Concerned Oregonians—the con-
servative group that
hopes to gather enough signatures to put Oregon’s new domestic
partnership and anti-discrimination laws on the November
ballot—sent out a breathless email on Monday, April 21,
indicating that the group’s wallet is virtually empty.
“Of the 8,000 Oregonians on this email list, only 40 have made
contributions toward our efforts, totaling $4,385.00,” grumbled
Concerned Oregonians’ David Crowe. “That is not enough.”
The group’s overall financial picture is even worse, however,
according to state campaign filings: The political action committee has
$517.06 in the bank as of this writing, but enough outstanding
accounts payable to put them in the hole by $6,191.70. Moreover, those
petitions—due back to the secretary of state’s office by July 3
with 82,769 valid signatures each—have yet to be approved for
circulation.
***
Concerned citizen Bob Richardson is kicking up a stink
after a rent-a-cop in Pioneer Courthouse Square told him to stop
using a “monopod”—a device similar to a tripod, but with
just one leg—in the public space. Richardson, who had his video
camera attached to the monopod, was told he couldn’t let the device
touch Pioneer Square’s bricks without an event permit. “On the
one hand, what he was saying was absolutely absurd. And on the other, I
don’t think it is a supportable policy under the law,” Richardson says.
Read more—and check out Richardson’s video documenting the
encounter—on blogtown.portlandmercury.com.
***
On Friday, April 18, the Oregon Liquor Control
Commission’s board unanimously approved a new “Minor Posting”
rule that will allow some venues to admit the under-21 set and
serve alcohol at the same time, provided that the venue’s “control
plan” is vetted and approved by the OLCC. For more details, check out Our Town Could Be Your Life.