City blocks off portion of Bush’s Pasture Park lot due to car camping

7 Comments

1. Hmmm… could the clearing of Wallace Marine Park initiated by the Danielle Bethell and the Mayor Julie Hoy have something to do with the increase in homeless people now trying to survive along Front Street and in Bush’s Pasture Park? Maybe instead of forcing them out of WMP they could have found temporary or permanent housing for them. We need a City Mayor and County Commissioners seeking solutions for homelessness, not punishing the homeless with their cruelty. Previous article by you, Abbey: https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/12/09/5-things-to-know-local-governments-zero-in-on-wallace-marine-as-residents-worry-about-options/

2. The City should be calling out “all hands on deck” on developing an effective response to the public health issues, possible safety issues, costs of law enforcement and business-killing optics of the various squalor camps in Salem. The City Attorney should be directed to start researching every legal option available to clean up the litter, abandoned motor vehicles, bicycles and shopping carts (lots of those) and tasked with providing the City Council with a monthly report on its research, proposals or lack thereof. It may even be worth it to appoint a City “encampment czar” charged with the specific responsibility to develop, coordinate and administer a cohesive ongoing program designed to mitigate the negatives associated with squalor camps.

   I know such an endeavor would invite a push-back, mostly from well meaning people. There are likely a myriad of personal stories behind why squalor camps have become ubiquitous in Salem, especially in the downtown core and along the PNWR tracks. Boittom line though is everyone knows the trash, filth and sqalor is non-defensible. It needs to be assertively addressed without further dithering by City officials.

3. 62 years old with a major disability. Living in the same apartment on section 8 for over 15 years. Now a 30 day notice for the rent portion I am responsible for paying every month is going up by $330. That means my total portion on March 1st will go from $995 to $1225. I wonder how much money my landlord gets every month from the government housing authority as well? My Social Security is my only income and that is less than $1500. Oh ya, let’s not forget the $10 I am eligible for every month is Food Stamps. I wonder why we have such a huge homeless issue….

   • I am very sorry, brendavance2654. I could so easily be in the same situation as you; it’s just luck that I’m safely housed. With more compassion and cooperation, instead of victim-blaming and disgust for our fellow Salemites, imagine what we could accomplish. Where there’s a will, there’s a way (together, not necessarily individually I think, we do need to help each other) ….

4. Time to crack down on the drug addicts and stop coddling them. There is housing and shelters available. They are empty because you can’t do drugs at those places. This isn’t about housing its about enabling… stop with the white glove approach and ENFORCE THE LAWS WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS. Its truly not fair to the rest of your citizens, our parks and open spaces or the mentally ill drug addicts you enable. Open air drug use and markets, crime, filth and over all unsafe and unsightly camps full of rape, drugs and other crime. Time to step up and get tough.

   • you are so so right

5. The assumption that all people without permanent shelter are drug addicts is toxic to the well being of those who live with mental illness or simply can’t afford housing in Salem. The blame game may make people feel better but it doesn’t solve the problem of affordability or the need to provide medical oversight to those unable to care for themselves.

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