More than 100 Portland residents gathered both in-person and online to oppose the city’s unexpected decision to remove three traffic diverters in Northwest Portland.
The bright yellow flowerpot barriers, which have served to restrict vehicle access on certain neighborhood streets for years, have been praised for providing cyclists with safer biking paths.
The city’s announcement just two weeks prior to the planned removal took many by surprise and has raised concerns not only about cyclist safety but also about how the city government engages with the community.
As the backlash grew, it appeared that public opposition succeeded in pausing the removal of the diverters.
The directive for the barriers’ removal originated from Portland’s Public Environmental Management Office (PEMO), an entity established under then-Mayor Ted Wheeler to tackle various livability issues, including homelessness and urban cleanliness.
Despite ongoing discussions within PEMO regarding the diverters, city councilors were only made aware of the directive via email on August 1, with very little time to respond to community concerns before the scheduled removal date of August 7.
PEMO cited the Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) assertion that the barriers were impeding police response times and exacerbating crime in the area.
Local businesses and the PPB had raised complaints, alleging that the diverters contributed to an environment conducive to drug dealing and other criminal activities.
However, the PPB declined to elaborate on how the diverters might be linked to drug-related crimes.
City Administrator Michael Jordan referenced a memo he sent to Mayor Keith Wilson, which noted an increase in crime around Couch Park, situated near one of the diverters.
Jordan argued that removing the barriers would facilitate easier access for routine police patrols in the vicinity.
The memo also mentioned that several businesses in the area had either closed or relocated due to rising crime rates, suggesting significant local dissatisfaction.
As residents learned of the impending changes, a grassroots movement emerged to
image source from：opb
