North Portland Precinct

The St. Johns Sentinel‘s new edition carries a report on possible “realignment” of the North Portland police precinct office. My younger son is fond of saying things like, “and when I say ‘yes’, by that I mean ‘no’“. Likewise, when Chief Sizer says “realignment”, what she means is “reduced hours” the office would be open, even though the number of officers on the streets in the area would not be reduced. “Management jobs would be lost”, reports the article.

Apparently the Police bureau considers North Portland to be a part of town where less oversight by experienced supervisors would be fine. I find both that and the proposed reduction in store-front precinct services in North Portland disturbing, especially at a time when the city is forecasting a surplus. For the first time in several cycles, bureaus like Parks aren’t being asked to propose cuts in their budgets. Why isn’t improving and enhancing police presence in both North and Northeast precincts high on the City’s budget priority list? Public safety is perhaps the most fundamental, core responsibility of the City. It’s #1 on the list of 65 Specific Powers in the Charter…

On the lighter side, there are some great snow photos on The St Johns Sentinel page, including a beautiful one of the St Johns bridge. And some insightful articles, too.

Update 1/21/07, 9:30 p.m., again courtesy of The Sentinel:

Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer will speak to the North Portland Public Safety Action Committee (PSAC) on this issue, at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Historic Kenton Firehouse, 2209 N. Schofield.