50 protesters packed city hall this morning to watch Peterson’s boss Doug Peterson deliver a 2600 signature petition to the mayor. And Potter’s response? A COLD, WET, LAME DUCKY SHOULDER.
POTTER: No response to Peterson’s pleas.
Potter, who has the power to extend Peterson’s lease on SW Morrison, listened tetchily while Peterson addressed council, brandishing the signatures gathered in good faith from his customers over recent weeks. 
“The perception is that I am causing the homeless problem and the riff raff in the neighborhood,” said Peterson. “But that’s not true. It’s difficult for business owners to control people on the street.”
“Mr.Peterson, your time is up,” said Potter, at the three minute mark. “Let’s move to the consent agenda.”
And that was it. I asked John Doussard, Potter’s communications boss, if that was what he thought Peterson deserved, no response. “Those are your words, not mine,” he said. “I’m watching this…” and gestured to the council:
So…let’s look at some of the people Potter brushed off, shall we? First, all of the people gathered in council chambers…
Among them, Peterson’s employee Robert Faith, whose job is at risk thanks to Potter’s stony silence:
“In a down-turning economy, the city’s actually shuttering businesses?” he says. “I’m concerned that these councilors don’t see that it’s their responsibility to help the city. They’re caretakers, for God’s sake, not the masters. I hope they realize that they affect lives when they do this.”
Michael Vandever (left) and Whitney Smith (right) have worked for Peterson’s for a combined 32 years. “I think it’s a sham,” says Vandever. “This is a business that pays taxes. I think the city’s neglecting its responsibility…there’s just so much you can do in a business to maintain security.”
Richard Ewald (left, a store employee) says he “thinks the city is expecting convenience store employees to work as police officers.” Eldon Jones (right, who cleans the stores) said “there are other stores in downtown. If the city’s right, maybe they should close them all.”
Tanta Bod came to Portland from Romania 35 years ago and has worked for Peterson for the last seven years. She covers the 3-midnight shift at the Morrison Street store, and says she’s now worried about the future. “We have a lot of good customers, not only bad customers,” she said. “A lot of very good people come in. And I need my job.”
Local manufacturer Mike Hendrickson is a long time Peterson’s customer. “I’m here to support Doug, but also to find out how city council is going to treat small business,” he said. “They’re not interested in small business, only in the big money from outside. I think that the Galleria space [opposite Petersons] has been an albatross for years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the city offered Brooks Brothers a sweet deal to move in there, and now they’ve got to kick Peterson’s out.”
And they all got blown off like so much bad rubbish.
what about busch gardens? they closed yet? arent they on the same block? when’s the last time they paid rent?
To be fair, Peterson only received the same treatment as everyone else who’s ever tried to address the council. Potter’s made sure it impossible for anyone to publicly confront the council in a meaningful manner. God forbid they might ever has to /talk/ with someone whom they disagree.
Actually, to be fairer still: Mr. Peterson was using the “Communications” segment of City Council. It has been City policy that Communications are offered to allow citizens to air issues – the segment is not considered an opportunity for dialogue (though I have seen, on very rare occasions, a City Council member engage someone in Communications).
Matt neglected to mention that. More at: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=63123&c=34447#2
Jeremy Van Keuren
Public Advocate
Office of Mayor Potter
Haha. Y’all are SURPRISED Portland city officials are anti business?
Wait til Adams starts in.
“though I have seen, on very rare occasions, a City Council member engage someone in Communications”
Like, perhaps, when they decide to respect regular people in the street, Jeremy?
I appreciate your comment. Too bad your boss didn’t fancy chiming in. Still, it is lunch time. He’s probably in the pub.
Hey D – Fess up…you’re really Sho Dozono aren’t you? Sam Adams was one of his mumble points wasn’t it?
Here’s a hint. Research your topic then write an opinion about it. This is a big national business complaining about a small locally owned business and the city kicking out the small locally owned business.
All of this just goes to show that the decision from on high has already been made as to the future of Peterson’s on Morrison. No amount of crying and wailing will reverse the deciders. Homer Williams needs money and the City Council will bend over backwards to make sure he gets it. The small business owner and his employees don’t mean sh*t to the Mayor and commissioners.
Hey Matt, thanks for covering this. I’m right around the corner their 4th Ave shop, and while I rarely venture up to the Morrison store, I don’t think it should be closed. I have always found Peterson’s prices to be better, and more importantly, their employees to be friendlier, than the competition downtown.
I feel bad for Mr. Peterson and his employees, and I wish I had been able to do more than sign his petition and complain to deaf ears.
So, Jeremy Van Keuren, since the “Communications” segment is so limited, what other methods does the citizenry have to publicly address the Council?
So, Jeremy Van Keuren, since the “Communications” segment is so limited, what other methods does the citizenry have to publicly address the Council?
/ That’s not my fault, the site is still bugging out on me when log in and post. It won’t let me click forward onto
new blog posts.
At this point anytime I look at Tom Potter I get a little ill.
From the city website biographies:
John Doussard:
“Work Responsibilities:
Director of Communications for the Mayor of Portland. Basically, everything I do revolves around one simple task – help Tom engage in a successful, on-going conversation with our community in whatever way is most appropriate. Yes, that sounds completely hokey, but it’s true. Portland is an unusually – really, really unusually – involved city; people feel it’s their birthright to be a part of civic life, and everyone has an opinion about everything. That makes it a great place to live, and Tom believes people should be involved and listened to at every level. I think of myself as a facilitator.”
Jeremy Van Keuren:
“Work Responsibilities: Jeremy works to ensure that constituent concerns are recognized and heard. He also connects constituents with City and community services, and assists in addressing service issues within the City.”
Matt~ You ROCK!!!!
I don’t know why not take it to the State. It should go straight to the State. If the matter is the reasons the City government are giving for doing this, as opposed to mere right to terminate a month-to-month, especially, take it to State, citing malfeasance, violation of …
And please apply, and try opening anew, Peterson’s.
Dear Jeremy and John,
Since you will both be out of work when that other guy takes over you should have a little more compassion for all of those Peterson’s employees who will be losing their jobs soon.
What a joke your job descriptions are.
For all those out there willing to give up now, just get out, otherwise why bother hanging around.
If there wasn’t any possibility of getting them to listen or even considering that they may be making a mistake; then they would have swallowed the cost of having to pay a fee for kicking him out ASAP and asked for the keys immediately.
I wonder whose back pocket Potter is in. That is the only explanation for the travesty.