Portland officials say they intend to bill the White House almost $ 200,000 (£ 154,000) for a fence that was erected around federal court amid ongoing protests.
City transport chiefs issued the federal government with a withdrawal order on the barricade, which they say was built without permission and blocks a bike path on Southwest Third Avenue.
Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who runs transportation in Portland and is running for reelection, said the government is racking up $ 500 (£ 385) in charges for every 15 minutes the fence remains in place.
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“As of yesterday, the federal government owes us $ 192,000 and we continue to count,” Eudaly said in a statement posted to Twitter on Tuesday.
“We intend to collect.
“Generally, we send a maintenance team or a contractor to remove such an obstruction, but I will not send workers in distress,” he added.
The disorder erupted again in Portland on Wednesday when federal agents clashed with protesters.
Demonstrations have been held in the city every night after George Floyd’s death in May.
The fence in question has become a hot spot for clashes after the Trump administration sent militarized personnel to court earlier this month.
Earlier this week, the United States Attorney General, William Barr, defended the decision to send agents to the city.
However, a White House source told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the Trump administration had begun negotiating with the state of Oregon to withdraw agents.
The sources were in the early stages and an agreement had not yet been agreed, the source added.
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