At least for now.

The city council (minus Tom Potter and Randy Leonard) just voted to allow Peterson’s on Morrison to remain open on a month-to-month lease. Following this as it develops has been a lesson in civics. I watched the fun unfold on Comcast Channel 30, Portland’s own cable access channel. So did a friend ‘in the loop’, who e-mailed:

“Not to sound negative but – It’s a complete set up. This way they can save face, and still evict him later than sooner, plus negate the tort claim. Notice how Fish asked that specifically? You’re withdrawing the Tort Claim Right? That’s what it all boiled down to right there.”

Will Peterson’s be a safer place to shop? It’s not scary inside the stores, but now there will be a security guard to make sure it stays that way. That cost will average out to two and a half employees per year. Mr. Peterson has been working with a scaled back crew since this has been going on, so fewer employees aren’t an option. We all know what that means.

Prices are going up!

So when you complain to the clerk that packs of American Spirits cost more there than they do in southeast, remember where you are: the downtown tourist-destination nightclub district. Pretend you are in New York or San Francisco, where cigarettes are $9 a pack. It’ll seem cheaper that way.

Oh, and behave yourself. Part of the good-neighbor agreement requires employees to report any illegal activity observed inside or around their store. Live and Let Live will be replaced by Not On My Watch.

A public THANK YOU from Doug Peterson and all his employees for keeping his flagship store open. Thanks to Dan Saltzman for taking the time to study the facts before disrupting so many lives. Extra special kudos to Matt Davis for dogging this issue. (That trashy mag you write for is getting more respectable every day, dare I say!)

And a side note for Geno Heleen, Peterson’s employee and all-around fungi, I mean fun guy. He’s put a lot of sweat and angst into saving his job, and kept it amusing in the process. Good job, dude!

See you at the porno rack…

Related Posts

• July 16, 2008 -- Peterson’s evicted by unanimous vote (7)
• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)