The news story July 21 on downtown crime interests me. I am an older senior citizen and have lived at the west edge of downtown for 12 years. I head out with my walker almost daily. I do not own or operate a business, and I don’t doubt what business owners are telling the police and the City Council about crime in the city.

I do understand frustration with intrusion on public and private property.

I would like to share an alternative opinion, though, about ordinary people feeling safe on downtown streets. I feel safe. I want to speak up about possible fear of homeless persons on our streets. I doubt they are accosting women out to lunch, though. Neither the homeless, who may ask for change, nor criminals, including drug dealers who prey on the homeless and on youth, would spend their time doing that.

Even one such attack is too many, of course, but I’ve never seen one on casual visitors downtown.

I have stopped in many coffee shops and restaurants, visited a tattoo parlor (I don’t have a tattoo), retro clothing stores, book shops, a cannabis shop once, the library and more. My suburban friends and family warn, “You could be mugged!” I could be mugged someday, I suppose, but I’m not losing any sleep over it.

I have had countless conversations with young, middle-aged and older homeless people. They surely would rather be housed, contrary to popular opinion.

When it comes right down to it, I am more concerned about tripping on a broken city sidewalk than I am of being harassed by disreputable people on downtown streets.

Jeanne Armstrong
Eugene