Sign o' the times
They're changing the access rules a bit at Portland City Hall. The entrance is changing back to the original Fourth Avenue side, starting Monday. And now, "[v]isitors to the building will pass by a security officer who will inquire about their destination and business while in the city buildings."
Already FBI operatives are practicing saying, "I'm here to see Sam Adams about my condo project." There'll be so many guys saying that, they'll blend right in. Another one: "I'm going up to see Randy and Tom's pensions."
| Posted at 1:17 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (19)
"I'm Emilie Boyles, here to do some banking."
Dang, this should have been a Top 10...
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 1:18 AM
"Sten's office, diaper service."
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 1:27 AM
"Does Neil still work here?"
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 1:34 AM
Basic design of a castle (or Shiro) includes: Moats, Walls, Gates, and Towers. Here are some teacher's notes on building a castle
Do they fear the sane or the insane, or both? Disagreement must be insane (or at least contrary to one's self interest, over and over and over), therefore they must fear the insane.
Posted by ron ledbury | September 27, 2006 1:40 AM
"Here to water the eco-roof."
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 2:50 AM
"Chris Smith -- I live here."
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 2:51 AM
I would like to buy a $3 million property for $1 million, and then sell it back to the City for $6 million next year.
Do you have a form I can fill out?
Posted by Mister Tee | September 27, 2006 6:51 AM
"Homer and Gerding/Edlen - Here to pick up our rubber stamps."
"Portland Center Stage - Here to pick up our $35M to close out our mortgage."
"Randy Gragg - Here to tell Sam what to think."
Posted by Steve | September 27, 2006 7:42 AM
"Walmart delivery for Sam Adams."
Posted by Jon | September 27, 2006 7:42 AM
"Prudence, Fiscal Prudence is my name. Ignore me -- I come and go a lot."
Posted by Isaac Laquedem | September 27, 2006 8:47 AM
Joking aside, this new policy is really sad. Interesting how they spin it as "return to the original 4th Avenue entrance" when what is actually happening is halving the number of doors through which citizens may enter OUR City Hall. The 4th Avenue entrance has been open all along, the change is to allow only staff to enter on 5th. And adding meaningless interrogation before neighbors are allowed to proceed with our business. Do they really think a terrorist or other disgruntled citizen is going to fess up to evil intent to the guard at the door?
The new restrictions make access to staff and elected officials more difficult and even more intimidating. The terrorists and fearmongers are winning.
Posted by Amanda Fritz | September 27, 2006 8:50 AM
one has to be curious, where is the state attorney general? does he smell corruption? or does he make nice these crooks for he is running the next governor?
Posted by enrico | September 27, 2006 9:15 AM
Before you join the club, you must have your sense of smell voluntarily destroyed.
Posted by Jack Bog | September 27, 2006 10:47 AM
In the city of roses nothing stinks.
Posted by tom | September 27, 2006 1:39 PM
OTOH
Maybe it represents a "circling of the wagons" which at least could be construed as a response to public opinion.
Dysfunctional of course; but what would one expect.
Posted by rickyragg | September 27, 2006 2:09 PM
As a former city hall employee, I have mixed feelings about this.
Access to your public officials is important.
But I also had at least 3 scary situations while I worked there, where this would have been helpful.
They were supposed to do this back in April by the way, so it's not a sudden decision. Hopefully they'll be open to seeing how it goes and making adjustments in favor of citizen access over paranoia.
Posted by susan | September 27, 2006 3:07 PM
Joking aside, this new policy is really sad. Interesting how they spin it as "return to the original 4th Avenue entrance" when what is actually happening is halving the number of doors through which citizens may enter OUR City Hall.
This plan goes back YEARS ago. After Mayor Katz got rid of the on-site City Hall parking spaces for commissioners and the city auditor (and they ARE gone) she restored the MAYOR'S parking space at the front door. So...for HER convenience Fifth Avenue remained an open door to City Hall. (At the cost of now needing TWO security guard stations.)
I think Mayor Potter is entitled to park his Prius at the door on Fifth. Filtering visitors throgh one entrance though, not two, doesn't seem an unreasonable burden to me.
Posted by Frank Dufay | September 27, 2006 8:01 PM
The Mayor's still driving the Prius? He should take the bus like us mortals. Afterall he gets to create the rule we have to live under so what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
MHW
Posted by M.H.W. | September 27, 2006 8:29 PM
"Jack Bogdanski, I--"
*tackled by guard*
Posted by b!X | September 27, 2006 11:25 PM