Chamber urges urgent action at Central Library to restore safety and public trust

The following letter was written by the Downtown Retail Council on behalf of the businesses surrounding the Multnomah County Central Library. We are sharing it with the broader retail and business community to raise awareness of the ongoing public safety challenges in the area and to encourage collective support for meaningful action.

We encourage businesses and other organizations located around the Central Library to sign-on to this letter to show your support for immediate and significant action.

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Multnomah County Board of Commissioners
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 600
Portland, OR 97214

Subject: Urgent Action Required at Central Library to Restore Safety and Public Trust

Dear Commissioners and Library Board Members,

The Downtown Retail Council is writing on behalf of Downtown Portland businesses near the Multnomah County Central Library to express deep alarm over a recent shooting in front of the Library on July 1, 2025, and the broader public safety crisis unfolding in the area.

We believe that a significant culture shift is urgently needed within the leadership of the Central Library and Multnomah County. The current environment reflects a troubling refusal to acknowledge the severity of what is occurring both inside and around the library. The County’s repeated attempts to distance itself from these safety failures—while downplaying law enforcement as a necessary partner—have led to harm, distrust, and a visibly deteriorating public space.

This is not just a policing issue—it is a leadership and accountability issue. Safety and dignity can be restored, but only if the County ends its resistance to collaboration with police and public safety professionals. Law enforcement must be treated as a critical partner, not a last resort or political third rail. If security and library staff are discouraged or outright prevented from calling for help, then we are not just failing public safety—we are enabling its collapse.

1. Recent Deadly Incident

On Tuesday, July 1, around 3:30 p.m., a man was fatally shot at SW 10th & Yamhill—directly adjacent to the Library. While the County has stated the shooting “has nothing to do with the Central Library,” local businesses and eyewitnesses report seeing two armed individuals inside the Library just prior to the incident.

2. Crisis-Level Drug Use & Fentanyl Exposure

A May CDC/NIOSH investigation confirmed that about one-third of Central Library staff reported drug exposure through the air or skin—most notably fentanyl—within the previous year. The NIOSH findings included clogged exhaust fans and needles in restroom ceilings. The County’s attempt to gloss over this by simply upgrading ventilation is insufficient.

3. Ongoing Violence & Workplace Safety Failures

An audit by Oregon Public Broadcasting revealed that nearly 75% of library employees do not feel safe on the job. Staff have encountered overdoses, violence, sexual harassment, and weapons—including an incident where a person hid in the Library overnight with knives. Additionally, it is reported that staff are reluctant to contact police, further eroding safety and trust.

4. Business & Community Impact

Businesses in the Library’s perimeter report keeping doors locked and losing customers due to persistent open drug dealing, encampments, and violence underfoot. Many have already relocated. If not addressed, Central Library risks becoming a symbol of downtown Portland’s neglect.

We are asking:

• Zero tolerance for drug use inside and outside the Central Library.
• Clear protocols permitting library staff and security to immediately and safely call 911 when needed.
• Conflict resolution with outreach teams—coordinated law-enforcement response instead of relying on the only enforcement being a ban on using the library.
• Comprehensive cleanup efforts—so that children and the elderly do not have to step over drug paraphernalia and biohazards. Including clearing sidewalks so that wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers can access the library.
• Transparent accountability—publish monthly reports detailing remedial actions and results.

We urge you to take strong and immediate action to reclaim the safety, dignity, and viability of the Central Library as a public institution.

Sincerely,

Jason Gerlt
Chair of the Downtown Retail Council
General Manager of Southpark Seafood

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