Portland Fines Federal Troops
In Portland, Oregon, city commissioner Chloe Eudaly is fining federal troops $500 for every 15 minutes they refuse to remove a section of fence that surrounds a specific area around the federal courthouse. Doesn’t matter that the fence protects the federal courthouse from being demolished by protesters, all that matters to the Portland Commissioner is that it blocks a bike lane. Portland’s City Council stated “We are fining the federal government $500 every 15 minutes until it removes a reinforced fence in front of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse.” Commissioner Eudaly was quoted saying “We are assessing the maximum fine of $500 for every 15 minutes the fence obstructs our street, and we are investigating other legal remedies available to us.”
“The structure completely obstructs the bike lane and needs to be removed promptly," wrote PBOT director Chris Warner. "Failure to remove will constitute a Class I violation of City Code and Transportation Administrative Rules designed to protect the safety of the traveling public and will be subject to fines and potential legal action." A copy of the letters can be found here:
According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the area where this particular section of fence was constructed just happens to block a bike lane and was done so without filing the necessary permits. City attorneys had already sent a cease-and-desist letter to the federal agency that oversees the federal courthouse in Portland on July 22nd. “This fence was constructed without permission or permits on public property, and it is both an abuse of public space and a threat to the traveling public,” stated Commissioner Chloe Eudaly earlier this week. She was also quoted saying, “It is shameful that unnamed, unannounced federal agents would illegally erect a wall to hide from the people they are sworn to serve, and I have instructed PBOT to closely monitor the federal occupiers’ actions for additional violations.”
Personally, I feel that if protecting their federal courthouse is not a priority of the city then it deserves to be destroyed by violent protesters. But once it is completely razed to the ground, the federal government has no responsibility to send financial aid to the city of Portland to rebuild it. It’s bad enough that city officials there have signed an ordinance forbidding local law enforcement from asking for any type of assistance from federal police. The city will “discipline any Portland police member if they provide, request or willingly receive operational support from any agency or employee representing the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshal Service, Federal Protective Service, Customs and Border Protection or any other federal service while they are occupying the city,” according to a recent court order.
Needless to say, I am not alone in believing the city of Portland and it’s officials have overstepped their bounds and are in complete denial that their city is under siege by riotous and rampaging mobs. One individual commented on a recent Facebook post about the incident, saying, “If Portland has no regard for the courthouse, then give it to them. File charges against the city leaders for destruction of government property, use the federal law to the fullest extent, and refuse any federal support in the rebuilding of anything in that city. Enough is enough, if they don't care let them reap what they sow.” This being only one of hundreds of concerned citizens’ comments about the city of Portland’s recent transgressions against it’s city, it’s courthouse, and it’s citizens. Anyone that would consider federal troops as “occupiers” has lost all common sense and lacks the necessary backbone to protect their city and it’s people.
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