Multnomah County’s new deflection center, set to open with the enactment of House Bill 4002 in Oregon, has faced scrutiny over its proposed security measures and overall neighborhood impact, as the community awaits its launch. According to a report by Willamette Week, approximately $740,000 has been designated for security efforts within the center's initial ten months, with hopes to mediate vandalism, loitering, and other community concerns.
With the KOIN reporting that the county is opting to provide alternatives for drug possession offenders, such as treatment instead of jail time, residents and officials have expressed unease about the center’s proximity to residential areas and the potential for crime increase despite the intentions, the center opening in the neighboring region will serve as the litmus under which HB 4002's policies. The drafted security plan promises uniformed security to guide those camping or loitering to disperse and to intervene in any acts of vandalism or property damage, attempting to alleviate fears.
Amid this debate over neighborhood safety, county commissioner Sharon Meieran has pushed for a paused opening due to the absence of a "comprehensive safety plan." This stance is supported by local establishments, including a preschool, which has gone so far as to threaten legal action over safety woes, as stated by KATU. Nevertheless, Multnomah County officials remain steadfast in their position that the center’s security operations will eventually transition to the chosen contracted operator, with the planned security measures being reassessed continually post-launch.
While this tug-of-war continues, the Multnomah County board is set to review the security plans on August 20, a few weeks before the center is scheduled to begin operations, a county chair Jessica Vega Pederson readies to permit a vote on commissioner Meieran's proposal to halt the center's opening following the board's deliberation.
