The League of Young Voters

When students passed me in the hotel lobby after USM’s 8^th Annual Royal Majesty Drag Show, emphatically signing, tapping me on the back and mouthing “you were hot!”, my heart sang louder than the speakers could have blasted any of the evening’s lip-synced ballads. That my performance resonated even with those unable to hear the music proved an energetic victory for me as a performer and drag as an art form.

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Geno’s, located at 625 Congress Street, was under fire for several noise complaints from local residents. The possibility of their entertainment license being revoked was on the table last night–after hearing various testimonies, City Councilor Jill Duson asked for an amendment that, rather than revoke the license, would instead require Geno’s to put in double-doors to better sound-proof the entrance.

Our own Tina Smith testified at the hearing!

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I’m so glad I went to the Moosehead/public speaking workshop before going to the Land Use Regulation Committee (LURC) meeting. At 22 I had never spoken in public, and the very idea of it made my teeth chatter. But I learned something about public speaking–it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. If what you say comes from the heart, the commissioners can’t help but take notice. And if you really mean what you say, you don’t need a script to keep you from messing up.

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Directed by Rob VanAlkemade; written by Mr. VanAlkemade, based on a story by Savitri D, Morgan Spurlock, Bill Talen and Mr. VanAlkemade; narrated by Alan Sklar; directors of photography, Alan Deutsch, Daniel Marracino, Martin Palafox, Alex Stikich and Mr. VanAlkemade; edited by Gavin Coleman, Stela Georgieva and Mr. VanAlkemade; music by William Moses; choir director and choreographer, James Solomon Benn; produced by Peter Hutchison, Stacey Offman and Mr. Spurlock; released by Warrior Poets Productions. In Manhattan at the Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street, Greenwich Village. Running time: 90 minutes. This film is not rated.

What is it about Christmas holiday shopping that causes a 60-year-old woman to spit at a Best Buy clerk because they are sold out of Xboxes? Why is everyone so stressed out, feeling like they have to get everyone they know a gift they can’t afford and that the recipient probably doesn’t need?

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We don’t just have people in the streets–we have people in the post office too! (Mailing letters, that is!)

[An sample of Justin Alfond's letter to the committee regarding LD 1697, for Fair Wages]

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Our REAL DEAL this past Tuesday was HUGELY successful.

But you don’t need to take OUR word for it. Christian Neal, Chair of the Portland Bike Ped, wrote it up in his blog.

 Check it out!

Hey fellow young people! The cost of living sure sure does suck, don’t it? I mean, you’re an artist/musician/writer/whatever who moved to Portland to take advantage of the cultural opportunities here. Only you can’t make a living off of your labor of love so you have to take not one, not two, but THREE craptastic minimum wage jobs just to survive. Oh, and don’t forget – you need to find time for the classes you’re taking at MECA/SMCC/USM/UNE. And who knows, maybe you’re a single parent as well. That’s more than enough stress to deal with. Too bad your landlord is raising your rent. Double too bad one of your bosses (for the job at the mall) want’s you to come into work on Sunday. Triple too bad that you rely on the bus to get there and that the buses don’t run on Sundays.

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