Fwd: OLCC Votes NO...mostly, kinda

[Ross Lampert]

Cary wrote this after the vote yesterday and it's a good summary.  I would simply ask if anyone's got ideas as to how to convince the commissioners to vote for the proposal at the February meeting?

Hey Everybody-

I've gotten emails from a number of people asking how the OLCC vote went, so I thought I would take a moment to update you all. 

As you can read in a couple of blog posts from The Mercury and a news story from OPB (links below), the OLCC voted against the proposed rule changes 3-2.  However, we're not dead in the water.  They approved (albeit in a weird, retroactive fashion) a change that would allow alcohol to be brought into seated performance spaces with control plans in place - specifically the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.  I have yet to see the language of this change, so I can't say yet whether it would affect other seated venues like Mississippi Studios, Aladdin etc.  The commissioners then asked the staff to take another stab at revising the Minor Postings to address some of their concerns, with an eye to voting on this new draft in February.

We can still win this, and it is more important than ever that we stay engaged in this issue.

All speakers at the vote were in support of the changes, with the exception of the Oregon Partnership, who opposed.

The disappointment from this vote is still very fresh for me, so while I do have some very impassioned reactions to what went on, and how, I will, for now, just share with you my diplomatic, official-ese follow-up comments, and provide you with links to the OPB and Mercury coverage.

Thanks to everyone who woke up early today to come out.  Double thanks to those to have done that numerous times while working to solve these problems.  Let's not give up.  For those of you that would like to be involved in this issue, but haven't been, it's not too late.  It's been inspiring to watch our community come together around this issue.  Ian MacKaye would be proud.

Feel free to send me an email.

Best,

Cary Clarke
PDX Pop Now!
www.pdxpopnow.com
pdxpo...@gmail.com
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http://news.opb.org/article/olcc-decides-not-decide-minor-music-show-rule/

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2007/12/olcc_results.php

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2007/12/re_olcc_results.php

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I was very disappointed by the OLCC's decision not to adopt the proposed amendments to the Minor Postings rules today, as was much of our state's music community.  The plan that the OLCC staff carefully drafted over a number of months was well thought out, and would have significantly expanded young people's access to local arts and culture in a safe, regulated environment, while, in fact, making it easier for the enforcement staff of the OLCC to do their job. 

Though the proposed plan was not adopted today, it is important to recognize that the process to reform Oregon's well-intentioned, but ill-conceived and outdated Minor Postings rules is still very much in motion.   The OLCC commissioners voted today to reject the current draft of the revisions 3-2, but they asked that the OLCC staff work on a new version of the rule changes taking into account some of their concerns.  As I understand it, this next round of proposed amendments will be voted on in February, and it is essential that those of us who believe in the value of providing teenagers with safe, fun, positive options for entertainment and recreation - like attending concerts - stay engaged in this process.  I very much hope that the OLCC staff, commissioners, and the public at-large can come to a resolution together that will serve the public welfare, as well as the interests of young people, and of our state's many thriving arts communities.

I would like to applaud the OLCC staff for their hard work on this complex issue, as well as for the effort they made to involve the public in the dialogue leading up to the vote.  As I understand it, this set of rule changes generated more public feedback than any issue in the OLCC's history, and that 90% of the emails that the organization received were in support of the changes.  I find the OLCC's commissioners' apparent disregard for public opinion disconcerting.  I would, on the other hand, like to specifically commend Commissioner Rice who took the time to attend October's public hearing on the proposed changes.  This was a good faith effort, and it was clear that he had carefully and painstakingly considered the details of the proposal, as well as the logic and spirit behind the broad support which the public showed for it.  It seemed to me that many of the other commissioners' concerns about the proposal could have been addressed and assuaged in a situation like the aforementioned hearing, which was more conducive to dialogue than the procedurally rigid final vote session.

I would be more than happy to meet with the OLCC commissioners and staff as they develop the next draft of the proposed rule changes so as to further discuss the delicate issues in play when it comes to regulating minors' access to alcohol-serving establishments.  As an educator and youth advocate, and a huge believer in the power of music and art to positively and profoundly impact people's lives, I believe that it is tremendously important that the OLCC reforms its Minor Postings rules in a manner that creates more opportunities for young people to see live music and to be involved in their local music communities.

Cary Clarke
PDX Pop Now!
www.pdxpopnow.com
pdxpo...@gmail.com

Ross Lampert
Organizer
American Federation of Musicians
Local 99
503-235-8791 office
520-241-2022 cell
ro...@afm99.org