Timbers Home Town City The Portland Timbers gather together in a huddle at Jeld Wen Stadium before their game on Sunday against the Seattle Sounders. see page 21, inside Liquidators Landmark business unites generations See Metro, page 11 photo by M indy C ixiper /P ortland O bseryer g^ortiani» (© Read back issues ot the Portland Observer at www.portlandobserver.com 'City oj Roses Volume XXXXI, Number 28 Wednesday • lulv 13 2011 Doors Close with Restrictions Owner Says: 7 Don Y Like Being Labeled a Gang Bar by M indy C ooper T he P ortland /O bserver An African-American owner of a northeast Portland bar has closed his doors after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission issued several restrictions on the business. A series of enforcement actions were put into immediate effect by the OLCC after the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Leonard James “LJ” Irv ing on June 26 in a parking lot across the street from Seeznin’s Bar and Lounge located at Northeast 82nd Avenue. Inside the Bar and Lounge last week, residents could be seen with food and beverages from places of business other than S eezn in ’s, which is no longer undergoing sales. “The restrictions being enforced by OLCC are a detriment to my busi ness,” said Samuel A. Thompson, the owner and license holder of the bar. “In the scheme of things, what I do in the community has been lost because negative incidents have occurred within the proximity of my building.” Thompson, who opened the bar in March of this year, said he be lieves OLCC is using his bar as a “scapegoat”, instead of focusing on the true issues going on within the community. “They are using Seeznin’s as an example in their feeble attempt to curve gang vio lence,” he said. OLCC said the seven emergency restrictions placed on the bar were issued as a result of a high level of violence and gang activity permit ted within Seeznin’s walls. Thompson, however, said vio lence is not welcomed at his bar. He said after visiting the Irving family’s home the day of the funeral, he received the restrictions order at the bar. The OLCC notice said, “This Order of Immediate License Restric tions is being issued because con tinued operation of your premises represents a serious danger to the Allied for Ocean Stewardship Tribal leaders committed to healthy oceans policy C ari H achmann T he P ortland O bserver by In cooperation with the Na tional Ocean Council, tribal lead ers from Oregon and nearby re- gions were among the prominent voices in support of regional plan ning for the future of our oceans, continued on page 20 Samuel A. Thompson, the owner of Seeznin’s Bar and Lounge in Northeast Portland, stands inside his bar last week after closing his doors to business because of recent restrictions put in place by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. public health and safety.” They stated T hom pson’permit- ted disorderly activities on the li- censed premises. On the night of Irving’s murder, “known gang mem- bers fought inside the premises. The fight moved outside the premises j C()ntinued y f on page 22 Tom H. Younker, vice chairman of Coquille Indian Tribal Council gives a voice to reason, presenting the argument that if human intelligence can overcome greed and people work together, we can fix the ocean’s problems and the livelihoods that depend on the worldwide resource.