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To the Editor / Portland City Officials:

My wife and I have been residents of the Pearl District for 22 years. Over that time, we’ve come to deeply appreciate the parks, the sense of community, and the vibrant spirit that once made this neighborhood such a special place to live. Like many of our neighbors, we continue to hope that vibrancy can return. However, we are increasingly concerned that the recently announced plan to place two large overnight shelters in the Pearl will undermine those efforts.

We are two of more than 80 volunteers with the Pearl District Clean Team—residents who actively work to support and maintain our neighborhood. We listened in good faith when city leaders, including the mayor and council members, assured us that Portland was moving toward thoughtful, compassionate solutions for those experiencing homelessness—solutions that would avoid placing undue strain on any one neighborhood.

Yet at the end of May 2025, we were informed—without prior public notice or community engagement—that not one, but two overnight shelters, with a total capacity of 275 people, would be located in the Pearl. Releasing 200 individuals onto the streets of our neighborhood each morning at 6 or 7 a.m. is not a plan that reflects compassion or foresight. It is a reactive measure that risks public safety, diminishes quality of life, and could lead to long-term harm for both housed and unhoused individuals.

In the NW Examiner, Mayor Wilson stated, “My plan only works if host neighborhoods are empowered and safe.” True empowerment begins with transparency and community input before decisions are made—not after. And increasing cleanup budgets once issues arise does not equate to keeping neighborhoods safe in the first place.

We respectfully urge city leaders to pause the shelter rollout and convene open town hall meetings with the residents who fund the city’s services through property taxes—residents whose property values and quality of life are now at risk. As federal support for cities continues to shrink, especially in states like Oregon, undermining our tax base will only worsen Portland’s challenges.

Please pause and listen. There is still time to collaborate on a better path forward—one that honors the needs of all Portlanders.

Sincerely,

Steve Duvoisin

Pearl District Resident & Volunteer

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