Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Homeless Collective's Possession of Portland Aerial Tram

By Darke Twain

PORTLAND, Ore. — Today, Oregon Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled in favor of a homeless collective that took over the Portland Aerial Tram last month, converting it into a home in the sky.

The tram, once an Oregon icon and one of only two of its kind in the nation, transported tourists but largely served to move staff and patients just over half a mile and 500' up from the city's South Waterfront district and the main Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) campus, located in the Marquam Hill neighborhood.

No longer.

The ruling, which designates the tram as “non-traditional transitional vertical housing,” is supported by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who called the move “an innovative response to a crisis we otherwise had no plan to solve.” She cites several state laws and one Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that mirror the Oregon Supreme Court decision.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for OHSU acknowledged the disruption but said they are “committed to exploring alternative transportation options,” including installing a zipline or simply moving the hospital closer to the ground.

Both cars, each fully occupied and filled with tents, garbage, and shopping carts, have been set to run 24/7 stopping regularly in case their occupants want to jump out on campus or down at the bottom for a while. Solar-powered camping stoves and coffeepots have been installed.

"It's warm and dry," said one occupant. "We're literally above it all now. I don't think those patients are so sick that they can't hoof it up a hill or two, if it means we have a free place to crash."

Portland City Council has added a discussion about retrofitting MAX train roofs for tiny house pods to its next agenda.

A recent poll showed 95% of Oregonians were in favor of kicking the homeless collective out of the tram.

"No one should be outraged by this," added Gov. Kotek. "I'd give them the entire U.S. Bank Tower if they wanted it. It's not like it's worth anything anymore anyway."