What fresh hell

When I describe the depressing and dangerous humanitarian crisis on Portland's streets, sometimes I worry that I'm overblowing it. But that feeling doesn't last long, as there's a story almost every day confirming how dire the situation has become.

Now we're told that shigellosis, a form of dysentry spread by fecal contamination, is on the rise in the Old Town neighborhood, where many of the tent squatters are. With so many people relieving themselves in public, and sharing hits of fetty smoke, is it any wonder? Not to mention unsafe sex practices, although I wouldn't think that's the main culprit in Old Town.

The squalor in Portland isn't just an eyesore or a threat to the economy any more. With all the fentanyl overdoses, and now this, it's become a public health nightmare. To say we've descended into third world conditions is not an exaggeration.

We can do better. We have to do better. And that starts by figuring out a way to get competent people running things. We clearly do not have them now.