Sen. Bonham: BLM closes public land over homeless camps

By State Senator Daniel Bonham,
Newsletter Excerpt

Another summer, another park closure — not for construction or wildfire risk, but due to uncontrolled homelessness and public safety threats. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it will close a stretch of public land between Bend and Redmond through Labor Day, citing widespread garbage, human waste, and crime at encampments.

Let’s be clear: this is not compassion — it’s collapse. Oregon’s homelessness crisis has gone unchecked for too long, and now our public lands are no longer safe or accessible. These encampments are not just environmental disasters — they’re crime hubs that displace families, hikers, and outdoor recreation.

Oregonians are losing access to the very land they pay for, while our state leaders continue to push the same failing housing-first policies that got us here. It’s time for accountability, treatment-first models, and public safety to take priority.