Portland. June. Mitt shuts down small businesses to avoid protesters.

[grasswire]

From The Oregonian today:

Food carts at a popular downtown Portland pod [group of carts] were told to close during their lunch rush June 4 to accommodate security for a fundraising visit by Mitt Romney, angering U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

U.S. Secret Service and Portland police officers escorted the Republican presidential candidate into the Governor Hotel through an employee entrance on Southwest Alter Street to avoid protesters. Security officials also closed the sidewalk to pedestrians and told cart operators on Alder to go home.

Blumenauer wrote the mayor: "This unanticipated abrupt business closure resulted in significant financial losses. I am especially troubled that these small businesses were forced to close for a political fundraising event."

[valerief]

1. Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but the Mittiot is NOT an elected official and is NOT the GOP candidate

for president yet. He's a private citizen who can shut down businesses for his business???

[Downwinder]

2. Can they file with the campaign for lost income?

[grasswire]

3. it's a big deal for operators of a food cart to lose a day's income.

20% of the weekly take, likely. That would hurt.

[HopeHoops]

4. Obviously those food cart operators didn't pay enough to rMoney's campaign.

Then again, the net worth of all of them would be considered pocket change by rMoney.

[Quantess]

5. This burns me up.

I happen to know someone who owns a food cart. Not "small business owner" but "miniscule business owner" is a better term for a food cart.

[grasswire]

7. yeah, most of these owners are up the wazoo in startup costs.

It's expensive.

[Quantess]

11. The person I know is struggling to get by.

And here comes Mr. Fat Cat himself, the tax evader who made fortunes off sending jobs overseas. He tells the hard-working peasants to clear the way!

[Lizzie Poppet]

6. Wish I'd have known about that.

Portlander here, and I'd have loved to tell those "security officials" trying to make me vacate the sidewalk there on Alder to fuck most thoroughly off.

[grasswire]

8. yeah, I'll be sure to make a trip to my favorite cart this month.

the Greek cart in that pod is just a--mazing.

[Lizzie Poppet]

9. Yum!

Has some fantastic pad kee mao at the E-San Thai cart, too...for a paltry five bucks!

[Blue Owl]

10. Keep Portland Weird -- but not THAT weird...

n/t

[B Calm]

12. Oh yeah, Romney is for small business, LOL