In Other News

PORTLAND PATROL, INC. boss John Hren backed out after
accepting an invitation to appear before the police bureau’s Citizen
Review Committee (CRC) on Tuesday, March 17. Hren, whose private
security officers are armed, dress like cops, and have the power to
enforce city ordinances in parks and parking garages [“Trust Me, I’m a
Rent-a-Cop,” Feature, May 3, 2007], is rumored to have had specific
concerns about the extent of public scrutiny at the meeting.
Central Precinct Commander Mike Reese will now attend instead, and be
asked questions about the partnership between the police bureau and
Hren’s officers. “I was very disappointed that Mr. Hren didn’t want to
make an appearance,” says Michael Bigham, chair of the CRC. “Because
the CRC really wanted to hear from him.” Hren and Reese did not return
calls for comment, while Independent Police Review Director Mary-Beth
Baptista, who is also reported to have sought Hren’s attendance, was
unavailable for comment. MATT DAVIS

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THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND is planning to demolish punk
landmark Pirate Town (AKA SuperFun) in North Portland. Over the
past decade, skaters, cyclists, and graffiti artists turned the cement
walls of the long-abandoned factory located on the desolate Superfund
banks of the Willamette River into a no-rules skate park and site for a
diverse array of debauched events. These included the Chariot
Wars—a bike battle contest. The school decided to bulldoze as
soon as possible for liability reasons after buying the 36-acre stretch
of land surrounding the crumbling buildings last December. SARAH
MIRK