Portland Still In Turmoil
[guest post by Dana]
I’m sure it’s a relief to neighbors that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced that he will be moving out of his townhome which has lately come under fire from those non-violent protesters we keep hearing about:
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says he’s looking for a new place to live after his Pearl District condo building has been the site of repeated demonstrations, including on Monday when crowds demanded he resign and some people set fires and broke windows.
In an email Tuesday from Wheeler to other residents of the 16-floor high-rise tower, the mayor said it would be “best for me and for everyone else’s safety and peace” that he finds a new home. He assured people that police are taking their safety concerns seriously and invited them to a Thursday evening meeting that will include himself and officers to voice their concerns.
“I want to express my sincere apologies for the damage to our home and the fear that you are experiencing due to my position,” according to a screenshot of the email sent to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “It’s unfair to all of you who have no role in politics or in my administration.”
…
Demonstrators have gathered outside Wheeler’s condo building sporadically since mid-June — at least twice when he was not there. On Monday, Wheeler’s 58th birthday, some in a group of more than 200 graffitied and damaged the building and sidewalk and threw a burning bundle of newspapers into retail space in the building.
Police arrested 19 people during the demonstration. Most are accused of disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer; the latter is the most common accusation levied against protesters arrested during demonstrations over the last three months.
Meanwhile, I guess this weak tea was Wheeler’s version of how to end the violence and unify the city:
“These acts range from stupid, to dangerous, to criminal. The violence must stop. None of this should sit well with any thinking Portlander.”
Okay. Sure. If you want to keep on campaigning for Donald Trump, have at it, I guess.
Meanwhile, on the heels of detailing a unified law enforcement plan to protect free speech and end the violence and arson in Portland, Gov. Kate Brown, who has proven to be just a real top-notch manager of the ongoing chaos, has requested various law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties send personnel to Portland to help contain the mess. Unsurprisingly, the collective response was a solid “no,” because Gov. Brown is viewed as reaching for the wrong solution to the problem:
On Monday, both Washington and Clackamas County sheriffs announced they would decline to send their personnel. Tuesday, Gresham Police declined, too.
“While we stand ready to assist our partners in certain emergency situations as is our standard practice, we have no plans at this time to assist with protests or crowd management in Portland,” said Gresham Police Chief Robin Sells.
“Had Governor Brown discussed her plan with my office, I would have told her it’s about changing policy not adding resources,” said Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts. “The only way to make Portland safe again, is to support a policy that holds offenders accountable for their destruction and violence.”
“PPB is a terrific partner and I am very sympathetic to what they are enduring. However, the lack of political support for public safety, the uncertain legal landscape, the current volatility combined with intense scrutiny on use of force presents an unacceptable risk if deputies were deployed directly,” said Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett.
Two other agencies also responded to the request:
A spokesperson for Hillsboro Police said, “The Hillsboro Police Department has not been asked to provide resources or personnel to the Portland Police Bureau. We value and appreciate our relationship with this organization. However, our primary focus is serving our community members in the City of Hillsboro, and we would likely decline this request if put to us.”
A Vancouver police spokesperson said “the danger to our personnel, the associated liability combined with the apparent lack of legal consequence for people being arrested on a nightly basis make it impractical for us to send any of our personnel to Portland at this time to assist with protests or crowd management.”
Is this really any surprise? How could Brown *not* expect this response? While it’s certainly not a good situation, it’s clear to even me that a lack of personnel isn’t the real problem here.
In light of these exhausting months of protests and riots, this Portland seems quaint and like it was a hundred years ago:
–Dana
Admittedly, I’m no rocket scientist, but it seems to me that in order for there to be any real change in policing to take place and concerns about racial justice to be addressed, citizens must first, not just feel safe in their city, but must actually be safe in their city. Everyone of every color, age, and religion. How to get there?
Dana (292df6) — 9/2/2020 @ 2:52 pmGo back to the 50’s rural values of hard work and a full belly of fresh food. And the only thing open on sundays were the churches.
mg (8cbc69) — 9/2/2020 @ 2:58 pmNah, don’t move, Mayor Wheeler; just resign your office. You’re hated on both the left and the right, and you have proven yourself unequal to the task at hand.
JVW (ee64e4) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:03 pmMayor Wheeler and Governor Brown are doing great work, helping Trump get reelected.
Paul Montagu (a2078e) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:04 pmIndulge hooligans, then scream for help. That is rich.
norcal (a5428a) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:16 pmTrump opines:
Dana (292df6) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:24 pmLots of unintended campaigning for Trump these days…
Dana (292df6) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:25 pmOf course it makes perfect sense that Trump, of all people, believes that “Criminals only understand strength!”
Dana (292df6) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:29 pmTakes one to know one!
@7
I know…right?!?!
Trump is truly blessed about the quality of his opponents during his political career.
whembly (537f99) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:34 pmHis opponents should be Putin and Xi Jinping. Because they are ours. To quote Mohammed Ali: No Ted Wheeler has an ICBM aimed at my head.
nk (1d9030) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:52 pmThe feds again take action after the local authorities won’t, but to read the article it sounds just so controversial:
A man and a woman appeared before a federal judge Wednesday in Portland, becoming the first in Oregon to face the rare federal charge of civil disorder for alleged violence during this summer’s turbulent protests.
A Seattle man is accused of launching a ball bearing with a slingshot during a downtown demonstration in July and striking a Portland Fire Bureau medic.
A Portland woman is accused of throwing a helmet that struck a police sergeant in the head last week outside the North Police Precinct.
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2020/09/oregon-pursues-first-federal-charges-of-civil-disorder-for-alleged-violence-at-portland-protests.html
beer ‘n pretzels (91a694) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:53 pmMeanwhile, Reinoehl still isn’t arrested.
beer ‘n pretzels (91a694) — 9/2/2020 @ 3:55 pmIma gonna go to the Jewel in an hour. And I’ll bet you a bowl of fish heads with rice that not one single person there will care whether Reinoehl is arrested. And some nuoc cham to go with it, that what will be foremost in their minds will be whether they’ll make it back home without having contracted Covid.
nk (1d9030) — 9/2/2020 @ 4:02 pmHey nk, I don’t think Reinoehl was wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. Light your fire now?
beer ‘n pretzels (7f2992) — 9/2/2020 @ 4:08 pmReport that Putin (Russia) is spreading stories about Biden’s mental decline, some of which has been picked up by Trump. And attempt to claim that intelligence agencies hiding Russian attempt to help Trump (but its not the same story)
Just what stories come from Russia and what comes from elsewhere?
Sammy Finkelman (b66da2) — 9/2/2020 @ 4:11 pmThe refusal to help the city of Portland by neighboring law enforcement is as sad as it is understandable.
The mayor and governor have ignored the problems for months and let the idiots run wild. When the President offered assistance they spit in his (and their own law-abiding citizens’) face in a show of political theatre with no regard for civil order or protecting lives and property.
The weirdest thing of all is that there are a LOT of people in Portland (tho not anything near a majority) who think the riots are good and the police must be abolished, looting is OK (because insurance etc.) and other moonbat ideas.
I’m also struck by how many people who are just bystanders to the chaos are willing to FUND these idiots.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better, especially if it takes over 90 days for Dems to realize riots are bad m’kay?
harkin (cd4502) — 9/2/2020 @ 4:26 pm_
“ Just what stories come from Russia and what comes from elsewhere?”
_
I would think most stories about Joe Biden’s suspect mental status originate from videos of Joe Biden.
harkin (cd4502) — 9/2/2020 @ 4:28 pm_
Heh
https://babalublog.com/2020/09/02/we-will-be-like-che-guevara-indeed-antifa-commander-carrying-flame-thrower-dropped-into-fetal-position-and-burst-into-tears-upon-arrest-reports-ny-post-not-unlike-antifas-very-i/
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/2/2020 @ 5:43 pmA rebel
https://pjmedia.com/columns/victoria-taft/2020/09/02/exclusive-case-of-portland-man-who-defended-himself-against-antifa-mob-heads-to-supreme-court-n876896
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/2/2020 @ 5:55 pmReport that Putin (Russia) is spreading stories about Biden’s mental decline, some of which has been picked up by Trump.
Good Heavens, all one has to do is watch a few minutes of him attempting to speak off-the-cuff. Russia would be wasting their time trying to spread stories about him.
JVW (ee64e4) — 9/2/2020 @ 7:05 pmA President who was not a Russian provocateur would tell his supporters, “If you go to Portland to add to that poor city’s problems, you’re no friend’s of mine.” But this is the orange who instigated armed insurrection in Michigan where there was no Antifa at all.
nk (1d9030) — 9/2/2020 @ 8:59 pmThats stupid, pushing to drive out the national guard with a jackass mayor and an even more moronic governor that is the problem.
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/2/2020 @ 9:17 pmBut trump is the problem, o
https://thepostmillennial.com/seattle-man-arrested-by-feds-for-threatening-to-blow-up-portland-police-station-antifof course like a virus they migrate to ther cities
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/2/2020 @ 9:20 pm@21
Wait…what? How’d you figure that?
whembly (2900b2) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:20 amAndy Ngo might ditch the charred streets of the urban PNW and take his punching bag act on the other coast:
http://news.yahoo.com/critics-fear-nypd-asian-hate-145953711.html
urbanleftbehind (34c0dc) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:26 amLet me Google that for you.
nk (1d9030) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:27 amLOL… by that standard you’d condemn the entire Democratic party of the same thing.
whembly (2900b2) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:34 amThe same websites which are calling rittenhouse a mass murderer, ans not allowind any contrary evidence.
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:35 amOh
https://thepostmillennial.com/revealed-antifa-stored-weapons-in-seattle-occupied-park/
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:36 amChip off the old block
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/09/biden_might_want_to_skip_his_meeting_with_jacob_blakes_family.html#.X1DivvY7vVI.facebook
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 6:39 amMaybe he forgot
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/09/02/joe-biden-denies-calling-for-national-mask-mandate-im-a-constitutionalist/
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 7:01 amNever mind
https://dailycaller.com/2020/09/02/police-riot-torn-cities-protect-voters-november/
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 7:03 amGraeme Wood has a great piece on looting, taking Vicky Osterweil to task for her support of it. I’m a peaceful guy, but I swear if someone says “cisheteropatriarchal racial capitalist” to my face, I’m gonna punch the communist. Loot that, Che.
Paul Montagu (a2078e) — 9/3/2020 @ 8:14 am“cisheteropatriarchal racial capitalist” to my face, I’m gonna punch the communist.
Heh! I wish I could fit that on a lapel button.
nk (1d9030) — 9/3/2020 @ 8:18 am@33 “cisheteropatriarchal racial capitalist”
lolwut?
How many SJW-y buzzword/construct can you cram in there??
Also, I love with the antifa crowd wheres/champion Che… they have no f’n clue who Che was and what he did.
whembly (2900b2) — 9/3/2020 @ 8:19 amA clue, che wasnt real keem on blacks or gays or mexicans other than that…
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 8:21 amBe like che, ends up being on the wrong end of a rifle like miss harberys hubby, one of the few authentic peasant guerilla leaders
Bolivar di griz (7404b5) — 9/3/2020 @ 8:27 amAbout a year ago I remember being mocked for saying antifa was going to be a big story during the coming election year. I have to say I did not predict the temporary merger with BLM, which has made the election year far more interesting than antifa alone. BLM trades on black lives lost to police, and given that black males average 250 deaths by police annually, it is an easy protest point in an election year because the average is roughly 4 per week. The outrage of BLM gives antifa its favorite toys which include anarchy, vandalism, and arson
steveg (43b7a5) — 9/3/2020 @ 5:28 pmVisions of polo shirts and khakis, affirmative action bake sales, college republican know it alls thinking they know more.
If you support Trump you do not understand history and are not wise.
Dustin (825e2c) — 9/3/2020 @ 5:32 pm