ICE a challenge for jail trust

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan had a noteworthy response to those asking that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents be removed from the county jail: Not so fast.

The call for the removal of ICE agents came at a meeting this week of the Oklahoma County Jail Trust. Some who spoke said locals don't feel any safer with the ICE agents at the jail. Trustee Ben Brown said he believes the agents' presence conflicts with what city leaders want — the mayor and police chief have talked of seeking to maintain trust between law enforcement and immigrants.

Maughan issued a statement saying he was “deeply concerned” with Monday's request.

“ICE agents at the jail have assisted in identifying and successfully prosecuting individuals for serious crimes committed in Oklahoma County, including major felonies that endangered the lives and properties of Oklahomans,” he said. “It is simply irresponsible to suggest that local law enforcement give up that relationship.”

ICE agents, who have been at the jail since 2015, “are not there to nab jaywalkers for immigration violations,” Maughan said.

“They are a valuable adjunct to local law enforcement in assuring the public safety. Where they do initiate deportation action, it is linked to crimes committed here by illegal immigrants.”

Never shy about speaking his mind, Maughan has done so here and given trustees something worthwhile to consider as they determine the jail's future operations.

A nice offering for the city's homeless

There's nothing quite like the feeling of a sharp new haircut, and now that's available to Oklahoma City's homeless. The Oklahoman's Kayla Branch wrote this week about a permanent barber shop opening at the Homeless Alliance's day shelter. It's an effort led by Bruce Waight, owner of Rooted Barber + Shop in Oklahoma City, who for years has volunteered at the Homeless Alliance. Barbers and stylists from the Hair Collaborative, a group Waight founded, will staff the shop, which likely will be open only on Mondays until staffing allows for haircuts every weekday. One woman said this week that she had her first haircut in months. “I thank God up above for this opportunity. I've been wanting a haircut,” she said. Waight says it's important him “to be able to give back in this way.” Kudos to him, and all those involved in this good work.

From Berkeley, another silly exercise

In Berkeley, California, a member of the city council recently proposed the following: “In recent years, broadening societal awareness of transgender and gender non-conforming identities has brought to light the importance of non-binary inclusivity. Therefore, it is both timely and necessary to make the environment of City Hall and the language of city legislation consistent with the principles of inclusion.” The council agreed wholeheartedly. As a result, there will be no more “manholes” or “manpower” in city code (the former will become “maintenance holes,” the latter “human effort” or “workforce”). Fraternities and sororities will go by “Collegiate Greek system residence.” When attorneys are mentioned, they will be referred to as “the attorney” — no more pronouns such as him or her. There are no limits, it seems, to these daffy exercises in virtue signaling.

Taking another stab at secondhand smoke

State Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, isn't giving up on his goal of making all Oklahoma workplaces smoke-free. Wright will hold an interim study that he hopes will result in a bill that can make it through the Legislature. His Oklahoma Workplace Clean Air Act would have banned smoking in indoor public places, including bars, and in all enclosed areas where people work. It failed to advance this year, with the ban on smoking in bars drawing the most opposition. In his request for an interim study, Wright noted that Oklahoma is one of three states that allow smoking in bars. “This lack of protection leaves thousands of Oklahomans vulnerable to the dangerous health impacts caused by second-hand smoke exposure,” he said, adding that “legislative solutions should be studied and considered” for how to reduce smoking in Oklahoma. It'll be interesting to see what answers this study may provide.

Middle schools getting new places to play

The good work of the nonprofit Fields & Futures continues apace. Since its founding in 2012 by businessman Tim McLaughlin and his wife, Liz, Fields & Futures has upgraded 22 athletic fields within the Oklahoma City school district. This summer, it has eight field renovation projects going at once. Seven middle schools are getting new fields and courts for students to use. McLaughlin cites the significant positive impact that comes from children being involved with sports and having coaches in their lives. “They've got to get to school, they've got to make their grades, stay out of trouble, stay on the team. We get excited about those things,” he said. His organization and its partners are doing important work for the city's youth.

Fun and games in New York City

In New York City, a handful of videos surfaced last weekend of people dumping water on police officers as they tried to do their jobs. In one case, an officer was hit in the head with an empty, plastic bucket while he and his partner were handcuffing a suspect. Onlookers can be heard saying “Oh!” or laughing. None of the cops retaliated — indeed, some walked calmly back to their cruisers while getting doused along the way. A conservative columnist with the New York Post blamed the anarchic behavior on Mayor Bill de Blasio's demand that police disregard small crimes. “When an in-your-face town like New York suddenly realizes that City Hall tolerates minor crime … it gets more of it, fast,” the columnist wrote. “Presently, citizens are pouring water on cops. One shudders to think what comes next.” He makes a good point.