CC Minutes - 08/11/08 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

youth. She agreed that business owners should not have to tolerate harassment, but the solution should not violate civil rights or shift the problem to other areas in the community. Mr. Poling arrived at 8:25 p.m. th Samantha Chirillo , East 27 Avenue, Eugene, said there was no doubt that hate crimes needed to be prosecuted, but there was also an urgent need to build trust between the police and the community and that was a mutual responsibility. She said the Police Commission should have the opportunity to provide input on the exclusion zone ordinance. She said the ordinance was risky because the City had previously lost a court case, at significant cost, related to attempts to exclude someone from an area. She said the exclusion zone ordinance was particularly scary in consideration of the City’s relationship to Homeland Security, which directed police to target rally participants on May 30. She urged the council not to pass the ordinance. Jean Tate , Olive Street, Eugene, a downtown resident, spoke in support of the exclusion zone ordinance to help make downtown a safer place. She encouraged members of the audience to spend time in downtown as safety was increased when there were more people on the streets. Aaron Nelson , Alder Street, Eugene, expressed compassion and solidarity with downtown business owners who were dealing with vandalism, violence and racism. He questioned what effect the exclusion zone would have, other than giving police more reasons to harass people. He feared the people likely to be harassed fit the stereotype for drug users and homeless people, and the exclusion zone would lead to increased intimidation and only displace people to other neighborhoods rather than solve the problem. th Joe Alsup , West 38 Avenue, Eugene, said he was a Police Commission member, but speaking as a private citizen. He regretted the loss of Chris Beamud as the Police Auditor. He admired police officers and felt the chief was an honorable man, but it was a mistake to withhold a file from the auditor. He said the commu- nity had clearly expressed its desire for an independent auditor and hoped the council would express its support for the auditor office and Ms. Beamud’s efforts. Drix , Eugene, said that youth had always been downtown and many came from other communities to learn about life on the streets. He hoped that older people would come downtown to share their wisdom and help prevent inappropriate behavior and promote civility. Dr. James Dean , Braewood Lane, Eugene, said it was obvious that there were documented, serious, illegal behavioral problems occurring downtown and they affected Betty Snowden, other people and businesses, and educational institutions. He said the issue had been somewhat clouded by the preceding discussion. He suggested the issue was not an exclusion zone; it was the exclusion of individuals who harassed others and acted as criminals or racists and behaved in other deplorable ways. He asked the council to carefully consider the ordinance because the attacks must be stopped and the problem solved. Alex Brokaw , Sorrel Way, Eugene, said she worked in the downtown area. She noted the comments of an earlier speaker who identified transients being downtown as a complex problem. She said it might be a complex problem, but downtown business should not pay the entire price. She hoped that downtown Eugene would not turn into another Camden, New Jersey, which was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country. She urged the council to pass the original ordinance proposed by Councilor Clark and to place and retain sufficient police downtown to enforce it. MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 11, 2008 Page 3 Regular Meeting