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We in Bend have recently been under attack by the OLCC. I would like to work on a grass roots organization that would either disband the OLCC or get rid of most of the old and archaic laws that are not doing anyone any favors. Please take a moment and read this article about my restaurant in Bend, the Blacksmith.

http://www.nrn.com/offthewire.aspx?menu_id=1370&id=369012

Here is my response to it. I encourage you to start thinking about what this would mean if we (the owners and managers from Oregon's bars and restaurants) had some real power in dictating what directly affects our livlihood. The only way it is going to happen is to band together and fight this.

Here’s the problems with the way OLCC is doing things.

1) Evers stated that someone from his office called and someone at the Blacksmith said we had discounted drinks. We don’t even discount our happy hour drinks, as it is a completely separate drink list. There is no way that this verbiage would have been used. Furthermore, Evers does not have a recording of it and the agent that supposedly called is nowhere to be found. This is hearsay. So, in effect, Evers could go to the press and to the higher ups at the OLCC and say that he called our restaurant and say whatever he cares to say with absolutely no evidence and we can be ticketed for that - absolutely ludicrous.

2) Evers states that other licensees are complaining about Gavin: “"He had multiple chances to fix the problem," Evers said. "We kept receiving complaints from other licensees that Gavin was being allowed to do what they are not." This is not a way to decide who is getting fined and who is not. Other licensees are NOT the OLCC. They are not investigating liquor law violations. Gavin has his enemies, just like any business owner, what Evers is saying that Gavin’s enemies can keep calling the OLCC and complaining and that is enough for Evers to issue a ticket on? Is this what the OLCC is being used for, retaliation for old feuds and a way to hurt other people’s business in a declining market?

It is no secret that the way for Evers to show that he is needed is to fine places to fine and in effect show his worth.