Downtown Eugene exclusion law debate
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EUGENE, Ore. - Eugene residents have a chance Monday night to sound off on a controversial law put in effect for downtown that is aimed at making the area a safer place. City Council is holding a town hall meeting Monday night over the Downtown Eugene exclusion zone that is up for renewal in October.
The law allows police to ban people accused, but not convicted, of certain crimes from the downtown core area for 90 days.
Supporters argue the downtown exclusion zone law has made the area much safer than before. Opponents claim the law is a violation of due process of law.
The Eugene Police Department said that the exclusion law is set up as a stop gap measure aimed at the bad guys.
"We don't have any jail beds. We know that. We're hurtin'," says Lt. Sam Kamkar of EPD. A stop gap needed they say--because so much of the Lane County Jail is closed.
"What the exclusion program allows us to do is to provide that--that tiny bit of a hammer." Lt. Kamkar told KVAL News.
It's a hammer that most merchants say is doing the job.
A Kesey Square food cart merchant who only wants to be identified as "Todd" said, "The very few of the folks in town here who really cause a lot of trouble, is what that exclusion zone applies for."
Supporter and downtown restaurant owner Tom Kamis says opponents are wrong to say homeless people are being targeted.
"I will say that the majority of the people that we have problems with are the transients that come through Eugene, not the homeless." Kamis added.
No one really knows how this debate is going to turn out. The city council reported being in a 4-4 split, possibly putting Downtown Eugene in a new crossroads.
We met Mariah Gaut at Broadway and Willamette, who explained her boyfriend is excluded for one year under the law (post-conviction).
"I think it had great intentions when it was made. I think it's being used for the wrong purposes now." said Gaut.
The police chief proposes the city pay for attorneys to represent defendants at their exclusion hearings--but city councilman George Brown says it's not enough.
"We can't, for the sake of commerce, give up our civil liberties and that important element of our criminal justice system," explains Brown.
His main bone of contention is the 90 day pre-conviction exclusion clause. That has to go, he said, before he'll change his mind.
October 8Th is the date set for the council to make its decision.
Pre-conviction exclusion clearly violates the concept of innocent until proven guilty. We cannot afford to have laws which will require expensive and ultimately futile court cases to defend. The city wastes hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars on defending against lawsuits it can't win, but can't come up with the money to create real solutions to the problems down town? Together we can find ways to change this, but we have to stop wasting so much time and energy throwing effort after foolishness.
How are we going to pay for lawyers for everyone that the EPD wants out of downtown? We can't even afford to keep the real criminals in jail, so lets start spending more money we don't have! Brilliant idea! We need to do away with this exclusion zone before someone sues the city and wins because we can't afford the law suit.
the exclusion is being missed used I was baned for 90 days just because I had a gram of pot.So I did not go downtown.5 months later I get arested for being in the exclusion zone . No one tells you that if you've been excluded any cop can go and file for a year exclusion without telling you.The year ban is suppose to be for people who violate the 90 day exlusion . Was charged with knowingly violateing the exclusion .I didnt even know I was excluded.Case was thrown out because the judge and prosicuter could not find any paper work showing I was banned .The police used it to search me did not find any thing so had to charge me with that charge even though there was no record of it.Alot of people have been banned without notice just so the police can arrest them. By the way I am not homeless but a LCC student.Â
The exclusion is a great idea, too bad it doesn't include bus ticket back to Mexico or at least California.
In reading the article, all the criminals seem to be wearing badges.
If this passes the city is liable for any civil right claims filed as this law violates the Constitution of the US and Oregon. Any city couselor who votes for this needs to be voted out of office
Congratulations to Councilman Brown for being a human being. Â Eugenians, it's called the Due Process Clause and it's included in not one but TWO Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Geesh!
If you build it, they will come. Why would anyone who is homeless want to wander about in rainy Eugene, Oregon when there are so many warmer, drier places? For the freebies, of course.
 @hewhoo Many who are homeless in our area come from smaller towns around us like Veneta, Mapleton, etc. They don't have the money to move to warmer drier places. There are not many freebies left around here. Many services have been cut drastically. Update your opinion to match current conditions.
The car camping program run by St. Vincent's has up to a 6 month wait to get in. The Interfaith night shelter program for families can only take in 8-10 families at a time, for a maximum of 2 months. Even with the Mission expansion, we will come nowhere near meeting the need. Last year there were over 800 homeless students in 4J schools...
 @Sabra Marcroft Of course many homeless move from smaller towns to bigger cities; that happens in every single city. That doesn't account for the number of homeless this city has though. Moving doesn't require money when you have only what you can carry to take with you. It requires thumbing a ride on I-5. Compared to most of the rest of the country... Eugene has a lot of "freebies." And a lot of gullible people who hand over their money to someone with a "hungry" sign who is smoking a cigarette. =/
The City is playing come here, come here, now get away, get away. They want to set-up a homeless village, and an exclusion zone. The camp (or village) will draw more transients from out of town, which will exasperate the downtown problem.
 @Hallyscomet A drug, alcohol and violence free village for 30 people with one entrance and a 24 hr neighborhood watch style security is unlikely to attract transients from out of town.
The exclusion zone already exists, the debate is over whether to keep it, change it or get rid of it.