There was plenty of big news in 2007—but most of it
can’t be wrapped up neatly, tied with a shiny bow, and archived as the
year closes. From the end of Portland’s Drug-Free Zones to the
reinstatement of the city’s sit-lie law, and from the attempted
renaming of Interstate Avenue to Mayor Tom Potter’s announced
retirement, most of the year’s biggest issues are far from over. Here’s
a recap of what went down in 2007—and how the issues might
finally be resolved in 2008.
A New Sit-Lie Law
Despite protests by homeless and civil liberties advocates, city
council finally passed a controversial sit-lie law in August. Between
August 30 and October 30, 13 citations were given, all to homeless
people, giving credence to the naysayers’ arguments that the law was
going to be used as a “move-along” law targeted at the homeless.
The Portland Business Alliance, which championed the law, is in
backroom negotiations with homeless advocates including Street
Roots, Sisters of the Road, and the Western Regional Advocacy
Project to design a new public oversight process for its private
rent-a-cops, who have frequent contact with the city’s homeless.
Guards working for Portland Patrol, Inc. (PPI) issued 2,274 park
exclusions between November 2006 and 2007, and have been “educating”
citizens about the new sit-lie law. The outcome of the oversight
negotiations should become clear in the new year, but it’s yet to be
seen whether PPI guards will wear uniforms that make them look less
like cops, or get rid of their guns.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Erik Sten, an advocate for Portland’s
homeless, is marching ahead with plans to build a permanent day-access
center that’ll give those shoved aside by the sit-lie law a place to
go. The center may even break ground by the end of 2008—despite
neighborhood opposition in Old Town—if all goes according to
plan.
End of the Drug Free Zones
Mayor Tom Potter got rid of Portland’s controversial Drug-Free Zones
when they expired on September 30, after a report by an independent
consultant found they had been disproportionately used against black
people.
Commissioner Randy Leonard got almost $1 million in the council’s
fall budget bump to expand treatment services for those arrested in the
old zones, as well as provide for more foot patrol officers that will
be starting in early 2008—a real solution, not a quick fix.
James Chasse Lawsuit
The family of James Chasse Jr.—the 42-year-old man with
schizophrenia who died in police custody in September 2006—filed
a federal lawsuit against the city back in February. The city
attorney’s office, however, has since spent the year delaying the
release of crucial documents in the case to the Chasse family’s lawyer,
Tom Steenson.
Meanwhile, the police bureau has yet to complete its internal
affairs investigation into Chasse’s death, and the officers involved
continue to patrol the streets. The family appears to be more
interested in pursuing reform at the bureau than in a hefty financial
settlement. Depositions in the case begin in January.
Bike Fatalities Spur FIXES
Two horrific bike-truck collisions this fall took the lives of
cyclists Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek. In response, Commissioner
Sam Adams launched a bike safety committee, squeezed $200,000 out of
the fall budget adjustment, and made plans to shore up bike safety at
14 intersections around town.
The plan for those improvements—things like “bike boxes” and
better traffic signals—is ready for council approval in January,
and Portland Department of Transportation workers are ready to
implement the fixes in 2008.
Gay Rights Approved
In April, the state legislature approved two sweeping gay rights
laws: One allows same-sex couples to unite in domestic partnerships
that give them the same state responsibilities and rights as married
couples. The other prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation
or gender identity.
Surprisingly, the Oregon Family Council declined to fight the new
laws. But another anti-gay coalition did attack the laws, launching a
referenda campaign with the hopes of delaying both laws until the
public got a chance to vote on them. Their signature gathering fell
short this fall, but the anti-gay activists persisted, filing a federal
lawsuit over signatures they say were unfairly tossed out of the
domestic partnership referendum effort. A hearing on December 28 will
determine whether the activists get an injunction or whether couples
can get ‘partnered’ on January 2, as currently planned (for more on
that, see News, pg. 9). The lawsuit will likely drag on throughout
2008, but activists might also launch a repeal effort, with their eye
firmly on the November 2008 ballot.
Jailhouse Drama
God forbid you’re ever taken to one of the county’s jails: Several
allegations of beatings at the Multnomah County Detention Center by
sheriff’s deputies came to light this year, prompting County Chair Ted
Wheeler to propose taking over control of the jail system from
beleaguered Sheriff Bernie Giusto.
Giusto is hardly a model of good citizenship, personally—he
faces two ethics panels at the Department of Public Safety Standards
and Training in Salem next spring, over allegations he lied about his
knowledge of former Governor Neil Goldschmidt’s abuse of a 14-year-old
girl, and about his affair with Goldschmidt’s wife, Margie.
Interstate Rename Fiasco
Oh, what a mess. This spring, a coalition of Latino leaders and
allies brought a great idea to Mayor Tom Potter: They wanted to rename
Interstate Avenue in North Portland for labor hero César E.
Chávez. Unfortunately, instead of following the process clearly
spelled out in the city code—which leaves the city council out of
the issue until they give the final approval—Potter and the
council gave their initial support. That, in turn, ticked off neighbors
who felt the rename was a “done deal” before they had a chance to weigh
in. But neighborhood opposition won out in the end—prompting
Potter to walk out of a council meeting, and declare himself
“irrelevant”—and the council proposed substituting 4th Avenue for
Interstate. (That idea was knocked down by Chinatown neighbors,
and the council ultimately told rename proponents to follow the
official rename process). The Chávez committee heads into 2008
reportedly planning to bring back the rename campaign.
Mayor Tom Potter Retires
Sporting a scruffy post-vacation beard, Mayor Tom Potter made an
announcement on September 10—he was retiring (again). Following
the spectacular failure of Potter’s attempt to change Portland’s form
of government into one with a strong mayor back in May, and the
continued head-scratching, butt-of-jokes project that is “visionPDX,”
Potter’s departure from public office surprised exactly no one. In
2008, expect more irrelevancies from Potter’s office.
Commissioner Adams Runs
Almost a month after Potter’s announcement that he wouldn’t run for
reelection, Commissioner Sam Adams launched his mayoral bid. To date,
nine political unknowns are challenging him, but a “serious” competitor
has yet to emerge. As 2007 wound down, downtown travel agency owner Sho
Dozono unveiled an exploratory website, showyoursupportforsho.com, and
will reportedly announce his intentions in January.
Independent Police Review Reviewed
Complaints against the cops for excessive force are down 35% this
year compared to last according to City Auditor Gary Blackmer, but
that’s perhaps because an independent review of the Independent Police
Review—due to be presented to council on January 16 by consultant
Eileen Luna-Firebaugh—appears to be on the verge of concluding
that the public doesn’t trust the complaints process.
All-Ages Music Effort
Portland’s all-ages music advocates, led by Mercury columnist
Cary Clarke, urged the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to
loosen up rules barring minors from venues that serve alcohol. Arguing
that minors and drinks can safely coexist in some venues, the advocates
had their fingers crossed at a December 13 OLCC board meeting where
liquor commissioners weighed in on the proposed rule change.
Unfortunately, the OLCC board reaffirmed its reputation as a group of
curmudgeonly hardliners, voting against the proposal 3-2.
In February, however, the board will reconsider the proposal.