02-15-17 City Council Agenda Packet

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DOWNTOWN ISSUES Many survey respondents and interviewees say they have been Several major issues, as well as key opportunities, emerged from personally threatened or harassed by people in the downtown. the public engagement process and they are described in order Many of the downtowns transient or homeless population are of the magnitude of concern: viewed as being aggressive, possibly due to substance abuse and behavioral health issues. The public also mentioned repeated incidents of vandalism, dog attacks, robbery, and violence. A 1.Safety & Security: The Homeless breakdown of survey comments by behaviors in each public Situation Concern over safety in and around downtown Eugene was, by a Respondents mention the importance of providing housing wide margin, the issue most frequently mentioned throughout and social services to the homeless population. While vocifer- the entire community engagement process. The homeless ously complaining about the occupation of the downtown by the situation is the number one issue on peoples minds when homeless, many people also believe that the solution is to pro- talking about the downtowns public spaces and streets. 77% of vide housing, behavioral health treatment, and jobs. We learned that supportive housing and behavioral health programs are Park Blocks and 80% said the same thing about Kesey Square. being provided and are expanding for the chronically homeless Approximately 1,500 respondents (of 1,927) described fear, and local youth. Residents also expressed that there should be discomfort and distaste with coming downtown and the reluc- tance of many to take their families there. Downtown merchants as a youth center or YMCA programs. There is a good deal of express serious concern about customers who are scared away. compassion among the residents of Eugene for the homeless population, and many feel that the current law enforcement We found in the survey and public workshops that Eugene resi- approach can be menacing. dents do not typically distinguish among the chronically home- less population, the local youth who hang out in public spaces, Many believe that the police lack support and legal tools for and the traveler or transient population, largely under 35 and dealing with the homeless population. The State of Oregon pro- male, who are not permanent residents. (We learned from the tects freedom of speech to a greater degree than other states. police and social service providers that this is generally the Assault, harassment, and touching are clear criminal violations breakdown.) The public tends to generalize and call them them of the law, but little can be done about lying on the sidewalk, all homeless, vagrants, transients or travelers. The public is panhandling, and hate speech, as they are protected. Many per- reacting often to negative behaviors that could be common to ceive the City Council as being very tolerant of the negative all groups and talk about the way they feel, expressing fear for behaviors and taking too lenient a stance when they should their safety or discomfort with the general environment. There- be empowering the EPD with more policies and support. We fore, when we refer to homeless in this report, we are referring learned, however, that during the summer (2016) the problem to the people loitering in the public spaces who engage in what worsened and the criminal justice system was unable to keep Eugene residents perceive as negative or threatening behaviors. 21