The headline on a recent Oregonian/OregonLive story labels mayoral candidate Rene Gonzalez’s camping proposal as “more punitive,” (“Rene Gonzalez, candidate for Portland mayor, pitches more punitive approach to homeless campers,” April 17). Really? “Punitive” is defined as inflicting or intending punishment. Gonzalez’s proposal does neither, as it’s hardly punitive to show leadership and assertively direct people into safer and more humane living situations and lifestyles. Local leftists abhor that kind of directness and feel virtuous about throwing services and money at a problem with little direction and no accountability. They then make excuses for when said approach doesn’t work. And the current approach clearly doesn’t work.