Skip to main content
Black's Advocacy for Renters
While I applaud Margot Black for overcoming an adverse upbringing by going back to school and getting an education, it's clear she never took an Econ 101 class ["The Most Dangerous Woman in Portland," WW, Dec. 7, 2016].
As far as a rent freeze, who is going to be anointed the grand determiner of rents? Is Black going to determine what is "fair" market rent? Why not just make all rent free? Then who is going to invest?
So an apartment renting for $600 a month that has a market value of $1,000 should be "frozen" at $600? OK, is the county then going to "freeze" the property taxes for that building?
Why doesn't Black, who thinks homeownership is a pyramid scheme, just advocate for a free society? Is she going to tell all of Portland we need to live in a commune?
I understand the frustrations, but this is ridiculous.
—Seth L. Leavens
Something needs to be done about increasing rents, and it needs to be done now. We need diversity in the inner city, and you don't need to be a math expert to understand that people need to have a place to live and call home.
Whims of developers and landlords to profit more and more without restraint should not be part of the equation.
I salute Margot Black and others like her who are moving beyond theories and addressing a human need for housing in our inner cities.
—"Multnomah"
Periods of intense rent appreciation don't last as long as the policies implemented to deal with them.
The idea that we can just freeze rents, and all the other variables that impact housing will remain the same, is comical. Banning no-cause evictions is a horrible idea. Some restrictions/limitations are OK, but these rent-control militants are so far down their rabbit hole, they can't understand some of their ideas are simply nuts.
—Jeff Chadwick
Rent control is about giving long-term residents a stake in their community, regardless of whether they own a home. In a community with no rent control, renters may make the rational decision to trash their community to keep rents low. With rent control, this contradiction is eliminated.
—Baraldo J. Rosenberg
Long Waits for Police Reports
The exact same thing that Matthew Topolewski experienced happened to me a few months ago ["Waiting Game," WW, Dec. 7. 2016]. I was stopped at a red light and a truck tried to get around the streetcar, hitting me on my bicycle and sending me flying.
I got the make, model and six digits of the license plate. When I called 911, I was told it was an hour wait for an officer to take a report or I could wait for a call back. I took the call-back option, got in a cab and went to urgent care to deal with a back sprain and deep thigh bruise.
I'm still waiting for a call from Portland police.
—"nwhatz"
Letters to the editor must include the author's street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words.
Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210. Email: mzusman@wweek.com.