Both sides of the Cox Creek Path have been cleared of underbrush and tree limbs. This was the look Saturday.
After a few days out of town, I found the landscape around Cox Creek and the Waverly Memorial Cemetery had a new look. Gone was the thicket of brambles and branches that camouflaged the vagrant encampments there in the past.
Here’s my report from Saturday afternoon:
Tombstones from long ago evidently turned up during the cleanup operation. Somebody carefully placed them around the base of this tree:
One of these markers appears to be for someone who died in 1901.
The brush clearing also covered the northernmost corner of the cemetery. The property owner on the other side of the fence there had complained to the Albany City Council about the nuisance created by squatters in that corner.
As I reported last week, the clearance operation was the work of Apex Property Clearing & Recycling, hired for the job by the city of Albany in the interest of eliminating long-standing problems with vagrancy there.
Now that the brush is gone and people on the path, as well as visitors to the cemetery, can easily see throughout the property, the hope is that the unauthorized camping will not resume. (hh)
Going to be a good a question to ask the candidates. How do you reach a balance between keeping the community safe and clean v. the challenges of homeless/houseless/lawless that put pressure on public services? Dealing with the constraints due to the limits of what resources the residents can reasonably pay for and the effects of inflation on public expenses.
I have family and dear friends there knowing that this has been cleaned and respected makes tme have just a little more faith in humanity. Shalom to all rhat that gekped.
It’s going to be a big campaign issue everywhere.
Tombstones-
One appears that it should be in the Houston cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26376850/baby-aldrich
2nd stone also appears to belong in Houston cemetery-
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26376869/george-washington-doughton
In a sense, these “squatters,” a Hering pejorative, are an economic force driving small business growth. Prior to the existence of the Squatting culture, small companies such as APEX Property Cleaning did not exist. As we know, nature abhors a vacuum. Consequently, the arrival of the maligned Squatters could be seen as an economic boon, and wealth creation phenomenon, allowing for entirely new business forms to organize and serve the needs of a variety of communities.
Apparently you feel it’s OK to steal tombstones in the name of economic development?
That was actually pointed out by Councilor Novak, this issue has become an entire industry with many agencies/jobs created and even more advocating for expansion. She takes more of a law and order position rather than an increase in services position. It will be interesting to hear what this large field of candidates feel about this issue. We’ll know the field of candidates tomorrow at 5:00 pm.
Candidates Voter’s Pamphlet Statement might give a hint if they deem it one of their priorities, but there’s not enough room to discuss all priorities in any depth…
And just how are we supposed to believe you people will backup your campaign promises? Most of you politicians don’t have a very good track record for keeping promises. Especially AFTER getting elected.
People like YOU just want to make jokes about problems, not fix them.
You can start by talking with them face-to-face over a cup of coffee…
Might be a good idea to do the research before spouting off; simple search reveals that APEX Property Cleaning was started as a single person operation that assisted with clean-ups on foreclosed homes and for folks dealing with deaths, illnesses and other family difficulties. So that pretty much put paid to your assertion that the company is a result of squatters.
Not mentioned are the enormous costs due to squatters – increased law enforcement & social services that come from taxpayers plus the cost of cleanup efforts. From what I’ve read, those costs far outpace any “boon” phenomena.
To me, it’s much like the algae growth in lakes and ponds. Sure, it’s going to happen, but preventive maintenance is much better than waiting until things get really out of control.
Lot’s of demands for action, but no one seems to offer a plan.
Offer your plans.
Homelessness will continue as long as working people cannot afford a place to live. 40 hours work a week should pay enough for food, clothing, a roof, and access to healthcare.
The City of Independence has a survey for their community on their City website regarding their homes and homelessness. The City received a grant to create this. Is the City of Albany able to do the same?
Maybe they could hire a consultant from Portland?
Right, because everybody knows Portland is real good at fixing the homeless problem, oh btw I saw it was tongue in cheek :)
LOL touche!
how bout giving them lawn tools and and figure out waste disposal and see if they are willing to clean up the area. homelessness is a societal issue. they do have a right to unused land within reason. for linn county theres some sort of long standing agreement that the state of oregon feels free to drop the unplaceables onto linn county streets. it is no wonder to so arrest much higher than the national average. policy is at that point responsible for the increase in cost. is someone born to a land not entiitled some indiginy or is it all just packaged for sale.awful large amounts of money going to deciders. not enough going to imagineers. i would start a community workshop. be solutions for life, not financial paracites.