Anonymous e-mails full of unsavory pictures get City Council's attention

The anonymous group has documented what they say is illegal -- or at least unsavory -- activity happening in the downtown area.

The group called Eugene Advocates for a Clean City have launched a campaign to pressure the city to put a stop to drug deals, public urination, grafitti, public intoxication and other problems in downtown.

The group has been sending anonymous e-mails to city officials for weeks about the problems.

And they're getting noticed: they were brought up at a City Council meeting this week.

Councilor Mike Clark said the group has found a way to dramatically illustrate a point he said he has been making for a long time.

"I've answered every e-mail they have sent," Clark said.

Mayor Kitty Piercy has had repeat contact with the group.

"There are things worth looking at," she said, "and there are things that are just not in our purview."

Piercy said downtown safety is an ongoing issue -- but it's hard to take this group seriously, she added, because they won't identify themselves.

"That makes them a lot less credible," she said.
    
In response to the group, the City Council is setting up a work meeting in the next few weeks to specifically address downtown safety in the near future.

Piercy said a lot of the possible solutions are hampered by the lack of funds, so she said the city will really have to think outside the box and get new ideas on how to revitalize downtown and increase public safety

Piercy said the City Council would like to hear from you on the issue of downtown and is open to new ideas.

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