City Councilors listened to public comment on a proposal to expand the downtown exclusion zone boundaries Monday night at City Hall.
Since 1998, police have barred people arrested for criminal offenses in the downtown mall from returning to the area for 60 days. After receiving an exclusion order, a person can appeal to the city municipal court. Disobeying the order could lead to arrest for second-degree trespassing.
A person given an exclusion order also cannot enter the stretch of Broadway between Willamette and Charnelton streets between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Supporters of the ordinances say they combat the high crime rate in the area, while opponents say the orders violate a person’s right to enter public places.
These arguments surfaced Monday night as the council took a step toward considering a renewal of the ordinances, which expire July 31.
“It’s an important tool for the police department to use to keep downtown free from criminals,” said Mark Johnson, an operations manager for the Lane Transit District.
Johnson said people excluded from the mall break laws in other areas of downtown. Eugene Police Chief Jim Hill also supported expanding the exclusion area.
Councilor David Kelly disagreed.
“This is no longer a mall exclusion,” he said. “This is a downtown exclusion. I don’t think we should go there … it could become a Eugene exclusion.”
Eugene resident R. Perkins also spoke against the ordinances. “Culture creates poverty and pushes people into it. Punishing people for social diseases and shaming them is not a way to create change.”