SEIU 49 fire: arson investigation continues
Kari Chisholm
On October 30, a fire broke out at 5 a.m. at the SEIU Local 49 office in Portland. At the time, a number of folks noted in the comments on BlueOregon that the Tea Party Express was making the Portland stop on their nationwide tour that day. A pure coincidence - or a suspicious correlation?
I checked in today with a spokesman for Portland Fire & Rescue, Lt. Allen Oswalt. He confirmed that the arson team is investigating the fire as a deliberately-set fire. Other than that, he wasn't able to discuss any of the details, of course.
I noted for him that there's a lot of folks asking if there's a connection between the SEIU arson and the teabagger rally. According to Oswalt, "anything and everything is on the table" for the investigators - as it always is - until they're ready to announce their findings.
So, in other words: stay tuned.
As for the folks over at SEIU, their work continues. No one was hurt in the fire, and it was generally contained to the lobby (though there's smoke damage throughout the buiding.) On Friday last week, they held a rally to show that they're "stronger than ever." In a statement, Local 49 president Meg Niemi said:
“Our hall means a lot to us, but our union is not a building. Our union is each of us coming together to improve our workplaces and our communities,” said SEIU Local 49 president Meg Niemi. “We will continue our work, stronger than ever. We will continue speaking out in our workplaces, fighting for fair wages and benefits, bringing new members into our union, and advocating for meaningful health care reform and fair labor laws.”
I'll stay on top of this story and keep you posted.
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Nov 9, '09
Thanks for the update, Kari
Nov 9, '09
Update? What was updated?
That based on no evidence whatsoever, you suspect that what you call the "teabagger rally" might be to blame for the fire?
Very responsible!
4:21 p.m.
Nov 9, '09
Oops, in an earlier version of this, I had Lt. Allen Oswalt's name misspelled. Apologies to him!
4:24 p.m.
Nov 9, '09
James, I didn't allege or suspect anything. I simply noted that a lot of people raised suspicion in the comments.
I called Portland Fire to get an update on the investigation, and to specifically ask about that question raised by our readers. They could have explicitly rejected that thesis, explicitly confirmed it, or left it on the table.
They chose the latter -- which I fully expected, though I thought it responsible to ask the question that so many of our readers had raised.
4:31 p.m.
Nov 9, '09
you suspect that what you call the "teabagger rally" might be to blame for the fire?
Funny thing, Kari made no such reference, and only one comment out of 60+ comments in the linked thread noted that "teabaggers" were "calling the president a Nazi."
Work on your reading comprehesion......
Nov 9, '09
"Funny thing, Kari made no such reference"
No, he only placed them in close proximity to each other in a paragraph. Use your critical thinking - Why would he even repeat such a foolish idea?
Nov 9, '09
Kari, should this be proven arson then those responsible should be given the same justice Tre Arrow and his bunch of ECO-Terrorists recieved.
Also, if you knew anything about major accident and/or arson investigations (and I think that you do) you would realize that no one officially connected to said investigation speaks to specifics until the investigation has concluded.
The fire just as easily could have been started bya disgruntled former employee, smokers, an electrical short, some vandals or....SEIU themselves. This non news item is beneath you.
Nov 9, '09
In my day job I have some contact with arson investigators, who are typically nerdy fellows who are trying to prove that a restaurant or bar owner torched the place for the insurance money. I am watching this thread and the related thread with interest. So far, NOTHING has been said of substance. I assume the progressives on the site are hoping for a video of Sarah Palin throwing a firebomb through the front window, and the right wing trolls are hoping for a video of a union member torching the shop. In my experience, the reality is much more boring, with nobody proving anything except for a lot of speculation and gossip.
Reminds me of an old fire investigator joke:
Guy #1: What business were you in? Guy #2: The restaurant business in Chicago. What business were you in? Guy #1: The restaurant business in Florida. Why did you retire? Guy #2: My restaurant burned down. Why did you retire? Guy #1: My restaurant was destroyed by a hurricane. Guy #2: A hurricane? Wow! How much does it cost to start a hurricane?
Nov 9, '09
Tre Arrow was prosecuted under federal law. Since most contributors at BO support liberal sentencing under Oregon law, the perp should get what a typical Oregon sentence is for a non-residential Arson (second degree): a small county jail sentence (with 30% off for good time thanks to HB 3508) and probation. As a C felony it can go off the perps record under current expungement laws in 3 whole years.
Nov 9, '09
”According to Oswalt, "anything and everything is on the table" for the investigators...”
That is good to hear. Next time ask them if there are any indications this was an inside job, either for insurance purposes or to garner sympathy for an arm of Big Labor.
It is too obvious a motive to ignore.
11:40 p.m.
Nov 9, '09
you would realize that no one officially connected to said investigation speaks to specifics until the investigation has concluded.
Yup, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't follow up and ask the question.
Nov 10, '09
Steve Marx wrote: "No, he only placed them in close proximity to each other in a paragraph. Use your critical thinking - Why would he even repeat such a foolish idea?"
Indeed, Steve. Why is critical thinking foolish?
Nov 10, '09
Kari, You are a dirty scumbab.
Nov 10, '09
May you rot in hell along with the freeloaders at SEIU and the thugs at ACORN.
2:04 p.m.
Nov 10, '09
Yeah, OK. Somebody need a vacation?
Nov 10, '09
What's a "scumbab"? Is it a sleazy baobab?
Nov 10, '09
Why is critical thinking foolish?"
OK, I'll paraphrase:
THink critically - Why would Mr Chisholm repeat an obviuosly false rumore like this?
Nov 11, '09
Posted by: Bo Todd | Nov 9, 2009 8:15:53 PM
Tre Arrow was prosecuted under federal law. Since most contributors at BO support liberal sentencing under Oregon law, the perp should get what a typical Oregon sentence is for a non-residential Arson (second degree): a small county jail sentence (with 30% off for good time thanks to HB 3508) and probation. As a C felony it can go off the perps record under current expungement laws in 3 whole years.
The biggest factor in his Federal sentencing is and was his public statements. When they tell you to recant and you recant, it is for major prison time.
This is another example of how the system needs to be fundamentally updated. You cannot bring a criminal complaint before the court. A peace officer (or such) has to make a complaint, and a state's attorney has to decide to bring the matter before a court, and the charges to prefer. Only a few some boating regs and other such minutiae are excepted.
When we are concerned about "honor killings" in Islamic societies, where families will not prosecute those that torture or kill a family member when "honor" is involved, we miss the point that their system is more advanced. It is up to the victim if and when a complaint is made. Which is worse, that they won't bring a complaint, or that you can't? You on the right that want more victims' rights, how about starting with being able to file a complaint? Formally, with the states attorney, not a college drop-out reading a statutes cheat-sheet.
Back to reality, it comes down to, when the environment is in the crapper, do you want to tell your kids you did nothing, you lobbied, or you set fires? On topic, the right, that, if they didn't do this, they committed the sin in their hearts, would substitute "country" for "environment". That's a failure of education, as we all have the same senses to see what's going on.
None of the great social programs from 1935-1965 successfully educated the public about why they existed. We will pay and pay and pay for that until we stop and do it correctly. Unions are a prime example.
Nov 12, '09
Posted by: fbear | Nov 10, 2009 2:33:55 PM
What's a "scumbab"? Is it a sleazy baobab?
Chortle. Would have to figure into a sequel to The Little Prince.
Nov 18, '09
To: Dan F.
<h2>Are you claiming responsibility sir?</h2>