Sinfield

Or something like that...

When I first saw the picture of the dude and started the read the article, I thought it was a joke. But he actually seems to have some pretty good ideas in his interview. It would be pretty sweet to see this guy become sheriff methinks.

https://bikeportland.org/2006/04/14/s...job/#more-1161

humancongereel

i'd say that platform could possibly win him a few votes in this town. also, did you see the article on the mercury on citizen-initiated citations? and that there's apparently a bike lawyer in this town?

edit: by "that platform", i mean all the points he makes about bikes, though i will admit there are a ****-ton of fixed/track bike riders here.

ZachS

there's even a bike lawyer here in columbia, sc... wherever there is money to be made with injury lawsuits, there will be one. i.e. everywhere.

as for the candidate, i'd vote for him if he was able to come up with something that would even slightly convince me that he's capable of running a large multi-million dollar government agency... and get along with the cops who are really in charge of the place.

even though i like his plan to try to change traffic enforcement for bikes, that shouldn't necessairly be a priority for someone in his position - especially considering the current level of financial mismanagement in the department. most important thing is to get rid of giusto, the incumbent.

humancongereel

yeah, i'd just expect there to be less likelihood of a bike lawyer in a place where less people ride bikes. there sure as hell wasn't one in boise.

your second point, i agree with totally. there's a lot to it, and he won't necessarily "run" the place, per se.

perhaps changing traffic enforcement for bikes shouldn't be priority number one, but the reason it seemed like that because of that article is that it was a bike website asking him about his stance there. also, although the percentage of portlanders who ride is much lower than i thought, this is a big area for cyclists, and as such, issues concerning cyclists do become a higher priority.

brunop

the portland sheriff is shants in disguise.

humancongereel

this talk of portland's police force reminds me--any pdx kids see the mercury, with the published "erotic e-mails" from the chief of police to whomever? and the "erotic e-mail mad libs"? that was funny ****.

Aeroplane

I like the guy's attitude towards bikes in general. Reducing fines for bicycles, and having law enforcement go after the real menaces to public safety, inattentive drivers. Also, advocating better lighting for bikes is a great, great move. Just the fact that he's trying to get more people on bikes is a great starting point.

humancongereel

if a portland cop pulls you over for improper lighting, and you can't afford it, they're supposed to give you lights. 3 times i've been pulled over, not once has that been brought up (i'm sort of in and out of lights, because i broke two and lost one, and damn, the costs start mounting after a couple of them. i'm ****in' po'.).

anyway, i agree about lights. so much better to have lights.

brunop

proof positive that this guy is shants. or his ****in' doppelganger.

ZachS

I agree with all of that. And I like the idea of someone supporting the things he does having a bully pulpit to push them across. But transportation's not really within the purview of the Sheriff's office - the Portland Police Bureau is responsible for traffic enforcement, etc. Sheriff's office is in charge of the jails, civil comittment of the insane, civil law enforcement in general (i.e. evictions and process service), and patrol of unincorporated areas (which are few and far between in multnomah county).

Just to give you an example of how badly the department needs effective leadership - They spent $59 million to build a desperately needed (they have so few beds that they release violent offenders from time to time) new jail which was completed in 2004, but they haven't been able to find the funds to open it up or operate it. Meanwhile, the department spends $5 or 10 million a year on overtime (due to poor schedule management) because the current sheriff (a corrupt jackass) doesn't want to piss off the deputies' union.

I am generally in favor of crackpot outsiders in important elected positions (bud clark was my hero growing up), but in this case i'd like a little more information - that's all. Probably will still vote for him.