Downtown Eugene business and residents press council for action after assaults and rising safety fears
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Summary
Business owners, banks and downtown workers described assaults, harassment and property damage and asked the Eugene City Council for coordinated action on policing, mental-health response and cleanup to restore downtown safety and vibrancy.
Business owners, downtown employees and residents told the Eugene City Council on July 14 that ongoing assaults, harassment, vandalism and drug activity are deterring customers and staff from visiting or working downtown and urged immediate, coordinated action.
Summit Bank CEO Craig Wojnichek said that after an executive team member was assaulted “while walking from her car to our office on Pearl Street,” the bank is discussing whether to sell and relocate. “If conditions don't improve, we will consider selling our building and relocating to another part of town or another town,” he said. Multiple other speakers — including business owners, attorneys and the CEOs of locally based banks — described similar incidents, thefts, vandalism and ongoing trespassing.
Kelly Sutherland, executive director of Relief Nursery and an LTD board representative, said a safer downtown “matters to all of us, businesses, families, transit riders, and the broader community” and urged a mix of “consistent police presence, better mental and behavioral health response, and aligned and collaborative investment in downtown safety.” Vicky Gray of Oregon Pacific Bank also urged collective action, saying the business community wants to “improve the security for all who want to work and live and enjoy our downtown.”
Several speakers noted that official crime statistics do not capture many of their experiences — verbal harassment, repeated trespass, property damage and perceived slow police response — and argued that perception drives customer and employee choices. One downtown performer’s parent recounted a July 10 incident in which children were followed and verbally harassed, saying the experience left the child shaken and unwilling to return to downtown events.
Council members acknowledged the seriousness of those reports and described ongoing work. Councilor Keating thanked a 12‑year‑old speaker for “brave” testimony and referenced recent state legislation protecting people who share their rights when engaging with law enforcement. Councilor Leach said the delay on a separate infrastructure project (the Chambers Connector/Chambers Bridge work) is due to a stop-work order related to permitting and not loss of federal funds — and pledged continued follow-up on downtown safety issues.
No new enforcement ordinance or funding appropriation was adopted at the meeting. Several speakers asked the council to develop a clear, multi-agency plan that pairs consistent enforcement with behavioral-health and outreach services; council members and staff said they will continue to engage with business groups and community partners on possible responses.
