Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- the man who says, "I don't have press conferences just to get my name on television" -- held a press conference today outside Tent City to talk about a sign on the fence.
It's the early 19th-anniversary present for the jail -- a sign displaying the total "Number of Inmates 'Served.'"
The idea for this piece of MCSO technology was stolen from what the sheriff's office identifies as the "world's most renowned fast food chain," although Arpaio avoided using the name "McDonald's" during his press conference.
The total cost to taxpayers: Unknown.
"Well, I don't know what that cost," Arpaio said. "Even if it cost $5, so what?"
Arpaio explained that most of the materials used to make the sign were just layin' around, and stressed the fact that the "message" the sign sends is worth it.
Aside from boasting about the presidential candidates who visited Tent City back in the day, and speaking so highly about how the jail's a "viable program," the sign is apparently meant to send a message to critics of Tent City -- to let them know the tents won't ever be coming down while he's still running the show.
"There must be some credibility with the tents," Arpaio said, reminding everyone yet again of the former presidential candidates who visited Tent City.
Arpaio also confirmed to New Times that this won't be the only 19th-anniversary celebration for Tent City -- he's still anticipating something to take place around the actual anniversary date in early August.
He's still not budging on a presidential candidate endorsement, either, saying he won't act on that until after the Obama birth-certificate "situation," which is scheduled for Thursday.
