HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Albany’s no-go zone: How’s it working?

Written January 8th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Elm Street marks the western edge of Albany’s “enhanced law enforcement area.”

It’s been nine months since the Albany City Council voted to establish an exclusion zone in the central part of town from which the city judge can banish repeat offenders for up to a year. So, has anyone been barred?

As it turns out, yes. On Sept. 19, the municipal court ordered a 64-year-old man to stay out of the “enhanced law enforcement area” for three months. He apparently did so. He was charged with criminal trespass on Dec. 20, one day after his banishment was over, but it’s not clear if that citation was given inside or outside of the exclusion zone.

After a good deal of impassioned public testimony for and against, the city council adopted the ELEA on March 28, hoping it would cut down on criminal activity within a large part of central Albany. The designated area stretches from Elm Street in the west to Pine Street in the east, and from Pacific Boulevard north to the Willamette River. It includes Bryant Park, Albany Station, and the Portland & Western rail yard.

The law says anyone convicted of three offenses within the area inside a period of six months commits the “crime of persistent violation.” And anyone convicted of that offense may be expelled from the ELEA for between three months and a year, except to reach necessary services.

In September, in response to a federal judge’s ruling in an Idaho case, the council dropped camping on public property as one of the offenses mentioned in the law.

The convictions that triggered the three-month expulsion of the 64-year-old included two for criminal trespass and two related to consuming liquor in public, such as in a park. The man was described to me as a regular in city court.

When the council adopted the ordinance in March, Dick Olsen was the only no vote. He didn’t think it would solve the problem. Bessie Johnson, a previous no vote, joined the four other members to pass the ordinance. But she wanted a commitment that there would be a report later on how the law was working, because if it wasn’t it could be changed. “Discussion followed,” the minutes say, “and it was decided that staff will make a report at the end of the year.”

The year’s end has come and gone. As far as I know, the council is still waiting for the report. (hh)


Posted in: Commentary, News



4 responses to “Albany’s no-go zone: How’s it working?”

  1. Mike Patrick says:

    Hmmm, so does anyone think that this law keeps people from committing crime? They just need to walk across the street and commit the same offense on the other side of the street.
    All this does is push the crime ridden areas to a larger portion of town.
    Way to go counci, Brilliant idea!

    • Ray Kopczynski says:

      It is possible that during one of the 3 appearances before the judge, they get the message and avail themselves to the resources available and offered to them (that they may not be aware of). It’s worth it to try…

  2. J. Jacobson says:

    The City code is essentially unconstitutional, but the Albany City Council would never let anything so inconsequential as a constitution get in the way of their mission-driven progress.

    In many ways, the current batch sitting round the Albany government altar bring to mind the old Reagan adage: “Hi! I’m from the government and I’m here to help you stop fouling downtown.”

  3. Constant Observer says:

    I had heard that the re-examination of the new law would happen after six months, not “at the end of the year.” I am still waiting to hear the follow-up report, too.

 

 
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