Please see Oregon November 23, 200 Metro/NW article on
"Skateboard code change hits bump".

December 5, 2000
"Skating in the Streets

December 7, 2000
"Westside rumble brings out boards and blades"

December 17, 2000
"Hales' Plan For New And Better Road Kill"

KOIN 6 News Brief

View City Council Meeting
November 22, 2000 9:30 am meeting
Real Player Time of agenda topic 2:49

December 13, 2000 (part 3 of 3)
about 10 mins into the video

Copy of Proposed Code
from Commissioner Charles Hales

The City of Portland "CURRENTLY" has a skate ban in place. City Commissioner Charles Hales has proposed to update the code to allow skating before and after dark and in all of the downtown area.

During a recent city council meeting, when Hales proposed the change, it brought to light
the issue that was being worked on to EXPAND the current code 

Our concerns are with UPDATING code, not changing or overturning code. We would like the code  to reflect a reckless skating law and enforce current codes, of property damage, curfew and noise
ordinances rather then ban the activity of skating in Portland.

Let me know if you would like to be involved and help out. 

Our goal is not to point out rights or wrongs, but to work with the community to resolve
their concerns. The kids will surely take their civil rights route we need to be pro-active.

This effects all skaters, not just skateboarders.  There will be a Meeting at City Hall December 20th at 6:45pm to further discuss the issue of the skate code, "ban" in the city of Portland.

IF there is a time to get together and stand up to express our concerns regarding our sport now is the time. Please write to the reporter, tell her about yourself and about why you skate.  It would be nice to see some positive press about skaters versus bad press.

Mark your calendars and attend this important city meeting where our future as skaters in Portland is being decided  There is a proposed expansion of the ban in the works.  The proposed expansion of the ban would have pushed it south to Lincoln and Market St (from Jefferson) and north to N.W. Lovejoy on the west side of the river. It also would have moved it over to the east side down Broadway on the north to 15th on the east and then south into the Rose Quarter
at the Steel Bridge.

Commissioner Jim Francesconi said they need to hear from some citizens!!!

If you would like to be heard, please take time to write. Please CC your letters to skateportland@hotmail.com.  That way if you are unable to make the meeting, we at least have your letter to refer to as a concerned citizen.

Below are email address of the Commissioners, Mayor and the Oregonian reporter that wrote the original article.  Please be sure to write, positive, professional views regarding skating in Portland. Especially why you skate, and background about yourself.  We need to focus on "UPDATING" the current codes, to de criminalize skating, and still address there valid concerns on hazardous skaters, and destruction of property. 

Members of the Portland Chapter of the National Skate Patrol are meeting with Commissioner Charles Hales office this week, it is our goal to propose new legislation, to deal with the problem issues.  I will keep you informed on the content of the meetings.

mayorkatz@ci.portland.or.us
Mayor Vera Katz

jfrancesconi@ci.portland.or.us   Commissioner James Francesconi

dsaltzman@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Dan Saltzman

erik@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Erik Sten

chales@ci.portland.or.us  Commissioner Charles Hales

janetchrist@news.oregonian.com   Oregonian Reporter Janet Christ

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