By Tom Henderson • Staff Writer • 

Local voices speak out on homelessness

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Comments

Oregon1

So a homeless person made a friendly gesture and offered to walk alongside someone who was walking their dog downtown. And that gesture was so offensive that she no longer walks her dog downtown? Sounds like Ms. Dogwalker has some issues.

myopinion

OHHHHH the audacity of the homeless being friendly!!!! That is the worst example on the planet to use!

Treehouse

People really and truly need to read the Martin v. Boise decision.

Unless there are shelter beds or other locations available at the time, arresting people for sleeping on public property is against the law. Until more shelter beds are made available, or an alternative location is identified, that response option is simply off the table.

Demanding that our police officers break the law is not getting us anywhere. It really can't be overstated, that under current law the option of criminalizing homelessness is unavailable to any government agency. "Run them off", or "lock them up" are not options within the range of available solutions. If people are truly concerned they need to direct their focus onto options that are legal and practical.

Lulu

The "too friendly" remark, in my opinion, was misconstrued, and maybe deliberately. These situations have occurred previously--a stranger suddenly striking up a conversation and using it as an excuse to "keep someone company" [to what end?] and follow along. I would feel unsettled, too. Ms. Dogwalker, in fact, wisely relied on instinct--that gut hunch suggesting something is wrong with this picture.

Tuvey

Oregon1 I would certainly like to hear the point of view of the dog walker. There has to be more to the story.

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