Now where is that Migraine Causing, Directional Ultra High Frequency Noise Generator when we need one?

A good argument in favor of a strong Home Owners Association. They can enforce livability quickly and effectively.

I'm reluctant to see another mouth nudge in to suckle at the teat of the city's general revenues, but I'm also not sure the current self-funded, boom-and-bust funding model is best for BDS. It is given enormous responsibilities -- and power -- to approve or disallow construction or remodeling plans. I wonder how many homeowners have decided to remodel on the QT and how many employers have given up expansion plans or decided to expand elsewhere because of planning, permitting, and inspection delays.

Cops have always told me they cant do anything about noise unless its after 10pm.

John, we don't have homeowners assoc in city limits. we do have neighborhood associations, but they have no enforcement power, and as neighborhood volunteers, lack training and truthfully, would be ill equipped for such a task.
Perhaps a call to the NRT ( neighborhood response team) cop for their neighborhood. Not that HE or SHE could do much, but a friendly knock on the door from Officer Friendly might have a little more impact.
Unless you suspect criminal activity...
I do question linking the streetcar in with the other livibility issues. Funding and planning for the streetcar, or other large projects go back years and once the deal is done, it goes forward, regardless of the current economy. Its convenient to draw a connection,but its not accurate.
I am no fan of streetcars, for other reasons,but government marches do different orders and realities than its citizenry or business does. Folks turn to government to provide services, set the agenda for how the city or county or state move, and its a slow process,and expensive. But as Heinlein once noted, a elephant is a mouse built to government standards. Those standards have evolved as past experiences and problems dictate.

Funding and planning for the streetcar, or other large projects go back years and once the deal is done, it goes forward, regardless of the current economy. Its convenient to draw a connection,but its not accurate.

No, it's quite accurate. Portland's financial and livability problems began several years ago -- long before the commitment was made to build the eastside streetcar. The gang problems arrived during Bud Clark's time, and they've gotten a lot worse over the last decade. The City Council decided to go by streetcar because they thought it would make Joe Weston and Hank Ashforth even richer than they already were. Their attitude was, "Screw the people with noise issues and bullets coming through their walls. It's all about the apartment towers."

The gang problems arrived during Bud Clark's time, and they've gotten a lot worse over the last decade.

The gang violence in Portland was much worse in the 80s than it is today. I believe the peak for homicides in Portland was 1987 when there were 70. In 2009, there were 21, the fewest since 1971. Only one of those was the result of gang violence.

Overall crime in Portland was down 10% in 2009. Violent crime in Portland has plummeted from the highs of 20 and 30 years ago.

All of the Portland trends mirror what has happened nationally, so it's not like there is credit due to anyone around here. But I think it's hard to argue that increased crime is impacting Portland's livability.

Yeah, stabbings on MAX, teenagers emptying semi-automatic guns downtown at each other every weekend, shooting each other in broad daylight -- Portland's livability is just fine.

Statistics are great, but wear your bulletproof vest.

And over the past five years, the gang thing has gradually gotten worse. Maybe not the worst ever, but gradually worse, every year.

AJ - Let's be fair about gang crime in the 80s, LA was aggressively enforcing anti-gang measures and a lot of gang bangers moved to easier pastures. PDX was one of them.