Mayor Sam Adams convened a meeting this afternoon in City Hall with prominent members of Portland’s African-American community to talk about the city’s struggles with gang violence—an issue that flared anew in the headlines this weekend after a fatal shooting downtown.
But as for what was actually discussed at the meeting? I gleaned some answers, eventually. But I wasn’t there. Adams’ office decided not to invite members of the press and public. I learned about the meeting only because it went long and forced another meeting scheduled for the room (an executive session on a lawsuit challenging the city’s camping ordinance) to move downstairs. Not long after I huddled outside the closed door, the meeting adjourned.
Adams darted out a few minutes later and wouldn’t say much except that the meeting was held in response to the recent attacks and was meant to help craft a citywide response to gang violence. I caught up with Adams again an hour later, after he left another meeting, and he was even more curt. I asked him specific about what was discussed, and whether it was heated, and he replied: “It was a very productive meeting.”
Later, I tried checking in with some of the folks in the room to see if they could shed any more light. One source told me the discussion centered on short-term and long-term responses, and that police officers were there with a detailed presentation on how and where gang violence has historically happened in Portland. There also was talk of finding mentors for youth, and some in the room reportedly raised questions about an approach that tackled symptoms but not the roots of violence: Poverty and limited access to resources like transit and jobs.
I’ll add more as I hear more.
Meanwhile, I also asked the mayor’s office to explain why the meeting had been called without notice. Adams’ spokesman, Roy Kaufmann, declined to comment.
There are no jobs. And they’re cutting the bus lines…
Sam Adams would be a great ‘mentors for youth’. He has a stellar track record.
Why won’t Adams heed his own advice and meet with Gang Leaders, tell them how ‘angry’ he is and have them turn in their illegal weapons. I recommend having the Q-patrol standing by to rescue Adams.
Ask the rollers that whacked the young man last weekend if they had lack of access to transit or needed a mentor.
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Adams could use a few more thorns in his side on issues that don’t involve sex or bicycles. Good work, Denis.
I wonder who Officer GrandWizard is ? I watching a cop tail someone down Burnside tonight for DWB — “Driving While Black”.
Denis when the Mayor gets like that just hand him a tube of Preparation H® or a new intern.
Personally speaking, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t kill nearly as many people as I normally do, if someone would give me a free bus pass. Walking makes people ANGRY!!!
@Rosy – How the hell would you know why the cop was tailing that guy? It could have been any number of moving violations, equipment violations, a description he’s looking for, anything. That’s your own prejudice against the police, blinding you. Clean out your head – or stop talking.