Murmurs: Step Up To The Bar And Light One Up.

ILLMACULATE
By WW Editorial Staff
  1. The city’s Independent Police Review has published the results of its investigation of the Portland Police Bureau’s handling of local hip-hop shows—and finds that city regulators, police officers and state liquor officials lack a “unified policy” in dealing with concerts. The review was sparked by a March incident in which Portland rapper Illmaculate stormed out of his show at the Blue Monk in protest of the heavy police presence (“Hip-Hop Stopped,” WW, March 12, 2014). The report says tensions between police and hip-hop artists have been amplified by a “lack of transparency” in the way the city conducts venue inspections. “One way to move the conversation beyond conflicting narratives of whether police are present at hip-hop events more often than other types of music events,” the review says, “is for there to [be] better documentation by PPB of the walk-throughs it does conduct.”
  1. A Portland landmark is changing hands. London-based Taylor-Clark Inc. announced in September it wanted to sell the 150-room Heathman Hotel at 1001 SW Broadway. Although no deal has been announced, LaSalle Hotel Properties filed an application for a liquor license for the hotel Dec. 3. LaSalle is a publicly traded Maryland firm that owns 44 boutique hotels. The sale price hasn’t been recorded with the county. Based on comparable sales, the number could be more than twice the Heathman’s $19 million assessed value. LaSalle officials did not return calls seeking comment.
  1. The Oregon State Bar includes more than 40 sections of lawyers with expertise in civil rights, taxation, even admiralty law, just to name a few. Now, 50 Oregon lawyers have asked the bar to create a section for pot lawyers who advise clients on the emerging marijuana marketplace since voters approved a measure in November to legalize recreational weed. Last month, the bar began amending its code of professional conduct, allowing lawyers to advise clients on marijuana. “I can’t tell you how to break federal law,” says Leland Berger, a Portland lawyer who founded Oregon CannaBusiness Compliance Counsel. “But I can tell you how to comply with the state law.”
  1. Kindred spirits of Give!Guide, be advised: Dec. 18 is the final Big Give Day of 2014. Sponsor Rogue Distillery is celebrating by hosting a party that night from 5 to midnight at the Green Dragon Bistro and Pub, 928 SE 9th Ave. Anyone who contributes to one of 136 local nonprofits or the Oregon Cultural Trust through GiveGuide.org on Dec. 18 will be entered to win a case of spirits from Rogue. G!G has so far raised more than $1.1 million and remains on pace to reach its goal of $2.6 million. To help get us there, don’t forget the McMenamins Challenge. McMenamins will give $1,000 in each of the eight G!G categories to the nonprofit receiving the highest number of donations from givers under 36. 

WWeek 2015

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