Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Leaving Downtown Portland

With the connivance of Mayor Ted Wheeler, the Black Lives Matter rioters, accompanied by Antifa fascists have succeeded in destroying downtown Portland, Oregon.

After three months of rioting, businesses are leaving downtown. What remains will be a burnt out shell. 


Fox Business has the story:


Greg Goodman, the co-president of the Downtown Development Group, said in a letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler and members of the Portland City Council that the exodus of companies wasn't related to the Black Lives Matter movement “but does have most everything to do with the lawlessness you are endorsing downtown.”


“The number is like nothing I have seen in 42 years of doing business in downtown,” he wrote, according to Portland's KOIN.


Goodman said companies include Daimler Chrysler, Airbnb, Banana Republic, Microsoft, Saucebox, and Google, which he claimed: "leased 90,000 square feet in the Macy’s building [and] has stopped construction of their improvements."


"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," he continued.


Goodman encouraged city leaders to "walk around downtown Portland in the morning," adding that he would personally give them a tour.


"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," he wrote. "You are willfully neglecting your duties as elected officials to keep our city safe and clean.”


Obviously, Wheeler doesn’t care. He is opposed to law and order. He seems to believe that rioters have a constitutional right, in the name of justice, to destroy.

14 comments:

Giordano Bruno said...

Go Bums! The whole nation just got a taste of Venezuela live, on TV, and Seattle, Minneapolis, and Portland provided the evidence. The left is insane, violent and will destroy everything it touches. I think that message was send, loud and clear.

urbane legend said...

But, but, GB, you are saying there is no grand plan, no vision of a new world arising, phoenix -like from these ashes?

I was laughing so hard it took all I could do to type that.

Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...

Kenosha, too. Look at some of that video last night. This is the future Democrats have brought on themselves. Self-respecting Americans are not going to sacrifice their lives to the racist future the Destroyers want.

And so it begins...

Giordano Bruno said...

Urbane, it is nothing more than Brecht, cribbing Nietzsche, (but this generation of subliterates have read neither) explained in Mackie Messer. It is 'the joy of the knife.' Something university type have trouble understanding because "people don't do such things." But people who have lived widely in the world understand perfectly why people attack and murder other people and burn things: because it's fun. And shooting those murderous thugs down in the streets is fun, too, as the rioters are about to discover.

Hey, some nice shooting last night in Kenosha by the normals. That kid was cool as a cucumber. That's training right there. Kept both hands on the weapon at all ties. "Get his ass," they shouted. "Big holes," was the retort. The LARPer idiots just realized that Call of Duty is different from real life. "Medic!" Hilarious, the idiots really do live in pure fantasy. How's that missing arm?

Buy guns, buy ammo. Ammo has become VERY hard to find right now--unless you know somebody. Think the BLM scum gets ammo first or the normals get ammo first? Civil War is now stage 2.

Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...

GB, I'd take your "because it's fun" behind the why of the mayhem, and make it a little simpler:

"But people who have lived widely in the world understand perfectly why people attack and murder other people and burn things: BECAUSE THEY CAN."

That is the problem with the current rioting and coronapocalyptic madness -- Democrats have fostered an environment of panic, fear and confinement. Everyone is on edge. Then, they have unleashed their Antifa paramilitaries and the BLM mob to create mayhem in the cities. They ALLOW it to go on. It doesn't matter whether the Democrat "leaders" sympathize with these people, empower them, benefit from the destruction, or they simply cannot say "NO!" The result is the same: this lawless behavior is ALLOWED. These are not "protests," they're not even riots -- this is coordinated VIOLENT DIRECT ACTION.

These destroyers are doing these things because they can. It may be fun, too, but what we're seeing is being tolerated, encouraged or fueled by Democrats. Still, the smarty-pants Democrats believe this can all be controlled. They believe they are creating horror theater delivered to voters via the Glowing Box, and that this terror will convince voters this will all stop if voters elect Joe Biden to begin "bringing people together" as "an ally of the light." They think this is campaign footage to brew fear and punctuate the point: OrangeManBad.

They have no idea what they are doing. This social combustion is at a critical point, and could lead to a chain reaction ending in widespread conflagration. These events are leading normal people to conclusions that demand action. That action includes getting equipment and training for personal defense -- to defend their lives, their families and their neighbors from death or grave bodily harm.

And the reason for this call to action is that the screwball political savants of the Democrat Party have abandoned governing. They HATE half the citizens of their own country. Their aim is to punish people for a Trump presidency. They'll destroy the economy, they'll destroy downtown areas, they will trample on basic civil rights, they will shame and socially marginalize those who disagree with them. They will stop at nothing. And people are starting to realize what's at stake on November 3, because if Biden wins, the Democrats and their allies are going to keep going. They will not savor their victory, they will move to destroy any opposition. Because of Biden's mental state, he will become a figurehead and the country will be run by unelected, hate-filled, bloodthirsty animals in the White House. You ain't seen nothin' yet. These geniuses can't even build a website.

Tonight through Monday morning will be a watershed moment in modern American history. Someone actually fought back against these scumbags last night. Things could either calm down a bit or escalate. What happens next? We shall see.

Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...

And Gio is right about ammo...

I have plenty of firearms. 10,000 rounds of factory ammo, and the capability of loading 15,000 rounds with my own stockpiled components. Ammo will not be the issue for me. But it's not just firearms and ammo that are in short supply. It's training time. If you own a firearm, please go to the range and practice with it. You'll be glad you did. Under stress, your actions will fall to the level of your training.

I am a firearms instructor. The demand for concealed carry classes and permitting is through the roof. Never seen it like this before. I've seen the scarce ammo and the empty shelves at gun stores. But I've never seen this kind of demand for education and licensing for personal protection.

People are sensing there's something different now. That the police are political targets who have mentally retreated out of fear for their livelihoods. The police in these urban war zones are tired of dealing with protesters by day and rioters by night. They have no political backup, they have become scapegoats in a massive failed social experiment, and they are physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I do not say this to disparage the police, I am speaking to the political realities in Democrat states, counties and cities. The police are human beings. They are the sheepdogs who are being publicly ostracized as though they are wolves.

People are starting to see that the Democrat political class cannot be counted on to protect the citizenry. Every major American city is a powder keg. If these rioters and looters venture beyond the city limits, all Hell is going to break loose. Mark my words.

Anonymous said...

Are taxes in Portland being suspended next year since the citizens got nothing for their money?

Anonymous said...

At some point the government,with its Police power, will crackdown on the violent protestors.
(OK, mostly peaceful protestors)
So, why not immediately, at the beginning. At that point, damage to all sides would be minimal.
Again, Mr./Ms. Mayor, you're going to have to do it at some point, WHY NOT NOW?

ErisGuy said...

Wheeler performs as the voters of Portland expected.

Giordano Bruno said...

IAC, great comments. We are aligned.

I just made a trek to several ammunition manufacturers across Dixie and bought everything I could. Somewhere near 5k rounds of various types with a focus on 223/556 and .40 and 9mm. Add that to my existing stockpile...the one that, along with all of my firearms, fell into the lake in a kayak accident, and I would be about par with where you are. I think 25k rounds is a decent starting point. Add my posse, and we magnify that exponentially. Speaking for just my tiny little corner of Dixie, we are ready to rumble. Oh, I think we all have matching body armor. This is a good investment.

https://bulletsafe.com/products/the-bulletsafe-level-iiia-tactical-bulletproof-vest-kit

Learning how to make my own ammo is next. Our posse has trainers and we are organizing classes. Also organizing neighborhood response to a visit from BLM/Antifa. Planning is everything.

You are correct about training. Absolutely critical. I have been using a 22LR to save ammo, but still going through all the motor function training, especially pulling pistol from concealment. I use this instead:

https://us.glock.com/en/pistols?filter=22lr

What are your thoughts on using a 'surrogate' 22LR in place of a 9 or a 40 for training? Same question with a AR-15 in 22LR? I know it's not the same recoil, but the weight and feel are almost identical.

Sam L. said...

They don't seem to realize that they are generating (MORE)TRUMP voters.

Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...

Gio,

I train a lot with my Glock 44 (22LR) to save on 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 Auto ammo. It's a great gun, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone for training. It's the exact size of a Glock 19/23, it's under $400, and fits in those standard holsters. The recoil is light, but training on trigger press and followthrough is just like every Glock pistol. A Glock is a Glock.

The Glock 44 is an excellent hone defense choice for older people who cannot manage recoil. If you can hit your target in the ocular cavity with 22LR hollow points, they will go down every time. Caliber isn't a big deal when you're able to consistently hit your target. I once had a student who was in her early 60s and was sold a 40 S&W subcompact as her first handgun. That salesperson is a disgrace to the firearms community, and I called the store and told the manager myself.

I do have an AR-15 chambered in 22LR. I have the Colt AR-15 clone in 22LR, which is actually manufactured by Walther. It's a pain in the ass to clean, but is unparalleled as a cost-effective training weapon, just like the Glock 44. For regular training, you can't beat that combo. It eats up CCI AR Tactical ammunition. It's a delight to shoot.

I tried using the CMMG AR-15 Conversion Kit Bravo (the 22LR bolt slide-in model for a standard AR-15 action) but didn't like it as well because it wasn't terribly accurate and was very fussy about the ammo I used. That said, the CMMG kit is better than nothing as a training aid. I just don't think it builds confidence with shooters, particularly youths, because of the accuracy issue.

For new shooters and youth shooters, the Glock 44 and AR-15 22LR are excellent places to start. The reduced recoil helps new shooters get over their fear, and this allows them to quickly begin hitting targets and getting acclimated to their sight alignment and sight picture without the startling effect of a standard round. For experienced shooters, they are a great way to save money and keep training on the cheap while conserving your standard ammunition.

Both are a little lighter than the guns they are cloned from, but their look, feel and dimensions are identical. This difference is not really consequential.

Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...

"Goodman encouraged city leaders to 'walk around downtown Portland in the morning,' adding that he would personally give them a tour."

I can guarantee you there won't be any takers.

Anyone think it's because Democrats and Leftists aren't morning people?

Giordano Bruno said...

Excellent, thanks IAC. I will take your words to action.