City replaces chainlink fence with wrought iron at Councilor's home
EUGENE, Ore. - The City of Eugene paid to replace a temporary chainlink fence with a wrought iron fence at the home of a City Councilor targeted by protesters affiliated with Occupy Eugene.
The new fence went up Thursday afternoon.
A City spokeswoman would not say how much the fence would cost or how much had been spent so far to provide a temporary chainlink fence at the home of Councilor George Poling, along with added security measures including police partrols.
Two fencing contractors unaffiliated with the project estimated the fence would cost $4,500 to $5,500.
KVAL News filed a formal public records request Thursday under Oregon's Public Records law to obtain any bids, estimates and correspondence from the City of Eugene relating to the fences and other measures at Councilor Poling's home.
Topless women in black masks with the letters to the word "Truth" painted on their chests stood outside the Poling home last Thursday and banged a gong. A group identified as an "Occupy Eugene affinity group" posted video of the protest on YouTube.
The City put up a chainlink fence and security cameras at the Poling home the next day.
"It really shook both my wife and I up," Councilor Poling told KVAL News on Thursday.
In an early protest, people in tents camped in Poling's front yard.
"For the amount of money it's costing the City compared to the amount of money we've put into the Occupy movement, I think it's only fair, especially the peace of mind it will give my wife," he said.
"Some people will think it's a waste of city money, but to me, what it says is: folks, this could be your house next. If you disagree with somebody, this could be your house next," Poling said. The fence will "keep the people from pressing their faces against our windows in the middle of the night, which they were doing that night."
Poling said he thinks he knows why protesters targeted his home last week. "My constant opposition to the camping, my not willing to go forward with a sham of a public hearing and the fact that I called for an emergency meeting."
Despite the City's efforts to add security to Poling's residence, Poling said he was dissapointed by Mayor Kitty Piercy's response after last week's protests.
"I didn't hear from the mayor personally until five days later," said Poling. "If I was the mayor I would have had all my councilors out in front of the cameras the next day--denouncing the act."
"But I didn't get that," he added.
"If the mayor disagrees with what this councilor's views are," said Poling, referring to himself, "that's fine."
Meanwhile, topless women in black masks with a gong - this time painted with a symbol for "No" and the letters NDAA - marched on City Hall on what is believed to be Tuesday night. A man with a megaphone makes statements in the video about the National Defense Authorization Act, which some people have interpreted as meaning U.S. citizens can be detained indefinitely by the U.S. military.
The urban myth debunking website Snopes.com says President Obama made clear in signing the bill that his administration did not share that interpretation of the NDAA.
Poling has repeatedly referred to the protest at his home as an act of terrorism.
"You've done crossed the line," he said in remarks the day after the topless protest at his home.
