Slow start for downtown exclusion zone
EUGENE, Ore.--The exclusion zone era in Downtown Eugene is off to a slow start.
As of 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, the first day Eugene Police are enforcing the new city ordinance, officers had not issued any citations or arrested anyone that could lead to a ban from downtown.
Under the exclusion zone ordinance, a person can be banned from downtown for 90 days after being cited or arrested for crimes like assault, drug theft or use or nuisance crimes, like public urination, in the specified zone.
The exclusion zone includes 20 square blocks of downtown, from 7th Avenue to 11th Avenue and from Pearl Street to Lincoln Street. Lane County Courthouse is not included. The zone also extends to Lawrence Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
Under a second type of exclusion process, a person convicted of some of those crimes can be banned from downtown for one year.
City councilors designed the ordinance to clean up downtown, but public opinion about its effectiveness is mixed.
Walt Hunt owns New Odyssey Juice and Java, a coffee shop on the corner of 10th Avenue and Willamette Street. Hunt has made it a point to "self police" his corner of downtown, by letting customers and
He applauds the city's new ordinance, calling it another tool in the toolbox.
"You can't turn your head and say I don't want to deal with the problem," said Hunt. "I think that's what the city is doing. They're dealing with the problem and I congratulate 'em."
Others remain dubious the exclusion zone will work.
Eugene resident Chantel Helwig said without jail beds, the ordinance is "worthless."
Additionally, she believes it won't solve the problems downtown. Rather, it will move them elsewhere.
"Either subsidize housing," she said. "I think that's the real issue. If you take on the real issue, which is homelessness and getting more jobs available, I don't think that would be as big of a deal."
