People camp in tents near the former location of Mother's Bistro. Photo: Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
After declining to book the first person arrested under Portland's new outdoor camping ban, Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell defended her decision, saying the office only charges those violating state law, not city ordinances.
"As the elected official charged with managing the jail, I believe we need to utilize the corrections system as a place for people who pose a genuine danger to the public, and that does not include individuals whose only offense is living unsheltered."
ā Morrisey O'Donnell in a statement
The other side: Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement he was "disappointed" in the sheriff's decision and urged Morrisey O'Donnell to reconsider.
"Her decision in this situation does not align with those statements or with community expectations as we work to address the issue of the highest concern to our residents."
What's next: Wheeler instructed the Portland Police Bureau to continue to cite people for illegal camping ā even if they won't go to jail.
