There was a time when a public space was supposed to be able to be enjoyed by all. In Oregon, you’ll need to feel comfortable dodging mentally ill people and needles to enjoy your public spaces. And don’t complain, because that might cost you. Of course, if you are accosted, that’s on you.
Democrats in the Oregon House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would decriminalize homeless encampments in public places and allow homeless people to sue for $1,000 if harassed or told to leave.
The bill, HB 3501, would allow unhoused people to use public spaces “without discrimination and time limitations” regarding their housing status, the text reads.
“Many persons in Oregon have experienced homelessness as a result of economic hardship, a shortage of safe and affordable housing, the inability to obtain gainful employment and a disintegrating social safety net system,” says the bill, sponsored by Rep. Farrah Chaichi, a Democrat whose district includes Beaverton, and Rep. Khanh Pham, from southeast Portland. “Decriminalization of rest allows local governments to redirect resources from local law enforcement activities to activities that address the root causes of homelessness and poverty.”
Can we get Zorin Industries to get to work on that fault line. That entire section of the West Coast needs to be sent further West and soon.
Democrats protecting their voters.
You have to admire the vast improvement in the word crafting that Dems have been using in the several years.
> “Decriminalization of rest allows local governments to redirect resources from local law enforcement activities to activities that address the root causes of homelessness and poverty.”
“Decriminalization of rest…” could have been called squatting, invasion of public property, illegal behavior or many other things, but decriminalization of rest speaks directly to the liberal soul.
“…redirect resources…” really only ever means raise taxes as there is no spending limit that Government has observed in modern days (except public safety budgets in Dem metro strongholds). But here they make it sound like, sure, they can deal with the problem just by allowing people to crash on and trash public spaces for free while allowing Gov’t to fine the people that speak out against them by complaining. And at the same time they can continue defunding the police by making more Gov’t jobs to investigate the root causes of homelessness.
In the end, the results will show that loss of control of public safety in order to get Democratic votes through rioting was a primary root cause. So nothing to see, but keep looking into it indefinitely.