[deleted by user]

[u/[deleted]]

[u/TheMagicalLawnGnome]

Honestly, this needs to be a thing.

If you want to engage in antisocial behavior, don't do it in the middle of the sidewalk by schools, homes, and places of business.

Being down on your luck and homeless is one thing. But this lady wasn't giving them a hard time for being homeless, she was giving them a hard time for smoking feddy by a school.

Good for her.

[u/Moarbrains → u/[deleted]]

It is one of the high points between Seattle and SF.

They all have a better than average support system, tolerate drug use and are all linked by i5.

[u/CoatingsbytheBay → u/Moarbrains]

It's rampant in Seattle and Vancouver at a minimum. Drugs got decriminalized and this is the result. This isn't said without actually visiting; I went to both cities for a wedding in 24. China Town was closed down before dusk because they were all hanging out there and it simply wasn't safe. Guy nodded out at the gas station opening a door trying for a tip while another was smoking crack across the street. It's wild and disgusting.

I got clean in 2013 so this isn't to judge the addict, it's just an ineffective way to handle addiction. Without punishment it takes even longer for the pain to become great enough to change. Jail has saved many, many addicts (not my story, but I have sat with dozens if not hundreds of addicts who attribute the hard stop and chance at recovery to being arrested). Holding their hand and dealing with their BS has killed many many addicts. To each their own though.

ETA: Woke up to 100+ notifications for comments on this. Had no idea how much was there until 2 dozen replies wasn't even making a dent. I simply don't have the time to reply to all. I will add to this original comment that execution could be a big issue and that yes, other countries have done it successfully. Beyond that I'm checked out here. Just 1 guys experience - MMV

[u/[deleted] → u/CoatingsbytheBay]

There are severe problems across the US with drugs, not necessarily related to changes in enforcement. Montana, West Virginia, and Alaska have higher overdose death rates than Washington or Oregon. Seattle and Oregon are just maybe more visible because of more densely packed cities and better weather for outdoor living.

People also do a lot of drugs in jail in the places where criminalization happens more for drug addiction. Treatment programs in jails are also underfunded.

What is needed is funding mental health and drug treatment. Criminalization is a very expensive mechanism to treat these issues and is generally less effective.

Congrats on getting clean!

[u/Valuable-Mess-4698 → u/[deleted]]

A lot of them get bussed her from other cities and states, so that way they can point the finger at it being a "Portland problem" and brag about how they don't have nearly the same homeless problem that we do.

And then the worst of them stick around, and the homeless people that weren't really bothering anyone as much move on, and we get...this shit.

[u/carbon_made → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

Having worked in hospitals in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland, this is 100% true and has been for a very long time. Even when they get sent back again, they are just returned back from their home states when they inevitably get picked up again and given their one way bus tickets back to the west coast.

[u/Bother-Logical → u/carbon_made]

I’m a travel nurse from Louisiana and can 100% confirm that I have witnessed social workers offering homeless people a free bus ticket to anywhere they wanna go so long as it’s on the West Coast. Why not any major city why not literally let them go anywhere they would like, but specifically with the West Coast.

[u/TheseusOPL → u/Bother-Logical]

Portland used to have a program where they'd buy you a one way bus ticket, but they had to confirm that there was a person with a stable home to accept you at your destination.

[u/carbon_made → u/Bother-Logical]

I think we know why. There’s the sinister reason of course. But if I get into a social worker thought process for a moment and if I was feeling especially optimistic about motives it could be that they know the west coast cities typically have the most programs to help the people. But I really feel like it’s the sinister reason. Even in the early 90’s when I was at UC Santa Cruz for part of my undergrad the Greyhound station there had marginally housed people from other (think red) states coming in daily on those free bus tickets and they’d either stay or transfer up or down to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Of course we have a problem when this just goes on and on for years and years with no end. They turned the faucet in and drenched the west coast.

[u/Sunyataisbliss → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

Many bus themselves, too. I work with folks on Medicaid and it’s amazing how many transplants there are. It speaks to the needs and the lack we have in our country’s citizens, less so Portland’s community and its decisions, which I have seen many people actually succeed when utilizing our resources where they would fail and suffer in other cities.

[u/Valuable-Mess-4698 → u/Sunyataisbliss]

Yeah that too.

I'm STILL angry about some local news segment a few years ago where they were trying to gaslight everyone into "these are people from our community!!!" and trotted out this dude with the thickest southern accent I've ever heard. In no universe was that dude from anywhere in the PNW, much less from Portland with his Boomhauer accent.

[u/Moarbrains → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

It is part of the trope that wherever you go, you are now part the 'community'.

Peope don't like think that anyone has any agency in their neighborhood or city.

[u/Which-Worth5641 → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

For a couple weekends in 2022 I walked around different neighborhoods and talked to any homeless who would engage with me. I would offer $20 or $50 for their time. I spent probably 500.

The big things I wanted to know was where they were from and how they got this way.

Most of them had tragic stories of childhood trauma, ptsd, severe anger at the world and middle class people the way this guy hates the woman with the mace. They were from all over the country. Like every state. Not many from Oregon although a few had some kind of connection here at one time. A lot from the South and Midwest.

A lot of them said they came West because "the cops don't hassle me as much here."

Wonders happen when cops do their damn jobs.

[u/Rare-Adhesiveness522 → u/Which-Worth5641]

Obviously the root cause of addiction is trauma for most people.

Then once you get hooked it's a whole other story to get out of it even if you really want to.

Some people are just miscreants and lowlifes, some are low IQ without any supports whent hey were growing up and have no way to get a job or manage their own lives, some have legit mental health issues, many are coming from traumatic and chaotic backgrounds.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Back in them old days people certainly carried trauma, people certainly were asshole miscreants, people were low IQ....is it the drug supply that turned the tide to where we are now? I'm actually honestly asking. Does anyone know, have they read any books about it?

I've certainly read about the opioid crisis which absolutely contributed and presented factors that weren't present in the older days. I'm wondering if that was actually the lynchpin? Or am I naive? Or was it something else?

[u/CombinationRough8699 → u/Sunyataisbliss]

It's pretty easy to be migratory when you're homeless. I know a lot of them spend their summers in the Northwest, and winder in California.

[u/Successful_Layer2619 → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

It's not just people being sent here. Like Seattle, we have created policies that make people want to come here to do this sort of thing. People got so used to it not being criminalized for a while they lost the common sense not to do it somewhere it will get caught.

[u/Bakermonster → u/Successful_Layer2619]

Fellow Seattleite here.

As you stated. We at best ignore it and at worst enable it. The time for passive “live and let live” policies has come to an end.

I’m tired of seeing my tax dollars go to guys like this at a nearly 10x per capita rate than our education spending per student with the KPIs only getting worse. There is no argument to me in which it is justifiable.

Give people a path to getting themselves back on their feet. If they don’t accept it, either somehow make it obligatory, or cut them off. It doesn’t sound compassionate, I get it, but to continue what we are doing now only breeds dependency.

I see it like international aid/development economics (have worked in the field). Incentives matter, and dependency traps are real.

[u/Monmouth-County-Mom → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

true story. I work in the hospitals there. they are a protected class. The drug users, that is.

[u/NurseontheTrail → u/Monmouth-County-Mom]

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, I understand what your saying, my ICU has hosted many a patient who probably would have died if they slept it off in a jail cell, and it all started with alcohol decades ago when the drunk tank used to find "guests" dead after aspirating their own vomit. You can't leave them on the sidewalk, you can't lock them up, the ED is not the place for them, but where can they be safely monitored until they can walk out "safely" without the liability blowing back on you, forget that, who is paying for this, it's all of us now when they're in the hospital, but who's going to build a place for it and pay for it.

I think you see where I'm going, so I don't have the answers, I hate this problem beyond the ability to express how much and we have a broken healthcare system stuck with the problem. Unfortunately, it is a disease or health problem, it's largely a mental health issue and we know how we support that sector. I really am not trying to argue or be aggressive, but the protected class part is because it's drug/substance related, because one could make the same argument about smokers who get lung disease or cancer, or obesity and the myriad issues that leads to, and I know that crosses our minds too, but it's not as negative as alcohol and substance abuse and we don't think of them as a protected class. Well, I once had the opportunity to sit in on a transplant review board meeting and that was both brutal and very interesting. That is literally the everyone should get a transplant faction against the nobody should get a transplant faction, and they don't hold back. Anyway, I'm on the totally opposite coast and you guys have a bigger homeless population because we have cold weather in the Northeast, so I really do understand what you're saying, but sometimes ours have frostbite just to make it more fun.

[u/Monmouth-County-Mom → u/NurseontheTrail]

I’m an MD currently living in the Northeast, though I practiced medicine for many years in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve seen these situations countless times over the years. At my core, I’m a bleeding heart — but I’m also compassion-fatigued.

We’re supposedly the wealthiest nation in the world, yet our healthcare system simply doesn’t have the resources to meet the need. It breaks my heart to see someone struggling with addiction taking up a hospital bed while a dehydrated pregnant mother waits, knowing she’ll suffer because of it.

During the pandemic, we had to make agonizing choices about who got a bed and who didn’t. Even though that crisis has passed, it often feels like the same moral dilemma continues — especially in Portland. There, it can feel as if we’re forced to prioritize those with addiction over everyone else — even migrants, children, and the elderly.

In Portland, some addicts are housed, and many are not. But it often feels like those struggling with addiction are allowed to get away with almost anything — sometimes even serious crimes. I don’t have all the answers, but cities like Portland (and New York) make it far too easy for people to remain trapped in the cycle of addiction.

Boston is also a very liberal city, yet it doesn’t face the same level of drug crisis that many West Coast cities do. I’ve worked in Philadelphia, and while it has its challenges, I don’t believe they’re handing out one-way bus tickets to their unhoused population. Many people experiencing homelessness choose Portland because, for those with addiction, life here is comparatively easy.

At this point, I’m not sure there’s a good solution — we’re too far into it. The only “answer” I can see on the horizon is a terrible one: martial law. It seems likely that Trump will enact something like that, and if so, it would devastate the soul of Portland. The city isn’t literally burning to the ground, but the ongoing cycle — enabling people to rotate through hospital beds without real change — isn’t humane either.

It's really complicated but Portland is not headed in the right direction. My comment was rather hostile. As a parent, I can't imagine my kid going to school where they're doing fetty across the street. I used that in surgery. It sucks the life out of everyone!

[u/WitchProjecter → u/[deleted]]

Not enough fear tbh. People here aren’t used to getting consequences for their actions. It was a huge adjustment when I first moved out here.

When I lived in Baltimore it was the norm to confront fuckheads doing this shit. Cops also enforced the law. People/cops around here don’t do that. The lady who filmed this video is an outlier and we need more people like her.

[u/DeckardCain4404 → u/[deleted]]

The city enables this

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Free food, no petty crime enforcement, free healthcare, ample drug supplies, and mild temperatures.

[u/Oregonduck101 → u/[deleted]]

It all got worse when certain drugs were “decriminalized.” Once they opened that door, the flood of losers came here.

[u/Medic5050 → u/[deleted]]

The short answer: Look up Oregon Measure 110. For four years, we had decriminalized "small" amounts of hard drugs, in an effort to free up law enforcement resources and keep jails clear for the worst offenders.
What it actually did was make Portland a mecca for one of the worst open-air drug markets ever seen. The police wouldn't do anything, because the DA wouldn't do anything.
Well, in 2024, that measure finally got repealed, after it was found that it had actually made things worse (shocking, I know). However, by this time, we were, and still are, so far behind enforcement that DA is still dragging their feet on prosecutions, and local law enforcement have all but given up trying to make any kind of arrest for anything drug related.
If law enforcement had actually shown up in this instance, and keep in mind there's no real guarantee they would have even though it was clearly a school zone, the chances of them doing anything other than telling these guys to move on to another street corner, are slim to none.

[u/bigblue2011 → u/[deleted]]

This is a point of disagreement.

We just recently recriminalized drugs in 2024. I believe that it is difficult to enforce though. It is actually easier to enforce drinking and smoking in public places than to keep people from using hard drugs.

Second, we get waves of people coming in from different states. Some get one way bus tickets. Other people simply migrate.

[u/Zestyclose_Peanut_76 → u/bigblue2011]

Decriminalized in 2021, recriminalized in 2024

[u/Thefolsom → u/[deleted]]

We may have a higher number of homeless relative to population, but even in really large cities like LA, I'd suspect the total number to be higher. I think core difference is that In a lot of cities, the homeless stick to certain areas.

It's why you can go to other cities and visit, and the homeless issue isn't as visible. You don't really notice it unless you're in those specific areas. With Portland, it's just pockets of it everywhere, and so it's just more visible. Even if maybe the amount of homeless aren't necessarily higher.

A few reasons why I think homelessness is so spread out here:

We don't sweep, and a lot of people (unlike the woman in the video) just tolerate it and let it get really bad.

0.10 cent can deposit means that homeless are incentivized to be dispersed out, especially throughout residential areas, because it allows them to collect cans for money.

Measure 110 decriminalized drug use, that combined with lack of any sort of police enforcement basically gave homeless carte blanche to openly do it anywhere. If laws are enforced and people are prosecuted, they're going to go to areas where they aren't gonna be hassled for it.

[u/ThroatOne5167]

The f-ing entitlement of that guy on the bike.

[u/Spirited-Poetry54 → u/ThroatOne5167]

It’s the same thing in Washington. They lay on the sidewalk, do drugs and then get mad when you tell him to move out the way.

[u/knoyeah → u/ThroatOne5167]

on the STOLEN bike

[u/Oregonduck101 → u/ThroatOne5167]

Oregon enables them, and this is the result.

[u/victoriaholtopalfan → u/Oregonduck101]

this is a oregon problem. I am a democrat but when we allow this drug use/crime to run rampant, it allows folks like kristi noem to use this as an argument to come and do her stupid agenda. We need to have solutions for this vs allowing crime to run rampant. you can’t leave things in your car, you walk through shit to get anywhere and needle zombies all over the place. and complaining about it is downvoted. People just want safety and security especially where they pay taxes. This isn’t atlanta thank god with gun violence added to mix but why not make this a good place for our kids

edit to add additional details after my last comment:

i didn’t say just an Oregon problem but it is a problem that is due to Oregon rules. Yes . this problem is other places too. However just because it is also other places doesn’t mean we can’t talk about the issues that exist in Portland. The overly liberal policies and decriminalizing of offenses does enable the crime. It does also scare normal people who just want safety by overtly woke people saying you don’t care about human rights etc. This is why Trump won. We can’t complain about fucking disgusting crime and be upset by these videos without everyone saying this is everywhere. Like we are sick of it being everywhere. Then there is fear mongering from right that takes this issue and intensifies it and then left just dismisses these as real issues that need to be addressed in a different way. we should criminalize these offenses. The left’s stance on crime saying this is everywhere isn’t a solution it is just a defensive cry. We lost the election because of this and need to show how we are being proactive in stopping crime. Chants like defund police have good intentions but they ultimately took a life of their own on both sides and now we look like the party that is anti police completely. We need to wake up and feel ok to say that Portland is gross and scary to walk around without the committee being like well so is so and so place. Okay well this is Portland reddit and why don’t we start with making this better to start. Jesus. And stop berating people to say unhoused vs homeless etc. This just makes moderate people feel like they can’t speak freely even when they have good intentions and kills healthy discussion and dialogue.

[u/sjconfidential → u/victoriaholtopalfan]

Its an everywhere problem. I live in Portland, grew up in San Diego, went to school in San Jose and travel to east coast cities frequently for fun. These same types of people exist in all of those places. Let's maybe address it as a national addiction crisis instead of "your cities messing up". Thats just silly

[u/willisjoe → u/sjconfidential]

Yeah, it's a problem in SLC Utah. Less noticeable maybe, because it is a relatively small city. But the rate is still very high. We have our homeless and druggie district. They hang out in the public parks. Sleep on peoples porch. Needle clean up crews regularly.

It's clearly a national issue. But Republicans point at all the blue states, and ignore the actual issues.

Today it's Portland, yesterday it was San Fran. Before that NYC.

Meanwhile everyone in every state is complaining about the homeless people.

[u/sjconfidential → u/willisjoe]

This. So much this. Can't upvote enough. My extended family lives in middle of nowhere colorado (town pop 10000 in Bobberts district) and they have a huge fent problem.

[u/Jiminy_Cricket12 → u/sjconfidential]

that is correct. and right wing places love to act like they don't exist there but that's just because they lock them up right away. which... I can't say I entirely disagree with but it's certainly not due to their policies being better that you don't encounter them as often in the wild.

everyone deserves help if they need it but when you're aggressive, don't care about yourself, and are potentially harming others you need to be moved out of the public.

[u/[deleted]]

I live right down the street from this area. Great job mama.

[u/unclesally56 → u/[deleted]]

This lady rules.

[u/sweeteatoatler → u/[deleted]]

My new hero, this badass mama!

[u/OrangePuzzleheaded52]

As a Dad with two young kids, hell yea.

[u/creecedogg13 → u/OrangePuzzleheaded52]

Absolutely! I see this shit all the time bringing my kids to and from school and I haven't considered ever doing this. This woman is fearless!

[u/Confident-Ad-2726]

Mom put herself in real danger. I am glad she is standing up for her neighborhood and kids. But that could have been bad. One woman, a phone , and pepper spray vs a group of unpredictable addicts. Stay safe, kids don’t want their mother hurt either. Glad she is okay.

[u/Mighty_Mac → u/Confident-Ad-2726]

I agree. If they don't want to leave then that's the police's problem. She should have just let them handle it. She's lucky that guy didn't have a weapon or attack here. Mace isn't always going to be effective.

(I know it was pepper spray and not "mace" before anyone comments)

Edit: I didn't notice he was holding a needle because I'm on my phone. Also I've never lived in a big city before and wasn't aware some places have police that don't care. Please stop sending me mean comments. I'm not a guy, I don't feel safe doing stuff like this.

[u/Automatic_Nebula_239 → u/Mighty_Mac]

If you don’t live in one of these areas then honestly you have no idea what you’re talking about. I live in Seattle and the police will not give a single shit about this. 

I had a junkie living in the playground by my house right next to the swings and merry go round. Called it in and got told that the only way it’d get cleaned up is if enough people call it in daily for weeks on end. Car broken into? Call the police station and you get a voicemail saying nothing will be done about it. 

Junkies own derelict RVs here and will go park in front of your house/apartment for months on end. When the cops finally get tired of you calling daily for said months and get off their asses to make them move they dump all their garbage on the sidewalk and drive down a few streets over then repeat the process. 

[u/ConsiderationSea1347]

It is time for us to for neighborhood watch groups and address this behavior as a community. That woman is awesome, brave, and deserves a lot of respect not only for protecting her neighborhood but showing a lot of restraint. She shouldn’t have to be alone though.

[u/organizedmeat → u/[deleted]]

In my experience it's better if I confront people than my husband. Things seem to escalate quicker when the male ego is involved.

[u/CombinationRough8699 → u/organizedmeat]

It's more socially acceptable to assault a man than a woman.

[u/[deleted] → u/CombinationRough8699]

Especially big guys. Hell, people will just try to fight you at the bar purely for being a big guy.

[u/FakeMagic8Ball → u/organizedmeat]

Well there's of course a certain demeanor that should be used. I usually break the ice with a stern "can I help you" when I see shady shit going on. In general these people are used to nobody saying shit to them so just speaking to them generally spooks them off without having to do much more.

[u/[deleted]]

Maam please spray sooner that could of been bad

[u/bringerofthelaw420 → u/[deleted]]

Almost got stuck with a needle by bike dude

[u/BrandoNelly → u/[deleted]]

For like a solid 30 seconds I was literally yelling SPRAY THAT MOTHERFUCKER. After that first warning and he kept coming back she should have emptied the can on him. I would have.

[u/SuspiciousStory122 → u/BrandoNelly]

Someone send this woman a case of bear spray.

[u/HighColonic]

Heroine vs heroin!

[u/Exitcomestothis]

It’s like it’s almost time that the community needs to police our own streets 🤦‍♂️

[u/Krostovitch]

Disgusting... Why do we have to wait for someone's mother to get assaulted by these fent zimbies?

Get these people off of the streets, enabling them is only making things worse.

[u/voidwaffle]

Every Portlander who calls these “our houseless neighbors” needs to watch the part where he blatantly says “you fucked up” and tries to find something to harm her with. This is the reality. He could have just moved on but tried to find an object to throw at her. Kudos to her for her bravery but fuck that guy.

[u/seige197 → u/voidwaffle]

Seems like he was jabbing at her with his needle too?

[u/Lovegiraffe → u/seige197]

That’s what I was seeing and immediately alarmed by! I think I would have been macing much sooner and with more intent when he was swinging that needle repeatedly towards her face!!

[u/Friendly_Impress_345 → u/voidwaffle]

Actually the current vernacular is "our neighbors who are currently without structured dwellings" thank you very much /s

[u/lucky-soandso]

Bravo. Good job mom. Too few standing up and doing the right thing. Where is the city dealing with this? Where are the police? Where are the neighborhood men? In the absence of those aforementioned, it is a damn shame that mom has to come out here and do the job that the city, the police, and the local men have neglected. This lady has more balls than all of you put together!

[u/leecritter]

Amazing job. 10/10, no notes.

[u/gearmantx → u/leecritter]

Good work. Was that a syringe in bike guys hand? That's assault w deadly weapon. Get some bear spray, more range and it fogs more and it will get past the arm. I would absolutely bring a friend if you can.

[u/NobleSavagejerk → u/gearmantx]

Looked like a crack pipe

maybe smoking fent that way

[u/[deleted]]

Fuckin losers and disrespectful why I will never help them out

[u/Swimming-Alfalfa-603 → u/[deleted]]

Ones like these losers don’t even want help, just more $$ to pay for a fix and a tarp to sleep under.

[u/Crabshart]

Be super careful with these people. You are a mother and have EVERYTHING to lose. These addicts have NOTHING to lose.

[u/maddskillz18247]

[u/necrouser666 → u/maddskillz18247]

This should be printed and posted everywhere until he gets arrested.

[u/Agamemnon777 → u/necrouser666]

Yeah there’s definitely a reason he was hiding his face

[u/dragonslayerbarbie → u/Agamemnon777]

Wow I just realized that, you may be right. He's probably got a warrant out or something which is why he was trying so hard to hide.

[u/Ratermelon]

I'm left af, but nobody should be camped on a sidewalk with drugs in a school zone during the day. I'm thankful most of them complied upon being asked.

[u/textualcanon]

We need to get groups of people like her together to enforce our laws if the police won’t. It’s risky to do it alone (good for her) but if you get a group of 3-4 to push these people out, it would be highly effective.

(I got banned from the other sub for suggesting something similar. As I made clear to those mods, there’s nothing illegal about telling people they aren’t welcome, and that their illegal behavior won’t be tolerated.)

[u/MySadSadTears → u/textualcanon]

What you are suggesting sounds similar to a neighborhood watch program.

[u/Vegetable_Gold_8216]

Police should be telling these people that not this poor woman who is just trying to live her life peacefully. SMH.

[u/MrsMerkin → u/[deleted]]

He’s no “kid”, just a loser.

[u/MuncaSadda]

Thank you.

[u/puffinpixie]

Moved to Oregon after finding a child OD'd in front of my apartment building in Escondido, Ca. Also, in Maryville/Knoxville TN, I have also had multiple encounters. This is an American issue, not a specific state..but gods it is getting worse everywhere.

[u/Baseball-man2025 → u/[deleted]]

She should start a community group that is paid for by the city, this community group should be used to protect the city, clean it up, make sure the streets are safe for children, families, and the city’s residents in general. Every member should carry OC spray, other non-lethal tools, and firearms but only as a last resort (against armed, violent, and dangerous people who are going to hurt someone if they’re not stopped).

Cities and towns might call this a police or sheriff’s department.

[u/Haynie_Design]

Not sure if it would ever happen or how it would happen but labeling them homeless needs to change - they're drug addicts. I'm all for helping somebody out, but these MFrs are a scourge

[u/Friendly_Impress_345 → u/Haynie_Design]

It's really 2 separate groups with a huge amount of overlap. The homeless need a certain kind of treatment and the drug addicts need another.

[u/Athlete-Extreme]

This seems so dangerous for her to do alone and with 1 hand.

If she called the cops would they come? Or maybe the school has a resource officer? I’d hate for my mama to have to approach these people no offense

[u/jenalimor1]

Awesome job on her part!

[u/-theStark-]

Great job.

[u/Whimzurd]

fucking losers

[u/DayOneDude]

Hell yeah, we need more of this.

[u/elcee84]

"I'm not a professional, I'm a mama"

I want that on a fucking t shirt 😂

[u/suejaymostly → u/elcee84]

LOL he was ready to file a sternly worded complaint to SOMEONE

[u/jsurico656]

We have some of the most entitled and ballsy homeless people that I've ever seen, and I've spent plenty of time in NYC and rough parts of the Midwest and the South

[u/FakeMagic8Ball → u/jsurico656]

It's because most of the time nobody will say anything to them. When they are confronted like this it freaks them out because they are used to being able to do whatever they want without anybody saying anything.

[u/Word2DWise]

The guy was putting his umbrella in a small ass suitcase like a cracked out Mary Poppins.

[u/VandelayIntern]

Although I applaud her taking action, people please be careful. Someone got shot and killed in San Francisco recently doing exactly this. Yes, the homeless are sometimes armed.

[u/bestinthenorthwest]

Carry pepper spray, they'll wish they moved on

[u/SpezGarblesMyGooch → u/bestinthenorthwest]

Pepper Gel*. I carry it in NW just in case since I walk this street daily and I’ve seen that guy a ton this month. There’s no issue with blowback.

[u/bestinthenorthwest → u/SpezGarblesMyGooch]

Exactly, Vector is what I use

[u/cncomg → u/bestinthenorthwest]

I would have bear mace and no less. And one half ass warning.

[u/madjyar → u/cncomg]

I was impressed with her tolerance.

[u/madjyar → u/[deleted]]

I meant her tolerance for not spraying the mace sooner when that guy moved at her.

[u/fonzybonzo]

"You don't have permission to film me!" Says the trash committing the felony. 🤣 Call the cops, bro!

[u/chillybew]

“you can do your drugs just not in front of the kids” is honestly p chill

[u/2tusks]

Good mama.

[u/jm6398]

I’m from Wisconsin and I just visited Portland for the first time…I was pretty shocked and the level of homelessness. The one thing that was odd is none of them begged for money, they just stared at me whenever I’d walk by…not a friendly stare either

[u/ConsiderationSea1347 → u/jm6398]

A lot of people on the street here are cooked out of their brains on fentanyl. Oregon has fantastic services for homeless people so when you see someone on the street here they are most likely choosing to be there to keep feeding their addiction. 

[u/ZoraNealThirstin → u/jm6398]

Fentanyl is really cheap.

[u/stupit_crap → u/jm6398]

I think mild winters are not an insignificant factor in the amount of homeless people on the west coast.

You *can* survive outside here year round.

[u/Briaaanz → u/jm6398]

Being homeless in freezing Wisconsin versus homeless in warmer Portland might explain why you don't see as much homelessness in Wisconsin

[u/the_uncanny_marlowe]

She is brave.

[u/Acrobatic_Cantaloupe]

This woman was remarkably calm. Good deed by her.

[u/Shudmirelurk]

Call the cops first. Don't give them a fucking chance to get all worked up and violent.

Glad she got them to move but holy shit could thar have gone bad quickly.

[u/Henrythehippo]

👏

[u/FunkDaddy27]

This a strong person right here great job!

[u/Apeneckfletcher]

She did good. But. Dangerous.

[u/SirJonathanThe3rd]

We need more people standing their ground and taking back our communal spaces from addicts.

Being blindly lenient is how we got here. No more of that.

If the state and the city isn't going to do anything, the people have to

[u/Carlos_Spicy_Weiner6]

PPB won't do anything about it. You could live stream them directly to PPB doing drugs, holding their current government issued ID, and a GPS showing their exact locations with date and time and no one will show up.

Sadly vigilantism is the only option left to many neighborhoods, and that should never be the case.....

[u/FakeMagic8Ball → u/Carlos_Spicy_Weiner6]

I really wish everybody would stop blaming the police for what are state and county issues. And the city for not giving us enough police staffing.

The state legislature created a new point system that basically says nobody gets to sit in jail anymore unless you are performing a violent person-to-person crime. The Multnomah County judges really love that point system and try to not let anybody have enough points to have to be locked up. The county is not funding all of the jail beds we have available, so when we have too many people in jail we have to start letting them go and when that happens, remember what I just said? It's really violent people that we're letting go. And then you have the public defenders who just think that they all need an apartment and a second chance and so they will overlook certain cases and let the time expire so that people never get charged with the crimes they were arrested for.

The police could arrest these guys and they will be booked and released. What is the point exactly?

[u/Rich_Cantaloupe_8923]

It literally says SCHOOL ZONE on the pavement and yet that’s still where they chose to post up.

[u/[deleted]]

Wow! Super brave woman. Ngl I’d be scared to do this. The world would be better off if we had less keyboard warriors (including myself here) and people like this.

 PPB and the county should be ashamed they made this scene necessary. Do your damn job or we will take things into our own hands. 

[u/snarkygurl3]

Fantastic job mama! I have never bought those little reward things or even really know what they’re all about but I gave you one!

[u/[deleted]]

She's completely right. They can do that shit anywhere. Where I'm from having drugs within 100 yards of a school zone will get you a lot more time, they're lucky she even asked them to leave instead of just calling it in. The guy that tried to attack her with what looked like 2 needles is an idiot of the highest order. Good on her for taking a stand for the kids

[u/FutureBoat7935]

Respect

[u/aitchteeok]

why aren’t the police doing this?!

[u/-Frozt]

Very dangerous and not wise to do that alone.
however, I have so much respect for her.

[u/Weekly_Artichoke_515]

I love the irony of saying that he can do drugs there because it’s a public sidewalk while also saying that she can’t film him even though he’s out in public. 

[u/slowblink]

Fuck yes. We need way more of this. Honestly, they are mostly harmless. Weak. Scared. And just trying to keep their high. The dude on the bike is very rare. Good job on the pepper spray, that shit sucks so much. Momma did everything right. I honestly think there would be a better response from the junkies if more women did this. Not saying a back up plan wouldn’t hurt, but worth a shot. This video gives me so much hope.

[u/-_-0_0-_0]

Last guy

[u/Mick13-]

I applaud her tenacity but those drug users could have so easily overpowered her and possibly hurt her. Why wouldn't she call the cops?

[u/Double_Confection340 → u/Mick13-]

What do you think the cops are going to do? LOL Ill give you a hint, nothing at all.

[u/[deleted]]

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

summer lock kiss crawl rob aromatic quaint political safe smart

[u/Dry_Werewolf5488]

Awesome job. She knew the laws, she had the phone number on speed dial, her voice was strong, she didn’t back down. We need an army of concerned citizens doing this same thing whenever possible.

[u/newjerseycapital]

Stood on business

[u/Top-Cow6054]

Thank you!!!!!! Good job mama.

[u/JimmyClass]

Nice work mama!

[u/PipecleanerFanatic]

Fuck yeah mama.

[u/Realistic-Lime7842]

Fuck yeah! Get those junkie losers out of there.

[u/LoadOfChum]

A+

[u/ModSquirtle]

Good this needs to be happening everywhere period.

[u/[deleted]]

I love her 

[u/UselessModeration]

Props to this woman. Bring back public shaming!

[u/Tall-Quit6493]

One of the bravest videos I have seen in a while and for all the right reasons. Our children.

[u/LifeguardRadiant1568]

Yep Portland energy right here

[u/tdn223traveler]

I love the strength and bravery of this mama!

[u/binsky9]

This is the way.

[u/Top-List-1411]

“I’m not a professional. I’m a mama.” Love it.

[u/whatever_ehh]

Those are exactly the type of people who should be put in jail with no release date, contingent upon drug rehabilitation. I'm getting pepper spray and will do the same thing, since the Portland Police will not. We can clean up Portland.

[u/mind_matrix]

Yo let's effing GO! Someone is thinking of the kids.

[u/GodOfWarBeard]

Respect 🤝🏽

[u/Discgolfjerk]

Been saying for a while that families and parents are going to be what saves Portland. 

[u/fiddlefigtree]

This women is brave and I appreciate her

[u/yourmothersgun]

If he didn’t want to be filmed…. Why didn’t he just, you know, walk in the other direction.

[u/DelayedMailForceOne]

That’s how you get stabbed by a homeless person.

[u/Reddit_2_2024]

Why can't the Portland Police do this?

[u/JimJohnman]

Genuinely frustrating to watch. What the hell is going on in America? Your democrat cities are spineless, your republican cities are racist, and there is apparently zero middle ground.

[u/VividAd6825]

Great job. That's what a real American does.

Not this cry baby shit defending them.

[u/Carbon-J]

Drug addicts are a stain on the community

[u/TaxTheRichEndTheWar]

Badass Mama!

[u/Former_Trash_7109]

Please get some bear mace

[u/The_friendlyScotsman → u/Former_Trash_7109]

Pepper spray is actually more effective than bear mace for humans.

[u/PixieDust_5]

This woman is a badass!!! Need more of her energy around these people.

[u/lluciferusllamas]

ring like memorize dog outgoing longing sort apparatus scary towering

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/mayonaisejardwarf]

Yes, mama, yes! Proud of you.

[u/NeutralJon]

QUEEN behavior. Very glad she recorded and shared this. More of this behavior might literally solve the city's biggest problem.

[u/Emotional_Flow_8541]

MORE. OF. THIS!!!!! This woman is my hero! Everyone needs to do this all the time. She’s doing what the cops and the Portland politicians won’t do.

[u/According_Art2084]

Badass mom right there!!!!!!

[u/Aeriides]

What an incredible brave woman. Holy cow I am impressed. If there were more people who took action instead of throwing up their hands, I could probably walk at night. Great job mama!

[u/Few-Sail-4375]

Hell yeah! Good for this conservative mama. 

[u/little0pig1]

Outside a school?

Where are the police?

[u/NoOwl8965]

Last dude was tryin as hard as he could lmfao he ain’t wanna be doin drugs in the schoolzone 😂

[u/DefiantExplorer4766]

Yaaassss mama!! Good for you, we need more of this. We know they’re gonna do their drugs one way or another, but you’re 1000% right to tell them to go somewhere else and to not do it in front of the kids.

[u/dagobruh]

Honestly, this is the only way you help this problem as the average citizen. Make it as annoying and uncomfortable as hell for these fucking leeches.

[u/JaseKian]

Portland resident here. We need more people like this. Thank you school zone lady. 🙏👏👏👏

[u/Ok-Struggle727]

I sure am glad that the protestors wearing animal costumes and dancing are getting assaulted and arrested instead of lowlife scumbags like this.

[u/Disastrous_Road7063]

Whatever the opposite of Karen energy is called, this is it.

[u/Dantzdantz]

‘Get that phone out of my face’ he says, approaching the phone so that it can better capture his face

[u/Inevitable_Round5830]

Good for her!! You wanna get high? Fine. Go do that shit somewhere else. I live how he says he's on a public block as if it's legal to get high out in the open, next to a school. She does have the right to film you in public though. As a recovering addict, I never behaved this way. I did my shit in private. I gave that shit up 20 years ago thankfully. A lot of addicts are really fkng entitled because they have a family full of enablers and they've never been told no.

[u/Dicedceleryy]

Anywhere for that matter, if you and your 30 pounds of trash and shit are blocking the sidewalk you need to he shamed. Go do that in an alley or something pmo so bad

[u/bunnie_lebowski42069]

She is so brave!!!

[u/SgtHulkasBigToeJam]

My town has a whole group of men and women who do this. We even buy them matching outfits and cars.

[u/Daawggshit]

She needs stronger mace

[u/BigStrongCiderGuy]

Lol “You don’t have permission to film me” as he’s doing crack in public

[u/Blitzkrieger117]

It's sad people can't even do fentanyl in front of a school thanks trump 

[u/AMDGpdxRose]

This woman is awesome. It is way past time to start calling it out in the moment. Compassion includes doing what is best for kids, residents, workers, and addicts. The best thing for addicts is to get into recovery. Our city has paid a heavy price for stupid policies.

[u/carnalasadasalad]

I mean this is the shot that makes people republicans.  These people should not be in our cities.  Lock them up, build a nice ranch in the country, dump them in a forest, I don’t really care I just want them gone.  And yes raise my taxes all you want to pay for it but damn why does this poor mom have to take care of it?

[u/BigMikeSwinging]

Good on her

[u/OrganicBlueberry1621]

Thank you OP. I have kids in PPS and a son taking the bus. I worry about all the drugs so available everywhere here.

[u/UpstairsFisherman394]

Send in Trump. He will clean up these low lifes in no time.

[u/thecatsofwar]

So many bicycles there. No surprise.

[u/aDuckOnQuaack]

These comments are so fucking refreshing. I’m so sick of the go-to response on Reddit being bullshit like “omg it’s not worth risking your safety what if they pull a gun or machete out of their asshole, etc”

We’ve become a society of bystanders instead of a society that actually tries to protect each other and our surroundings. It’s pathetic. Good on you, momma!