The Oregon Liquor Commission (OLCC) has been a thorn in the side of barflies, strippers, and musicians for decades. A few months ago, for example, the OLCC shut down a Beaverton strip club after it was discovered that 18- and 19-year-olds were dancing there, violating a new OLCC rule prohibiting underage performers from any venue […]
Jaymee R. Cuti
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Sticking It to the People
Legislature May Ruin Minimum Wage Initiative
In November, Oregon voters narrowly approved a voter initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage. In addition to a higher minimum wage, the ballot measure assured that minimum wages would increase each year at a rate to pace inflation. It seemed as if waitresses, cashiers and others who count on the minimum wage finally had […]
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No Vacancy
Crooks Receive “Get out of Jail Free” Card
Since the failure of Measure 28–the initiative to leverage income taxes into much-needed revenue for the state–the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department has released between 50 and 100 inmates each week. While many schools are scrambling to keep hold of their teachers, and the sick and elderly are wondering how long their meds will hold out, […]
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A Forensic Failure
Budget Cuts Leave Hair and Semen Untested
To the many services that have fallen victim to budget cuts, add the state police forensics division. Eighty-five state forensics experts have already received their layoff notices, effective February 1. This will reduce the state forensics department by 65 percent. If the layoff notices are not rescinded, Portland’s crime lab–the largest in Oregon–will lose two […]
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Coming Out for Civil Rights
Gay Oregonians Set the Record Straight on Sen. Smith
Last Thursday, about 100 protesters with handmade posters gathered outside Senator Gordon Smith’s office to set the record straight on his relationship to gay Oregonians. The protesters were angry about a recent campaign commercial that features an appearance by Judy Shepard, mother to slain hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard. They accused the senator of exploiting a […]
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Sit Down and Take a Load Off
Demonstrators Want To Reclaim Sidewalks
Angry about a pending pro-logging bill in Congress, 10 protesters had planned to set up an overnight vigil at Sen. Ron Wyden’s Portland office last Sunday. But shortly after parking themselves on the sidewalk adjacent to his office, five squad cars arrived and one officer instructed them to get off their asses in 30 seconds […]
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The Streets Want You
Nonprofits and Police Join to Curb Gang Violence
In the last month, Portland Police have counted over a dozen gang-related shootings, and six of those took place in the week following July 4th. Portland had a 34 percent rise in gang violence in 2001–this surge of activity being the highest since 1995. The shootings began with a drive-by on NE Jarrett Street, resulting […]
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Three Cheers for Beaverton?
With Health Clinics Closing, It’s Beaverton To The Rescue
From bellyaches to ringworm to pelvic pain, Dr. George Waldmann treats Multnomah County residents for conditions he says are common to the poor. For the past four years, he has volunteered at NeighborCARE, a so-called safety-net clinic in outer Northeast Portland serving 10,000 uninsured or underinsured people annually. But next month, in spite of voiced […]