You know, Blogtown is a great place to say “I told you so.” Well, I told you so. Although it pains me to say it.

Before the cops initiated a spring break pilot project in NE and Central Portland, citing parents in juvenile court if their kids were out past curfew (that’s 10.15pm on weeknights, midnight on weekends)—concerns were raised that the project might unfairly impact African Americans.

Last night, the cops’ Citizen Review Committee grilled Neighborhood District Attorney Jim Hayden over the project, at City Hall, and it turns out, those concerns were justified.

CRC member Sherelle Owens asked Hayden how many of the parents cited had both parents in the home. “They were all mothers,” Hayden said. “I’m not sure what to make of that. It gave me pause.”

Owens pressed Hayden, asking “what was the thought behind piloting the project in NE?” and “we mentioned demographics—was there any other similarity you can think of between the parents cited?”

“They were all African American mothers,” Hayden eventually volunteered.

“We’re trying to help those single African American mothers, although to some people, it may appear otherwise,” Hayden later added.

Afterwards, Owens said she had questions about the policy that she did not feel Hayden had answered. “I’m hearing that this policy was in response to a problem,” she told the Mercury. “But if we are serious about solving the problem, I am not sure other options were looked at to help these mothers before going ahead with this policy.”