This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
News / Portland / Politics What Does Sam Adams Think About Peterson's?
Posted by Matt Davis on Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Sam Adams has the power to save Peterson's convenience store, but he's not going to do it.
Commissioner Dan Saltzman, as you may be aware, is trying to save Peterson's convenience store from eviction. But it appears he's getting the cold shoulder from our "business friendly" mayor-elect, Sam Adams.
Commissioner Saltzman is understood to be considering filing a council resolution for next Wednesday, requiring the bureau of general services to place some specific requirements into a month to month lease with Peterson's.
But so far, Saltzman has had what aide Matt Grumm characterizes as a "very tepid to limited response" from his council colleagues. Randy Leonard and Tom Potter are not in council next week, Nick Fish is understood to be on Saltzman's wavelength, meanwhile commissioner Sam Adams appears to be content to miss this opportunity to help one of Portland's small businesses.
"I would not necessarilly characterize it that way," says a typically diplomatic Grumm. "There are a lot of important things going on in the city, but this doesn't appear to have risen to a high level of priority for Dan's council colleagues at this point."
In other words, Sam Adams hates small business. And he's content to let the issue slide. Right? I've got a call into his chief of staff, although most likely, there'll be no response. Because it's best to try to duck away from issues like this than be honest about what you think, right, Sam?
Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.
1
Does this surprise anybody?
No.
But please, patiently await with golden anticipation the future smiting of the Sam Adams' Shit Doesn't Stink Cabal.
No.
But please, patiently await with golden anticipation the future smiting of the Sam Adams' Shit Doesn't Stink Cabal.
2
Smells like the Portland Business Alliance and "friends".
We need to dress like rent-cops, buy gallons of beer(from Peterson's), and gather in front of Peterson's to defend it.
Anyone who does not like it will receive an exclusion ticket from downtown Portland good for one year. Peterson's is a necessity downtown. Please don't let us turn into Seattle or worse Scottsdale, AZ.
Fuck it. Throw a Sizzler or a Chili's in there. A 7-Eleven and Plaid Pantry back to back. Seriously. How about a Sonic drive up fats food restaurant? Is that what you want Portland?
We need to dress like rent-cops, buy gallons of beer(from Peterson's), and gather in front of Peterson's to defend it.
Anyone who does not like it will receive an exclusion ticket from downtown Portland good for one year. Peterson's is a necessity downtown. Please don't let us turn into Seattle or worse Scottsdale, AZ.
Fuck it. Throw a Sizzler or a Chili's in there. A 7-Eleven and Plaid Pantry back to back. Seriously. How about a Sonic drive up fats food restaurant? Is that what you want Portland?
3
Holy shit! Sonic! I hate when those commercials come on for those milkshakes and breakfast sandwiches and I go on the website thinking about where they are? Oh, fucking Hillsboro.
Yeah man, bring on the Sonic and make it open until 1am! But, fuck Sizzler. Chili's is good riddance, although I'll miss the greasy pile of fat that is the Awesome Blossom.
Yeah man, bring on the Sonic and make it open until 1am! But, fuck Sizzler. Chili's is good riddance, although I'll miss the greasy pile of fat that is the Awesome Blossom.
4
I see your point, Dumpy, but Plaid Pantry is a locally-owned chain, unlike the others you mentioned.
5
My dear Mister Davis,
What you fail to appreciate is that I have created a public-private partnership consortium between the city of Portland, the PBA, and Walmart to ensure that the small businesses infecting our city west of the Willamette relocate to their natural environment near 82nd Avenue. We call it the "Whack-a-mole consortium," although our hammer is a bit harder than that used in the eponymous game.
Petersons has a choice here, it can accept a buyout from Gerding Edlen LLC and get to work on cranking out some much needed $500k--$1M condominiums for the hordes of soon-to-arrive retired baby boomers, in which case we will be happy to funnel them as much corporate welfare as they can dream of, or they can sell cigarettes to poor people in Montavilla. Period.
And I did just take a well-scented crap on some flyers from the city's Small Business Advisory Council. It felt really good, and there is nothing you can do about it, because I just got elected, sucka!
Republican regards,
What you fail to appreciate is that I have created a public-private partnership consortium between the city of Portland, the PBA, and Walmart to ensure that the small businesses infecting our city west of the Willamette relocate to their natural environment near 82nd Avenue. We call it the "Whack-a-mole consortium," although our hammer is a bit harder than that used in the eponymous game.
Petersons has a choice here, it can accept a buyout from Gerding Edlen LLC and get to work on cranking out some much needed $500k--$1M condominiums for the hordes of soon-to-arrive retired baby boomers, in which case we will be happy to funnel them as much corporate welfare as they can dream of, or they can sell cigarettes to poor people in Montavilla. Period.
And I did just take a well-scented crap on some flyers from the city's Small Business Advisory Council. It felt really good, and there is nothing you can do about it, because I just got elected, sucka!
Republican regards,
6
Still no response from Sam's people.
Ze ruthlessness!
Ze guile!
Nb. I realize the way that sounded. It was accidental.
Ze ruthlessness!
Ze guile!
Nb. I realize the way that sounded. It was accidental.
7
Sam Adams and the entire City Council have the facts and history of the nuisance Peterson's has created- this is the reason why they have not stepped in to this "issue"....Because there is no issue. As usual, you present a very one sided story.
Peterson's is much to do about nothing. He was a bad tenant and the city had warned him in 2006 that they were intending on terminating his lease if he did not improve- and he did nothing. And the only reason Peterson is putting up such a fight now is that no other downtown property owner will lease a space to him! The City does not need to be in the business of leasing space to businesses that no one else will rent to. Think of how much money the City loses every year that they can not rent the spaces next to Peterson's because of the nuisance he attracts. At sales of $1.4 million a year- you speak of Peterson's like he's a charity case- when he's laughing all the way to the bank, paying his people minimum wage, while you support his case in your rag!
Your attempts to demonize Sam are laughable, without any merit and just more rabble rousing from the Merc. Sam is very supportive of small business-in this case, not supportive of business owners that do not care of the negative impact they have on the community. Sam cares about downtown and doesn't want it to turn out- say the way Detroit did! Give it a rest Matt, you know this is the last business you want to see in your downtown luxury condo building!
Peterson's is much to do about nothing. He was a bad tenant and the city had warned him in 2006 that they were intending on terminating his lease if he did not improve- and he did nothing. And the only reason Peterson is putting up such a fight now is that no other downtown property owner will lease a space to him! The City does not need to be in the business of leasing space to businesses that no one else will rent to. Think of how much money the City loses every year that they can not rent the spaces next to Peterson's because of the nuisance he attracts. At sales of $1.4 million a year- you speak of Peterson's like he's a charity case- when he's laughing all the way to the bank, paying his people minimum wage, while you support his case in your rag!
Your attempts to demonize Sam are laughable, without any merit and just more rabble rousing from the Merc. Sam is very supportive of small business-in this case, not supportive of business owners that do not care of the negative impact they have on the community. Sam cares about downtown and doesn't want it to turn out- say the way Detroit did! Give it a rest Matt, you know this is the last business you want to see in your downtown luxury condo building!
8
Listen you little Solzhenitsyn, my people will get to you when they have the time. They have their mandatory weekly full-body waxes today, to be followed by writing PR pieces for my fabulous blog, commissionersam.com.
Tread carefully here, or I will exile you to Parkrose.
Tread carefully here, or I will exile you to Parkrose.
10
Sir:
Portland is rated as one of the worst cities in the United States in which to start and run a small business by everyone from local businesses to the Wall Street Journal to INC Magazine to the Kauffman Foundation to anyone else you ask.
Why?
City government - both elected officials and bureaucrats - is seen to be particularly anti-business.
I remain your humble servant,
Jacomus
Portland is rated as one of the worst cities in the United States in which to start and run a small business by everyone from local businesses to the Wall Street Journal to INC Magazine to the Kauffman Foundation to anyone else you ask.
Why?
City government - both elected officials and bureaucrats - is seen to be particularly anti-business.
I remain your humble servant,
Jacomus
11
Mr. Davis: You continue to confuse the issue between one of public safety/comfort and one of business vitality. Likely you do this on purpose, since sensationalism is your status quo, but this is a cheap shot you are taking here at Commissioner Adams.
Intimidating and unsafe behavior should not be tolerated anywhere by anyone. Unfortunately, in this case, a business enabled and tolerated this bad behavior to occur right outside its doors. As we all know, diagnosing and treating the cause as well as the symptoms is the effective way to treat an illness. In this case, the business and the bad behavior have long been associated and consequently need to be removed. And too many times, Portland leadership will favor looking the other way or playing politick rather than tackle unacceptable behaviors with tough solutions. But here the City took action to remove the source of a nusiance that has consistently and aggressively plagued downtown for years. And the City needs to stand their ground on what is right for the safety of its citizens, not what is good for any one individual. I applaud Commissioner Adams and encourage him and the rest of City Council to stay strong with this decision.
Intimidating and unsafe behavior should not be tolerated anywhere by anyone. Unfortunately, in this case, a business enabled and tolerated this bad behavior to occur right outside its doors. As we all know, diagnosing and treating the cause as well as the symptoms is the effective way to treat an illness. In this case, the business and the bad behavior have long been associated and consequently need to be removed. And too many times, Portland leadership will favor looking the other way or playing politick rather than tackle unacceptable behaviors with tough solutions. But here the City took action to remove the source of a nusiance that has consistently and aggressively plagued downtown for years. And the City needs to stand their ground on what is right for the safety of its citizens, not what is good for any one individual. I applaud Commissioner Adams and encourage him and the rest of City Council to stay strong with this decision.
12
It is unfair to say that Sam Adams hates small business. He has been a champion of small business ever since he took office. He led the effort to reform the business income tax, which helped many small local businesses. He has worked to improve the climate for small business in this city. He made a pledge to visit 100 businesses when he first took office. He has exceeded that number and continued to visit and seek out the input of small business people throughout his tenure in office. So, enough with the cheap shots.
13
Come on: If you're going to comment on behalf of your boss, at least be transparent about your identity.
15
Don't you think you are looking a little too far into the future Mr. Adams? You are yet the Mayor and need to get control of your hunger for power now before you take office or it may hurt your profile later.
I trust you got my email that was cc'd to you regarding my personal reasons for keeping the store open. That and why I feel it would be a risk if you close it due to the fact that crime rate increases in dark areas.
Here, let me remind you: "Please... don't take mine and many other's only security at that corner away from us at night. Please... don't make anybody else a target for sexual assault as well."
It's not a memory you want to live with the rest of your life. Trust me, I've had to live with it for over 15yrs already and I'm still seeing a pychologist.
I trust you got my email that was cc'd to you regarding my personal reasons for keeping the store open. That and why I feel it would be a risk if you close it due to the fact that crime rate increases in dark areas.
Here, let me remind you: "Please... don't take mine and many other's only security at that corner away from us at night. Please... don't make anybody else a target for sexual assault as well."
It's not a memory you want to live with the rest of your life. Trust me, I've had to live with it for over 15yrs already and I'm still seeing a pychologist.
16
I beg to differ with some of these nameless, faceless people who post caca, but I must. A couple of small issues they seem to overlook. Contrary to popular belief, the sidewalks are public property, and in spite of the rumors because of the non-war on terror, this country STILL has a constitution, thank god. Also, why did the city tolerate Dozono being behind over 12,000 dollars in rent until this fact was brought to light. There is also the fact that where the art shop was next to Peterson's it has been empty for months. Guess who gets to heat, cool and provide upkeep. YOU the taxpayer. this is just another case of the PBA and DBA trying to take over and shove their policies down our throats. When can we stop bickering and see things as they really are?
17
I am a business owner, so yes, I am posting on behalf of the boss (me). Like I said, enough with the cheap shots.
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