A recent letter to the editor claimed that implementing light rail in connection with a new bridge would result in crime and homelessness migrating from Portland to Clark County (“Perez should listen to constituents,” Our Readers’ Views, Aug. 3).
Does the letter writer offer any evidence, such as data from similar-sized cities that have implemented light rail? No. Just the tired right-wing trope that seeks to blame “those people,” “foreigners” (or worse descriptions) for crime in Clark County.
I’ll offer some admittedly nonscientific, but I believe telling evidence: The Columbian’s “Vital Statistics” section includes Clark County Superior Court felony sentencings. Included are the addresses of the convicted individuals. The overwhelming majority of these individuals reside in Clark County. The most recent listing, Aug. 2, lists six individuals: five reside in Clark County, the sixth resides in Long Beach, Calif., certainly a long trip by light rail. Prior listings will offer similar percentages.
The claim that most Clark County residents oppose light rail is dubious at best. A middle path is to design the bridge so that light rail could be added later if voters approve it.
Let’s reject the xenophobic blaming of outsiders and do the best thing for the region.
