Our SoWhat immigration jail flap makes headlines
It's always an awkward moment when the reporter becomes part of the story, but that's where we find ourselves this morning. The O has decided that the federal takedown request to this blog, which we wrote about last week, is newsworthy. And unlike police misconduct, which the editors over there like to bury on Friday night or in the middle of the holiday weekend, they decided to hold this one for the morning after a three-day weekend.
Whatever.
We committed no crime by publishing the floor plan of the proposed immigration jail in the SoWhat District in southwest Portland. In fact, we performed a public service. And now, with or without our influence, the city is rightfully conducting an appropriate land use hearing into the suitability of siting that facility in SoWhat.
The legal arguments that were made in the feds' takedown letter do not appear to have any merit whatsoever. But the point that we intended to make has been made, and it's not worth our time to pursue the matter further.
The tone of today's O story seems to hint that we have done something wrong, but if that's the editors' view, we're not sure whether the bad action was posting the floor plan in the first place, or taking it down. Either way, an important aspect of the story is that the person who sent us that image apparently didn't think that she or he could trust the city's monopoly daily newspaper to do anything worthwhile with it. That's a real shame.
In any event, the city has a hearing on the immigration proposal scheduled for tomorrow at 9 a.m. It won't be at City Hall, but rather in the Tower of Planning Babel at 1900 SW Fourth Avenue. Fireman Randy's minions will be there glaring at the neighbors like they're crazy -- you know, the usual stuff. This proceeding is before a hearings officer, who will likely see things the Fireman's way and vote approval. But who doesn't enjoy theater?
| Posted at 8:45 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (17)
Why would the Feds initiate a criminal investigation over floor plans for an OFFICE BUILDING?
If they planned on detaining illegal immigrants with possible narco/terrorist affiliations, I would understand the need for discretion.
But they wouldn't detain dangerous people against their will in an office building, right?
What's next: maybe H.S.A will classify all the terminal maps out at PDX? Perhaps the City of Portland will label Bojack a Municipal Security Threat and block his I.P. from accessing any city servers?
Beware for whom the bell tolls!!!
Posted by Mister Tee | July 5, 2011 9:15 AM
Jack: whatever you do, don't get in the car for the ride downtown for a few questions.
Posted by Drewbob | July 5, 2011 9:34 AM
keep up the good work. Somehow, I had been unaware of your blog but will follow you from now on.
Posted by chuck paulson | July 5, 2011 9:49 AM
As another commentary on the monopoly newspaper, it will be interesting to see what happens to your visit count today.
Posted by Newleaf | July 5, 2011 9:53 AM
I wonder how much of this is payback for your criticism of local officials and an attempt to turn the screws on you for gumming up the works with your commentary.
(Think GM versus Ralph Nader. And remember how badly GM botched that one.)
Posted by none | July 5, 2011 10:06 AM
Reading the City Conditional Use application and staff recommendations is more interesting than the floor plan.
With a looming shortage of fuel the Feds plan on shuttling these detainees/prisoners between SW Portland and either St. Helens, Oregon or Tacoma, Washington where they can sleep.
The sallyport is 55 ft long, large enough to accomodate a bus carrying 40-50 passengers. Yet they talk about no more than 15 detainees.
The protection to be constructed includes, "...planters designed to withstand the impact of a 15,000 pound vehicle traveling a 50 mph..." etc. Are these just illegals up here to pick our strawberries?
Jack, you're not yet in the same league with Bradley Manning or Mordechai Vanunu but you're moving up. Let us know if you start a defense fund.
Posted by Don | July 5, 2011 10:25 AM
If nothing else, we have freakin' big jail by the airport that sits empty. Based on the amount of money they are spending on their downtown office building, money shouldn't be a problem leasing that space.
Posted by Steve | July 5, 2011 10:41 AM
Of course the real bonus to the O publishing this story is that it opened the door for many of us to a much more valid and in depth source of non-corporate news.
Thanks O.
And excuse for ranting but in case you're not aware this is a very typical: "look over there, don't look here scam" by our feds.
The real investigation needs to be about both those behind this expensive secret, unnecessary project, and those behind the investigation. HEY, Hows about a big ole audit of our local GSA budget?
Any news on the Nancy Bergeson Murder?
Posted by Big Mike | July 5, 2011 11:01 AM
Announcement from City Hall: All future meetings of the Committee to Slip the Immigration Facility into South Waterfront have been canceled. Thank you.
Posted by Bill McDonald | July 5, 2011 11:06 AM
The article on the O was actually first published early yesterday afternoon even though the publish and update times now suggest it was published later.
Posted by Benjamin Kerensa | July 5, 2011 12:02 PM
3 Days of the Federalized Sam Rand Twins:
BoJack: I'd like to go back to the Collins View Neighborhood.
Joubert: You have not much future there. It will happen this way. You may be walking. Maybe the first sunny day of the spring. And a car will slow beside you, and a door will open, and someone you know, maybe even trust, will get out of the car. And he will smile, a becoming smile. But he will leave open the door of the car and offer to give you a lift.
Posted by RL6 | July 5, 2011 2:32 PM
BJ , watch out for Seal-Team6 , I have heard they can be a tad abrupt sometimes....
Posted by billb | July 5, 2011 3:10 PM
"Because some of the people who move through that area are suspected of committing a crime," she said, "and we don't want them to have additional information about the facility."
What a crock!
They're trying to scare you, obviously.
The criminals are gonna hold up the jail?
Or maybe they are planning to kidnap the guards?
What do they have in mind anyway?
B.S.
Totally!
Posted by al m | July 5, 2011 3:20 PM
Is it too soon to order my "Free Jack Bog" bumperstickers?
Posted by HMLA-267 | July 5, 2011 4:14 PM
I wonder if our comments become evidence if they indict BJ?
Posted by Heijl | July 5, 2011 4:30 PM
As our host is in the education field he has nothing to fear from a SEAL team. But I have read recently about the Dept of Education having it's own SWAT team. That seems more likely.
Jack, be thankful Dick Cheney isn't around. He'd probably take you quail hunting if this happened on his watch.
Posted by Roy | July 5, 2011 5:10 PM
Just on the issue of large buses coming onto the site off SE Bancroft, how is CoP and the Feds going to deal with the limited access street designation for Bancroft. The restrictions are imposed under the Central City-South Waterfront Plan in Title 33 Zoning Code. And how are the feds going to deal with their own ICE requirements of adequate maneuvering room/parking for buses?
They have a major problem just on this one issue. Appeals can easily be made on these alone to both Fed jurisdictions and Oregon's LUBA.
Posted by Lee | July 5, 2011 8:51 PM