Where’d they all go? The hundreds of downtown homeless camps that I run by every morning have suddenly disappeared. It was day 4,056 on the endless trail that now approaches 11,000 miles or 17,703 km.(not quite half-way around the world) after my standard 5k (3.1 mile) daily habit. I haven’t missed a day in 11.1 years as part of a personal streak informally monitored by the U.S.R.S.A. The United States Racquet Stringing Association also uses these initials, so don’t get confused if you look it up. If you do click on the link, I’m now #226 on a list of 2,081 active participants (runners not racquet stringers) that have at least run a mile every day for a full year. The amazing leader, Jon Sutherland, stands at 18,518 consecutive days (50.7 years). I will not live long enough to catch him, but will continue to try. My motivation is quite different than the homeless that are usually my only audience in the early hours.

Poof – they were not there to cheer me on this morning. The streets were clear of tents and litter. The City of Portland picked a rainy night to clean things up, so many were surely interrupted from sleep and forced to leave. It must have taken a massive force to complete this unpleasant task that was probably not without resistance. I could not find anything in the news about it, but it was clearly a highly organized effort. There were rumors that the city had organized a task force to concentrate on this highly-criticized problem. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that this is a mayoral election year. 

Poof – I wonder where they all went? A much needed disappearing act. By daybreak, there were few signs of law enforcement in the area. Were the homeless  hauled away, arrested, jailed as vagrants, or simply ordered to relocate? This certainly doesn’t solve the problem, but effectively makes downtown less of an eyesore. Will they all be back tomorrow or will the city hold their ground? As a humanitarian, I try to be sensitive and provide monetary support for the less-fortunate, but I’ve also been burned a couple of times recently. There must be a better way, but no one has come up with a solution. In the meantime, I’ll see how things change on my morning runs?