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Limitless Possibilities

City Vitality—Limitless Possibilities

Forbes Magazine calls Portland a failed city. Like other places in the country, it went from wonderful to war zone almost overnight.  Job losses brought an influx of people without shelter.  George Floyd and election riots led to graffiti, broken windows, and boarded-up buildings. Tensions between Proud Boys and Antifa rose sky-high.  High-rise apartments dwellers descended, heading elsewhere to avoid long lines to get in elevators and the nightly sounds of helicopters and flash grenades. Residents wary of having to step over legs and around tents abandoned the town.

  People used to come to the area for the quality of life. It is close to mountains, beaches, and deserts. Downtown was a lively place with restaurants, theaters, sports, entertainment, and a few churches.

  My vision of a vibrant city is one full of energy, enthusiasm, and activities. They are healthy, lively places focused on art, culture, and learning, they have theaters, galleries, and sculptures reminding us of our history and pointing to our future.  They are places where couples get married and non-profit organizations hold fundraisers that support the important charitable work they do.

  I like to visit cities that spark my imagination, lifting me to a higher plane. They show me possibilities and inspire my dreams. Artists, architects, writers, musicians, and philosophers from every race, sexual orientation, and heritage shine through the cores of great cities. They are the Avant-Garde who question reality and experimented with ideas. They challenge us to think about preconceived notions. 

  Notice, I didn’t mention unsheltered people sleeping on sidewalks. Portland officials struggling to balance individual vs community rights are having a difficult time injecting its downtown with good vibes. I love Portland, and like others, wonder what can be done. 

  Recapturing the unique spirit of our community will only be possible if people feel safe strolling through public spaces and surrounding streets with first-floor shops, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and attractions. Visitors want to relax and get away from the everyday troubles they face at home. 

  We are not alone. According to The Hill, eight cities that stand out as being the worst in the country include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, Oakland, Chicago, and unfortunately, Portland. Twenty others are not far behind.

  Revitalization is possible, but it is compounded by the fact that the U.S. has 35 million illiterate people with  25 percent of youth dropping out of school. The country is saturated with uneducated and mentally ill citizens unable to find and keep a job. They are bringing our society to its knees. Though many are intelligent, lack of learning means they don’t read and are not critical thinkers. Too many listen to conspiracy theories, accept lies as truth, and have addictions. They have put democracy on an unacceptable downward spiral.

  Turning things around costs money, and, as long as we live in a capitalist society, downtowns will require wealthy patrons to support them. Since the government does not adequately support the arts, education, or culture as it does in Europe, we have to depend on those who are rich and on vacationers. Wealthy residents and tourists downtown who pay high rents, stay in hotels, eat out, and purchase from boutiques shops contribute to the center’s economic viability.

  Housing low-income people downtown and allowing tents to be set up everywhere does not help. Poor people can not bring about a resurgence of vitality and creativity. Those struggling at the bottom rung of Maslow’s pyramid are only concerned with finding food and shelter for themselves. I watched a downtown area in Michigan fizzle after prime riverfront property was allocated for low-income housing. The people who moved in were without resources to support the museums, restaurants, and entertainment events that citizens craved—the center died.

  If revitalizing the city is an agreed-upon vision, then  city officials have to take the difficult step of banning tents. They must disappear along with confrontational marches where protesters carry guns and mace and police in riot gear greet them. I would like organizations serving the unsheltered to sell their center-city properties and relocate closer to the camps that shelter them. Circulating mobile units to various sites would be a way to augment what they do. As long as these organizations own buildings in downtown, unhoused people will congregate nearby.

  Because of land use laws, affordable housing in Portland is a dire situation. It will be years before 15,000 temporary mini-houses are built. A compassionate solution would be to move unsheltered people immediately into refugee camps. They should be places with heaters and electricity that let occupants stand upright and sit in chairs. Communal toilets, showers, cooking facilities, and trash receptacles will control the deplorable situation rimming highways as well. What I suggest is not unlike a United Nations refugee camp that takes a week to install. Turkey set up an excellent one in 24 hours serving Syrian refugees. Health and mental services are easier to administer when people live in communities.

  Visions lead to mission statements that set the stage for action. They are seeds that with nurturing can flower into limitless possibilities. Knowing that global warming will bring havoc into the next century, we need vibrant centers that keep us rejuvenated. They will help us remain hopeful as we greet the future and plan with compassion.

References;

Beza, C.( 2019) How can we make our cities more vibrant? BBC Network. retrieved from https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/how-can-we-make-our-cities-more-vibrant

Friendman,N. (2020)Five Key Characteristics of Vibrant Places. Vibemap. retrieved from https://noah-vibemap.medium.com.

Conerly,B.(2021) Death of a City:The Portland Story? Forbes Magazine. retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2021/01/28/death-of-a-city-the-portland-story/?sh=6784a73c74ad

Russell, J.  (2017) United States of Failed Cities. SmartcitiesDive, retrieved from https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/united-states-failed-cities/188291/

Tate, K. (2021) The worst run cities in America.The Hill.  retrieved from 

https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/533365-the-worst-run-cities-in-america

McClelland, M. (2014)How to build a Perfect Refugge Camp. New York TImes Magazine. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/magazine/how-to-build-a-perfect-refugee-camp.html

How is your city faring? Do share your thoughts for its future below.

Art is always for Sale- Limitless Possibilities is acrylic on canvas/ 18” x 24' / $425 /  for information contact me at [email protected].