Like, No Whee, Man
The Portland-based American Antiprohibition League isn't exactly known for being uptight. But according to an e-mail missive it sent out last week, the pro-marijuana organization has to draw the line somewhere. And it's chosen Lane County. The league recently declined an invitation to participate in the second-annual World Hemp Exposition and Extravaganza (otherwise known as Whee2), scheduled for next week near Eugene. In explaining the decision to boycott the festivities, head hempster Floyd Ferris Landrath wrote that last year's gig, held on private land, felt like a bad trip rather than a forum to pursue political gains. Reading the description of the event on Whee's official Web site (at www.420Tours.com), it's easy to see why: "Whee1 was an exciting three-day bacchanalia of agricultural exchanges, quality live music... and dancing Rainbow girls decorated with cannabis leaves.... Whee people are herbalized and totally, like, mellow and you may even get to meet and inhale with your heroes."
--Maureen O'Hagan FOLLOW UP
Beach Blanket Bandito
For nearly three months, authorities have been looking for Tom Curtis, the Grant High School student-body president suspected in a string of 19 gunpoint robberies ("The Boys Next Door," WW, May 27, 1998). The Oregonian reported on Sunday that during that time, fellow students have helped him stay one step ahead of the law. Students told Oregonian reporters that Curtis turned up in Mazatlan in June to meet them at a senior trip that had been planned for months. Yet none of them told authorities that they had partied with the fugitive until after they returned. By that time, Curtis had again disappeared. It turns out that the students' lack of cooperation began before the Mexican fiesta. Deputy District Attorney Jeff Ratliff, who is in charge of the case, told WW that Curtis' girlfriend told police in late May about a senior trip, but she wouldn't give any details. "We tried to get information on it," Ratliff said, "but we were not successful in impressing upon the people we were dealing with how important that information was." Besides, says Det. Kelly Krohn, students at Grant had already given police so much conflicting information--most of which was false--that they couldn't afford to send a cop to Mexico without better confirmation that Curtis would show up. Authorities suspect that Curtis, whose Acura is still at his parents' Alameda home, has left Mexico and may even be back in town. They point out that Curtis' friends may be sorry they helped him avoid detection. "There are indications he has considered suicide," Krohn says. "If they wake up in a week to find him dead, they're going to have to wrestle with whether they did enough to prevent that."
--Maureen O'Hagan FOLLOW UP
PENSION TENSION
What's prudent isn't always politically popular. In City Hall there's no better example right now than the sluggish debate over the fire and police pension fund's $825 million liability. Some city officials want to reduce the liability by creating a pool of money from increased property taxes and investing it. Three months ago Mayor Vera Katz said putting the idea before voters was a "priority," and pension fund administrator Ed Freeman said he'd bet there would be a question on the November ballot ("The Pension Fund that Ate Portland," WW, March 25, 1998). Katz told WW last week that there's a "danger in waiting" and the "odds are pretty good" that the question will land on the ballot. Noting the current low interest rates, city Budget Director Ken Rust said, "Now would be a good time to resolve the issue." Still, the lack of action from the City Council worries Freeman. "My dream is to get this thing funded, but the city is not talking and quite frankly I've quit calling them," he says. City financial wizards and pension trustees have yet to reach agreement on how to pay the $825 million liability. Perhaps more important is the City Council's apparent lack of political appetite for a ballot question that could raise taxes for four decades. "We're looking 40 years out," says Freeman. "That's a long time for a four-year-term politician to look at." While the council delays, the November ballot is filling up with other requests, including $64 million for city parks and $53 million for fire station improvements.
--Bob Young |
