MATLOCK’S HOT DOG stand has been the go-to lunch spot outside
the Multnomah County Courthouse on SW 4th for four years. But now,
because it allegedly represents a “security threat,” the stand has to
go.
Owner and operator Bill Roadman says he received a letter three
weeks ago from County Facilities and Property Manager Michael Crank,
from whom he usually buys a $300 annual permit to operate outside the
courthouse, telling him to move by December 31.
“Apparently he’s been gotten to by people inside [the courthouse]
who conveyed that they had some security issues,” says Roadman.
Citizens entering the courthouse are required to go through a metal
detector, and last year sheriff’s deputies inside the courthouse
stopped holding banned items—like knives, mace, and heavy bike
locks.
Roadman started holding banned items at his cart, for $1 a pop,
until citizens finished their courthouse business. Roadman says he
doesn’t know for sure, but wonders whether his entrepreneurial side
business may have prompted sheriff’s deputies to crack down on his
business since then. The largest item Roadman has ever held is an
ornamental sword, although he doesn’t hold drug pipes or handguns for
legal and safety reasons.
Roadman is resigned to his fate, and has already staked out a new
spot for his cart at SW 4th and Morrison, but after four years building
up his business, he’s concerned about acquiring a new set of regulars
in a recession.
“I sell a lot of dogs to the courthouse staff,” he says.
Roadman has also put up a sign telling his current customers that
the courthouse “in their infinite wisdom,” has essentially evicted him,
and to let them know where he’ll be in the future. A vegetarian for 30
years, Roadman frequently plays tunes on his classical guitar during
slow periods in the afternoons. “Maybe they just don’t like my music,”
he wonders.
Crank says that’s not the case. “We don’t want any vendors around
the building for security reasons,” Crank told the Mercury.
“This is nothing personal against [Roadman], it’s just for security
around the building.”
Crank referred the Mercury to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s
Office for comment when asked to clarify what kind of security threat
is posed by Roadman’s $3 wieners.
“They want to increase security, not because they think there’s a
looming threat, but because they think it’s a good thing to do,” says
Public Information Officer Paul McRedmond. “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. We decided to just say no, for the
sake of security.”
‘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.