There are two completely different groups of people living on our streets. The first group wants help they’ve fallen on hard times or are actively working to break an addiction, and Grants Pass already has the resources to support them. The second group doesn’t want help; they choose to live in public spaces, use drugs, and reject any assistance offered.
Local leadership is failing to address the lawlessness of this second group. Without accountability, crime and chaos will only escalate, drawing in more offenders. Please email the mayor and city council members to demand accountability and restore law and order to Grants Pass (email addresses below).
The state’s emergency homeless funds come with major strings attached. The money can only go toward shelters – not towards law enforcement, courts, or jails. Once those state dollars dry up, city taxpayers are left holding the bag to fund operations through higher local taxes, or the facilities end up abandoned. We don’t need more shelter capacity; the Gospel Rescue Mission already sits half-empty most days.
In a recent interview on Jefferson Public Radio, appointed Commissioner Colene Martin admitted she would have taken that state money and criticized the previous commission for turning it down.
Taking short term state handouts that force long term tax hikes on local residents for unnecessary shelters isn’t sound financial management.Seniors and families are hurt the hardest with decisions like this. No real fiscal conservative would ever advocate for accepting state homeless emergency money. Keep that in mind when you head to the ballot box this November.
Mayor and City Council <MayorCouncil@grantspassoregon.gov> Aaron Cubic <acubic@grantspassoregon.gov>
