@Matt Davis - Didn't you publish some thoughts on 'the uncertain future of investigative journalism' a while back? Sounds like there are a lot of good questions for Saltzman to answer, here - so you made me laugh when you ended it "...but he was out for bagels."

Dang! Bagels! Now we may never know!

@Reymont; Yes, I did. I published something about ethics and investigative work, especially as it relates to city government:

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…

I am now working on an "accountability journalism" piece about where, exactly, Commissioner Saltzman went for those bagels. The public has a RIGHT TO KNOW!

Obviously, the water bureau needs it's own parks department.

They're going to have a police force, and they're building a demonstration house in NE Portland.

The water bureau should also probably have a transportation department, a fire brigade, and operate some soup kitchens.

@Blabby: After that, they should probably invest in a department to handle all of their water-related matters.

Even before all that, can I suggest an intern capable of making bagel runs? Apparently that still falls under the Commissioner, right now.

Graham, let's not over-extend them now.

I think the Parks Advisory Board was opposed to armed men in the parks, (since, you know, a lot of the reservoirs are in the parks.) And while they don't have a direct control over the water bureau, people/organizations make statements all the time about things that they don't have a direct control over, in the hopes of in influencing other people/organizations. Like this one:
http://www.rdrop.com/~pjw/finalportlandres…
"Portland City Council Resolution as proposed by Commissioner Leonard: Urges Cessation of Combat Operations in Iraq and the Return of US Troops"
Maybe that Randy Leonard guy could talk to that other Randy Leonard guy about how those things work.