Cops: Man Drives Into Oregon Homeless Camp, Killing 4, Enrigue Rodriguez, Jr., 24, has been arrested

[Demovictory9]

A man is accused of driving into a homeless camp in Salem, Oregon, around 2am Sunday, killing four people and injuring two more. Police arrested Enrigue Rodriguez, Jr., 24, who was also taken to the hospital after the incident. He was the only person in the two-door sports car at the time, and police believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor, the Oregonian reports. He is charged with 14 crimes including four counts of first-degree manslaughter and six counts of reckless endangerment, the Salem Statesman Journal reports. Two people were pinned beneath the car when police arrived, and the two people who were hurt suffered life-threatening injuries and remain in serious condition.


One man who lives at the encampment says he saw the speeding car go over the median and fly two or three feet off the ground before landing in the camp, hitting several tents before pinning a woman to a tree. People living there tried to help, including attempting to lift the car off her, he says. "Its [sic] only been a matter of hours, but I’m already seeing social media posts blaming the homeless for camping near a busy street," writes City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke on Facebook. "As if they deserved to die. The dehumanization of the unsheltered, especially in a time of immense suffering and grief, is completely unacceptable." Survivors were moved from the camp to a hotel or another safer location, she says.

https://www.newser.com/story/318600/cops-man-plows-into-oregon-homeless-camp-killing-4.html

[Tickle]

1. Every time I see a vacant building

I wonder why we don’t put the homeless in there. There’s no reason for anyone to be sleeping on the street or in parks when we have a place to put them. I’m aware that some would rather stay in the streets but when you are freezing get shelter we have the space

[Haggard Celine]

2. I think the same thing.

A city could pay a minimal amount of rent to owners of vacant buildings and let the homeless stay there. The homeless would have shelter and the owners of the vacant buildings would earn a little income for the property. Or at least the city could give tax-free status for those properties.

I think the main reason we don't do that is because of liability if people get hurt on the property. There would have to be inspections done to see if the buildings are habitable, making sure the buildings don't fall down on the occupants' heads.

[Tickle]

3. Good point

I would think it would be more dangerous sleeping on the streets but just what you said it’s all about liability. Shame

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Years ago landlords would often warehouse apartments...

waiting for rents to go up or condo/coop conversion approval. Same thing with commercial space and lofts.

TFG tried this when he tried to buy all of Central Park South years ago. He failed at that, too. Bankruptcy and divorce was all he got out of it.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. There have been attempts to build or convert existing structures to house the homeless

where I live, but they have been unsuccessful. It seems that everyone agrees that something should be done, but not in their neighborhood. People say they want to help, as long as the individuals they are helping stay hidden.

The latest attempt to move an existing facility from an industrial location on the edge of town to a vacant property closer to services and public transportation were met with resistance from businesses and residents of the area.