In 1843, a coin toss decided whether the largest city in Oregon would be named for the largest city in Massachusetts or Maine (hint: Maine won). It is a rivalry that has affected almost no one for more than a century. But just last week, that tension reared its head once again at City Hall.
During last Wednesday's city council meeting, the Voodoo Doughnuts team lobbied for Boston Crème to henceforth be called Portland Crèmes.
During the three minutes of testimony guaranteed to anybody who signs up, one of Voodoo's owners, Tres Shannon, demonstrated how to transform a Boston Crème into a Portland Crème--by adding "vision" via a pair of frosting eyes.
At least for a moment, the city leaders were able to forget about problems like hemorrhaging budgets and an anemic economy. (Doughnuts were given as gifts to the mayor and city council members; a gesture that may violate lobby laws.) Sam Adams called it a "proud moment in city council history." SCOTT MOORE
WE KNOW YOU!
This year, the state legislature seems interested in keeping tabs on you. A few different bills working their ways through the capitol building would make Big Brother even bigger here in Oregon.
For starters, Gov. Ted Kulongoski is pushing House Bill 2101 which would establish the Oregon Homeland Security Department. Similar to the federal agency, Oregon's HSD would consolidate various departments in an attempt to keep better track of suspects.
Another measure, Senate Bill 640, sponsored by a slew of Republicans, stipulates that in addition to the usual forms of identification, Oregon residents would need to provide two forms of biometric data in order to receive a driver's license or identification card. The bill does not specify the meaning of "biometric data"--retinal scans? fingerprints? facial recognition?--but the bill does require Oregonians to pay the state for collecting this data.
House Democrat Jeff Barker is also contributing to this clampdown with a proposed "Stop and Identify" law. Under H.B. 2390, it would be a crime to not identify one's self when asked by the police. The penalties for refusing may be as severe as 30-day imprisonment or a $1,000-plus fine. NATHAN MEADS
