Citing decline in cases, Salem reverses COVID policy of letting homeless camp in city parks
After more than a year of letting homeless people live outside, socially distanced in city parks, Salem officials reversed the policy this week. Author: Maggie Vespa Updated: 9:39 PM PDT June 4, 2021
SALEM, Ore. Thursday afternoon, Colt Davies dragged his tent and belongings from a shady patch in Salem’s Wallace Marine Park. He should be going to the hospital, he said, to be treated for liver failure and neuropathy. But he didn’t want to stop working. The city crews buzzing around him, flanked by police and park rangers, were a clear sign Davies had to be out of the park by the end of the day.