Today the Portland City Council heard testimony regarding changes in liquor license requirements in the city. The new requirements expand the authority of the city to enforce violations of so-called ‘nuisance activities’ in and around establishments serving alcohol. Theresa Marcetti, who is the City of Portland’s liquor licensing specialist, spoke at today’s City Council meeting in favor of the new guidelines.
The new regulations were initially proposed by Commissioner Randy Leonard, and include rules against prostitution, drug use, weapons offenses and fire code violations. Opponents of the new rules say that they may be abused by enforcement agents who will use them to further criminalize people who are just sitting near the businesses in question because they are homeless and have no place to go.
But some residents say the rules don’t go far enough, and should be expanded to forbid adult establishments in residential neighborhoods.
- KBOO