We’re stronger than Madonna and Kabbalah.

[July 9th, 2008]

• Here’s an update on the $464 million transportation tax package Commissioner Sam Adams was boosting before he won the mayor’s race in May. If he wants the plan on the November ballot, City Council has until Sept. 4 to act. Meantime, Adams is waiting on yet another poll asking voters about his “safe, sound and green streets” plan that would fill potholes, build sidewalks and upgrade traffic signals. But this poll differs from previous city-funded surveys. Adams tells Murmurs that private entities may pay for the new Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall poll, because it will have “political” questions that state law bars the city from asking. Which private entities? The Portland Business Alliance—maybe. As of July 7, the poll’s content, and its financial sponsor, remain undetermined. Hmm...Maybe Sho Dozono can help.

• Pot in Oregon’s retail stores? Perhaps…if “Oregonians for Cannabis Reform” can gather 82,769 valid signatures by July 2010 to put such a measure on the state ballot for voters to consider. Petition co-organizers Madeline Martinez and Paul Stanford on Monday announced their proposal, which seeks to legalize cannabis sales to adults and industrial hemp growth in Oregon. The initiative would use the OLCC to regulate storage, distribution and growth of hemp and cannabis products, with Martinez and Stanford predicting a tax on cannabis sales would generate $300 million annually. OLCC spokeswoman Chrsitie Scott says the agency is neutral on the petition. But Kevin Mannix, who abandoned an initiative against medical marijuana earlier this year, isn’t. “There is a slim-to-none chance this [proposal] would be upheld in federal court,” Mannix says.

• Homeless people and the Portland Coalition Against Poverty expect at least 150 people for a march downtown this Wednesday afternoon, July 9. The “Hands off the Poor” protest beginning in the North Park Blocks at 5 pm comes in response to what organizers say are recent police sweeps of homeless groups from under the Morrison, Burnside and Hawthorne bridges. Coalition spokesman Patrick Lamson says in some cases cops have stripped the homeless of their belongings. Police spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz declined comment on the allegation or the demonstration.

• Can’t blame it on the hip-hop: On July 1, the city of Portland sued Jobdango, a local online job-search site run by Ralph and Susan King. The city wants $5,446 to cover the costs of cleaning up more than 100 pieces of marketing graffiti—made with “chalk or other means”—on downtown sidewalks. Senior Deputy City Attorney Ben Walters says Jobdango ignored the city’s 2005 request to knock off the guerrilla pitches. “There wouldn’t be any comment at this time,” said a man who answered Jobdango’s phone. Asked his name, he replied, “It doesn’t matter. Have a great day.” Great service!

• Sauvie Island dump redux: An unscheduled second appeal hearing on the Esco steel company’s application to expand an existing industrial waste dump (“The Big Dump,” WW, May 7, 2008) on the island will be held July 14 at 6:30 pm at the Multnomah County board room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Why a second hearing? Because the county neglected to give notice of a May hearing to houseboat owners directly across Multnomah Channel from the dump.

• A Gresham nonprofit formed to connect teens with the music industry faces closure by the state Department of Justice for alleged fraud and misuse of funds. In a lawsuit filed July 1 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the DOJ accuses Ghetto Risen board members Julius and Rosie Jefferson and their son, Malachi, of passing three fraudulent checks totaling $37,000 and of misusing donated funds on a failed dancing and singing contest, a canceled play and personal expenses including a TV/VCR/DVD combo, Xbox and Motorola cell phone. The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the charity, remove its directors and recover the DOJ’s legal expenses. Rosie Jefferson declined to comment on behalf of the family.