'Resigned to his fate?' He's moving like a block and a half.
I agree it may be a drag, but security precautions don't serve a purpose, and it's better than crying about 'what they could have done' after the fact..

oops, I mean they DO serve a purpose

Well, business is probably better in front of the courthouse, plus he will hold stuff for people when they accidentally have their pocketknife and need to run into the courthouse.

This seems pretty arbitrary. I would argue that most "security precautions", including these, are really just what Bruce Schneier calls security theater. It hasn't been a problem, and there aren't a bunch of other vendors that are flocking to the area. Matlock's has been there for four years; if it were going to turn into a fucking bazaar, it would have done so by now.

So, let's invent a hypothetical problem, compare it to Mumbai (?!?), and inconvenience the vendor, the hungry courthouse staff, and people who need someone to hold their mace for five minutes. Brilliant!

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/0…

This article by your co-worker seems relevant to the discussion, Matt. Funny you didn't mention it.

OK let's just accept for a moment the ridiculous and stupid idea that someone might "attack" a podunk local courthouse. I'm sure they'll find a way to do it without relying on a hot dog stand. Would you formulate a plan that depended on a hot dog stand? I wouldn't.

Perhaps they should move the DA's office out of the courthouse as well. Lately they have been working very hard to destroy the justice system and seem to be a greater threat to the due administration of justice than a hot dog vendor.

See for example: The bizarre subpoena covered in today's Mercury, calling the grannies terrorists, charging then dismissing cases left and right, not charging criminal cops, ignoring perjury, helping put names on special extra-judicial lists and so on.

You are either with us or the hot dog vendors. Make a choice people, we are at war.

I love how Mumbai was brought up as a scare tactic. That makes it pretty clear that they have no logical justification for their actions.

"When was the right time to increase security in Mumbai? Not that I'm trying to equate the two at all, but if we allow one vendor to come, then all do, and pretty soon we'd have Saturday market out there."

What an offensive load of horseshit by PPB Propaganda Minister Paul McRedmond! He doesn't mean to equate the two at all?! Then why the f#@k would Mr. McRedmond bring up Mambai at all!?! Those attacks in Mambai didn't start with food vendors infront of govt. buildings! Pay attention people - SCARE TACTICS, TERROR, TERRORISTS, BE AFRAID!

Mr.Bill Roadman has had his small business outside that courthouse for four years. NOOOW all of a sudden "Saterday market" is going to crop up around the building?! As if no potential vendor had to get permission from the city, get a permit, pay a fee, pay rent, etc. before setting up shop anywhere in the Portland!

I think that Paul McRedmond should be fired, at the very least repremended, since he soo obviously doesn't know what the Hell he's talking about.

And how does Property Manager Michael Crank get it in mind that ALL OF A SUDDEN there's a securty risk? This has NOTHING to do with "security" - what's really going on here?

The Plan – Ok Hillary, you konk Matlock on the head with his guitar and stuff him in the hot dog steamer. When the Coppers come out for their afternoon dog we’ll feed them turkey dogs, the Triptofan will make them all sleepy. Later in the day say around 3:00 o’clock well roll up to the courthouse entrance in a big wood box disguised as a hot dog vendor cart. We’ll bum rush the security doors, make our way to the cashier and steal all the unpaid parking citations. We’ll be famous!

They say if you stand in one place long enough that the whole world will pass before your eyes. The courthouse was that place for me. I got to see so many people from so many walks of life and I gotta say it was real good. There was this common humanity. Cops, criminals, jurors, crazies, lawyers, pencil pushers, broom pushers, pushers and I got to share a little with each of them...something I might of missed If I had not been in the right place at the right time. I'll look for that again wherever I end up. In the meantime and for what it is worth. Keep the faith.
Bill the hot dog man

Let's try two possible scenarios if we are going to be in the security business. Scenario 1: Bad person carries a bomb and places it under Matlocks hot dog stand. The bomb can be no taller than 9" because that is all the room there is under the stand. Also the stand is at the far end of the courthouse limiting the amount of possible damage. Scenarie 2: Bad man FILLS van with fertilizer and pulls up right in front of the courthouse (about 10 feet from the entrance) Blows up complete building and everything in it.

I just thought of scenario #3. Bad man puts one bomb in each of the two 55 gallon trash receptacles in front of the courthouse. OR one bomb in each of the eight newspaper machines out in front. So then altogether we have one bomb under Matlock's, two bombs in the trash cans and eight bombs in the newspaper machines which adds up to 11 bombs not to mention the truck full of fertilizer out front.

Perhaps this is all part of the "Keep Portland Wierd" plan.

But Seriously, Matlock, do you have any idea what's really behind this? Because i don't think that [certain] people are seeing some "security" threat all of a sudden, when you've been there on that exact same corner for 4 yrs.

And how offended are you that PPB Propaganda Minister Paul McRedmond would equate you with the Mambai attacks? He prettymuch called you a "potential" terrorist.