically.
According to Goodman, this madness is creating an exodus the likes of which he’s never seen:
“The number is like nothing I have seen in 42 years of doing business in downtown.”
Why would a new crowd of businesses show up? Who would wanna set up shop in Portland when the potential to loosing their shop to the next mass riot is a risk? It’s already hard enough being a small business owners as is so why go to a place that has more risk?
— Joe B 🇺🇸 (@burritobritoboy) August 25, 2020
Of course, who could blame any business wanting to leave Portland?
It doesn’t even take a incident within the city of Portland for people to begin rioting and destroying businesses and attacking police officers that have zero to do with the source of the mob’s ire.
Goodman further stated that you could contact just about anyone that deals in commercial property in Portland and they’ll tell you that people want out of the city when it pertains to their business:
“The list goes on and on. If you know a retail or office broker, give them a call and ask them how many clients they have are trying to leave.”
While the letter penned to Mayor Wheeler didn’t specifically say that Black Lives Matter was to blame for the exodus of businesses, Goodman did write that is “does have most everything to do with the lawlessness you are endorsing downtown.”
Linneas Boland-Godbey, a local who happens to be a protester, is one who also decries the destruction happening in the city by the hands of the rioters present night after night:
“I understand and I see the frustration because I’m just like, it’s like, burning a mattress for me or a dumpster, doesn’t necessarily help my community. And that’s why I’m out here being, like, can we do a different form of protest besides burning down something?”
Goodman’s letter to the mayor claimed that he was neglecting his duties to keep the city in order:
“You aren’t sweeping the streets, needles are all over the place, garbage cans are broken and left open, glass from car windows that have been broken out is all over the streets, parks are strewn with litter (their fountains turned off) weeds are taller than the plants in the planter boxes, graffiti is on sculptures, etc.”
“You are willfully neglecting your duties as elected officials to keep our city safe and clean.”
And yet, the only thing Mayor Wheeler can address is…The Proud Boys?
“I vehemently oppose what the Proud Boys and those associated with them stand for, and I will not tolerate hate speech and the damage it does in our city.”
While some may not agree with the group’s political stance – the group hasn’t been responsible for any of the damage to property or looting in the city. No one has had to file an insurance claim for their business or personal property because they heard an opinion they don’t like.
When will this madness cease?
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