There's been quite an uproar over a seven-year-olds lemonade stand in northeast Portland at a monthly neighborhood event called "Last Thursday" which appropriately named is held on the last Thursday of every month on Alberta Street Arts District located along NE Alberta Street, where artists can come and display their arts and businesses stay open late to accommodate the function.
The back story is when seven-year-old Julie Murphy along with her mother Maria Fife had set up their lemonade stand and within 20 minutes, they were approached by the Multnomah County health Department inquiring if Murphy had a $120 temporary restaurant license to sell lemonade.
When they were informed that they could be facing a $500 fine, Julie and her mother started to tear down the lemonade stand.
People staffing the booths next to them started telling the inspectors that they had no right to kick them out of the neighborhood gathering and suggested that Julie and her mother give away the lemonade for free and only accept donations. Shortly after, two inspectors came back and according to Fife, "it was a very big scene."
Eric Pippert, manager for the state's public health division said, "when you go to a public event and set up shop, you're suddenly engaging in commerce... the fact that you are small-scale I don't think it's relevant"
The news of the event went national.
Chairman Jeff Cogan, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer commented that the inspectors were "following the rule book," however, should've taken into consideration that the food safety laws are primarily aimed at adults engaging in a professional food business, not kids running lemonade stands.
Cogan later spoke with Fife to apologize.
Michael Franklin, the man next to the lemonade booth, who also has his own blog talk radio show, Bottom-Up Radio Network (B.U.R.N) and who interviewed Fife on his show regarding the incident, is organizing a "lemonade revolt" for the last Thursday event in August. He is calling on as many people as he can to grab space for lemonade stands on Alberta between Northeast 25th and Northeast 26 streets.
Links to information --
Multnomah County chair Jeff Cogan
Portland lemonade stand runs into health inspectors -- the Oregonian
Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogan apologizes -- the Oregonian
1 comment:
two inspectors came back and according to Fife, "it was a very big scene."
Eric Pippert, manager for the state's public health division said, "when you go to a public event and set up shop, you're suddenly engaging in commerce... THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SMALL-SCALE I DON'T THINK IT'S RELEVANT"
Chairman Jeff Cogan, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer commented that the inspectors were "following the rule book," however, should've taken into consideration that the FOOD SAFETY LAWS ARE PRIMARILY AIMED AT ADULTS ENGAGING IN A PROFESSIONAL FOOD BUSINESS, NOT KIDS RUNNING LEMONADE STANDS.
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the fact that you are small-scale I don't think it's relevant"
OF COURSE IT'S RELEVANT YOU BLITHERING IDIOT!
food safety laws are primarily aimed at adults engaging in a professional food business, not kids running lemonade stands.
WRONG..... THE LAWS ARE AMIED AT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC...
As a Servant of the People (and that IS what you are) your job should be to protect the public. NOT TO PUNISH THEM! Im sure we must have electronic devices that can detect the presence of a virus in the lemonade... test it and if it passes then simply inform the sellor of the requirements (can be done with a simple written page...) and be on your way....
AND
if permits are required.... make them FREE or reasonably priced... no more than $10.00
Community events are NOT big money makers, the permits are supposed to be issued only to make sure the vendor is aware of the health issues.. NOT SO HIGH AS TO PAY YOUR SALARY!
Our government is BROKEN . SPEND LESS MONEY....not collect more... this is just another tax
THINK ABOUT IT.
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