PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A popular Portland restaurant is under fire after neighbors called KOIN 6, outraged that trash from Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen landed in their street.
The owner, Bryan Sayler, says they’re drowning in a growing crisis and just trying to keep up.
Bryan’s grandfather opened Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen in East Portland back in 1946. However, he says he’s gone from serving steaks, to cleaning up homeless camps outside his restaurant — including abandoned laundry baskets and suitcases.
“Sometimes it feels like we’re our own law enforcement,” he said.
Neighbors say the trash issue isn’t just at Sayler’s, it’s plaguing the entire area near SE 105th and Stark.
Bryan says he hired private security a decade ago — but he says even that hasn’t stopped the danger. His team clears a bucket of trash a day, littered with weapons and needles.
“We have gloves, masks, things to pick stuff up. We’re careful after what happened to my Uncle Jerry. He had to be checked out for hepatitis and all sorts of other things,” he said.
After hauling what he could, Bryan claims the city told the business to leave the rest on the curb.
He says he’s doing his part — but wants leaders to help with the crisis outside his doors.
“We work so hard to keep our one block decent and we’re hoping if other people do that in the neighborhood maybe we can get a rebound around here,” he said.
The city did not confirm whether it directly advised Sayler’s to leave trash on public property.
Metro’s rid patrol does investigate and clears dumped items on public land. But that process can take up to a week.
