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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1995)
j u s t o u t ▼ f o b r u a r y 3, I M S T i l Travel th e w o rld , but ca ll us first... Impact zones A new OLCC rule makes some Stark Street bar owners a touch nervous Three Reasons Why It Doesn't Matter Where You Start Out in Life. ▼ by Inga Sorensen rule recently adopted by the Oregon Town, and Southwest Stark Street, which is home Liquor Control Commission may al to Panorama, Silverado, Scandals and C.C. Slaugh low the city of Portland to place uni ters, bars and dance clubs catering to gay, lesbian form restrictions on entire neighbor and alternative crowds. hoods and could dictate to business Dugger says business owners on Stark Street owners when and how they operate their establish have been meeting for years to address problems. ments. That has some in the Southwest Stark Street “I started the group in 1987, when we were having vicinity—an area inhabited by several gay-ori problems with gay-bashings,” he says. “It’s a ented bars—a touch nervous. loosely knit group of business owners— both gay “I do believe this area could very well be and straight—that work together.” targeted,” says Greg Dugger, owner of Scandals, Group members have met with Portland Police 1038 SW Stark St., a bar catering to the sexual Bureau officials who, says Dugger, have been minorities community. “I don’t think that’s be “extremely helpful.” During the past several months cause we’re gay. It’s just a reality that neighbor Portland police have beefed up their foot patrols in hoods like this or the Castro or Greenwich Village the Stark Street area to improve safety. foster a very social and urban climate. These types Many members of the Downtown Community of neighborhoods often have to deal with traffic Association, a neighborhood association that rep and noise problems.” resents the interest of citizens residing in several Several weeks ago, the OLCC adopted a rule downtown neighborhoods, including Old Town, Stark Street and the Park Blocks, are strong sup which would allow the city of Portland to ask the porters of the OLCC’s new rule. agency to designate alcohol impact areas and set uniform limitations specifying how alcohol may “From what I’ve seen, people in [the Stark be sold in those areas. Backers of the measure say Street area] are really working together more and it’s designed to reduce more to resolve prob problem s associated lems,” says Lisa Home, with street drinking, pub- chair of the DCA’s public lic intoxication, noisy safety committee. She also conduct, or other late recently became involved night disturbances asso with the organization’s ciated with on-premises Stark Street workgroup, drinking. which comprises business Under the rule, Or owners and residents con cerned with alcohol-re egon cities with a popu lated problem s in the lation of more than 300,000—Portland is the neighborhood. “I have heard of no plans to have only city to meet that criteria— may petition the Stark Street area de the OLCC to declare clared an alcohol impact ” impact zones. If an area zone, and, please, let me stress that we view this is deemed an alcohol [rule] as a last resort.” impact zone, the OLCC could limit off-premises An uglier aspect of the gay and lesbian alcohol sales, restrict the community’s history in hours alcohol is sold in volves government crack that area, or set “any other limitations” to re downs and police raids on gay bars. This reality bol duce the documented problems, such as limiting the number of new sters fears that an area may be targeted because it has many gay-oriented businesses. outlets in the area. Previously, limitations could be placed only on individual businesses—not entire “There may be concerns about gay businesses among some members of a neighborhood associa areas. tion, though I doubt it would come up at a public “Sometimes it is not possible to identify one or meeting,” says Sharon McCormick, crime preven two businesses that might be the cause of alcohol- tion coordinator for the city’s Office of Neighbor related problems like noise and public urination. hood Associations. “I don’t know if that’s the case, That’s because some streets are crowded with a but it could be an underlying concern.” number of establishments that serve alcohol and “In no way was this rule created as a way to cater to a late night crowd,” explains OLCC spokes discriminate against people. In fact, [the measure] woman Louise Casper, adding, “We want people specifically forbids that from happening,” says to know that we take this issue very seriously and OLCC’s Casper, adding the new rule explicitly we have a long list of requirements the city must states the city cannot “take into consideration or meet when petitioning us to declare an alcohol make any proposal based on age, race, sex, disabil impact zone.” ity, marital status, national origin, sexual orienta According to the measure, the city is first tion, color or religion" when petitioning the OLCC. required to work “in good faith” with affected Home says, “There have been so many attacks businesses, residents and city staff to develop a on the gay community during the past couple of voluntary program to address the problems. It must years that I can understand why there would be a “make reasonable efforts” to notify those likely to heightened sensitivity around something like this.” be affected and offer them the opportunity to DCA President Vem Riferadds: “As the father participate in the city’s process. It further man of a lesbian daughter, I can tell you that I am very dates that public hearings be held so interested concerned about discrimination.... That’s not what parties may share their views. this rule is about—it’s about making neighbor Casper says Portland officials have not ap hoods more livable for residents. It’s about ad proached the OLCC about declaring any area an dressing problems of noise, litter, car prowls and impact zone, though there have been concerns crime.” about drinking and late night noise in various parts of the city, including Northwest 21 st Avenue, Old A If an area is deemed an alcohol impact zone, the OLCC could limit off-premises alcohol sales, restrict the hours alcohol is sold in that area, or set “any other limitations to reduce the documented problems, such as limiting the number of new outlets in the area. 1939 SE Hawthorne Blvd 232-5944 1-800-232-5944 To Floreid Walker, Eric Brown and Karen Curry, it only matters where you finish They are determined to help you become prosperous. Whether you want to buy a home or retire in style, they are commit ted to helping you. Find out by calling (503) 238-6036 now. Ask for Floreid, Eric or Karen. You'll receive a free finan cial consultation and plan. 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