HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 M_T Fitch CBGD funds and respite facilityFrom:m_tfitch@comcast.net
To:RIPKA Amy (AJ)
Subject:CBGD funds and respite facility
Date:Tuesday, April 28, 2020 1:39:50 PM
Dear Mayor Lundberg & City Councilors:
My wife and I own the building at 806 A Street, across the intersection from the
Memorial Building where the temporary respite for homeless has been set up. The
tenants in our building are: a sole owner CPA, a sole owner hairdresser, first aid
supplies and hearing testing and an insurance company that specializes in health
insurance and seminars for seniors.
Since the respite has been set up we have many cases of loitering and vagrancy,
smoking, loud obscenities, vandalism and general unease or fear of doing business
across from this facility. When these things happen in the middle of the day, on a
working day, it inhibits or dissuades customers from visiting our tenants businesses.
We have concerns about this facility becoming permanent as we have already had
complaints from customers of our tenants about coming into this area as it is now as
they feel unsafe. I also have a personal experience while working on landscaping at
my property where I felt unsafe and can share if needed.
We do not feel this is an appropriate location for the respite after the "stay at home"
order is lifted for Oregon. There are no nearby social services to meet the needs of
the homeless. The downtown area has seen resurgence over the past 10 years and
businesses have been looking to locate here or already have, we do not want to see
this progress in the revitalization stopped.
In closing, we do not support CBGD funds for the Memorial Building purchase to
operate a respite facility permanently.
Thank you for allowing our input. Mike and Tammy Fitch
m_tfitch@comcast.net 541-913-7748