Love that dirty water
I spent a long weekend in Boston. It was only the second time in my life that I've visited there, and the first in almost 50 years.
I saw a million college students. I walked around Fenway Park. I saw Van Gogh's postman. The chowder was excellent. The Italian food was superb. The weather was divine.
There was some graffiti, but no garbage.
I was panhandled once, in a half-hearted, non-threatening way. Once.
I saw no tents. Zero.
People will say it's different from Portland because of the winter weather. Surely that has something to do with it. But I think the main difference is that Boston, unlike Portland, has way more smart people and doesn't put up with crap.
If I were a young person and had it to do all over again, I'd definitely give Boston more of a look than I did. The current version of Portland, Oregon would be a hard sell.
A reader points out that Boston, unlike Portland, does not have to deal with the daffy Ninth Circuit decision in Martin v. Boise. That is true, but I don't think that is what is really holding Portland back from reclaiming its streets. It's the lack of political will, and the lack of competence.
ReplyDeleteI was in Boston in September and thought about the city. It’s really nice and so clean compared to Portland. Not having drug addicts camping everywhere really makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, there is a large segment of residents here that think that crime, vagrancy, drug abuse, and filth is being vastly over reported and not really that big of a deal. I believe that is called a self-imposed blind spot bigger than the Grand Canyon.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Boston for a spell back in the late 80’s. Actually I lived in Arlington, but close enough. I enjoyed my time there and made some good friends at work. Contrary to public opinion, people there are very friendly once they get to know you. Portland has a veneer of friendliness, but it is a pretty thin veneer.
ReplyDeleteBoston is kind of like Portland in that the city is smallish, and it is the opposite of NYC which is a 24/7 kind of place. I went back there with my wife about five years ago and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed our stay. I would move back in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
And yes, their public spaces are kept up nice considering how old of a town it is. And I just love all of the different communities and smaller towns surrounding it. So much history, and lots of cool old homes and buildings.