Commissioner Amanda Fritz’s push to relocate Right 2 Dream Too beneath the Broadway Bridge’s Lovejoy Street off-ramp remains technically alive this afternoon—her office, when asked, had no updates saying the plug had been pulled—but it’s causing a kerfuffle among Pearl District neighbors.

The Oregonian‘s Sara Hottman reported this morning that the neighborhood association is asking residents to sign a letter that argues Fritz’s plan would break city law. The Mercury has since obtained Fritz’s reply to some of the neighbors who’ve written her.

The sentiment: Stop freaking out. They’ve been good neighbors in Old Town. Also, don’t take it out on me, because I’m not up for re-election. And this is the right thing to do.

Thank you for your message.

The negotiations for relocation of the Right to Dream Too rest area are related to settlement of a lawsuit, so I can’t comment on specifics. I urge you to visit their current location and NW 4th/Burnside. There have been zero calls for police service to that site in 2013. Nearby property owners report decrease in crime, and fewer people sleeping in doorways because there is a safe place for people to sleep. Right to Dream Too has a drug-free, alcohol-free policy that is enforced by the residents. Their residents need access to basic services, including showers and laundry facilities at nearby Bud Clark Commons.

While I appreciate many Pearl District neighbors may be concerned about the new folks who may be moving in, if the move happens I hope you will give them a chance to be the good neighbors they’ve proven themselves to be in Old Town.

I’m not running for anything ever again, just so you know. I act to do what I believe is right and in the long term public good, which is not always what is popular with voters.

Sincerely,
Amanda

Update 12:20 PM Thursday: Fritz, at the Mercury‘s request, provided the email she was responding to (it wasn’t a cookie-cuter answer). It seems her reply came after someone threatened to raise money to see her defeated in the next election—hard to do, since she’s previously announced she isn’t running for office again after her term concludes.

I am extremely disappointed in your office’s clandestine attempt to move this group under the west end of the Broadway Bridge with no imput from the many neighbors, both residential and business, in this area.

This is a high density area and certainly you do not want this to be a first impression as people disembark from the trains. What can you be thinking?
How can you believe that this is any less “visible” than where they are on Burnside.

I can assure you that I will contribute
heavily
to anyone who runs against you in any and all up-coming elections.

Denis C. Theriault is the Portland Mercury's News Editor. He writes stories about City Hall and the Portland Police Bureau, focusing on issues like homelessness, police oversight, insider politics, and...

7 replies on “Fritz Responds to Pearl Neighbors Over Right 2 Dream Too Proposal: “I Act to Do What I Believe Is Right””

  1. R2D2 has been there for years, why is rushing through a quiet agreement in the next few days “the right thing to do”?

    No one has a clue how to “solve” this problem because it can’t be solved. The notion that the City isn’t doing enough after building a VERY expensive resource center to provide exactly the type of shelter beds that R2D2 is “demanding” is ridiculous. Everyone involved in bringing that project to fruition should feel slapped in the face by advocates and protesters complaining about how Portland doesn’t do anything for homeless people.

    If this is our reward for building affordable housing with the limited resources we have, then I guess we shouldn’t try to do anything for them.

  2. So what Fritz believes is right is for a city block to smell like a mix of piss and vomit? I’m guessing she wouldn’t want that odor on her front door.

  3. I’m technically camping out over here in SE and that’s why I refuse to pay the arts tax or a property tax ever again. Equal rights for everyone.

  5. The issue NOT about the homeless. The issue is that we live in a society that has certain rules and regulations. Driving though a red light is against the law, and if it is not enforced then we will have lots of problems due to the lack of enforcement. This issue is about Zoning and Code violations. The right to dream encampment is in violation of these laws. PERIOD. Moving it to a different location won’t solve the issue of homelessness. Moving it to a different location in an attempt to “Settle a lawsuit”, will only bring a new law suit from the Pearl District Association, who has a right to be upset by the lack of open government. This deal was struck behind closed doors, with not a word of input from the neighbors! Shame on you Amanda Fritz

  6. What a great response from Commissioner Fritz. I hope they come to an agreement. R2DToo deserves an ongoing safe place to be, because they’re providing an amazing service. Hopefully the new site ends up being acceptable to them–it’s unfortunate that it has less visibility, noise problems and security concerns. But I’m sure they’re looking forward to not living under the threat of fines any more.

    For everyone complaining about the illegality of R2DToo, it’s nearly impossible to simply exist and not break laws if you’re living unhoused. There’s something very very wrong with that.

  7. I live on 945 NW Naito PKWY and go by the suggested relocation spot every day on my way to Safeway… I’m not sure if people know this but on any given night you will find homeless people camping there already. My first instinct is to say, yes, let the homeless set up camp underneath the Broadway Bridge. But the real solution is to build the homeless another building similar to the newly built Bud Clark Mansion next door the proposed relocation spot.

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