Shared on FB and Twitter though they tend to suppress Substack articles. Great summary of the problem. The personal stories you share really tell the truth.
Mr. Dahlgren writes: "One supporter of Measure 110 said Kotek’s reforms would push people back into the shadows and ‘people will die because of this.’"
Whoever said that, and others like him or her, are one of main reasons, besides gross incompetence, that everyone in Portland, housed or unhoused, is being harmed by homelessness and addiction.
A small group of largely unaccountable and ideologically driven activists have for too long had far too much influence on homeless policies and programs at the city and county level. Whether they're on the homelessness beat or the addiction trail, their views are deeply at odds with the wishes and interests of most Portlanders.
Since they don't (or won't) explain their thinking and objectives in writing and make themselves available in forums where they will answer questions from the public, observers and critics can't really be sure what they stand for or what their agendas are. However, it is possible to get a sense of what they want from what they say to reporters and their comments on social media. It goes something like this:
> Homeless people and addicts are victims of society who bear little or no responsibility for the circumstances they find themselves in.
> When setting priorities, honoring the autonomy of homeless people and addicts fully and continuously is more important than protecting the interests of residents, visitors and, above all, businesses.
> Society has no right to tell homeless people and addicts what to do.
> Society has no right to pass judgment on the choices homeless people and addicts make or on what they do.
> Government owes homeless people and addicts whatever it is they or their advocates say they want, but government must not condition assistance to homeless people or addicts in any way such as requiring them to seek treatment or mental health counseling.
> Business as a whole is not entitled to have a say in city policies and programs on homelessness and addiction or anything else. After all, it's well known that business runs City Hall, and shut up if you're one of those creeps who wonders why any successful business person would back such ineptitude. Business is politically and socially illegitimate and suspect. Its only role is to be bled to death through taxes to fund programs that do nothing to help the homeless, addicts or the public.
> Any elected official who is not fully supportive of activists' agendas on homelessness and addiction is automatically a Republican if not an outright fascist.
Another great article Kevin. Thank you for everything you do. You have many loyal supporters who love you. Don't think for a minute you are alone. We stand behind you.
I can assure you that, outside of these echo chambers, no one believes more detox centers, treatment, or “outreach” is going to do a damn thing to fix these problems. They will, however, maintain full-employment for the Addiction Industrial Complex.
Shared on FB and Twitter though they tend to suppress Substack articles. Great summary of the problem. The personal stories you share really tell the truth.
Mr. Dahlgren writes: "One supporter of Measure 110 said Kotek’s reforms would push people back into the shadows and ‘people will die because of this.’"
Whoever said that, and others like him or her, are one of main reasons, besides gross incompetence, that everyone in Portland, housed or unhoused, is being harmed by homelessness and addiction.
A small group of largely unaccountable and ideologically driven activists have for too long had far too much influence on homeless policies and programs at the city and county level. Whether they're on the homelessness beat or the addiction trail, their views are deeply at odds with the wishes and interests of most Portlanders.
Since they don't (or won't) explain their thinking and objectives in writing and make themselves available in forums where they will answer questions from the public, observers and critics can't really be sure what they stand for or what their agendas are. However, it is possible to get a sense of what they want from what they say to reporters and their comments on social media. It goes something like this:
> Homeless people and addicts are victims of society who bear little or no responsibility for the circumstances they find themselves in.
> When setting priorities, honoring the autonomy of homeless people and addicts fully and continuously is more important than protecting the interests of residents, visitors and, above all, businesses.
> Society has no right to tell homeless people and addicts what to do.
> Society has no right to pass judgment on the choices homeless people and addicts make or on what they do.
> Government owes homeless people and addicts whatever it is they or their advocates say they want, but government must not condition assistance to homeless people or addicts in any way such as requiring them to seek treatment or mental health counseling.
> Business as a whole is not entitled to have a say in city policies and programs on homelessness and addiction or anything else. After all, it's well known that business runs City Hall, and shut up if you're one of those creeps who wonders why any successful business person would back such ineptitude. Business is politically and socially illegitimate and suspect. Its only role is to be bled to death through taxes to fund programs that do nothing to help the homeless, addicts or the public.
> Any elected official who is not fully supportive of activists' agendas on homelessness and addiction is automatically a Republican if not an outright fascist.
Did I forget anything?
Another great article Kevin. Thank you for everything you do. You have many loyal supporters who love you. Don't think for a minute you are alone. We stand behind you.
The beds are empty because the freedom to use drugs and the drug supply is easier than the work of recovery
Great to hear from you again, Kevin. Keep up the good work. There's nobody in town who covers this beat better than you do.
I hope you will be someday be able to tell the full story behind your current legal troubles.
I can assure you that, outside of these echo chambers, no one believes more detox centers, treatment, or “outreach” is going to do a damn thing to fix these problems. They will, however, maintain full-employment for the Addiction Industrial Complex.
So there’s that…
Take a look at Kevin’s viral video: https://twitter.com/kevinvdahlgren/status/1609300954112987137