I think these extreme leftists have always been a part of the city and so long as they stuck to weird literature and hilarious sign juxtapositions it was fine but something in the Trump years negatively polarized the city against any kind of enforcement. When that happens, the worst parts of the community (no matter the ideology) run wild.
I do think it’s getting better, but it was bad for a while and some communities still behave as if they are immune to consequences.
I visited Portland in summer 2018 and it didn't seem that crazy to me. When did it change?
I think these extreme leftists have always been a part of the city and so long as they stuck to weird literature and hilarious sign juxtapositions it was fine but something in the Trump years negatively polarized the city against any kind of enforcement. When that happens, the worst parts of the community (no matter the ideology) run wild.
I do think it’s getting better, but it was bad for a while and some communities still behave as if they are immune to consequences.