Family therapist Ed Garren has decided to run for City Commissioner Dan Saltzman's seat early next year. Garren, originally from Florida, moved to Portland in October 2005. He unsuccessfully ran in the primary for Nick Fish's current seat in January 2008 after Erik Sten's resignation. "I've just decided I need to throw my name in the ring," he said, announcing his candidacy on the Mercury's Blogtown last week. "There are issues that need to be addressed, and they're either being addressed or not at all," says Garren, when asked why he's running. "We talk about sustainability and green and all of that, but we're not doing the best we can do. There are still issues between the police and communities of color, and we're not doing enough to house the homeless." MATT DAVIS

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Northeast Portland neighbors are not too keen on plans to open a private medical marijuana club on NE Dekum this Friday, November 13. At a heated meeting last week, the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association complained about the noise and nature of erotic parties the owners of the planned pot café have hosted in their space over the last six months. Café owner Eric Solomon responds that the neighbors are unfairly trying to run him out of town. "They don't like that we have big queer dance parties. They don't like that we have an event called 'Dinner and Porn,'" says Solomon. Some neighbors said that they prefer a more inclusive, family-friendly establishment occupy the area's prime business block. SARAH MIRK