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Coos Bay council moves to revoke Devereaux Center's business license after months of complaints
Summary
After months of mixed testimony about services and community impacts, the Coos Bay City Council voted to initiate revocation of the Devereaux Center's business license, citing nuisance complaints, safety concerns and unmet corrective steps; the center says it is pursuing an operational review.
Mayor Benetti and his colleagues voted after an extended public record to begin revocation proceedings against the Devereaux Center, a local nonprofit that provides food, medical sheltering and other services to unhoused residents.
The decision followed months of staff meetings and a 30-day letter requesting remedies. Supporters at the meeting described the center as lifesaving and credited it with connecting clients to housing and medical care; critics blamed the site for nightly loitering, alleged drug activity, trespass and neighborhood impacts in the Empire area.
Mayor Benetti said the city has tried to work with the center and asked for a sustained set of…
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