Outrageous and unacceptable were two words Tim Boyle used in an op-ed he wrote in the Oregonian last month, describing the conditions his employees faced downtown ("City leaders must address safety issues downtown," Nov. 10). More recently, Mayor Ted Wheeler said we should show more compassion for the homeless who populate our streets, urinate and defecate in doorways, block sidewalks, harass passersby, and cast an overwhelming blight allover downtown Portland. Saturday's protest demonstration in support of the homeless which forced Columbia to close its flagship store was also outrageous and unacceptable, further amplifying the sorry state of affairs our city's leadership fails to deal with.

Compassion isn't getting the job done. It's time for us all to express our outrage and insist the city enforce the law, keep sidewalks clear and accessible for pedestrians, arrest and prosecute the lawbreakers, and develop a comprehensive plan and program to deal with this growing cancer which is strangling downtown Portland. I, like Mr. Boyle, am outraged, and find it difficult to feel any compassion for the homeless.

Mike Rose, Southwest Portland

