I was rather surprised that fireman Randy didn't try and lock up the duct tape like he did the spray paint last year.
UM...gee whiz, that sure got rid of the tagging din't it?

I don't think he has to suspend the first amendment. The cops can use it whenever they're off-duty. They'll have plenty of time for political speech if they refuse to enforce the city ordinances they are paid to.
Insubordination is grounds for firing.

I hope Sam gives Randy the opportunity to teach Chief Sizer and her klan to respect the "authoritay" of the elected man!

That's why we have elections, so we can choose who's in charge.

That's a lot of huffing and puffing from Leonard, but I'm afraid he's basically right on this one. Government staff take their policy directives from elected officials. That's our system. They don't get to announce which they would and wouldn't like to enforce.

Of course, if they don't have the resources to worry about the parade route, and just don't do it, they'd probably get away with it. But having the Police spokesman publically announce it is pretty dumb.

Also, I hate the damn duct tape. I'd like to see a parade without having to go mark out territory a week in advance.

They'll have plenty of time for political speech if they refuse to enforce the city ordinances they are paid to.
Insubordination is grounds for firing.

"Refuse"?

"Insubordination"?

Rather a stretch, don't you think?

...or do you?

...think, that is?

I have to agree with David Smoot on this. As a public employees, the police are responsible for carrying out the will of the people as expressed by their elected representatives. As private citizens they can do whatever they want and say whatever they want. But as employees they are hired to do what they are told to do or quit.

Been there and done that.

Greg C

Alternative: "We would love to carry out our duty and cite all those evil duct tapers. Unfortunately we have to choose between that and shooting dopers. Since we feel shooting dopers has a higher priority for use of scarce staffing, we will concentrate on that mission. You can be sure however, that in between shooting dopers, if an officer sees anyone duct taping a sidewalk, his/her actions will be swift, severe, and certain." Rosie

"Government staff take their policy directives from elected officials."

OK, what's it gonna be - duct tape on the sidewalk or spray paint at Home Depot? What about arresting jaywalkers or bike riders not following the law? They're all equally ludicrous.

Just because Randy feels so brave and starts ginning up rules doesn't mean he is in touch with reality or the real priorities of policing Portland.

Yes, he is a self-aggrandizing and if he feels so strong, maybe he and his $90K/yr hey-boy Ty can go out and make citizen arrests.

**Randy, not know that murders, robberies, and violent acts are more important than duct tape atrocities? Small minds think in small circles..Randy does qualify for this.

Wow, Randy is way out of bounds here. The elected folks name a Chief to set priorities based on the needs at hand. Ranty's ego is out of control as usual, but I know Rosie has the moxie and good sense to put him in his place respectfully.

Gibby

"What about arresting jaywalkers or bike riders not following the law? They're all equally ludicrous."

Well, first of all, they aren't arrested - they're cited and fined. And Steve, I think that's an excellent idea. Could be a lucrative addition to the City's coffers, considering the number violators. I still have the yellow copy of the jaywalking ticket I got in 1977 in a deserted downtown Portland crossing Fifth Avenue. Crazy, huh? But it worked. I was more careful from then on, even though the judge dismissed the fine. Yeah, our lives were pretty miserable back then. We were expected to obey the laws of the community and accept responsibility when we didn't. Man, what WERE we thinking?

First Amendment rights?

What First Amendment rights? My employer has made it ever so clear that my First Amendment rights disappear the moment I walk through the doors of my workplace.

I suspect it's that way all over. I only bitch about my employer when I'm not at work....but I do it loudly and encourage any and all to refuse to take their health care needs to my employer. Pick somebody who just might care, instead.

I wish you expensive legal people would stop telling people about these non-existant "rights" we have. Rights certainly does not mean justice...you gotta have cold, hard cash for that, and lots of it. If you can't exercise your rights, you don't have any. You don't have any money...you don't have any rights.

Oh, and personally, I think it's a great idea to ban taping and enforce it with immediate citations. Go for it, guys.

What gives people the right to claim a section of a public walkway as theirs, particularly when nobody is there?

I personally think citing bicyclists for their assinine actions on the streets is long overdue, too.

I think it's funny that anybody who goes through the motions is going to be surprised by those who come along and occupy their "claimed" space. When they confront the "claim-jumper", they'll be told they're tough outta luck because their taping means doodly-squat.

What are they going to do? Go report it to the police? Or engage in personal confrontation, which, depending upon the level of response, might also be reported to the police. It could very well escalate to assualty and battery on the streets over parade space.

I'll bet the challengers will be out there, too, looking for claimed spaces to occupy. Back to "first come, first served", as it should have always been.

What First Amendment rights? My employer has made it ever so clear that my First Amendment rights disappear the moment I walk through the doors of my workplace.

The First Amendment only says what the government cannot do about your speech, it says nothing about your boss...you can, however, find another employer.

Whether Leonard is substantively right or wrong on this issue or that issue or this point or that point doesn't really matter too much because his style is almost always very wrong. Everything he does gets colored by it.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And yet, Congress passed the Equal Opportunity Act, which is now used to suppress any speech which somebody (anybody) finds "offensive". I was disciplined by my employer, an subunit of the State of Oregon, for stating a simple and seemingly innocuous opinion, "I think freckles are sexy." A fellow co-worker objected to it and turned me in for "sexual harrassment". I was then put through a Star Chamber like session with institutional lawyers (intimidated, no representation, no ability to question, or even know who the accusers were, and a threat of immediate dismissal for discussing it with any other coworker) and forced to attend a one-on-one session with a "sensitivity trainer". Thus, the state is using federal legislation to suppress free speech. It's basically censorship.

And you think this will be any different anywhere else?

Anyone who thinks that it's a better system for police to determine by themselves what they want to enforce on the public doesn't deserve the freedom they enjoy.

Our system involves electing officials to set the policy across city bureaus. If we don't like the policies, we have to stop electing dildos.

I always figured that if you scratched old
Randy a little to deeply, you'd find one hell
of a Little Hitler just waiting to be sprung
loose from his insides.

Wow! This is a showstopper is it not?

Maybe, fireman randy has been spending too much time with sleepy ted congratulating and celebrating with each other on how well their ethanol program has been, keeping our gas and tortilla prices down. Probably just a little shy on sleep to make common sense statements about global warming issues like duct tape.

I was disciplined by my employer, an subunit of the State of Oregon, for stating a simple and seemingly innocuous opinion, "I think freckles are sexy." A fellow co-worker objected to it and turned me in for "sexual harrassment".

Ok, as dumb as that situation is (you can thank our "PC" society for that, and I think the person who was "offended" is an idiot), you still have to remember that yes, you do have the "right" to say whatever you want. However, you should always remember there are consequences for your actions, aside from the law. You still have to take into account context, and "time and place". And remember, you dont have protection from lawsuits, getting fired, or getting your butt kicked.

Hey Godfry, I have lots of freckles;-)

I just heard on the TV that as of 12:01 tonight you can start camping out to reserve the spaces on the sidewalks.
Does this mean the homeless folks can legally camp out on the sidewalks to watch the parade too?
This could get interesting...

Fireman Randy is WAY off base here. Everyone has a RIGHT to publicly disagree with their employer, and even say it to the employer's face. Any employer that retaliates, should be run out of town. What kind of weak little mousy person would tolerate an employer that tried to limit free speech? If you are such a ninny that you're afraid of what your boss thinks of your opinions, then you most certainly deserve what you get. I certainly hope that we employ cops that actually have a set.

I think PPB does have the obligation to follow policies set out by the elected folks, but don't confuse that with giving the Chief and her commanders some descretion regarding enforcement issues. If PPB were to fully enforce every ordinance in the city we would all see very little crime fighting. For me, I would rather see a few more patrols out here on the east side. Many out here would feel better than seeing those duct- tape violators being held accountable. It is up to the police (not Randy) to set enforcement priorities, and if the elected folks don't like where PPB is headed they can hire a new Chief (which they continue to do for baloney just like this). Don't confuse policy and priorities.

Gibby

I agree Gibby. I would add that it seems as though Randy Leonard has, once again, created a solution to a non-problem (i.e. duct-taping the sidewalk) that has been a local tradition for decades. The police have discretion in all of their enforcement activities, and this one is no different. Ever rec'd a warning from a cop? They don't HAVE to enforce any law. Their job is to assess each situation and prioritize accordingly.

What's wrong with Randy doing this?

The City Council passed a law. The police have said they will not enforce the law.

Someone needs to set the police bureau straight.

That's a pretty cocky PIO, and there've been a bunch. May be time to rotate.

"The City Council passed a law. The police have said they will not enforce the law.

Someone needs to set the police bureau straight."

Problem is, segregtion was the law at one time - should they have enforced that?

THat I think is the real issue, Randy gets the privilege of addressing his pet peeves. I haven't noticed any threat to public safety with duct tape yet. Meanwhile, the high crimes he plays with the city budget and abuse of position go on since most people are distracted by something as stupid as duct tape once a year.