What is it like living in Eugene?

[u/themetalship]

My wife might be getting a high paying healthcare job in Eugene, so we are curious what it is like to live there. I have a background in education (direct instruction, academic site management, higher ed). I'm open to other career paths, as the job prospects worry me a bit.

We also want to know how it is to live there. We lived in az for most of our lives. We've been in Texas (DFW) for 3 years. Any insight is appreciated.

[u/BarbequedYeti]

I think they're saying it made it worse because people know they won't be locked up if found with drugs

But there is zero evidence to support that.  The fent issue has been growing for years.

Here is what I dont understand. The war on drugs has been running for decades with billions spent and zero results. How come no one is criticizing how unsuccessful that approach has been?  

Not a peep from people like OP about that.  Total ok with that failure and zero questions, but decriminalizing was given a couple of years with zero resources invested in it and yet they are up in arms about how its the problem..  So back to the same demonstrated failed approach and they are happy.  No questions.  Funny that. 

[u/Bear_switch_slut → u/BarbequedYeti]

Add on to it that the homeless people have been traveling into and through Eugene for many years before the decriminalization. The main reason it has been more visible lately is due to them doing sweeps. The sweeps send the homeless into new areas (does nothing to get them out, btw) so now they're being seen in places they weren't before. Then the people that live in those areas are like "OMG it's getting so much worse!" It's the same problem as when the Olympic trials came, they didn't want it to look like there were a bunch of homeless, so they chased them out of their usual areas and the people in the more isolated communities are like "oh no, undesirables!" Also, very much the lack of substance abuse and mental health treatment. The whole thing was SUPPOSED to be supported by substance abuse programs, but they didn't implement that before just decriminalizing everything and surprise, surprise, there was suddenly more drug use happening. The fent issue is nationwide. Hell, Kensington in Philly is still the largest open air drug market in the country, and PA hasn't even legalized marijuana yet!

[u/BarbequedYeti → u/Bear_switch_slut]

Add on to it that the homeless people have been traveling into and through Eugene for many years before the decriminalization

They follow the weather for the most part.  Its been that way for eons. You want to be homeless in Detroit in Jan?  Of course not. Being homeless already sucks. Might as well suck less with the weather.  

I spent a bit of time homeless as a teen.  I was lucky it was in Az in the fall-winter.  But as summer approached, you bet your ass I was making plans to head to the coast or at least up to Flagstaff.  

Its the one thing you have a bit of control over when you have absolutely nothing else.  

[u/Bear_switch_slut → u/BarbequedYeti]

Yep, the Cali to Seattle Pipeline asking I-5 and the rail lines are a staple in the West Coast homeless population. I've been lucky enough never to be houseless myself, but a LOT of my friends and acquaintances have been.