Last month we learned that retailer REI was closing its only Portland store because of crime and street violence. In a letter to employees the company wrote, “In recent years, Portland has been dealing with increased crime in our neighborhood and beyond. Last year, REI Portland had its highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades, despite actions to provide extra security.”

Today, the Oregonian published a story revealing what was happening behind the scenes both before and after REI made this announcement. It had been having a behind the scenes conversation with the Mayor’s office for months.

Emails indicate that REI had complained about rampant crime and safety issues for months and had been seeking help from the city as far back as July 2022, when the retailer applied for a permit to install surveillance equipment on a public parking space outside of its store.

REI wanted to install a mobile surveillance system near the store’s front doors off of Northwest Johnson and Kearney streets due to an “increase in criminal activity.” But the outdoor retailer struggled to navigate the city’s bureaucracy to get approval.

“The crime is extremely high in the area and we need to do more than what we are currently doing as its causing my team to feel severely unsafe in the store, on the property and in the area,” Erika Mamon, an asset protection manager for REI, wrote in an email to the Portland Bureau of Transportation last July. “I cannot move the store and need help with this.”

“I cannot move the store,” sounds a bit prophetic in retrospect. It turns out they could and ultimately would move the store right out of Portland.

As for the security system, REI did get it eventually but it was on their loading dock rather than at the front door. A few months later in November a car crashed through the entrance of the store. This wasn’t just a car accident on the street out front. It was a smash and grab robbery. The thieves just used the car to get inside.

That led to a meeting with the mayor to discuss crime. But whatever promises were made it wasn’t enough. When REI finally gave up on Portland they gave the mayor’s office less than an hour advance notice.

Roughly 12 hours after REI made its public announcement, Wheeler sent a letter to the retailer, acknowledging that the city’s efforts were “not enough” and that the city is willing to work with the company to find “more creative solutions to address (its) immediate needs.”

REI has definitely ruled out a return to that particular location but is leaving open the possibility of a return somewhere else. KGW reported on the announcement last week and spoke to an employee of a marijuana dispensary nearby who said he thinks eventually people will get tired of the decline and do something. “At some point everybody just gets fed up,” he said. He’s probably right but I suspect Portland’s decline will need to continue for a white longer before the progressive in the city get to that point.

A recent survey in Oregon found a strong split between progressives and conservatives on the issues of drugs and homelessness. But there’s a catch.

The majority of voters in progressive Oregon want to overturn the decriminalization of drugs — blaming the lenient approach for rising crime and homelessness.

The survey conducted last month by Portland-based firm DMH Research found that 51% of the 500 respondents felt that Measure 110 — which decriminalized the possession of personal amounts of drugs including heroin, meth and fentanyl — had a negative impact on the state…

The criticism was more widespread among Republicans, with 70% believing decriminalization negatively impacts the state, as opposed to just 36% of Democrats.

The city of Portland is heavily Democratic so you can guess where they stand. Until that changes, retailers will keep leaving.