Updated and bumped up at 5:35: “I just got off the phone with Reverend Jackson,” says Mayor Sam Adams. “He expressed an interest in meeting with Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman, myself, and some members of the Albina Ministerial Alliance tomorrow afternoon. His schedule is still in flux so we’re not sure exactly where it will be.”
“His purpose in coming here, he said, is that he sees a potential pattern related to the recent police shooting,” says the mayor. “He welcomed the opportunity to have a meeting, to hear some of the things we were doing in response to the shooting and also for us to hear his concerns and have some direct dialog.”
Original post, posted at 15:06:
Mayor Sam Adams is “open to a meeting with Reverend Jackson” when he comes to Portland tomorrow afternoon, the mayor has told the Mercury this afternoon.
“I talked to Pastor Haynes this morning and he told me a little bit about Reverend Jackson’s visit,” says Adams. “I’m very concerned that our collective follow-up to the Grand Jury’s decision last week be that we get the transcripts released, that we have a public inquest and move quickly and fairly to make improvements in our response to these kinds of incidents.”
The mayor has met with the police chief and police commissioner and “will continue to be involved in the next steps,” he says.
“I think Reverend Jackson’s visit has the potential to be an important reminder to continually be looking to improve our law enforcement operations,” says Adams. “And that the impacts of the criminal justice system continue to be disproportionate on communities of color.”
We’ll put a call in to the Albina Ministerial Alliance to see if Jackson might be willing to meet with the mayor. In the mean time, here’s Jackson saying “Sam I am” from Saturday Night Live, with a hat tip to Tara Dublin for the heads up about its existence:
JACKSON: DOES NOT LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM
Al Sharpton is reportedly hot on Jackson’s heels.
“Both Jackson and Sharpton can get traction in Portland because local civilian oversight has failed,” says Jason Renaud with the Mental Health Association of Portland. “We need to turn to outside heroes.”
Jesus, Sam. Just let him come in, talk to as small a group as possible, and get out of town.
Now some train-wreck photo-op at City Hall with promises to “get right on it” that Adams has no intention of keeping….
There’s no better way to ensure that no police reform will happen than turning into a Jackson or Sharpton sideshow.
totally o/t, but you are mixing your time formats. Personally I like the 24 hour format better since it makes logical sense, just like the metric system…but we still have a long way to go here in the US.
I just came in here to say the same thing that humanclock did. Pick a time format and stick with it. Preferably the 24 hour system.
What does Adams have to add to the conversation other than; 1)the fact that he decided some time ago that he didn’t want to get his hands dirty as the police commissioner so he pawned that job off to Saltzman and, 2)as pointed out above, he can’t keep his nose out of a photo-op if he thinks he can scoop up political capital without risking any.
have fun tomorrow, Matt. looks like it could be a busy day.
Rumor is that supporters of Recalling Sam Adams will be out in force at this event with petitions for you to sign and take home with you.
Let’s not forget the cop that shot the teenage girl on the Max at close range with a beanbag gun without prompting.
there are times when i have to look at the url to make sure i didn’t accidentally wander over to OregonLive’s comments.
Yeah it’s been a wild one, this thread. Try to stick to the topic please guys, and don’t post annoying twenty page screeds about the Feds. Next time we’ll maybe just write: “Comment Deleted: Annoying.”
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