Request of Patrick Dinan to Address Council Regarding Portland Police
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Whereas, in response to a homophobic Oregon ballot measure in 1994, a young pianist with political aspirations named Thomas Lauderdale, long dismayed by what he perceived as lackluster music at political fundraisers, brought the Del Rubio Triplets (made famous on Pee Wee’s Playhouse) to Portland for the first time, founded Pink Martini to open for them, and continued thereafter performing to improve the entertainment at events in support of progressive causes, to effect change, and have fun along the way; and Whereas, in a flash of inspiration, Thomas Lauderdale called his friend China Forbes, his partner in mischief and music during their student days at Harvard, to be the singing voice of his new band, and thereafter assembled a motley group of talented roving regional musicians, including (but not limited to) over the years: Storm Large, Phil Baker, Gavin Bondy, Nicholas Crosa, Brian Lavern Davis, Dan Faehnle, Timothy Nishimoto, Robert Taylor, Antonis Andreou, Miguel Bernal, Reinhardt Melz, Andrew Borger, Anthony Jones, Martin Zarzar, Doug Smith, William Seiji Marsh, Edna Vazquez, Jimmie Herrod, Maureen Love, Pansy Chang, and Derek Rieth; and Whereas, in the band’s nascent days, Thomas Lauderdale was Pink Martini’s Master of Ceremonies, Marketing Director and Minister of Fun, all rolled into one, hosting elaborate themed dress-up concert parties such as the Wild Kingdom Rumba, Fluffy Bunny, Havana 3am, and The Blue Blue Danube Waltz; and meanwhile taxing the capacity of copy machines all over the city to promote the band’s events with homemade concert flyers, which he would hand-deliver individually to fans’ homes in the Portland area, at times startling people on their porches while stuffing mailboxes in the middle of the night; and Whereas, launched onto the global stage by the unlikely event of an American band writing a hit single in French, the “little orchestra” Pink Martini has become one of Oregon’s most important exports, acting as a global ambassador, finding common connections across perceived cultural, political, and generational divides, and tirelessly performing, during its 26-year career, at major venues on six continents, singing songs in over 25 languages, and bringing joy and impromptu conga lines to well over 50 nations around the world, from Tunisia to Lebanon, from South Korea to Luxembourg, from Vietnam to Argentina; and Whereas, Pink Martini has donated countless hours of their talent for political and social causes in Oregon, dedicating themselves to progressive values, performing at fundraisers for such causes as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, education, parks, and public broadcasting, helping to raise millions of dollars for local Portland non-profits; and performing at community events such as the annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Pioneer Square; and Whereas, Pink Martini has brought national attention to Portland, selling over three million albums on their own independent label, Portland-based Heinz Records; performing on national television and at prominent American venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall, transcending musical genre, and collaborating with a bevy of stars such as Carol Channing, Phyllis Diller, Meow Meow, Rufus Wainwright, civil rights icon Myrlie Evers-Williams, Rita Moreno, Gus Van Sant, Saori Yuki, the original cast of Sesame Street, Ari Shapiro, The von Trapps and Kathleen Saadat: Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim December 31, 2020 to be Pink Martini Day In Portland and encourage all residents to observe this day. 996 Proclaim December 31, 2020 to be Pink Martini Day (Proclamation introduced by Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Eudaly) COMMISSIONERS VOTED December 8, 2020 Filed ___________________ AS FOLLOWS: MARY HULL CABALLERO YEAS NAYS Auditor of the City of Portland 1. Fritz By _____________________ 2. Ryan Deputy 3. Hardesty 4. Eudaly Wheeler .