Years ago, just downriver from Valley River, my young son found a concealed river campsite piled with bike parts, empty purses, needles scattered in the trash, and, of course, mounds of human waste. He was as disturbed with the huge mess as with the idea that cars had likely been broken into for the purses, needles had been used for drugs, and bikes probably stolen for parts. He said "If I was camping, I'd clean up my mess". We organized a neighborhood work party and spent two days cleaning up the sweet little beach.

It seems a simple thing to ask of Eugene's homeless campers. Could they respectfully keep or leave a site reasonably clean? Or to ask of Eugene's many homeless advocates... could you please furnish them with instructions, trash bags, and pick-up points, or just pick up their mess if they can't?