Byram & Levy discuss Supreme Court decision
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The impact from the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding overturning an appeals court ruling regarding the homeless cannot immediately be known according to Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram.
While its ruling stated the city of Grants Pass had the right to ban camping on public lands, the full extent of the impact remains to be seen. The Oregon Legislature passed a law that must either be repealed or altered to obey with the decision. In addition, several municipalities passed laws regarding homeless camping in an attempt to abide by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.
“I suspect that there will be more challenges,” Byram said. “I suspect there will be a lot of finagling, a lot of haggling over what this decision means, how it is going to be implemented, and what we can and cannot do.”
Oregon Republican legislators along with some Democrat party peers called for the 2025 session of the legislature to take a hard look at House Bill 3115, which was passed in 2021.
“I’m glad that the court ruled in favor of Grants Pass,” she said. I believe that the issue should be regulated by the cities and not by the state. We have a homeless crisis across the U.S. and we need to figure out a way to be compassionate while, at the same time, providing safety and healthy conditions for everyone in our communities.”
