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Through loose editing and poor presentation, the article printed in your last issue—"Street Un-fair?"—while accredited to my name as writer, fails to represent the overall message or esthetics of what I had submitted.

I was asked by a Willamette Week staff writer to supply 3 reasons why not attend the Mississippi Street Fair. I did so with an introduction not meant for publication which, once included (edited as such), sounds self righteous and dumb. In addition, my "3 reasons" were expunged of the positive comments I had included as a balance to my critique.

On top of this, the article was presented in a hand written font not of my own that anyone reading would assume was. This characterization, paired with a byline "by Eric Isaacson" created the illusion that this article was printed as I submitted it. In truth, I would never attach my name to such a negative confused piece of work. I realize that the staff writer Casey Jarman meant no disrespect meant the article to be a homage to my "D.I.Y" esthetics. Despite his best efforts it came out as a parody of the values art style I hold dear.

Ultimately, I am to blame for my own misrepresentation. Cooperating with a rag such as yours, with a long history of reducing complex issues to sound-bites real people to caricatures of themselves is always a devil's bargain being screwed seems inevitable.

Eric Isaacson

Owner, Mississippi Records

Editor's note: With all due respect to Eric, we disagree that our edited version of his email is more "negative and confused" or less balanced than the original.

But readers should decide for themselves.

ERIC'S UNEDITED VERSION:

As you may know, I have closed shop every year during the street fair, which is the busiest business day of the year on Mississippi Ave. Last year they estimated that over 30,000 people attended the fair in the course of the day. I have always closed on street fair day mainly for my own self satisfaction as a business owner. Turning down the $1,000 or so in revenue that day would probably generate for me each year is a way I can pat myself on the back reassure myself that I am still in business for reasons besides profit. After all, owning operating a podunk record store is not a lucrative living compared to most. I could do almost any other job in Portland make more per hour than this one. So why compromise my comfort by participating in the busiest therefore most annoying day of the year? It feels like too much of a "real job" that day rife with boring to answer questions, customers who want traditional retail service type attention, all kinds of spiritually bankrupting B.S - all the things I created my own business to avoid. Do I have political problems with the Street Fair beyond it not grooving with my personal comfort level in customer service? Absolutely! That being said, here are...

ERIC ISAACSONS' 3 REASONS TO NOT ATTEND THE MISSISSIPPI AVE STREET FAIR

1. It is an ugly promotional tool for Mississippi Ave businesses masquerading as a community event. In reality it has very few roots in our actual community more to do with local merchants hawking their wares trying to attract new customers from across town. Each year it gets progressively crasser. Full page adds are taken out by cabals of desperate Mississippi Ave businesses. They are hoping this big day will be another stepping stone towards turning our neighborhood into nothing more than yet another shopping strip for monied assholes from all over Portland instead of a hub for locals to get the basic services they need (Cheap food, friendly spaces, so on) It has very little to do with the neighborhood I love more to do with a business district that reeks of profiteering.

Sure, there are a few cool events (Skateboarding showcases, the occasional good band, the BBQ contest, ect) but I believe any day in the neighborhood is overall more entertaining genuinely colorful than this one. Why participate in a crappy celebration of commerce?

2. Every other part of Portland will be less populated more chill to hang out in. All the yahoos will be gathered in one business district leaving great neighborhoods that are usually dense with people like Clinton Street Hawthorne free for the wandering parking. Why go to a crowded neighborhood where you have to wait in line for anything everything? Yes- we have the Fresh Pot (the best coffee in Portland) the Rebuilding center (the coolest store in the world) Portland Bikeworks (the most charming community bike shop known to humans) but all of these businesses suck on street fair day are great ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR. So why show up on "suckers only day"?

3. I'll probably end up doing something really disruptive obnoxious that you'll want to avoid, like I do every year. Maybe this time it will involve horrible smells fire!

WW'S EDITED VERSION:

As you may know, I have closed shop every year during the street fair, which is the busiest business day annually on North Mississippi Avenue. For me, turning down the $1,000 or so I'd probably make in revenue is a way to reassure myself that I'm still in business for reasons besides profit. Besides, why compromise my comfort by participating in the busiest (and therefore most annoying) day of the year? It feels like too much of a "real job" during the fair—rife with boring questions and customers who want traditional retail service. These are the things I started my own business to avoid! But do I have political problems with the fair? Absolutely! In fact, here are…

Eric Isaacson's Top 3 Reasons to Avoid the Street Fair

1. It is an ugly promotional tool masquerading as a community event:

The fair has very few roots in our actual community and much to do with local merchants attracting new customers from across town. Each year this gets progressively crasser. They hope this celebration will be another stepping stone toward turning our neighborhood into another shopping strip for monied assholes.

2. Every other part of Portland will be less populated:

All the yahoos will be gathered in one business district, leaving great neighborhoods like Clinton and Hawthorne free for parking and wandering!

3. I'll probably do something really obnoxious and disruptive that you'll want to avoid, like I do every year. Maybe this time it'll involve horrible smells and fire!!

WWeek 2015