Federal authorities moving into Portland this month has exposed a truth Democrats in city hall have spent years trying to paper over: when local leaders prioritize political signaling over public safety, the rest of us pay the bill. The state of Oregon has even sued to block a recent federal deployment, while the White House and federal agencies argue the move responds to real threats against federal facilities.
Portland’s streets are a symptom of a much deeper crisis of mental health and homelessness that city officials reluctantly admit is out of control. Mayor Keith Wilson’s own plan lays out shocking numbers — thousands unsheltered and hundreds dying on the streets — and it’s proof that talk without tough, immediate action has consequences.
Citizens and small businesses are paying the price as emergency response times lengthen and neighborhoods hollow out, while city budgets strain to cover shelter and social programs that are often understaffed and ineffective. Those are the predictable outcomes when policy choices prioritize ideology over enforcement and basic accountability.
State leaders insisting there is no justification for federal help may be reading from a political script rather than watching the neighborhoods where crime, drug use, and disorder are visible every day. Conservatives aren’t calling for chaos; we’re demanding the federal government protect federal personnel and property when local systems fail to do so.
The solution is not more virtue signaling but a return to commonsense policies: enforce the laws on the books, expand real psychiatric treatment and civil commitment where appropriate, and hold city leaders accountable when their plans fail. Mayor Wilson’s blueprint actually acknowledges the need for psychiatric and substance-use treatment beds — now the question is whether Portland will deliver results or just another press release.
Patriotic Americans shouldn’t be ashamed to insist on safety, sobriety, and stability in our cities. Voters must demand leaders who will put public order and treatment-first approaches ahead of cultural experiments that leave neighborhoods less safe and families more vulnerable. The time for excuses is over; Portland’s residents deserve a city that works again.
