Perception and reality in the bus mall
The "perception" issue mentioned in my last post seems to be smacking me in the face repeatedly. I wonder where the general populace gets their impressions, their perceptions that street kids are dangerous and responsible for random violent crimes in downtown Portland. Then I proceed to peruse the local media outlets and what do I find? Semantic evidence of the perception problem being published and distributed for mass consumption. A quote from today's Portland Tribune:
"But now, 28 years later, the mall has become “tired and needs attention,” said Sandra McDonough, president and chief executive officer of the Portland Business Alliance. Bricks have deteriorated, bus stops need fixing and businesses don’t like the ban on cars or the prevalence of the spiky-haired druggies and homeless." (italics mine)
It doesn't take a genius to make the conclusion that in the public mind, spiky-haired druggies=street kids. And most Portlanders know that the bus mall is not the most desirable place to spend an evening. So the conclusion becomes: street kids=the deterioration of the bus mall. Hmmm...
I've been a Trimet soldier for a while now, and taking the 4 downtown in the morning allows me to witness the bus mall/open-air drug market in all its seedy glory. I can safely say that the "businesspeople" that create the lovely ambiance of 5th and 6th Avenues are not "spiky-haired", nor are they homeless. They are drug dealers, professional ones at that. I rarely even see street kids in the bus mall, with the exception of spangers out in front of the Rite Aid entrance on 6th and Morrison.
I realize this is a small detail in a large article, but it demonstrates that placing the blame for downtown's woes on the homeless, particularly street kids, comes quite naturally in the media. I'm sure the average reader digests this kind of rhetoric without notice. And then the next time someone politely asks them for change, they feel that they have been "aggressively panhandled."
Don't even get me started on The Oregonian's seamless connection of the South Park Blocks situation (obnoxious street kids living downtown) with the rash of shootings over the summer (gangbangers from other parts of town, possibly other cities). My question is this: do you have the spine to go and see for yourself? Or do you let other people create your perception?
"But now, 28 years later, the mall has become “tired and needs attention,” said Sandra McDonough, president and chief executive officer of the Portland Business Alliance. Bricks have deteriorated, bus stops need fixing and businesses don’t like the ban on cars or the prevalence of the spiky-haired druggies and homeless." (italics mine)
It doesn't take a genius to make the conclusion that in the public mind, spiky-haired druggies=street kids. And most Portlanders know that the bus mall is not the most desirable place to spend an evening. So the conclusion becomes: street kids=the deterioration of the bus mall. Hmmm...
I've been a Trimet soldier for a while now, and taking the 4 downtown in the morning allows me to witness the bus mall/open-air drug market in all its seedy glory. I can safely say that the "businesspeople" that create the lovely ambiance of 5th and 6th Avenues are not "spiky-haired", nor are they homeless. They are drug dealers, professional ones at that. I rarely even see street kids in the bus mall, with the exception of spangers out in front of the Rite Aid entrance on 6th and Morrison.
I realize this is a small detail in a large article, but it demonstrates that placing the blame for downtown's woes on the homeless, particularly street kids, comes quite naturally in the media. I'm sure the average reader digests this kind of rhetoric without notice. And then the next time someone politely asks them for change, they feel that they have been "aggressively panhandled."
Don't even get me started on The Oregonian's seamless connection of the South Park Blocks situation (obnoxious street kids living downtown) with the rash of shootings over the summer (gangbangers from other parts of town, possibly other cities). My question is this: do you have the spine to go and see for yourself? Or do you let other people create your perception?
4:35 PM
Hey brian,
after a year of blogging I'm pulling the plug...to move on to another challenge. Please remove the link to my site. thanks!!
see ya around
nathan