Cartlandia Sues Mayor Charlie Hales for Homelessness Allowance

Last week, a coalition sued the City of Portland and Mayor Charlie Hales in an attempt to reverse a controversial law allowing homeless Portlanders to tent camp and sleep on sidewalks. The massive Cartlandia food cart pod is one of the plaintiffs, and speaking with the Portland Business Journal, Cartlandia owner Roger Goldingay says the temporary law has made homelessness worse in the neighborhood.

Cartlandia is located where SE 82nd Avenue meets the Springwater Corridor Trail, a popular bike and walking path, and for many, the opening of the food cart pod fueled hopes the neighborhood is on an upswing.

Goldingay doesn't pretend to know the solution but says he worries for the "health and safety" of those living in a camp-style environment. He also says the Springwater Corridor Trail is now too dangerous for him to walk on, and he says there have been thefts, fights, and overdoses.

The lawsuit against Mayor Hales and the City of Portland alleges Hales illegally abused power when he created a temporary law to allow homeless Portlanders to tent camp and sleep on sidewalks without the express agreement of City Council. Hales created the law in February as an experiment to help homeless Portlanders without a place to go.