Today’s “We Are All Traffic” bike rally was quite spectacular. I joined the gathering at Interstate and Greeley, the site of Brett Jarolimek’s fatal collision with a garbage truck, and of Siobhan Doyle’s serious injury crash with a car (both motor vehicles made the same disastrous right turn from Interstate onto Greeley, just weeks apart; following Doyle’s collision, the right turn was closed down).

Thanks to a late morning downpour, the 20-plus cyclists who gathered at this site were soaking wet, but—like hundreds of cyclists assembling around the city, at sites of other fatal collisions—they were serious about taking a stand for safer roads.

At Waterfront Park, under the Hawthorne Bridge, cyclist/author/performer Joe Kurmaskie emceed, welcoming speakers like Doyle.

Just before the rally, Kurmaskie called the events of the past few days—this rally, a press conference yesterday, a meeting on Wednesday night of City Commissioner Sam Adams’ ad-hoc bike safety committee—the emergence of “a civil rights movement for all vulnerable road users.”

Others spoke about the need for more bike infrastructure funding, more education for all road users, and better enforcement of the laws. Kurmaskie specifically called out the Portland Police Bureau’s Lt. Mark Kruger, for some of the statements he’d made in the wake of Jarolimek and Tracey Sparling’s deaths (another cyclist on the scene described Kruger’s statements following the two collisions as ones that placed the blame on the cyclists, both of whom were obeying the law when they were killed. “It’s like saying the rape victim asked for it,” he said, declining to give his name.) Kurmaskie specifically called for Kruger’s transfer to a position where he’s not involved with cyclists, a call that elicited one of the biggest cheers of the day.

The speech of the day, however, was Susie Kubota’s. She’s Sparling’s aunt, and she spoke eloquently about the young woman killed at W Burnside and 14th on October 12.

Tracey Sparling was my sister’s only daughter. She was my father’s only granddaughter, so she was very precious to our family. My father’s been gone for 8 years, and I get some comfort from the belief that they are together.

But then I get angry at the senseless and premature loss of this beautiful, loving, intelligent, talented, ambitious young woman just starting out in her career of creative design.

Her entire speech—which had half the crowd in tears—is after the jump.

More on this week’s events in next week’s paper, in the meantime, here’s the video!

(Click for a larger, more readable version.)

NE Everett & MLK.

- Jonathan

todayinpdx@portlandmercury.com

Yesterday, I promised to explain what, exactly, the city council voted on Thursday night with regards to the rename (check out this post for the blow-by-blow coverage), and what happens from here.

Stay with me, now. By the end, you’ll find out whether or not the council has actually renamed Fourth Avenue, or if there’s more process to this thing.

At the beginning of last night’s meeting, there were three things on the agenda (the numbers refer to their placement on the agenda).

1362: Support the renaming of Interstate Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard (Resolution introduced by Mayor Potter)

1363: Authorize the renaming of Interstate Avenue within the City of Portland to César E. Chávez Boulevard (Ordinance introduced by Mayor Potter)

Those two items, together, would have renamed Interstate if they passed. Why you need a resolution and an ordinance is beyond me.

1326: Declare the City’s intent to rename a major arterial street in honor of César E. Chávez and establish a process to complete the street selection by July 1, 2008 (Previous Agenda 1291; Resolution introduced by Commissioners Adams and Leonard)

That’s the old “more process” resolution. When it first came up a few weeks ago, Mayor Potter walked out during the discussion.

After all the public testimony last night, Commissioner Saltzman suspended the rules—which normally require proposed resolutions and ordinances to be submitted the Thursday prior to the council meeting—so he could introduce a fourth item:

1364: Amend code for Council-Initiated Action to Rename a City Street (Ordinance; amend Code Section 17.93.050)

That’s the piece that creates a “new” process so the council can actually kick off a street rename—as opposed to the circular logic they’ve used in past renames, like on Naito and Rosa Parks, which involved waiving the current process that bars them from initiating one.

Okay. Still there?

After Thursday night’s public testimony, it was time to vote on Potter’s Interstate resolution. But Saltzman swooped in with a substitute resolution—he needed just 3 votes to successfully substitute the Fourth Avenue resolution for #1362, the Interstate Avenue resolution. He got them: Adams, Leonard and Saltzman voted to effectively erase Potter’s resolution, and replace it with the cleverly numbered:

S-1362: Support the renaming of Fourth Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard

Now that Interstate’s resolution was gone, and Fourth was the option, four commissioners voted for it—everyone but Potter. The council majority has declared their intent to rename Fourth.

But they haven’t actually renamed it yet.

More—lots more—after the jump.

After passing the Fourth resolution, they had a first reading of Saltzman's "change the process" ordinance (1364)—the one he suspended the rules to introduce on the spot. It passed, and it'll be up for a second reading and vote on Wednesday, November 21, during the morning session.

Presumably, it'll pass at that meeting—it really has to, to give the council a way to actually rename Fourth without waiving the current process yet again.

Here's what that new process, which allows the council to initiate a rename to honor a person, looks like:

1. The Council shall adopt a resolution proposing to rename a street. The resolution shall direct the Planning Commission to consider the proposed renaming and make a recommendation to Council. The resolution may specify a date by which the Planning Commission must make its recommendation to the City Council.

2. After adoption of the resolution, the Planning Commission shall consider the proposed renaming and make a recommendation to the City Council whether the renaming is in the best interest of the City and the area within six miles of the City limits in accordance with ORS 227.120.

3. The Auditor shall schedule a public hearing before Council on the proposed renaming for a date and time after the Planning Commission’s recommendation to Council. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation not less than once within the week prior to the week within which the hearing is to be held and shall identify the time and place of the hearing.

4. The Council shall hold a hearing on the proposed renaming and shall afford persons particularly interested and the general public the opportunity to be heard on the proposed renaming.

5. If after the public hearing, the Council determines that the renaming is in the best interests of the City and the area within six miles of the City limits, the Council shall adopt an ordinance renaming the street. If the Council declines to rename the street, the Council shall adopt a resolution rejecting the name change. If Council approves the street renaming, certified copies of the enabling Ordinance shall be filed with the County Recorder, County Assessor, and County Surveyor.

So next Wednesday, the council is likely to approve this process. Then the resolution to rename Fourth that they passed on Thursday will head to the Planning Commission, and wind its way through this new process. Technically speaking, the "new process" ordinance doesn't kick in for 30 days, and the Planning Commission has another 45 days to get back to the council—so this could drag out for quite a bit. (Meanwhile, says the Oregonian, Fourth Avenue businesses are beginning to organize against the change.)

Then it'll be back in front of the council, who will adopt an ordinance actually renaming the street, if they want to. (Or a resolution rejecting the name change.)

Meanwhile, Potter's ordinance to rename Interstate didn't die on Thursday—it'll come back this Wednesday for a second reading and vote, unless the other commissioners do something procedurally to kill it. Potter's bent on forcing an up-or-down vote on Interstate, though.

The woman making tamales at the Table Church today have had their hands full—when we stopped by this evening to pick up our two dozen, there was a line out the door. From what I could tell of the pre-orders alone, at least 300 dozen tamales were made in the church’s kitchen. (Having once helped make a paltry 8 dozen tamales—which took hours—I am in awe.)

Understandably, that demand caused a backup. We picked up a dozen chicken ones that still need steaming, and a dozen pork that were par-steamed already, but need another 30 minutes…

In this week’s paper, I expressed my general state of fandom for M.I.A. along with a few misgivings. What I didn’t write, because it wasn’t especially pertinent, is that in interviews I often find her to be abrasive, and her last publicity tour profiled the chip on her shoulder as much as it did Kala. And since I had heard mixed things about her live shows, I approached last night’s sold-out Roseland concert with the following anticipation: “I just hope she doesn’t half-ass this show and make me dislike her.” As it turns out, I’m a fucking idiot.

The Sri Lankan sensation murderfied the room last night with one of the loudest, hardest, and dopest concerts I’ve seen in forever. Portland turned out in full effect, with tons of kids wearing their brightest, ugliest clothes and day-glo sunglasses, and almost everybody in the joint ready to dance. Low Budget came out to man the turntables and slid into Kala’s opening track, “Bamboo Banger,” which always gives me chills, even on my ipod. MIA and hypewoman Cherry exploded onto the stage with frenetic bombast before dropping into dual “both hands on the wheel, reclined seat” stances to ride out “Bamboo Banger“‘s relentless, zooming beat.

After that, all bets were off as she performed damn near every song from Arular and Kala, peppered by gunshots and airhorns from Low Budget. MIA did not stand still for one second of the set—dancing, pacing, and at one point, climbing from the stage-right speakers into the upper balcony. When the obligatory “everybody get onstage to dance” moment came, the show’s global, multi-cultural theme came to a screeching halt, but Portland made up for its collective fair skin with pure enthusiasm. And to that redhead dude in the teal shirt—you made the concert for me, sir. Watching you let your freak flag fly was the highlight of a great show.

Hearing nearly all of MIA’s songs in one sitting (if I could have changed one thing, I would have loved to have heard her using some of the Piracy Funds Terrorism beats, particularly the Salt-n-Pepa’d “Sunshowers”), I was knocked out by how many great songs she was, and what magnificent beats she coaxes out of her producers. I’ve been listening to Kala today and haven’t changed my enthusiasm level to “severe,” but I was certainly blown away last night by her generosity to the audience and that unique ability of hers to incorporate a million different aesthetics and influences into something unmistakably hers.

Photos courtesy Todd Cooper.

Welcome to the second in at least a trio of posts, until I get bored, of my new blogumn, Breaking The Law, wherein I come across a lawsuit I feel you’d benefit from knowing a little about, but can’t be bothered to poke too far into it, so I stick it on here “for your interest” and forget about it forever. Last week, it was age discrimination. This week, it’s seriously injuring someone with a mannequin. Why? Because that’s Breaking The Law, people. It’s Breaking The Law!
MANNEQUIN: Not just the best sexually implicit screenplay of the 1980s, but also a dangerous weapon, if employed inadvertently?

Before we go any further, it’s time to remind you I’m writing about pending litigation that’s not yet been decided in court. So we’re talking about allegations. Not facts. Now: seriously injuring someone with a mannequin. Pamela J.Stanford is suing JC Penney Corporation, alleging:

On or about September 24, 2005, Ms.Stanford was injured in a JC Penney store [at 9500 SW Washington Square Road, 97223] when a mannequin fell onto Ms.Stanford’s head and caused her serious bodily injuries…

Ha! That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!

A.A wrenching, tearing, and twisting of the soft tissues, blood vessels, nerve fibers, supporting ligaments, tendons and muscles of the head, neck, back, shoulder and eye;
B.A severe head injury; and
C.A retinal detachment

Oh dear. That’s not so funny, is it. Ms.Stanford is alleging her serious mannequin-inflicted injury was the “forseeable result of JC Penney’s failure to exercise reasonable care to make its premises reasonably safe for Ms.Stanford.” She’s asking for damages of up to $1m, medical expenses of up to $200,000, reimbursement for lost wages and loss of earning capacity of up to $200,000, and legal costs. The case continues. Now, Judas Priest will play us out:

JUDAS PRIEST: Still BREAKING THE LAW! BREAKING THE LAW!

Have a great weekend.

We’d love to do this month’s Debate Club on whether going to war with Iran is a good idea or not—and it’s damn easy to find someone in Portland who’ll make the case that we shouldn’t pull another Iraq.

But, surprise, surprise, finding someone like John Bolton—someone who can articulate why, exactly, the Bush Administration would like to bomb Iran—here in Little Beirut is quite difficult. We’ve tried the local Republicans, PSU’s brain trust, and we’re hoping for a call back from a national group that wants regime change in Iran. So far, no luck. Leads appreciated…

Questo Spiderman italiano è molto, molto buono ed è molto hilarious. Arrivederci, i miei amici!
(Thanks to the free online translator.)

This week on So Hot Right Now, DJ Izm takes the stage with a bumpin’ mixtape set of over 20 songs to get your dance on while the rain keeps pouring down outside.

So Hot Right Now’s host Mike Williams says:

Izm kills it from start to finish, but if we talked too much about it, we’d ruin all the surprises. Listen to the mix, then go to his MySpace page to check the technique, the remixes, the fresh gear, and get familiar with my man DJ Izm.

Get your Friday afternoon groove on with DJ Izm by clicking here.

last night, and it looks like it’s going to be nothing but for the next while. Last night I trudged through the wind and wet to meet my boyfriend at Biwa (215 SE 9th). We know Gabe, the owner/chef, but we’ve only been there a couple of times. It’s really, really good and I love ramen and udon, but it’s always been just out of reach, price-wise, for us to be regulars. However last night the two of us became the first two recipients of their new happy hour ramen. From 9 pm-close you can get $5 bowls of udon or ramen, plus they now have liquor, making it one of your best bets for delicious, healthy food within stumbling distance of all the action on Burnside and Morrison. On miserably pouring rainy nights like these, nothing soothes you like a bowl of these soups, I swear. They just started offering this (there’s also an early-evening happy hour, which you can also cash in on by sitting at the counter instead of a table anytime) a couple days ago, and people should really be taking advantage. There are other discounted items on the HH menu as well, and the giant bottle of Sapporo I ordered with it ran me all of $3.

I sat in on the Ed Benedict Skate Plaza community meeting last night to hear more about the future of skating in Portland. The plaza is slated to be both “sick,” “mellow,” and, perhaps the most surprising adjective—sustainable.

New Line Skate Parks is building the plaza and has taken into consideration crime prevention and feedback from the local skaters who’ve shown up at the meetings, and incorporated environmentally sustaining guidelines.

The Ed Benedict Skate Plaza is one of 19 skateboarding sites to be built in Portland and construction should start next spring and be finished by late May. Construction on a second skate plaza in Gabriel Park in SW Portland should be finished in July.

The Regional Arts and Culture Council chose local artist Dan Garland to design public art for the plaza.

“Skateboarding has always used iconic, bold visual language,” explained Garland. “But you also need balance when you step onto a skateboard … I’m looking at sustainability as balance.”

This environmental balance is what’s inspired his design motif, “Tread Lightly.” These words will appear throughout the plaza, along with concrete cutouts that’ll reveal patches of greenery. Garland feels the art could stand as an, “icon of sustainability to younger generations.”

For more information, visit Skaters for Portland or Portland Parks & Recreation.

-Jennifer Furniss

It’s important for you to have sex this weekend. That’s why the Mercury is happy to continue our musical series entitled, “How to Get Laid,” this week featuring the new jack swingsters COLOR ME BADD.
For example, if you’re interested in making love to a beautiful blonde Rooskie, then by all means follow the advice carefully laid out by COLOR ME BADD: 1) Grow a pencil thin mustache. 2) Style your hair so it looks like a strange, alluring helmet. 3) Sexual harassment is sexier in the workplace. And most importantly, 4) when seducing a woman, make it appear as if you’re actually more interested in men.
Now, let’s watch these masters of seduction at work in their 1991 classic, “I Wanna Sex You Up.”

A few weeks away from their fifth anniversary, the Genuine Imitation art gallery is reopening this Saturday, Nov 17, at their new home in St. Johns. A longtime staple of the Everett Station Lofts, Genuine Imitation has given solo shows to illustration-leaning, commercial gig-taking local heavyweights such as Trish Grantham, Bwana Spoons, Mo, and Martin Ontiveros. In a press release, gallerist Vincent Clervi writes, “While the Everett Station has served me well, it’s a place for people to start their endeavors. It’s time to grow and give someone else to shine.”

The new gallery, located at 8926 N Lombard (on the corner of Lombard & Chicago), is roughly 1,000 square feet, and opens with a group show that demonstrates “what the residents of St. Johns can expect to see in the years to come.” (It’s the usual GI crew, with all the aforementioned artists included—minus Ontiveros‚and a dozen or so others. ) St. Johns hasn’t been an art destination for years, since the shuttering of the moneyed and excellent Haze Gallery in 2004. Make the drive, ingest a few Cha Cha Cha burritos, spy on the wrestling school/flea market, and say hello to Genuine Imitation’s new digs this Saturday from 5-9 pm.

One of the things I’ve missed since moving to Portland is mind-boggling theater. With respect to the Armory, they’re not taking enough risks on Portland-based writers, rather following a sound business model and consultants’ advice, and that’s not the way to create something amazing. Give them six years, perhaps, for a new direction. But Cabaret, The Underpants and A Christmas Carol? Not quite there yet, Mr.Scrooge.

Shakespeare was the Steven Spielberg of his day and the reason he’s still wildly popular is because he knew how to do the explosions. Of course, they didn’t have CGI in those days, so he had to do it with language, but he was a populist at heart. The Armory is putting on Twelth Night in January along with a play by Amy Freed about “the true authorship of Shakespeare’s plays.” I’m tempted to read this as, “we’re scared nobody’ll come for the Shakespeare because it’s not funny any more, so we’re marketing it with a modern, accessible comedy just in case.” Perhaps I’m wrong, but either way, Twelth Night wouldn’t be my choice for this winter season, perhaps because of this line: “this is very midsummer madness.” I can’t help anticipating squirm-worthy hamming by misdirected actors.

Now, Shakespeare: I’m going back to London for a week this Christmas—my brother’s getting gay-married on the 22nd and we’re spending 9 days over there. My dad just emailed to say he’s got tickets to see Ian McKellen in King Lear at the Royal Shakespeare Company on the 27th, and I’m over-excited, already:

McKellen: J’ADORE, DUMBLEDORE…

The difference between Shakespeare done in Portland and Shakespeare done in London, and no, it’s not money, is this: In London, they get that tragedy should be as engaging, passionate and gritty on the stage as a Clash concert. Or, if it’s a comedy, it should be funnier than watching Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock. Here in Portland, Shakespeare seems to be nothing more than filler to flog to the Kathleen’s of Dublin crowd. And that’s too bad.

Moments after the council voted 4-1 to rename 4th Avenue for César E. Chávez last night, committee co-chair Marta Guembes was speaking to a TV reporter, reiterating what she’d told me earlier in the day: “They’re not honoring our community, the Latino community,” she said. “That was the white men choosing what they think is best for us.”

Out in the hall, the committee members and their allies gathered up, some tearfully hugging, others already discussing the next move. Former Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz, a tear in her eye, says the committee needs to regroup and figure out “what our strategy is.” She had already heard someone mention a challenge to the 4th Avenue rename, though last night it was too soon to tell if that’s possible, or a direction the committee might take.

Jose Romero—the other co-chair—was more pragmatic. “We saw the writing on the wall last night,” he says. What they had to say in the hearing—resolute testimony in favor of Interstate’s rename—”didn’t make a difference. We’re disappointed.”

At that moment, Mayor Tom Potter walked down the stairs from his third floor office—and the crowd erupted into cheers.

“We’re fine,” says Romero. One silver lining—if you can call it that—to this whole mess, is that Portland has started having a conversation about race. “If our city leaders hadn’t gone to those meetings at Ockley Green, they would have thought we were exaggerating” about the racial overtones and undertones to some objections, he says.

“We’re positive. We’re losing the battle today, but we’ll keep fighting the war. We’ll celebrate our achievements to date, mobilize and take advantage of all the good will and support we’ve heard,” he added.

(Meanwhile, I’m tracking down copies of the ordinance for 4th Avenue, which is up next week. Look for a full explanation of what happens from here, later today on Blogtown.)

Eugh. I saw this on the news the other day and was hoping it was a joke. Apparently not.

From cnn.com:

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) — Coming soon next to the Coke and Pepsi in a store near you: ham-and latke-flavored soda to make your holiday feast complete.

Jones Soda’s Christmas Pack flavors are Sugar Plum, Egg Nog, Christmas Tree and Christmas Ham.

It even will be kosher, the company making it says — including the ham.

Jones Soda Co., the Seattle-based purveyor of offbeat fizzy water, is selling holiday-themed limited-edition packs of flavored sodas.

The Christmas pack will feature such flavors as Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog and Christmas Ham. The Hanukkah pack will have Jelly Doughnut, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins and Latkes sodas.

Sugar plum could be good as a mixer (I’m thinking of a low-rent version of the salted plum vodka Collins at Pok Pok). Everything else sounds yucky. Apparently they do this every year: “Last year’s seasonal pack was Thanksgiving-themed, with Green Pea, Sweet Potato, Dinner Roll, Turkey and Gravy, and Antacid sodas.”

Internet buzz abounds for the new J.J. Abrams monster movie, CLOVERFIELD, set to hit theaters on January 18, 2008. And lookee here! It’s the TRAILER. As in previous incarnations and clips, we don’t see the monster… and if Abram’s Lost is any indication, we may never see it. Regardless, here’s my impersonation of the trailer: (Camera jiggle, camera jiggle.) EEEEEEEE!!! OMIGOD, WHAT IS THAT THING??? RRRROOWRRRRRR!! RUN! RUN! (Camera jiggle, camera jiggle.) And… scene. Check out the trailer and sound off on whether you think it’s crap or craptastic!

Some dude getting his slumber on in the “O”

Love,

Cory

Seen something? todayinpdx@portlandmercury.com

The death toll could soar even higher in Bangladesh as the tropical cyclone Sidr heads inland. At least 1,100 people have died already.

In the SW 4th – Interstate debate, four commissioners are throwing their weight behind renaming SW 4th after César E. Chávez, but Potter’s having none of it.

The Humane Society has announced that their shelter is overflowing with cats, so they’ve asked Portlanders to eat 100 cats by Thanksgiving! Just kidding—they want you to adopt 100 cats by Thanksgiving so they can open their, “cattery doors to other homeless animals.”

The Flying Spaghetti Monster—revered by so many—finally gets the respect he (or she?) deserves. Top religious scholars will be discussing said Monster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion.

-Jennifer Furniss

This is the Portland Mercury.

As the finest newspaper in all of Portland, I’d like to take this opportunity to note that my editor, Wm. Steven Humphrey, is untrustworthy, unreliable, and has several issues with hygiene that should give pause to every individual who deals with him—be it personally or via his increasingly infantile prose.

I’d also like to note that Mr. Humphrey is of exceedingly shoddy moral fiber when it comes to posting statements on Blogtown, PDX under other peoples’ names. Names such as “Erik Henriksen”—who, as we all know, is not only my incredibly talented film editor, but is also handsome, charming, witty, brave, uterus-stretchingly virile, and impeccably well-groomed (unlike someone else I could mention).

Mr. Humphrey has been posting truly abhorrent and sickening statements regarding a band called “Evanescence” under Mr. Henriksen’s name all evening, and my sense of justice will abide it no longer! Mr. Humphrey is a liar, and a fraud, and I urge you to “hit the jump,” as they say, for the real story of what’s going on—e.g., how much Mr. Humphrey loves Evanescence, yet, through fear and shame, is attempting to distract my dear readers from his fandom by means of writing under Erik’s well-respected name.

BOY ARE YOU STUPID! You really fell for all that junk about Henriksen? WOTTA HACK HE IS! Look, if Erik Henriksen can't deal with the fact that he loves Evanescence, and everybody makes fun of him, maybe he should delete all those songs from his iPod (along with the complete discography of Jimmy Buffett and "The March of the Ewoks"). But by bringing Humphrey into this, he is really sinking to a new disgusting low. Whatever! Regardless of what he says, know this: Erik Henriksen will be spending tonight and every night smooching his wall-sized poster of Evanescence, and asking God why everyone thinks he's a big Evanescence-loving dork.
PEACE OUT!

Final update: The council has voted to rename 4th Avenue for César E. Chávez on the first reading. Now it’ll head to the planning commission, then back to the council for a second reading and final vote. Marta Guembes, Bertha Ferran, Melanie Davis, and other Interstate rename supporters around the room have stood up, and are turning their back on the council.

***

Update: Public testimony is finally over, at 6:35 pm. Now it’s time for council discussion and votes… this will get interesting. Sten just said he’s “going to surprise my colleagues a little bit.”

7:12 Update: We just had three votes to substitute Saltzman’s “let’s consider 4th” idea for Interstate, which means it passes. Now the council is considering 4th. Adams voted for it, Leonard’s speaking to it. (The substitution, I believe, means there will be no up or down vote on Interstate.)

7:18 Update: There are three votes for 4th. Sten’s up now, then Potter. Sten’s seeming like a fourth vote. Will Potter vote against it?

***

Original entry: There are three rules we’re going to observe today, says Mayor Tom Potter. Jazz fingers if you agree—no booing—no signs or placards (though the pro-rename t-shirts that most supporters are wearing probably squeak in) and comments will be restricted to two minutes each, due to the large number of people signed up to testify (currently we’re onto page 8, which is over 75 people).

First we’re going to hear invited testimony, then public testimony on each of three docket items. The first is to rename Interstate. The second is the ordinance that would make that rename happen. The third is the old “establish a process to complete street selection” that Leonard and Adams brought up two weeks ago.

“I believe the people deserve an up-or-down vote on their proposal,” says Potter.

“And there’s the substitute resolution,” says Erik Sten, that would substitute 4th Avenue for Interstate. He wants to hear testimony from the crowd on that. So folks can weigh in on all three—Interstate, 4th, or delay the process and start over.

Also, Saltzman is moving to suspend the usual city council rules about when things can be put on the agenda, so they can put an emergency ordinance to change the process—and thereby let them rename 4th—on today’s agenda. Whew! Catch it all after the jump as we blog it live.

"Too much of this has been drawn out," says Potter. There are three untruths in this process—that people are racist, which he says isn't a blanket truth, and he's never said it. That this is "too much of a burden" on one neighborhood—honoring a hero shouldn't be considered a burden. Third, that the economic impact would be too much for Interstate to bear—he thinks a rename wouldn't affect the renaissance happening there.

"We need to find an appropriate way to honor him, and find a place in this city for a first public tribute to a Latino," Potter says. "I believe we have an opportunity before us."

And yes, Potter says, people can use a thumbs down instead of jazz hands, if they disapprove. "But please do it with dignity."

Maria Rojo de Steffey's up first. She's dismayed. "Completing this process will do more harm than good." The idea that a new process would ensure a "less divisive outcome" is wishful thinking, and "I think we all know the reasons why." The Latino community deserves the council's "affirmative action" to honor César E. Chávez. "In my heart, I know that no matter which street is chosen, we'll face the same backlash that we're facing now, and that" those who renamed Union for MLK faced. "What we have today is acknowledgment of an African American hero by sharing his beautiful name on the streets of Portland. We're asking today that you do the same for us."

Also, city council chambers are packed. It's standing room only on the main floor, and in the balcony.

Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes of the Albina Ministerial Alliance calls this a "defining historical moment" for our city, reflecting the "character and morals" of what a city is supposed to be. He, too, is echoing the "struggle to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." on Union. "Yet, the mayor and commissioners had enough insight and foresight, to be statesmen instead of politicians, to see that this was a great historical moment... today we stand at another defining historical moment... like the change on Union Avenue to Martin Luther King, there are citizens and businesses that are opposed to the change for a variety of reasons. But the question is, will this city council have enough insight and foresight to see that this is more than just a street change." It will define "who we are and where we are going as a city."

Rev. Lynne Smouse López of the Ainsworth United Church of Christ—who's pointing out that she's white—says she "cannot be silent any more" because of how she's seen the Latino community treated over this issue. "Mayor Potter, I agree with you 100 percent, naming a street after César Chávez would do nothing to devalue it."

It's Marta Guembes' turn. She's outlining "our choice" of Interstate Avenue, and naming the endorsements they've garnered, from Sen. Avel Gordley to New Seasons Market (that letter that was contingent on neighborhood support), Basic Rights Oregon to Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, Ethos music center, NAACP, dozens of Hispanic and Latino groups—and 2632 confirmed signatures of support. She's got a huge stack of paper, "more than we're supposed to gather for you."

"We decided to give our signatures to remind that our voices have not been heard today," she says.

All photos by Matt Davis

Maria Lisa Johnson of the Latino Network is citing that "it's no coincidence" that Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Interstate/Chávez run parallel. "Nothing can erase what happened here," she says, saying that voting for something like 4th will not end this conflict. "Decisions are still made behind closed doors by white men who have our best interest at heart... No 'quick fix' can undo what has happened here... the proposal to rename Interstate for Chávez did not come from Commissioner Randy Leonard's office," but from the community. Taking it over and "attempting to paint yourselves as heros" is not the right thing to do.

Ron Herndon is continuing the anger at the council theme, calling out everyone but the mayor, saying they gave their word, made a commitment, and watched the committee go through the process the council outlined. "We know best for you where César should be, that is what you are saying. That is so insulting, it would be better" for them to just vote against this. Also, he's angry with whoever went to the Oregonian before talking to the committee (that would be Potter's office). "We do understand what it means when a person gives their word, and if you give your word to any group of citizens, you keep it."

"This is one of the whitest days in the history of Portland," Herndon adds. That garnered a lot of thumbs down in the crowd.

Sten's explaining to people where he thinks things went awry. Yes, the committee followed the process they laid out—but he never indicated that would be the entirety of the process. The council also needs to process this, he points out. "Let's say it's 100 percent my fault. But the process has fallen apart. That's where we're at."

"I think that should have been made very clear from the beginning," Herndon responds. "Any time somebody from an ethic group in this town confronts a status quo publicly, a lot of nasty things occur. Death threats, to your children. Harassing phone calls. It's not like you're trying to overthrow the government—you're trying to exercise democratic rights."

Therefore, "they deserve to know exactly how the process works," and say from the very beginning, "there are no guarantees." Right on, Herndon—I think you just summed up why everyone is upset. An unclear process and the impression of a done deal is what set this mess up in the first place.

Leonard's piping in, pointing out that they were told there was community support, which turned out to be untrue. At an earlier meeting, he told the committee, "clearly what you told me about meeting with the community, something's wrong.... What they explained to me in a second meeting is they meant the greater Hispanic community." He meant the geographic community in which they wanted a street renamed. "The commitment I made that will never change, is I will vote to rename a major street for César Chávez."

"What I have seen, and I want to be really clear to the audience, is some wounds ripped into great people who did not deserve it," says Sten. He's seen racist behavior that's completely unacceptable. "I saw that wound ripped, and I think it's terrible." But there's "an argument that the council has put too many things, too fast, in North Portland," and this debate "has exasperated that."

The idea to rename 4th—"my business cards change tomorrow"—is an idea "made in good faith. I did not intend it be disrespectful."

"Here's a major street, people cannot say you shoved this onto me. Maybe I failed miserably by putting that out there, but I would like to at least still open a possibility about having it be that street," Sten says. "What is being argued is what was promised, how the process went, and not really talking with each other about what the possibilities are... I don't think it is wrong to talk, from the heart, of if there's another possibility that makes sense."

"Our choice has been Interstate, and it is Interstate, and we have support, and here it is, all the support that we have," Guembes adds.

Commissioner Sam Adams says he wanted to hear neighborhood support, but "did not need to see unanimous support, or from every neighborhood association." That, however, did not come to pass—every neighborhood association voted against it or rescinded support. "I have to try to treat all Portlanders fairly, and it's from that motivation that we entered a resolution to open it back up.... I did it with the best of intentions, and so did they."

"There is considerable disagreement on what you agreed to," says Herndon. But those who were in the meeting came away believing they had Adam's support.

"I have never wavered from my commitment to name a major street for César Chávez... and in some ways 4th Avenue is an upgrade." He still wants to hear why there's no other street amenable to the committee—that's a discussion that did not happen publicly, and needs to.

Now we're on to public testimony—71 people have signed up. "Remember the ground rules," says Potter. Lest my fingers fall off, this public testimony will be quite summarized—I'm saving my energy for what the council's going to do with this hot potato.

The Mandels are up first. Lili's up: "Attempted rule by fear does not work here." Today, "we are all winners, and lets celebrate together by finding an honorable solution to honoring a great American hero." Irwin referenced old New York City politics.

Marek Stepien of the Polish Library Association is up, making the case that Polish immigrants built Interstate. "The entire Polish community is against rewriting the history of Interstate Avenue," and he's got over 100 (160?) signatures to prove it. The name Chávez does not "reflect the history and heritage of the area." He says he's been called a racist for putting forth that position, but "my wife is Latino, and she says I'm an open minded liberal."

Now we're into the 19 affiliates of the committee that were signed in by a trio here early.

"The committee came to this council with a very simple question—will you rename Interstate Avenue for César E. Chávez? I think that question deserves an answer today," says former Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz Walsh.

"Either you decided that Interstate is too good for César, or you decided it's too controversial... I don't think there should be much mystery about why Interstate. It's a great street. It has light rail, and connects other civil rights heros," she says.

Rudy Soto, student body president of Portland State University, says "We are now at a crucial point in time where you, our elected officials, must decide... Obviously politics are a factor for some regarding the reasoning behind the decision. Young and old of all backgrounds are paying close attention... The gravity of this decision really means a lot. What you do or don't do will really speak volumes. And I am glad this conflict has arisen, because I believe conflict brings about resolution. We're a strong city, we can work through this."

José González of the Miracle Theater Group doesn't want the council to consider 4th Avenue without true discussion with the community. "I'm all hoping you guys are all operating with best interests in mind, though the communication is totally wrong."

"I'm struggling to see why it's a win only on Interstate, as opposed to the possibilities of more dialogue. It's become to me two sides that need to win. We've got a point where what we needed to have was a showdown. And the mayor walked out, and we haven't even had a full council discussion of this. Why is it so vitally important not only that you win, but that it's Interstate, and this afternoon?" Sten asks.

"Why not Interstate?" responds one of the women who's up now—whose name I didn't catch. She also points out that the 4th Ave idea was done behind closed doors without the committee's knowledge—the same could be said by an rename opponent, ironically, about the way this whole thing started.

"So much effort has been put into it with the understanding that this would happen at this point, that it should happen right now," says Soto. "There's a fear and a distrust and a lack of confidence, with all of the politics involved," that extending it might make things worse.

Leonard's commending Soto as a "very well spoken young man" from his alma mater. On that note, "SW 4th Avenue goes through Portland State University. It intersects so many communities and is so visible. Aside from the fear, which I understand, is there's something about SW 4th that's less of an honor?"

"I think it's great that leaders are looking to something bigger or better, but the community wants ownership over the idea, the place, the location," says Soto.

Carlos Perez, vice chair of Oregon Association of Latino Administrators, is asking them to rename Interstate. "Critics of the proposal say it doesn't have significance," in North Portland. "However, the Latino community represents the future, not only for the area in question, but for the city of Portland. As the fastest growing segment of the population, we look for symbols of our leaders. In Portland, those symbols are non-existant." The rename would "convey an air of inclusivity and respect."

"The majority of people that I spoke to as I knocked on doors were in favor of the name change. You may have heard from neighborhood associations that were not representative of neighbors," says Elizabeth Perry.

Alice Perry, on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee, says this "should have been a celebratory event for all Portlanders."

We're now into some of the Interstate opponents who got here early to sign up. (It's 4:30, so they've been here for four hours already.) "I don't think I'm going to vote for another former chief of police as mayor," because he hasn't been able to broker compromise, says Pam Brooks-Haines, owner of NorthStar Coffeehouse on Interstate. "You have allowed this to become about race and racism. I voted for you, and I feel my vote has been abused."

Kathy Chellis, also of the coffeehouse, has 650 signatures against the rename. The petition was on a counter at their shop—they didn't approach customers about it. "I want to see a win-win solution, and I don't understand why the olive branch extended has been thrown aside."

Vicki Kirk says she's hear because "I cannot complain about your actions if I don't voice my concerns." She believes "that good has come from this poor and often ugly debate. Citizens like me are becoming active in their neighborhoods. People are discussing discrimination and cultural issues. This is all good. So don't be afraid to give this issue the time it needs, to find a resolution that's fair to everyone."

AlexSandra, of AlexSandra's Vintage Emporium on Interstate, says she's "accustomed to living in a fascist state on a federal level, but in Portland? Little Beirut?" If the council votes to change Interstate, "no one wins."

She's pointing out that three people stepped in and signed in nearly 20 names, "nearly the entire César Chávez committee," which she calls a group of insiders, given that there's apparently some crossover with city staffers.

Chris Duffy, chair of the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association, says she's sure the council is "very much aware that we're opposed to the renaming of Interstate."

But Duffy—who's been making huge efforts to mediate this issue—wants the council to "start a healing process for the divided community we now have, no matter what the outcome of this meeting might be."

Penny Schumacher, resident of Kenton. "I simply believe that Interstate Avenue should not be renamed after anyone at any time." Though it may not be named after a person, the name still holds significance. "I think we all know the logical reasons why we don't want Interstate renamed, though this has become an illogical discussion... Those of us against the rename are suddenly racists, and all of us on both sides have been called names."

"Show that you believe in compromise and democracy and listening to the community," she adds.

Lynn Roberts, of Arbor Lodge, says her "desire now is to see unity... a feeling of accomplishment on all ends... a moment for all of us to come together."

Will Seaman is here to support the name change, and to commend the conduct of the Chávez committee. He's also condemning the Oregonian's editorial treatment of this issue, especially by suggesting people watch the film Crash, saying "the movie shows how people of different races wind up humiliating each other unintentionally." Seaman points out that the humiliation in Crash is intentional.

Michelle, a North Portland resident the PSU student, has an alternate proposal: A "memorable, artistic series of drawings" and sculptures along Interstate. "The memorial could be similar to the Japanese internment memorial at the Expo Center MAX stop," she says.

Another woman is urging the council to "vote against the way the mayor has conducted this process."

Shelly Romero of SE Portland supports the Interstate rename, and doesn't think more process will help anything. As for 4th, she doesn't think it's a major arterial, and thinks it's not even half as long as Interstate. She wants to know how the street rename process really works, "because it seems every time people try to rename a street, it's carried out a different way." She urges the council to "be men of courage" and vote for the Interstate rename.

"They thought long and hard what street should be renamed," Stephanie Davis says. "They found that Interstate Avenue was the best and only street they could work to change," after reviewing the city's rules and their own requirements. "When you were elected you had your word and your conscious," and she hopes they'll still have both after tonight.

Melanie Davis, of El Hispanic News, says one of her "greatest disappointments" is that we're here again, on another resolution. "You're continuing to change the process."

"They identified Interstate Avenue, and the community stands strong behind that."

Alicia Williams, a history grad student at PSU, is talking about the hundreds of streets in Portland that are named after people who "aren't historically relevant," but just signify someone who owned property. Meanwhile, there are just four named for people of color—MLK, Rosa Parks, Naito, and a fourth that was named ages ago that she wanted us to guess...

Claire Oliveros: "You can help Portland become a city that embraces diversity instead of paying it lip service... I urge you to vote yes to rename Interstate Avenue."

"I do not support the name change of Interstate Avenue. My neighborhood has experienced much name change of streets, and much turbulence has resulted," says Arlene Holmes of Arbor Lodge. "I really regret that the committee did a lot of hard work and feel that they were misinformed about the way to go about it."

Robin Cash, lives in the Overlook neighborhood one block from Interstate, is "SOOO excited that we might rename Interstate for César Chávez." She says it's true that not all opponents are racist, and it's true that some North Portlanders feel dumped on, and that they've had too much change too rapidly. "I think North Portland is an exciting, progressive place to live, and I think changing the name to César Chávez would just be the icing on the cake." She says she collected hundreds of signatures in her own neighborhood.

Lonnie Currier, born and raised in North Portland, his partner is Latino, he didn't know much about César Chávez until this all happened. He's unhappy that he's heard that the council "didn't care" that they weren't following city code. "If our current code doesn't meet our needs for process, then we should change the code and follow the process." He's also calling out the mayor for walking out of the council. "What's the purpose of process if it's not going to be followed?"

Rob Wolf, it's his first time before city council, he's an attorney and small business owner... he didn't wear a jacket and tie today, because he didn't have time after reading the Oregonian this morning. "I find out it's moved to 4th Avenue!" He's citing the process issues everyone's so upset about, and pointing out that voting for 4th Avenue today would pretty much mean no process. "You vote on this, you show there is no process. Step back. Get out of the corner. Let's look at the process, let's not rename anything for six months or a year until we have a new process and everyone knows what the process is."

"A lot of this today is about respect," says Daniel Garcia, who has a family member on the committee. "Take a stand and make a decision. Respect the committee and the people of North Portland. I personally believe Interstate should be renamed. But what do you guys believe? Make a decision. If you wait, it's going to fester."

John Kirby, with his thoughts on how other places do it—like New York City. "There's similar pressures in New York to honor important individuals... but they do honorary street naming." On 77th Avenue, the honorary street name is for Peter Jennings—under the 77th street sign. "All around New York City they do this, because it has less impact... I might suggest this as a possible compromise for attempts to honor other great Americans."

Eric Gale, chair of the Overlook Neighborhood Association—though he seems to be speaking for himself. Context is important, he says, and the context of North Portland has influenced what people have experienced in this discussion. The feeling that things are being "shoved down their throats over and over is a very real sentiment for a lot of people." The process needs to be done in a way that no one feels invalid.

Douglas Harman, officer for the Interstate Business Association, says he's never seen so much depression along the street. "No one in this room was a bigger support or longer fan of Mr. Chávez than I am. [But] the legacy of Mr. Chávez has been hijacked."

Anna Lee Rodgers is "hoping for a compromise that will bring to an end" the unhealthy direction this has gone in. "A prime consideration in the matter should be support."

Promise King says "playing the race card is disgusting." He worked on the Rosa Parks rename. "Minorities have never been given the benefit of the doubt," but men like Mayor Potter have changed that in Portland. "If someone comes to you and says I need something, you either say no or yeah. Don't cherry pick."

Finally, a light moment: There's an elderly woman who's having some difficulty taking her seat to testify, juggling a cane and maneuvering the heavy chair. "Next year, I'll be dancing with the stars!" Now, she's just said something about one of the council member's handcuffs hanging on her kitchen wall... which prompted some nervous laughter, and a call for explanation. Something about her being arrested twice, and she's proud of it—she was arrested in relation to the work César Chávez did. And she wants to hear a unanimous vote for Interstate Avenue.

"I've never been a social or community activist," says Richard Prentice, a lifetime resident of North Portland. But he is today, to say "I heard all these arguments... I never heard so much pandering over an individual of which no one has said anything against! Did we come here to glorify the man? What we're here for is about a street change name, so all of this racism talk from the various Latino, etc etc agencies, has nothing to do with we're opposed to the name change. I do not think it's necessary to change the name to glorify the man."

"I knew who César Chávez was before I could name a president," says Patrick Nolan, community activist. "I feel he'd be disappointed with an argument over naming a street for him. I feel he'd prefer Avenue of the Worker." But if they need to rename something, he's prefer they do a street where there's community support.

Ramón Ramírez, president of the Oregon's farmworkers union, is here to support the rename. "It's the same basic argument" being made against this rename, that's made over other rename efforts around the country.

Leonard's curious: "What feels unique to me about this, is that there isn't a debate about this among the five of us." Is that different from elsewhere, that there's debate over where?

Ramírez says there are similarities and differences. In other places, "it was 'not in our backyard.'" What's important is "what the Latino community wants, and that needs to be respected."

Marta Perez, says she's a "general activist, I don't belong to anybody." She prefers Interstate, but "would compromise if we can't agree.... equality plus love equals democracy," she says. "Let's just finish this and let's go home."

We're on the last two!

"I find myself sitting here today wondering how a group of elected officials can promise something," and then call for compromise, says community activist Bertha Ferran. "I find myself not angry, but sad, by the turn of events that race created over this issue. I'd rather be told why not Interstate, than to be disrespected by those we're supposed to trust... Thank you Mayor Potter for your unwavering support of our community."

Martin Gonzalez is suggesting that if Interstate is renamed, a sign topper could go up that says "Historic Interstate," similar to how neighborhoods around the city have those toppers. "It's taken me awhile to understand what it means to have white privilege. That's for folks to have the ability to not engage in a discussion about race. We don't have that privilege."

Just kidding—we've got more speakers who hadn't signed up, but still want to weigh in.

First is Dan Handelman: "Oh my god, 4th Avenue has 180 years of history!!" he says facetiously.

"I knew the coalition for the number four was going to show up," says Erik Sten.

"Look back on the vote today and say I know I did the right thing. It's time to change Interstate for César Chávez," Handelman adds.

"I hope you all know there's significant support in all of these neighborhoods," says a woman from Overlook. "It might not be majority support, and if that's what you're looking for, it's probably not going to happen." She questions the wisdom of considering other streets, for the same reason—it may be impossible for majority support on any street. "You need to make a call, and think about equality and justice for minority communities."

"Why? Why North Portland again?" asks Monique Snyder. She respects Chávez, Rosa Parks, and MLK, but "why North Portland again?" It's a diverse community, she says. "We even have doctors and lawyers living here now."

"Get bumped once, you get a little bit possessive, perhaps. You get bumped twice, you get a little bit protective. The third time, you get defensive, and I think that's where you're standing now," Snyder.

Allen is up—his father is from Mexico, his mother from New Orleans. He's "here to take the message from my father's side of the family to my mother's side of the family.... the rule tends to be borne out that we only win when it's cost free or beneficial to those in power. If that situation doesn't exist, we don't win. So we don't win very often. We don't win elections, we don't win fights with neighborhood associations." Tonight, "we want this win. We want Interstate Avenue to be named after César Chávez. Pay a cost. The message is the same to the folks opposed. We're asking you tonight to give this to us, to sacrifice tonight what you want for what we want. Because when we leave here tonight, many folks who are advocating for this will have to worry about being followed, or pulled over, or followed around 7-11, and you won't have to worry about that."

"I never got a piece of mail, inviting me to a public meeting, I never got a phone call inviting me to a public meeting," says a man who lives a few streets off of Interstate. "If I was asked at all, I wouldn't have a problem with this. But no one talked to me. When people are saying the community is for this, what community are they talking about?"

"It's unfortunate that all of the work the committee has done, was done at the direction of you. You did not follow the law. We would not be here today if you had directed them toward the law. It's time for you to step up, admit that you made a mistake, and guide us through a new process—one that follows the law," says Josh, whose last name I didn't catch.
"I was standing here crying when Allen spoke.... at some point you have to say, 'if it's this important to you, we need to give it to you," says a woman who just got off of work and arrived.

And with that... testimony is over. Time for the council to discuss and vote.

Saltzman is putting forward a substitute resolution calling for a rename of 4th.

Sten wants to discuss. He says he's "going to surprise my colleagues a little bit."

"You go to these hearings to listen, and having to listened for hours, I'd be willing to go with the Interstate change. As the choice has been presented to me today, I'd be prepared to decide." He thinks 4th is a powerful idea, but doesn't think he's convinced anyone, so he's willing to move away from that idea and support Interstate.

"I was looking more for the agreements in the room," says Leonard. "And the agreements are the same. People feel they're not being listened to. Someone said 'we have the power to give something to a group,'" but that means taking from someone. "You're having to be put in a position to make a decision that hurts someone."

"The city council made this process ruinous by not sticking with what the code says. And it's not just this street name change, there have been two," Leonard adds. "But having said that, we made a mistake, and what we allowed to have happen."

"People in the community are feeling, why wasn't I involved in picking which street is going to be renamed," Leonard says, which is now what he's hearing from the committee about the 4th Avenue proposal. He's more happy with a middle ground, he and Adams' two week old resolution of a five person committee to choose a street.

"4th Avenue presents an honorable solution to a problem this council has created. The parties are so immersed right now, it's hard to separate emotions from facts," he says. Ten years from now, kids getting off a school bus to go to city hall at 1221 SW César E. Chávez Boulevard is "the most honorable thing we can do," and emanated out of a lot of process, and bubbled up out of everything they heard.

The resolution to rename 4th would send it to the planning commission, then back to the council for a vote, so there would be more process. "It's honorable for both sides to allow us to move ahead."

Potter's up—he wants everyone to understand what the replacement resolution does. "It displaces my resolution and ordinance, and we will not be voting on Interstate as a result of this motion," which he thinks they should do.

Debates around the country "must inform us that something else is occurring when this comes up." In almost 400 places that have renamed for Chávez or MLK, like Lubbock, Texas, "not in my backyard is the clarion call from almost everyone."

"There are issues out there around race, I didn't say racism, that I find disturbing," he says. "One of the key decisions tonight is how do we include everyone, and respect them."

"I concluded that Interstate Avenue should be renamed for César Chávez. I realized there would be much discussion and anger around it, and I realized that was not uncommon," he says. "This is my community, this is where I will live and die, and I believe it is up to us to solve this problem. But for all the mistakes this council made, and we made them, this committee did what we asked them to do, and more. And to honor this committee, I believe it's up to us that their wishes are carried out, and we begin that healing process in the community, and work this through."

"If this motion goes through, this will not be voted on, and that is a dishonor on this committee, to not say yes or no," Potter says. "This is something that I think needs closure, and if not, it's going to be something that tears into our community, particularly the Latino community."

Leonard says he left his speech in his office, the speech he spent two weeks writing and rewriting. But he left it there on purpose. "There's no one in this room who respects your record on standing up for people who don't have a voice more than I do," Leonard says, addressing Potter. "When you went into office, I went to you and raised my concerns on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the unfair practices on people who might be Muslims," and Potter acted. "If I didn't tell you then, I very much respected you for doing that."

"But words are important, Mayor Potter, and they're more important from a mayor than anyone on this council," Leonard continues. Potter may be technically right that he's never accused people of racism, but by saying "there's something else going on here," then that's what he's saying.

"I wish we could have this debate at a level that respected both sides and didn't question both sides' motives. But when you raise questions about the unfairness of using a substitution motion—to question our integrity in following our rules..." makes Leonard not so happy.

"Emotions of each of us in wanting to accommodate whoever comes to us, has us just cast the rules aside. We have to put it in the city's constitution, so we have a set of rules that we live by," Leonard says. If the had followed the rules in the first place, he thinks they'd be voting on Interstate tonight.

Potter responds: "Philosophically, these five people tend to agree more about what is the role of government, than just about any five people." His commitment to ensuring that people are inclusive was from his time as police officer, and seeing abuses by the police "that I couldn't stomach." That's why he went for promotions, so he could address those issues. Then there's his lesbian daughter, who's "suffered the indignities of being a second class citizen." His affinity with the Latino community comes from realizing there are injustices and racism. The issues of race, and racism, are "things our community has to discuss."

"But for tonight, I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm not trying to make it worse," Potter says. "The committee deserves some closure on what they've brought before us."

Leonard is objecting—he doesn't want to be forced to vote against César Chávez boulevard, first, before voting for something. Meanwhile, Potter is pained to have to vote against this substitute—to vote against Chávez.

"Once again, it's either you're for Interstate, or you're against us," says Leonard. "I don't play that game, and I don't think it's fair for you to play that on me."

Saltzman's calling for a vote on his procedural motion to substitute—Adams is up first.

"Symbols such as street names and parks and bridges and what we call our public spaces send an important message on what a community values," he says. Most streets were named for developers and their friends from the 1860s up until now. "I do think Portland will be a better place when there is a street named in his honor." He's committed to renaming a major street.

"I want to repeat what I've said numerous times. The intentions of the folks who have sought this name change, I've found to be very honorable, and very inspiring. But when we initially talked in my office, and one of the leaders beside me was from my own neighborhood association... I thought there was a relatively low bar to finding neighborhood support," even though there's always a certain level of anger against city hall in North Portland. "The fact that there's controversy on this issue doesn't mean the process is broken." He has himself heard racist epitaphs, and "they're absolutely inexcusable."

"I have been part of this problem as well, and I too apologize for my part in this dysfunction," including the Rosa Parks rename and the Naito rename, both of which circumvented the official process. He thinks asking one neighborhood to bear two renames in just a few months is too much.

"A better up front consideration than was done in this process for what street should be renamed," he says.

"The process has yielded for me, the proponents have made the case for renaming a major street in the city for César Chávez," Adams says. When he takes all the factors together, "I believe that the name change is up to us on the city council. And I'm persuaded that 4th Avenue is worth serious consideration," even though it will disappoint those who worked so hard on Interstate. He also, personally, wants to "stick it to the racists" by naming 4th.

4th has the seat of city government, the seat of justice, the state's largest university, and goes through Old Town/Chinatown. It's signed on I-405. It gets more daily use than Interstate Avenue. "I would ask the proponents of Interstate to give thoughtful consideration to what is undoubtably a compromise."

With that, they voted—Saltzman, Adams, and Leonard voted to substitute the motion.

Which means we now consider whether or not to rename 4th—or, rather, to go through a bit more process to rename 4th.

Adams votes aye.

"The last sentence in the speech I was going to read said this community is diminished because of this action," to rename Interstate. "I don't have to say that today," now that they're considering 4th.

"I intend to work very hard to heal the divisions that have happened," he says. "In a short amount of time no one's going to remember this debate"—a comment that got heckles from the crowd—but future mayors' letter head will always read César E. Chávez Boulevard.

Leonard votes aye for 4th.

Saltzman's turn. "When we committed ourselves to a process," that ended with the council making a decision, "I believe I'm sticking to that today, by making this decision."

"It's time to end this ugliness," he says. The only reason he disagreed with Adams and Leonard's call for more process was that it would spread the ugliness around.

The proposal the committee brought forward was "contrary to our code," and vulnerable to legal challenges or a referendum that wouldn't actually be about the rename: "It would be about immigration policy."

"I think SW 4th Avenue... and this ordinance will protect it from legal challenges," he says. "I'm voting today for substance instead of more process." He understands that this move may be seen as disrespectful to the committee, but "I see this as taking it from 'not in my backyard' to putting this in our front yard."

He votes aye.

"Too much change" is not a racist argument, says Sten, and that's mostly what he's hearing—though he has taken the most racist calls of his tenure on this issue than any other.

"I've tried to work to find another way. I was not able to find that, and I have to respect the near unanimous" need to affirm the Latino community's request. His last vote was a vote to take Interstate off the table, "and so I voted no, because today's hearing went somewhat differently than I thought."

But Interstate's off the table, and "the vote to rename 4th, I will support. I respect the argument that my friends have made, that you put your heart and soul into [Interstate]... "

No offense to MLK, Sten says, but "this is the most prominent street that's ever been renamed." He's not going to say "it's not a loss to the Latino leadership, that's your decision to make. But it is a statement I would hope people would be very excited about."

Aye.

Potter's up. Will he vote against renaming a street?

He's apologizing to the committee. They were so happy when they came to him, asking to rename Interstate. "From here I think it's important that I go out into the community that probably has the least like for me of any in the city to find out how we can" listen to them and figure out how to better involve them in the city's processes.

In his heart, he "will always know that renaming Interstate Avenue" is the right thing to do.

"I think 4th Avenue has a lot going for it. The one thing it doesn't is the Latino population of Portland, Oregon. I hope, because this decision has been made, that we do improve how we make these decisions, and it's not just about what our council thinks but what our community thinks. And I am the lone vote of no, and I'm just upset about that."

Potter would like another week to take a stronger look at the ordinance. Saltman says he and the city attorney have worked on it, and it's airtight. But Adams, too, hasn't had a chance to have a close look at it, so he'd like to hold it an extra week, too, before the second reading. There are scheduling issues... so the second reading will be on December 5.

From the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center:

EVENT: Community Forum to Share Experiences on Portland Police Oversight System — Thurs, Dec. 6

Community Forum to Share Experiences on Portland Police Oversight System

Have you ever filed a complaint about police misconduct with Portland’s Independent Police Review division? Did you feel the process and outcome were fair and just, or did you feel they were unfair or partial to the police?

Come to a community forum to take part in an assessment of Portland’s “civilian police review board.”

What: Community Forum - Share your individual experiences with the Independent Police Review division and the Citizen Review Committee with Ms. Eileen Luna-Firebaugh, the expert reviewing the program.

Where: St. Francis Church - Dining Hall (SE 11th Ave. and Pine St.)

When: Thursday, December 6th. 7:00 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Who: Anyone who has filed complaints with IPR - regardless of the outcome. We want to hear your stories.

Format: Each speaker will have approximately 2 - 4 minutes to tell their experience; additional time may be added for questions at the discretion of the evaluator.

Regardless of your experience with IPR, you are invited to share those experiences with Eileen Luna-Firebaugh, the expert hired by the city to conduct an independent evaluation of the IPR and its Citizen Review Committee.

Ms. Luna-Firebaugh is a law professor at the University of Arizona who has a long history working with citizen-based police oversight agencies and evaluating them. She currently is conducting a six- month evaluation of the IPR. The results will be presented to City Council in January 2008. The format will be that each person has 2-4 minutes to share their experiences with the review board (depending on turnout), with a brief description of your interaction with police and a more detailed talk about what happened when you filed your complaint with IPR.

This may be your only opportunity to share your comments on the IPR and CRC with her. We encourage you to come and participate. Together we can work to improve Portland’s system of police oversight.

Sponsored by: Portland Copwatch, Northwest Constitutional Rights Center, and League of Women Voters of Portland.

For more information contact:
Portland Copwatch (503) 236-3065
Northwest Constitutional Rights Center (503) 295-6400

Do you love Evanescence? I REALLY LOVE THEM. So that means I’m really psyched about their upcoming concert at the Rose Garden on November 18. And even better? I just learned you can now get tickets for 50% OFF! Simply go to the ticket site here, and in the promotional code box, type in LACRYMOSA. Soon you’ll be with me in the front row singing “Bring Me to Life”!
Oh, and check out the Up & Coming I wrote this week about the most awesome band in the world… EVAN-FUCKING-ESCENCE!

I LOVE YOU, EVANESCENCE! I LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU!

Amy and I are at City Hall all afternoon—she’s going to blog it, I’m the paparazzi.
LAST DITCH EFFORT: Marta Guembes speaks with the Chavez renaming committee in Commissioner Sten’s office before the hearing. Guembes was seen crying after Sten emerged.

Even though I agree with the sentiments expressed in the upcoming documentary What Would Jesus Buy? (not patronizing big box store like Wal-Mart, etc, buying locally, not driving SUVs) and you probably do too, I am going to have to pan the movie, which I screened yesterday. And you know why? Because it’s all about this guy:

Notice how completely ineffective his torturous schtick is in influencing the total c***sucker who is interviewing him. THANKS, “Reverand Billy.” I HATE YOU.

Please, if it must be “performative” to reach the American public, someone come up with a less MADDENINGLY REPELLENT idea.

Sorry if I seem a little hysterical, but imagine these mere minutes of footage as a feature length film, and you’ll begin to understand what I’ve been through.

I love me some GUITAR HERO—the video game where you use a fake guitar to fake rock out to real rock songs—however, I was never able to put into words WHY Guitar Hero is so superior to learning an actual instrument…
Until this hilarious clip from South Park came along. Poor, retarded dad.

Folks who wanted to speak at today’s hearing started showing up an hour ago, waiting for the sign up sheet to appear at 1 pm. Immediately, three people apparently affiliated with the César E. Chávez Committee grabbed the pen, and each jotted down five or six names each, from County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey to Serena Cruz. A handful of Interstate business owners were also on hand, and signed up. We’re already on page four of people signed up to testify, and the meeting doesn’t even start until 2—and this item isn’t up until 3.

Meanwhile, the committee is here, ready for their meeting with Commissioners Erik Sten and Dan Saltzman.

Marta Guembes, co-chair of the César E. Chávez Committee, is “insulted” that four commissioners have agreed to rename 4th Avenue instead of Interstate.

“It’s very insulting,” she says. “They have not called me to let me know they’re working on this.” She found out by reading the paper this morning.

“We proposed Interstate, after we went through many streets to decide what would work for us, and the Latino community.” This new idea, she says, is “these white men who have the power and are telling us what is best for us.”

And she’s sticking to her guns—she wants a vote on the street that the committee proposed, Interstate.

On today’s episode of Easier Than Reading, guest host Ned the Intern continues to hold down the fort while regular host Ezra Ace Caraeff is off frolicking overseas. Ned plays tunes from acts playing around town this week, including The Velvet Teen (pictured above), Isis, Enslaved, Stars, and many more. Click here to listen.

Okay, so, um, shit yes:

Vivendi Games is pacting with Sony Pictures to turn Ghostbusters into a videogame franchise.

First title in what the publisher hopes will be a series of Ghostbusters games is set for release in fall ‘08 from Vivendi’s Sierra label.

All four members of the movie team—Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis—will be giving voice and likeness rights for the game. Some supporting castmembers have signed up as well, including William Atherton, Brian Doyle Murray and Annie Potts.

In addition, film scribes Aykroyd and Ramis will pen a story for the videogame that takes place in the early ’90s, after Ghostbusters II, during a new ghoul invasion of New York City.

That’s from Variety; there’s more coverage on the game at AICN, Game Informer, and Kotaku, with that last link containing news about multiplayer and co-op. And also this screenshot. (Click for a bigger version.)

Post-script: No, it’s not the same game as this one.

Post-post-script: Yes. My ringtone is still the Ghostbusters theme. Interpret that as you will.

Apologies for my lateness to the party, but we don’t have cable, and it’s taken me two centuries to download Top Chef, series 2. Having watched the finale last night, I’ve come to the conclusion the judges are inept morons, and that Marcel should have beaten Ilan by a country mile. He’s my hero. Thank you, Marcel, for your presence on a TV show so many miles beneath you. MARCEL VIGNERON: GENIUS.

Now, back to that rent-a-cop sit/lie jail-beating civil rights story I was working on.

I’m at city hall—which is crawling with TV reporters—trying to figure out why there’s suddenly four votes for renaming 4th Avenue (the entire NW-SW length of it).

Here’s what happened: With concerns that a vote to rename Interstate today would keep this mess going, Commissioners Erik Sten and Dan Saltzman met yesterday to sort it out. They were concerned that waiving the code that governs renames could open the Interstate rename up to a legal challenge. (Seeing as how the council planned to waive a law that says they can’t meddle with it. AHEM.) If not that, then Interstate businesses and residents were threatening to mount a referendum challenge. Neither of those paths really honor César E. Chávez, which is what the council is unanimously committed to doing.

So they came up with the idea of 4th Avenue. It means all of city hall’s stationary changes. As Commissioner Randy Leonard puts it, every mayor from now through Portland’s future will have letter head that says “1221 SW César E. Chávez Boulevard.” It’s an inarguable honor. (Meanwhile, part of PSU’s campus is on the street, too.)

Sten and Saltzman got Leonard on board—he’s eager to “stop the madness.” After Commissioner Sam Adams met with the committee yesterday afternoon, they talked to him, too. Then Saltzman went to Mayor Tom Potter, to ask him to consider the idea overnight—and to consider owning the idea, so the council could reach consensus.

Instead, Potter’s office called the Oregonian.

Now, the committee’s coming in at 1:30 to meet with Sten and Saltzman. Leonard warns that he still “cannot predict the outcome” of the rename, despite four votes of support for 4th.

How would a 4th Avenue rename work? A Saltzman staffer is busily crafting a way to amend the official city process—four votes enacts that immediately—so that city council can initiate a name change (right now, the code that’s been waived before specifically prohibits a council initiated rename).

The current theory, then, is that the council will initiate a 4th Avenue rename today, which would then follow the rest of the official process—it’ll head to historians and the planning commission, then back to council for official sign off. There’s talk of getting through that process in time to put up new street signs on César E. Chávez’s birthday, March 31.

And Leonard’s toying with the idea of writing a charter amendment that outlines a fair rename process for the future—one that’s “not subject to political manipulation.”

Growing up in South London, I’d never heard of The Wipers until I came to Portland. And I only heard about the Wipers through the death of James Chasse—on whom the Wipers’ song Alien Boy was based. But I’ve been listening to The Wipers’ box set over the last few months and it kicks the shit out of Nirvana, any day of the week. This, coming from the only boy at private school brave (gay?) enough to stick a Kurt Cobain poster on the inside of his locker at 15.
WIPERS VINYL: ELUSIVE…

Greg Sage’s lyrics are rippling with a kind of Zen intention I’ve not experienced before in music. Or literature, even, all that much. Sure, he’s odd-looking, and perhaps that’s why he never made it bigger, but the guy is positively overwhelming to watch on stage. Songs like Tragedy and Mystery—holy fucking shit. More soul-grabbing than the Beatles, without a doubt. Better lyrics? For sure.

Last night I watched Mike Lastra’s film, Northwest Passage, about the birth of the DIY punk scene in Portland. There’s a scene on there with the Wipers performing Over the Edge—and it’s worth seeing for that, alone. I will never be the same again.

Fred Cole of Dead Moon is on there, saying the Wipers were probably the biggest influence on Pearl Jam and Mudh