To the Editor:
Re “Challenging Portland’s Identity Amidst the Homeless Crisis” (featured on the front page, July 29):
Your article discussing the homeless issue in Portland, Oregon, was an affront to a city that is experiencing a renaissance. Portland has become a great city due to the care for community, historic preservation, and excellent urban planning. These values still hold true today.
As someone who has been walking downtown for the past three years, I can attest that I rarely feel uncomfortable. We are witnessing a recovery this summer with clean streets, cultural events, farmers markets, and new establishments. Our museums and Portland State University add vibrancy to the city. Foot traffic is on the rise, as demonstrated by the Starlight Parade in June and the constant influx of people enjoying themselves downtown. However, these positive aspects are not highlighted in the media. We deserve more accurate and positive portrayals of our city.
I am a third-generation Portlander, and I will continue to support and believe in my city. I am not alone in this sentiment.
Linda McKim-Bell
Portland, Ore.
To the Editor:
Although this article rightly emphasizes the role of drugs, especially fentanyl, in exacerbating Portland’s homeless crisis, it fails to fully acknowledge the impact on those who have homes. Murders of homeless individuals are well-documented, but what about the attacks by the homeless on other residents and tourists? How does the presence of unhoused individuals affect local businesses? Don’t taxpayers have a right to expect clean, safe, and accessible streets and public spaces?
The Oregon House Bill 3501, a problematic legislation that aimed to legalize tent cities and camping across the state, reflects the permissive approach to progressive causes in Portland. It creates an impression that anything goes in our city, regardless of the consequences.
When we, who are ill-equipped to handle addiction and mental illness, express concerns about behavior, we are accused of lacking compassion and told that the situation is complex. But the reality is that our government, at all levels, has failed to provide adequate support for those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues. They prefer to perpetuate the oversimplified notion that unaffordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness. Both the unhoused and the housed deserve better.
Stan Vernon
Tom Fischer
Portland, Ore.
To the Editor:
This article, while poignant, unfortunately perpetuates unwarranted stereotypes about homelessness in Portland. Specifically, it mentions a Tennessee couple who came to Portland due to the city’s reputed generosity toward the homeless. However, the cited government data from a 2019 report does not support this claim. According to the survey, only 7 percent of the homeless population reported moving to Portland for access to services, and the percentage of non-locals among the unhoused is similar to the general population.
The root cause of homelessness lies in unaffordable housing, as demonstrated by a study conducted by the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco. It is essential to recognize that blaming individuals experiencing homelessness only perpetuates the problem. We need to address the issue of affordable housing if we truly want to solve homelessness.
Luke Habberstad
Eugene, Ore.
Trump celebrates U.S. Women’s Soccer loss
To the Editor:
I read the headline “Trump Blames ‘Woke’ Team for U.S. Loss at World Cup” (news article, Aug. 8), and I had to do a double-take. The U.S. women’s soccer team lost to Sweden in the World Cup on Sunday. It is crucial for all Americans to acknowledge their efforts and thank them for their valiant fight.
However, in Donald Trump’s mind, their loss somehow represents the state of our nation under President Joe Biden. This attitude, using a defeat to gloat and satisfy personal political aspirations, is beyond the acceptable behavior of an ex-president. It shows a lack of sportsmanship and an obsession with division.
In contrast, President Biden congratulated the team and expressed anticipation for their future accomplishments. Athletes pour their hearts, souls, and commitments into their sport. This defeat should be an opportunity for reflection and growth, not a cause for gloating.
Doris Fenig
Floral Park, N.Y.
Supreme Court justices writing books
To the Editor:
In response to “Supreme Court’s Side Hustle: Millions’ Worth of Book Deals” (featured on the front page, July 28):
I find the outrage regarding Supreme Court justices writing books to be unwarranted. Justices should have the same rights as any other individual to publish a book if publishers are willing to offer them a significant sum of money. This is simply our free-market system at work. The concern should be limited to any improper use of court resources. The act of writing a book itself should not be cause for concern.
Candace Singer
Port Washington, N.Y.
The need for drug options for patients
To the Editor:
When we discuss price negotiations in the drug industry, we often overlook the consequences that can impact the availability of “me too” drugs. These medications, which may have slight variations from existing prototypes, are deemed clinically insignificant by public health experts. However, for individuals like myself who live with conditions like multiple sclerosis, these “me too” options can be life-changing. Patients with thousands of diseases that lack a cure rely on having options B, C, and D when confronted with limited treatment choices.
Politicians believe that reducing the development of new medicines will solve the problem of healthcare costs. In reality, what we truly need are more choices and alternatives, not restrictions.
John Czwartacki
Washington
The student-athlete facade
To the Editor:
In response to “Ever-Shrinking Pac-12 Loses Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten” (Sports, Aug. 5):
The demise of the Pac-12 Conference, which now consists of only four schools, highlights the charade of the student-athlete. National athletic conferences are primarily driven by greed, with universities reaping substantial financial benefits while student-athletes are left with minimal compensation. The perception of these individuals as students is rapidly diminishing as they spend more time traveling across the country to compete.
It is high time for the government to step in and enforce labor laws that will ensure student-athletes receive fair wages and overtime compensation for their time away from home. They should also have the right to negotiate for their market value. Furthermore, universities operating these lucrative sports businesses should be required to pay taxes.
Jim McManus
Phoenix
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