Lone Vet Joe Walsh dispatch 10-18-2013 on Portland Local Politics
There I was on the #4 bus again; most of the drivers and a lot of the passengers now know me. I was on my way to a memorial for Keaton Otis which meant I was going to ride the East-Side cable car. This would be my first ride on this car for any distance; I rode it once but just for a few stops and today I would ride it all the way from Hawthorne and Grand to Broadway about a 30 minute ride. I had fun but at times did not know where I was going, figured it out in time to make the vigil and that made me happy. Roberto met me at the gathering and I would get a ride home. The service was well attended, and JoAnn Hardesty asked all of us if we could stop at the hospital and see Fred, we did that in the days following the vigil.
The next event that I can remember was the gathering of Jobs with Justice at the McDonald’s over on Powell and SE 28thStreet. I had to walk up a hill and did not like that, this was a labor protest about low wages and that had to be supported. One of the things that piss me off to no end is when someone tells me, “Not my issue.” All these issues are tied in together and we got to support each other when we can. I know we can’t be everywhere but mix it up folks so you get to see and meet new people. You environmentalists need to gather with the people fighting against Gitmo or Endless Wars, you animal rights folks need to meet up with the advocates for the houseless. You veteran groups need to do more with the environmentalists. I go to a lot of meetings and it amazes me that the crowds are so different. We must support each other when we can. Nancy was going to yet another demonstration against ICE.
So off we went up to Broadway and joined a group who were protesting the sheriff putting ICE holds on undocumented human beings and turning them over to the feds for deportation. I hate this entire operation and people who could do something are just not willing to risk getting involved. We have testified before the County Commissioners on this but no real action so far. As much as I like some of the Commissioners, on this issue they could do more. They hold the budget for the sheriff and I know the person who has control of the purse can have a lot to say if they want to; we need to keep the pressure on this issue.
Wednesday, 10/16/2013 was almost a boring day at the City Council. We offered opinions on a variety of subjects but our overall feeling was that the council had made up their minds way before we got a chance to weigh in. We suggested that they not appoint the same people over and over again and expect different results; they continued their madness and did just that.
(item 978) Reappoint Moloy Good, Sonji Young, Sam Sachs, and Emanuel Price to the Human Rights Commission for terms to expire October 31, 2016
There was another item but it was taken back for a redo because the AMA had some problems with not having a police profiling provision. Can you imagine asking the psychologist who screens cops do something about profiling?----Fancy that! Dr. David M. Corey is going to get over $225,000 for doing the same work he has always done with the police. His work is considered wonderful by all in City Hall. Not so much by us!
The other item was about a $13,000 award to a man who had his house flooded by the water department. The WD opened a water hydrant and did not notice they were on a hill and the water would go directly into the poor guy’s basement. They should have used hoses to direct the flow, no one on the council or staff could say if there was any action taken against the supervisor on the job. “Just move on folks, nothing to see here” I call this the rubber stamp action by the five s--ts. We are thinking of buying each of them a rubber stamp for Christmas or New Years, the one they are using now must be worn out.
We told the council we did not like any of them and that is what an activist should say, not “Hi, Charlie how are you?” We get the feeling there is too much nice, nice when it comes to advocates offering information to the council. Anyone who takes or is part of a group/organization who takes money from the City should disclaim that before they open their mouths. We don’t trust people who take money from the city by way of grants and then offer criticism; we think that is a major conflict of interest and should be out front. There was one interesting confrontation we had with security about bringing things into the council.
Security seems to want to limit our ability to bring in anything over 8/11 piece of paper or poster. What happens when you want to make a point with a poster when you are offering information during communications or commenting on an agenda item. If you have a suit on, you get to take your props in, if you are an activist or a particular activist you are barred from taking props in. So, I was barred from the council with my props and security would not keep them for me during my attendance for an hour or so. This is what is called security making an issue out of something minor. Cops do this crap also, they will chase human beings out from under a bridge and say they were messy and they need to clean the area or wash the sidewalk. I will fight this BS not because it is a major issue, but because it will become one down the line. Freedoms are so rare today we cannot give any more away. I have already talked to Charlie’s staffer Chad and followed up with an e-mail. We shall see. The security guard in question has damaged a good relationship and I will no longer engage in conversation with him. Thursday was a better day; I got to say nice things about a County Commissioner who was resigning her post to run for County Chair.
Most politicians and all my friends know I do not trust politicians but some are better than others, who would argue that Sen. Bernie Sanders is as bad as Sen. Ted Cruz? (not I) There are good politicians among us, there are few I know, but in my opinion Ex Commissioner Deborah Kafoury is on the good side of the angels and my hope is she will return as the Chair after the election in May. One of the County regulations for elected officials running for another office is; they must resign their present office. That has to be a tough decision. They are losing their source of income with no guarantee of being elected. We wish Ms. Kafoury all the best and did say so in public. Lots of mouths opened during our presentation, not often we say nice things about our elected officials. “On to the bridge stand for Justice.”
We will once again stand at our post on the Hawthorne Bridge and this time we will call for an end to “Endless Wars” and closing of Gitmo along with any other issue in the news or on our radar. We stand for Justice and that mean Wars, all wars are stupid.
See you in the streets, we can’t make them all but do try to make many of the protests and vigils. “All for one, one for all” I like this saying! (from the 3 Musketeers)
Joe Walsh-Lone Vet
Individuals for Justice http://individualsforjustice.
Proud member of Oregon Progressive Party, http://progparty.org/
http://www.mfso.org/
Mohandas Gandhi
and I am a citizen of the world."
Eugene V. Debs
Comments
Post a Comment