Behavior Issues
May 22, 2013
A group of people are hanging out in front of your business harassing people. What CAN you do?
We CAN make sure we report all menacing, harassing behavior to Bend PD. The non-emergency number is 693-6911.
We CAN we take ownership of the space in front of your business. Step out and clean it regularly. Put out flower planters, clothing racks, chairs etc.
We CAN stand up for our downtown and not let the behavior of a few spoil the wonderful place we’ve all created and enjoy.
The DBBA is also working with Bend PD, The City, and others to change policy and laws to address behavior problems.
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June 20, 2012
Several individuals engaged in menacing behavior have been turned over to the police. Please help us continue to work to reduce the instances of these behaviors. If a customer reports an incident to you, get their name, phone number, the date and time, and report it to the DBBA. Our number is: 541-788-3628.
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June 6, 2012
We know with summer coming there will be idle hands. Petty crimes and quality of life issues like negative behaviors usually increase in downtown. This year we are attacking the issue more aggressively than ever, and we need your help. In particular, PLEASE read and follow the “Say No to Panhandlers” information. Also REPORT any menacing, harassing behaviors. See the Safe Kids Zone info below that helps protect downtown. Call police non-emergency at 693-6911 to report all issues. We need to document all incidents downtown in order to see increased police presence.
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October 7, 2011
We have made progress, but we need everyone’s vigilance to keep downtown healthy.
Behavior issues, you know them when you run into them. First and most important thing to do if you want to help is call the police (541) 693-6911. Even the smallest quality of life issues are important to report. Negative behaviors should not be tolerated in our City.
A great deal of downtown is covered by the 2006 Bend Safe Kids Zone Ordinance. This ordinance like many similar ones around the country is intended to protect family friendly areas like our wonderful downtown. Help out downtown! Get empowered! Read the Safe Kids law and if you see a violation, don’t just walk away, get involved!
The music system on Mirror Pond Plaza and the regular events have definitely helped the situation there, but we need to do more!
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July 11, 2011
Update on our efforts to keep things positive downtown…
Mirror Pond Plaza
- “Smile, you’re on camera” signs have been installed on Mirror Pond Plaza and have already had a positive impact.
- A music system that will help add to the positive atmosphere and will be available for events.
- Yoga classes will be held every Wednesday throughout the summer as we work to continue to encourage use of the space.
Downtown overall
- We have been working with the Police Department to deal with the small quality of life issues. Tickets are being issued for bike and skateboard riding on the sidewalk, smoking and more.
- Our Operations Manager Mike has been supervising several community service workers. We have been really staying ahead of the trash and graffiti.
- The Say NO to Panhandlers Campaign is getting good traction. We are working to educate all downtown employees to not give money to panhandlers, but to direct them to social services.
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June 7, 2011
We know with summer coming there will be idle hands. Petty crimes and quality of life issues like negative behaviors usually increase in downtown. This year we are attacking the issue more aggressively than ever, but we need your help. In particular, PLEASE read and follow the “Say No to Panhandlers” information. We want to keep our downtown great!
Below is an update on our multi-pronged approach to address the behavior issues downtown and in particular on Mirror Pond Plaza.
Legislative
- We have submitted a letter of support for a bill moving through the Oregon House which would address consumption of drugs by minors. The bill has an important hearing in Salem today. We have worked with Bend PD and Senator Telfer’s office on this bill and anticipate that if passed it will give law enforcement another tool to address the challenges on the plaza and throughout downtown.
Positive atmosphere
- Mars Bistro has now opened the Mars Cart, a mobile street vendor with the same great food they had at restaurant on Minnesota for years. We have worked with them to have them on the plaza a few days a week to create activity there. We are also working on getting other activities and vendors on the plaza.
- Arts Central is proceeding with a music system on the outside of the Rademacher House. The DBBA will fund the installation and Arts Central is funding the satellite radio subscription. We will be broadcasting Bach and other pleasant music onto the plaza. The system will also prove to be a great asset for events and activities on the plaza.
- Mike, our operations manager along with our community service workers washed the breezeway late last week. We are in the plaza most every day (sometimes twice a day) cleaning. Keeping the area clean helps keep it positive.
- The DBBA has funded numerous small repairs to railings and benches in the area that have been vandalized. We know that if we leave street furnishings broken, it invites more vandalism so staying on top of repairs is a crucial piece of a positive place.
- We are working with Downtown Bend businesses on an internal “Say No to Panhandlers” campaign. This campaign was brought to us by Jeff Datwyler. He had used a similar approach in Salem. The campaign includes a message for downtown business owners and employees that giving to panhandlers only exacerbates their (and our) problems. The campaign directs people to give to social service agencies instead.
Enforcement
- Bend PD has really stepped up on the enforcement side. Patrols have been regular downtown and we have noticed an improvement.
- We are currently investigating cameras for the area as well.
As always, your feedback is welcome if you have other ideas on how we can work to keep things positive in our wonderful little Downtown Bend!
Is anything being done about the west side of Bond St.?
Hey Butch,
All of our downtown wide efforts are being employed there-cleaning, having PD address behavior issues and drugs.We are confident with the Subway space being occupied, we will see more positive activity in that area. Do you have other suggestions?
I work directly with the “homeless-at-large” the ones who cannot or don’t want to go to a shelter. As a result of my nearly 10 years in this line of work, I’ve gotten to know many of them. I will lend my voice and vote to stop the panhandling. Most, though not all, of the panhandlers have serious drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, not to mention smoking. Most of the money collected by panhandlers goest toward their negative habits. Free food is available 7 days a week at our various soup kitchens and emergency food box sites. All the soup kitchens can also direct these people to the other services available for the needy such as housing, medical, etc. Giving money to panhandlers only fuels their addictions and gives them enough of a financial “cushion” to avoid dealing with their problems. I strongly encourage everyone to say NO to panhandlers. We enable these people to stay in their addictive state, to not get jobs, to not deal with their other issues by giving them cash. Give them information so they can get the real help they need.
The Mirror Pond Plaza and adjacent upper Drake Park has become the central hub for drug dealing, drug using, gang recruiting, and Christian based recruiting as well. Seen today are gang bangers dressed in blue colors. Typically blue represents Sureno’s who are backed by the Mexican Mafia. Drug dealing is rampant there, in front of the library, and all along 3rd street you will see a pusher with a user, two by two. Several drug dealers are African American.
The city of Bend needs to recognize and completely understand what some of these christ-based groups are doing. They are what is termed “church planters.” It’s a job and they are well paid and well trained. Bend has several of them, one being Icon City who sets up a soup line and showers supposedly for “homeless.” They are enabling the drug users, runaways, and those kids just being a fad runnaway homeless kid because they don’t want to go to work or school. The more people they gather and feed, the more money the church planters get paid. Do a google search “church planter jobs bend oregon.” The Foresquare (Westside) church is a major backer of church planting. They also qualify as a bona fide cult.
The church planters fall under the safe kids policy. They are recruiting and so they think converting kids underage. They should not be allowed to carry out their religious functions in a public place. And showers downtown? Come on, this is over the top inappropriate.
Strict enforcement needs to kick in big-time here in Bend as I see this area rapidly becoming in alignment with some of the worst communities in California totally ruined and in economic shambles as a result of lax enforcement of laws already in place. Bend is a festering cancer that is only getting worse.
Thank you for your thoughts on this.
You’ve brought up the idea of “strict enforcement”. That indeed is already happening and Bend PD has done a good job on getting a handle on those that are making bad behavior choices. The Safe Kids Ordinance has already excluded dozens from the area.
This is not to say that the problem is fixed. The law has it’s limits. There is state and federal law that trumps any city code (ie-an Oregon city is not allowed to pass a loitering ordinance).
We will continue to work hard on this and are optimistic we are making progress.
Chuck,
Three businesses had their door locks glued sometime between last night and this morning. We had to have a locksmith drill our locks and re key them. My business, the hair salon next door and Zydeco restaurant. It cost all of us money. Anyway just wanted to let you know and I did file a police report just now.
We are sorry to hear that. It’s good you reported it to PD.