Portland Homeless Camping By Dangerous Roads Ban Goes Into Effect

PORTLAND, OR — Days after the Portland Bureau of Transportation announced that 70 percent of pedestrian deaths in 2021, Mayor Ted Wheeler announced an emergency ban on the practice. Those camps will now be prioritized for sweeps.

"We have continuously witnessed unsanctioned camping in clearly unsafe locations, sometimes jarringly close to roads and freeways," he said at an afternoon news conference.

Referring to the high number of pedestrian deaths last year, he said that "These are devastating losses of life. These aren't just statistic, these are our neighbors, our sons, our daughters, they're members of our community."

As for where homeless campers are supported to go, he added, "The answer I have is somewhat safer."

On Thursday, Patch reported that the mayor was planning to take the emergency ban route instead of trying to work with the city council because of expected pushback fro city commissioners.

"I'm not going to wait to act," he said Friday. "I will use my executive authority to move us in the right direction in strategic ways like this emergency declaration."

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who oversees the Transportation Bureau, said that she and the bureau were not consulted before the move and only learned it was coming from news reports.

"I'm eagerly awaiting more details and opportunity to discuss this with my council colleagues," she said. "I will have more to say."

Wheeler said that he would announce more executive actions soon.