This Week in the Mercury

Bombad Three Dees!

Film

Bombad Three Dees!

Ooo! Da Phantom Menace! Deesa Besto Star Warsie!


The Creepiest Love Songs of All Time

Music

The Creepiest Love Songs of All Time

A Special Valentine's Day Playlist



  |  

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

News Portland's Hot Dog Security Threat

Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 5:58 PM

There are times, in this town, when I wonder whether our public officials mightn't have a little too much time on their hands. One of these times was on Tuesday, when I was listening to the spokesman for the sheriff's office talk to me about the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, asking, "When was the right time to increase security in Mumbai?"

Officer Paul McRedmond told me he wasn't trying to compare the situation in Mumbai to the hot dog stand outside the Multnomah County Courthouse, but went on to compare it anyway, saying that while the hot dog stand doesn't represent a looming security threat to the courthouse at the moment, they've decided to evict it now, regardless, before other food vendors decide to muscle in on the sidewalk, and, presumably, use it as a base from which to overrun the Taj hotel with machine guns. Er, right...

matlocks.jpg

You can read the story in this week's news section. I'd also be very interested to hear your stories of "the time a hot dog threatened my security," if you have time.

 

Comments (9) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
This is tangential at best, but a few minutes ago my friend sent me this video about the making of hot dogs, and I think it should be required viewing. The part from 1:30-2:00 is the best, especially 1:57:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhwXPsTaRgc
Posted by no one in particular on December 10, 2008 at 6:52 PM · Report
2
I own a hotdog biz. So, naturally, I am calling BULLSHIT.
Posted by Cory G on December 10, 2008 at 8:44 PM · Report
3
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/0…

This article by your co-worker seems relevant to the discussion, Matt. Funny you didn't mention it.
Posted by A cat on December 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM · Report
4
So I was a witness to a traffic accident and they wanted me to testify so I ride my bicycle down to that courthouse, and they won't let me in because I have a bicycle chain in my bag, (because sometimes your chain breaks or bends or whatever, so I carry a spare.) And after explaining that I witnessed a traffic accident, and I'd taken time off work because I thought it was my civic duty to testify, and I wasn't my problem if I didn't show up, and all that, I talked them into holding my bag at security. But I gladly would have paid a buck to not to have to deal with that. Unfortunately, I didn't know about it, and it looks like that option will be going away.

(I didn't actually testify, the person that I thought was at fault admitted it, and agreed to take a share the road class and pay $25. And the worst part: The person I thought was at fault was a bicyclist. (Of course, the victim was also a bicyclist, and I was going to testify that I thought the intersection was dangerous, but I was going to rat on one of my own. Sigh.))
Posted by Matthew D on December 10, 2008 at 10:19 PM · Report
5
A Cat - read the story Matt's linking to. The cart's "side business" features prominently: "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."
Posted by Amy J. Ruiz on December 10, 2008 at 10:26 PM · Report
6
Thanks, Amy. Maybe Matt should just scale back the "HAI GUISE, I HAZ A NEW ARTICLE!!1!" posts. We know how to work the site, y'know? Articles are listened under a category called "ARTICLES". No?
Posted by A cat on December 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM · Report
7
About a year ago I received a complaint about a Mercury distribution box being a possible security threat to the Pioneer Courthouse.

Some really important words were used such as"9/11", "Federal Marshalls", and "task force."

I moved it solely out of a fear of God and duty to my country.
Posted by Williams, Jay on December 11, 2008 at 12:03 AM · Report
8
Set the national threat level to, "DELICIOUS"!
Posted by Will Radik on December 11, 2008 at 10:42 AM · Report
9
I appreciate the posts regarding new articles, as I don't often pick up the paper or peruse the article section.
Posted by w on December 12, 2008 at 12:15 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use