In the middle of this week’s news story on Occupy Portland—looking at the movement’s debate over the merits of camping—I mention the curious case of some 500 T-shirts that an occupier had ordered several weeks ago without the approval of the movement’s general assembly.
This was troubling for a few reasons. One was the cost: close to $3,000. Another was the design: Hideously ugly. The other was where the shirts were printed: CINCINNATI—never mind that you can’t swing a stick in Portland without hitting a local designer/printer/etc. who might have done such a thing for a sharply reduced rate and maybe even with some style.
If you don’t believe me on how awful the shirts look, here’s proof, courtesy of a Mercury intern who agreed to model it. (That’s real mud from Chapman Square, by the way. People were giving the shirts away in the hours before Occupy’s eviction bash.)
As for that receipt? Here’s a photo of that, too!
Update 12:25PM: As commenters have noted, I ought to have mentioned the name of the occupier who purchased the shirts. It’s Viani Rivier—an occupier who was part of the camp’s troubled, initial finance committee (which was blown up and reformed several weeks ago amid concerns it lacked transparency). Also, as I’ve previously reported, Rivier is the same occupier who was forwarding internal Occupy emails to the Portland police.
The finance and spending committees, by the way, have addressed most of these oversight and waste issues. They’ve opened the documentation and slowed down the process for community involvement.
As possible, it’s been made clear to people that this t-shirt fiasco went poorly.
Damn, those is some uuuuug-ly t-shirts. Only a unilateral decision, not a collaborative effort, could have allowed for printing such a design.
Nothing says “I made this neato shirt!” like the Cooper font.
@Reid, glad to hear the process was cleaned up. Nothing like experience teaching an organizational body how to react and plan. Good on you.
But seriously. These are the ugliest shirts I have ever seen.
And $3K for 500 ugly T shirts proves once and for all this crowd knows zilch about economics.
And it didn’t occur to anyone to employ locals? Really?
Yes, the actions of one person *definitely* reflects upon the whole group, now and forever.
@James – Fail at reading comprehension. It didn’t occur to ONE GUY to employ locals.
@ Reymont +1. Denis, thanks for posting, I had been curious about the uglitude since you mentioned the shirts in the other article.
Not to get all mathy but that’s about $6 a shirt, which isn’t that expensive. You only need to sell 300 at $10 each to break even, which wouldn’t be that hard no matter how ugly they are. I’m not sure if this really discredits the movement or the organization.
But yeah, they’re ugly.
$3,000? Associated Premium should’ve at least thrown in a few cicada bobbleheads. (Be sure to “mouse over” the image.)
http://www.associatedpremium.com/GeneralIn…
I’m surprised – but don’t know why I should be.
@frankieb, nothing that confirms your pre-existing dislike of Occupy surprises you. :p
I’ve updated a bit with some context along the lines of Reid posted. Also the name of the T-shirt buyer. It’s familiar if you’ve been following my recent coverage.
“Yes, the actions of one person *definitely* reflects upon the whole group, now and forever.”
Of course not, unless we’re talking about cops, right?
(Rolls eyes.)
Maybe the only thing from keeping it a 100% disaster is that the shirts were USA made (or appear to be, looking at the brand name). At least someone thought that part out.
I still say DENIS IS A MOLE PLANTED BY THE COPS TO GLEAN ‘OCCUPY’ INFORMATION.
Everyone knows that Jeopardy winners are part of the 1%.
@frankieb, +1
Occupy PORTLAND seriously maintains a mailing address in Hillsboro?
Oregometry: No. The address in the photo matches this address: http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_nam…
frankie, Denis probably has about enough left of his winnings to buy one of those Occupy Portland t-shirts.
Yeah, the bulk of it went for hookers and coke, right Denis?
Woo hoo!