The mayor, after returning from a business-recruitment trip to Germany, has apparently submitted another draft proposal to the feds, sending them the language last week. Dan Saltzman's office, Amanda Fritz's office, and Randy Leonard all confirmed this afternoon that they've seen a recent JTTF proposal—although no one would detail what it contains.
But sources tell me both the Justice Department and the FBI have signaled they find the mayor's most recent proposal acceptable—and, reportedly, so do Saltzman and Nick Fish. So does that mean—given that Saltzman first proposed rejoining the task force, after the Pioneer Square bomb plot—that the mayor is about to put Portland back in the task force full time?
"That's going to be in the eye of the beholder," says Saltzman's chief of staff, Brendan Finn. "Dan's been happy with the direction it's taking. There's been more clarity, and that, for him, is big."
Fish declined to comment on the proposal, but did say "I believe we can both strengthen our relationship with the JTTF while also honoring Portland's values." The mayor's office, meanwhile, has yet to comment.
Update 5:58 PM: Adams sends a statement through his spokeswoman, Amy Ruiz: "Given the importance of this issue, I have sought and will continue to seek wide agreement among my council colleagues on a proposal regarding the city's work with the JTTF. I'm committed to striking a thoughtful and smart balance of the three goals we put forth at the beginning of this process: Prevent terrorism, protect individual rights, and keep Portland an open and inclusive community."
Commissioner Leonard, however, was willing to go on record—when it came to certain things. Leonard has long opposed formally rejoining the task force, not so much over civil liberties concerns, but over how the police bureau manages its resources. He said, assuming he saw the same proposal as Saltzman and Fish, "I told Sam I could not support it." Fritz's policy adviser, Tim Crail, also confirmed, "We had some feedback."
But neither wouldn't get more specific about concerns or any changes that have been suggested. When I asked Leonard whether he thought the mayor's latest proposal amounts to putting the city all the way back in, he uncharacteristically wouldn't touch it: "I won't comment on that."
One point all sides make is that the proposal remains fluid—and the mayor apparently is still seeking some kind of consensus that gets both Saltzman and Leonard on board. Previously, it was believed Adams was crafting a hybrid deal somewhere between the city's current relationship with the feds (the police chief gets briefings; local cops investigate cases as needed, with the mayor in the loop) and Portland's pre-2005 relationship (fully in the JTTF, despite a minefield of civil liberties concerns).
But while the mayor is still accepting thoughts from Leonard and Fritz, his vision of a compromise proposal that gets at least four of the council's five votes might be impossible no matter how hard he tries.
When he canceled the last scheduled hearing on the JTTF, the mayor's office said the feds needed more time to digest what he might put forward. Although WWeek later reported it was opposition by Leonard that scuttled a deal before the mayor's trip.
It's also unclear whether the mayor is listening to community groups who are concerned about the city's dalliance with the feds. Advocates say the city should extend federal security clearance to the city attorney, as well as the mayor and police chief, to make sure Portland's officers keep their noses clean.
