A bank employee was assaulted in downtown Eugene on Tuesday morning near Pearl Street and Broadway on her way to work. She was just one block from her office when she refused to give up her purse to the attacker.

In a TV news interview, Ashley Horner said people might want to “avoid downtown.”

I totally disagree. We should take back the streets of our downtown. The more we walk those streets and support local businesses, such as the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, The Jazz Station, The Davis restaurant and other eateries and bars, fewer street people will want to hang out there.

Finally, if I’m feeling unsafe, one of the best deterrents is to take out my phone/camera and just point it in that direction. Or carry pepper spray.

Please, don’t run away from the problem. Stand up to it.

Bill Klupenger

Eugene