Colorful yarn now wraps the trunks of trees along SW Sullivan Lane near the Elmonica MAX station, hiding swastikas that someone carved into the bark in early May.
The knitting is the work of neighbors who decided to act after authorities didn't respond, and who discovered that figuring out which authority to call was its own problem.
Sullivan Lane connects several housing communities with SW 170th Avenue and the Elmonica station, making it a busy pedestrian corridor for families. When a resident identified only as Jane spotted the hate symbols, she called the City of Beaverton hoping they could install trunk guards.
She never heard back.
"It provides more of a community response than waiting for someone else to do something," Jane told the Aloha Free Press in June.
The reason Beaverton didn't respond: SW Sullivan Lane isn't in Beaverton. Though it sits steps from SW 170th Avenue, which is within city limits, the lane falls in unincorporated Washington County territory grouped with Aloha. Beaverton Police confirmed to the Aloha Free Press that the street is outside their jurisdiction, though they offered to assist the Washington County Sheriff's Office in any investigation.
That jurisdictional boundary is invisible to most pedestrians. Houses on one side of a street can sit inside a city while their neighbors across the way answer to the county.
Who owns the trees?
The Sheriff's Office told the Aloha Free Press that an investigation would require a complaint either from whoever is responsible for the trees or from a person or group clearly targeted by the vandalism.
Washington County Land Use and Transportation staff said housing developers are often required to plant and maintain sidewalk trees.
Public records identified the developer as Simpson Housing, a Colorado-based company that built Victory Flats Apartments a block around the corner. In early July, Adrienne V. Hill from Simpson Housing said the company was "deeply disappointed" to learn of the carvings and had sent someone to assess the damage. Professionals advised that removing the carvings could harm the trees, making the yarn covers the best available fix.
Officials praise the response
Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, who represents District 1 and lives in Aloha, praised the community's creativity in comments published Aug. 11.
"I was really impressed," Fai told the Aloha Free Press. "It was a brilliant, brilliant idea."
Fai, a refugee from Somalia who has lived in Oregon more than 22 years, said she was glad community members responded in a way that was healing. Sen. Ron Wyden also highlighted the effort on his X account, calling the community response "inspiring," according to the Aloha Free Press.
Aloha is one of the most racially diverse unincorporated communities in the Portland metro area. Its 53,828 residents are 24.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian and 13.3% two or more races, according to the 2020 Census.
How to report hate symbols
WCSO Officer David Huey encouraged neighbors with security cameras to review footage and report new incidents. Residents anywhere in Washington County, whether inside a city or in unincorporated territory, can call non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and request a callback from an officer. For crimes in progress, call 911.
Beaverton Police Officer Matt Henderson also urged residents to report defaced property with hate symbols, especially if they believe they have been targeted.
No scheduled follow-up action on the jurisdictional gap or tree remediation has been announced.
