Amid Homicides and Homelessness, Portland Struggles to Repair Its Brand

The Portland Sign. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

After 18 months of social justice protests, uncontrolled riots, soaring crime rates, and record homelessness, the City of Portland, Oregon, is struggling to attract tourists and retain businesses. “Our central city occupancy in September lagged behind every competitive city that we track, except for Minneapolis and San Francisco,” Jeff Miller, president and CEO of Travel Portland, told the Portland City Council at its Oct. 27 meeting.

“Recovery is happening elsewhere, just not here.” In a survey commissioned by Travel Portland, two thirds of respondents said that racial and social justice protests make them less likely to visit Portland in the next two years. City councillor Mingus Mapps is not surprised. “Too many people around the world now associate Portland with homelessness and homicide,” Mapps said in the meeting. “This new skepticism is holding back our city’s cultural and economic recovery, and having a profound impact on many industries, including tourism.” …