Eugene business leaders are calling for more security measures downtown, saying their customers and employees feel unsafe.

This comes despite statistics from Eugene Police that show reduced crime in the neighborhood this year. And some local homeless advocates say people living on the street are being unfairly scapegoated.

The assault

It started with an assault in broad daylight in downtown Eugene.

On June 17, a man approached a woman near 8th and Pearl and asked her for money, according to a police affidavit.

When she said no, he pulled on her purse and pushed her to the ground, said the affidavit. The victim told police she hit the sidewalk face first.

That incident sent ripples through the local business community. The victim is an employee at Summit Bank, which is located in

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