The Portland City Council voted against a measure to halt homeless encampment sweeps during a contentious city council meeting, following a week of jabs back and forth between the Portland mayor and the city council member who proposed the cuts.
Three hours of public testimony focused on the adverse effects of tent camping in the city on businesses and public health, emphasizing the need to protect children and parks from the presence of tents and drug use. Most urged the city council to vote no.
The amendment proposed by Councilor Angelita Morillo would have cut $4.3 million from Portland’s Impact Reduction Program. The city initiative cleans and removes homeless encampments when they are violating ADA requirements, blocking sidewalks or exits, have visible drug paraphernalia, violence, criminal activity, are in close proximity to schools and playgrounds, or have become hazardous. Morillo’s amendment would transfer $1.5 million for rent assistance, food aid, and for the growing illegal immigrant population in the city ($500,000 each).
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson released a public letter opposing the proposal, encouraging people to sign up to testify against stopping the sweeps.
“We see unhoused people continue to set up tents again and again, week after week near Couch Park,” Kara Shane Colley, board member of a small nonprofit called Friends of Couch Park, said in her public testimony. “If there is less money in the impact reduction program, does that mean that tents will stay up longer?”
The Friends of Couch Park group formed in 2023 when a man with a machete threatened people in the park, and a line of tents were set up along the park where open drug use was rampant. The park is also adjacent to the Metropolitan Learning Center, a local school.
“It is unacceptable to allow people to camp next to a school,” Cawley said. “It is reasonable for the city to remove campsites next to a school. “Like the unhoused population, children are also a vulnerable population, and they deserve protection.”
“With the tents and the garbage and the feces that [the homeless encampments] give rise to, the sidewalks are often impassable,” Sheila, who is in her 80s, said.
She and her husband, who is a disabled veteran, bought their condo in Old Town in 2002 with the idea that when they eventually got too old to drive, they could easily walk to grocery stores, doctor’s offices, entertainment, and have easy access to public transportation.
“The public health issues of having garbage and feces everywhere, and because of the blocked sidewalks, we are often forced to walk in traffic lanes,” Shelia said. “Old people dodging cars is not a game we ever wanted to play.”
Shelia went on to say how unchecked homeless encampments have been affecting businesses.
“Lan Su Chinese Gardens and the Japanese American Museum of Oregon have lost an enormous amount of business because there is no parking available with tents and garbage filling the sidewalks right up to the curb,” Shela exclaimed. “Many businesses have had to close, and it is now an employment desert.”
She also noted Morillo’s amendment openly states the budget cuts would lead to the loss of 100 jobs.
John Collins testified he was homeless for over a year with a tent under Morrison Bridge. The sweeps helped him get his life back.
“An outreach worker with CCC offered me a direct move into Multnomah Safe Rests Village, tiny home, which I accepted, got clean, started to rebuild my life,” Collins said. “You would think that being homeless previously I would be against sweeps. But if you’re having those services to support, I’m all for it. Without that, I would have never rebuilt my life.”
Collins now holds a full time job, is going to school to get his CDL license, and spends his free time approaching people on the streets encouraging them to accept shelter.
“There are beds every day, an ample amount, and these places are safe,” Collins said. “I say, let’s get out there and liberate these people from an oppressive lifestyle, because we have the resources.”
In 2024, city data showed 8,303 campsites were removed and 6,180 tons of garbage were collected. This includes picking up trash littered by homeless encampments, as well as needles and other hazardous materials found in public parks and along city streets. Last year alone, the job cost the city $12,863,749.
Not everyone agrees with the sweeps and new camping ban put in place by Mayor Wilson.
“I am so f****** tired and I’m so f****** angry,” Keeley Higgins, a far-left activist, yelled into the microphone while wearing a mask and a kuffiyeh as a scarf. “F*** you Keith Wilson. I know your privilege and your supremacy keep you from feeling shame, but rest assured, you will only be remembered, if at all, for your stupidity, short sightedness and twisted heart.”
Higgins continued her nearly five minute profanity filled rant during public comment with a threat against the Portland Mayor.
“I know this testimony won’t change your policy, Keith, but you need to know that we fucking see you and there will be no peace without justice,” Higgins said as she then transferred her vitriol to the Portland Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We have Nazis kidnapping our friends and family with impunity. We’re still sending approximately just millions to Israel from this city and state alone. We have our PPD indiscriminately murdering brown and black folks. Support Morillo’s amendment, defend your neighbors against sweeps. And finally, f*** ICE. F*** the PPD. Free Palestine.”
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The Council President, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, condemned Higgins expletive filled testimony and asked for professionalism from future testimonies.
“I understand the heated emotions, it’s important to call out actions that are hard to see,” Pirtle-Guiney said. “But we need to do so acknowledging that oftentimes children are watching.”