Local News
Judge: Fairness Hearing on Police Needed
Groups that want to have a say in the DOJ agreement with PPB must file by Jan. 8
By Helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
A federal judge has ordered a fairness
hearing to allow public testimony on the
settlement agreement, filed between the
Department of Justice and the City of Port-
land.
The agreement makes sweeping changes
to policing in Portland. However, the police
union objects to its impact on collective bar-
gaining. And other groups in the communi-
ty, such as such as the Albina Ministerial
Alliance, say community involvement is
needed.
Judge Michael H. Simon said everyone
who wants to testify about the agreement
should be able to have their views heard.
Judge Simon also said he is open to holding
the hearing outside of work hours to allow
more people to testify.
Jo Ann Hardesty, a member of the Albina
Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice
and Police Reform was one f a small group
of citizens who attended the hearing to ask
for more citizen oversight.
“Judge Michael Simon really understands
why the community has to be engaged and
involved in this settlement agreement,” she
said. “And so I believe for the the first time
we have a federal judge who will make this
accessible to the public…
“Ultimately we’re going to pay $26 mil-
lion for it. We should have a bigger voice in
what it looks like and how it’s implement-
ed.”
Deadlines
Jan. 8: Groups or individuals who want to
be a party with legal standing to intervene in
the agreement must file a motion with the
court.
Jan. 22: Comment on how the fairness
hearing should be organized, should be sub-
mitted to the clerk’s office in the federal
courthouse.
Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.: Next hearing before
Judge Simon. No date has been set yet for
the fairness hearing.
The Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition
for Justice and Police Reform and the Port-
land Police Association already have stated
they will seek to intervene in the settlement
agreement.
The AMA coalition wants the public to
weigh in on every aspect of the agreement
from use of force policy, to the mental
health crisis response teams that the PPB is
already creating, and the job description of
an independent compliance officer who will
be hired to oversee the reforms.
The police union has different concerns. It
asked the judge to throw out the settlement
agreement saying it interferes with its col-
lective bargaining rights. Mayor Adams has
said the City will consult with the DOJ
when collective bargaining is impacted.
Members of the Albina Ministeria; Alliance argued for more public input. From
left: Rev. Leroy Haines and JoAnn Hardesty with defense attorney Michael Rose.
Rev. Leroy Haines said he welcomed the
judge’s decision to order a fairness hearing,
but he criticized the police union’s action.
The fairness hearing will focus on whether
the agreement is a just resolution to the
problems identified in the Department of
Justice report, released September
2012. After a 15-month investigation the
Civil Rights Division of the Department of
Justice concluded that Portland Police
Bureau, “engages in a pattern or practice of
using unnecessary or unreasonable force
during interactions with people who have or
are perceived to have mental illness.”
“… the intervention motion by the Port-
land Police Association that is attempting to
hinder any form of change within the Port-
land Police Bureau, and the issues of exces-
sive force and deadly force: we believe this
is a detriment towards the community for
that to happen. For the PPA to prevent nec-
essary reform from taking place, would be a
setback for the City of Portland, a setback
for community policing and certainly a set-
back for justice in our community.”
The City of Portland and Portland Police
Bureau have never accepted the conclusions
in the report: that the bureau violated the
rights of citizens, by using excessive force.
But to avoid penalties the City and the DOJ
worked on a settlement agreement that was
filed Dec. 17, along with the DOJ lawsuit
outlining the civil rights violations.
The Department of Justice did not investi-
gate PPB’s track record with African Amer-
icans and other minorities, but the report
noted the “tense” relationship between
police and minority communities as well as
concerns voiced by community members,
Quartet Opens February 8 on South Waterfront
The restaurant will feature a happy hour, NW food with a Southern influence and live music
Frank Taylor, left, and Paul Keeler are partners in
Portland Prime and will open Qartet on February 8.
Portland restaurateur Frank Taylor’s newest venture,
Quartet, will open Feb. 8. Based at 1910 S.W. River Drive,
on Portland’s southwest waterfront, Quartet’s menu will
focus on contemporary, seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine
with a Southern influence, while the wine and beverage list
will highlight the best of Pacific Northwest’s wines, brews
and spirits. Happy hour will start at 3 p.m. daily, with din-
ner at 5 p.m. seven days a week.
“Quartet is a combination of hospitality, cuisine, music
and lively, friendly ambiance,” Taylor says. “ It will be a
casual, affordable waterfront dining destination in an ele-
gant, one of a kind waterfront setting.”
Quartet is redesigning the space formerly occupied by
Lucier. A new bar will feature a a baby grand piano, a new
entrance door, and remodeled interior architecture. The
redesign aims to preserve some of the beautiful features of
the original Lucier design, but adding a more open, ener-
getic ambiance. Entertainment will include live piano
music performed by local and national artists.
Greg Gonzales the general manager, is a 25-year veteran
of Portland’s restaurant community. Gonzales comes to
Quartet from El Gaucho, where he was manager for the past
10 years. Gonzales has also served as manager for the
Esplanade at RiverPlace Hotel, and as opening manager for
Mortons.
A search for an executive chef is underway, with an
announcement planned by end of the year.
Quartet will be giving back to Portland even before it
opens, with a special benefit fundraiser planned for Self
Enhancement, Inc., which will feature a Grammy award
winning, international entertainer.
Quartet is owned and managed by Keeler Hospitality
Restaurant Group.
Parking for Quartet guests is available at an adjacent 200-
car lot, or by valet. At 7,657 square feet, the restaurant seats
214 inside and on the patio overlooking the Willamette
River. Private parties can reserve a 24-seat secluded dining
area with adjacent patio.
From facing fear to falling in love: best moments 2012
By George Webster
and Sarah Brown
(CNN) — For some it was an exhilarating
holiday to an exotic place, finding new love
or conquering their greatest fear. For others,
it was witnessing an historic event.
And for a few, it was simply a case of
being in the right place at the right time to
capture a moment that will forever stick in
the mind.
CNN asked people from all over the
world to send in their highlight of the year.
From the Philippines, to Scotland, to South
Africa, hundreds of people shared their
most treasured images.
2012 was the year the Olympics games
came to London, and, unsurprisingly, many
people sent in their images of the various
competitions held around the capital.
Gaya Ilang, who works as the artist
Gaya3in1, was lucky enough to participate
in the Games’ spectacular opening ceremo-
ny — playing a nurse. She sent in an image
of proud participants posing eagerly just
everyone’s faces,” she said.
Sport of a non-Olympic kind captured the
imagination of Jamie McCaffrey from
Ottawa, Canada. He submitted this lively
image of soldiers from the Lake Superior
Scottish Reg-
iment of the
Canadian
A r m y
Reserves
competing in
the tug of war
at the annual
Glengarry
Highland
Games in Maxville Ontario.
“The sight of these soldiers in a brutal test
of raw strength while combined with the
skirl of the pipes, the colors and flash of the
different tartans on the kilts, and the cheer
Jessica Munoz from California, U.S.,
was thrilled to be reunited with her
soldier husband
before they took part in the ceremony.
“I like this [image] as it has performers
from different categories — a snapshot of
the ceremony — and reminds me of the
excitement of the day, clearly visible on
of the crowd was a feast for the eyes and
ears,” he said.
“Although, I understand that the music of
the bagpipes may not be for everyone —
subtle it is not,” he added.
From the bombast of organized games to
the quiet joy of a proud parent, many people
chose their children as the source of their
best moments of 2012.
Charlotte Brocker from Berlin, Germany,
captured a wonderful image of her son
Malik wearing his Ramones t-shirt on a bike
ride in August.
Malik was born with clubbed feet and a
physical condition called Arthrogryposis
Multiplex Congenitas, which means he has
little muscle strength in his limbs.
See MOMENTS on page 10
December 26, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 3