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Dear Friends,
As I said in a video I released today, we can't arrest our way out of homelessness, nor should we. But for too long, we have failed to enforce our existing laws on dangerous activities that hurt the community.
You may have heard that we will return to enforcing city laws on camping on November 1st. I want to clarify what that means for those experiencing homelessness and our city.
There are two pieces to this ordinance. First, if we have enough shelter, which we now do, camping isn't allowed in public spaces. Second, any camping must be responsible. Encampments can't block pedestrian access, set fires, dump trash, hurt people, or damage the environment.
I've asked our police to issue citations for these violations. They'll be focusing on lawbreaking behavior and actions that harm our community. Again, no one will be arrested simply for camping, nor should they. However, we will arrest those who have open warrants or who have broken the law in ways that prey on our community.
Our courts have an important role in helping individuals make better choices. That's why I've been meeting with representatives of our court system to find ways we can help connect individuals with the services they need.
We've put our heart and soul into our emergency shelter beds and day centers. We have resources available for those who need them. Every person deserves a safe bed every night and to live in a safe, sanitary, and accessible city.
Finally, I want to say thank you to our City Outreach Team and Portland Police. It's important that they have the resources they need to work with vulnerable individuals on a case-by-case basis.
I believe this effort will save lives and restore vibrancy and livability to our city. Like you, we'll be monitoring every step. We'll scale up our successes, and we'll learn from our failures. Thank you for all your support.
Gratefully,
Mayor Keith Wilson