|
.eTitA t - y - 9 l_p
<br /> The prevailing Icky philosophy is anarchy,
<br /> 1 and the place was the site last April of a benefit
<br /> D ON B I S H OF F concert for Unabomber suspect Ted Kaczynski.
<br /> Some Icky's patrons were in the riot in Maurie
<br /> Jacobs Park last year, and some — including
<br /> Could Icky S Sunshine — were arrested last month for protest camp•in in Scobert Park. ` T'S WEIRD," Sunshine said of Icky's
<br /> beat city hall? current grief. "The only thing I can
<br /> y figure is the problem people have with
<br /> us is that we provide a sense of community .. .
<br /> ICKY'S ORGANIC TEAHOUSE, the scruffy for people deemed bad for business."
<br /> I home to anarchy, disaffected youth and Last month, Whiteaker resident Dennis
<br /> 1 Unabomber fans, may close next Friday. Ramsey, accompanied by Cynthia Beal, owner
<br /> Then again, it may not. of the nearby Red Barn Natural Groceries,
<br /> It's down to dueling attorneys at the circulated fliers in the neighborhood. They
<br /> moment. And the city of Eugene may have a noted Icky's lease expiration and urged those
<br /> say because of Icky's neglect of city permits. who believe "there is a problem in the
<br /> What? Anarchists have to get permits? community resulting from Icky's activities" to
<br /> The attorney for the property management call the property management company.
<br /> firm controlling the green cinder -block building, Said Beal: "Richard and other folks have an
<br /> at 304 Blair Blvd. in the Whiteaker idea that Icky's is some sort of experiential
<br /> Neighborhood, wrote last month to Icky's lease- palette that allows folks to express themselves
<br /> holder and de facto proprietor, Richard — and that people can come through Icky's and
<br /> "Sunshine" Mosher. It said that Icky's lease is express feelings about being alientated... .
<br /> up Oct. 11, that the building needs extensive "The unfortunate piece of that is that the
<br /> sewer work, and that Icky's must go. canvas these artists use is the neighborhood.
<br /> Icky's attorney — even anarchists need And the mark that these people make is a mark
<br /> attorneys — wrote back saying Icky's has an on the neighborhood and a mark on our
<br /> option to renew its lease and intends to exercise sensitivities, and we are being forced to listen to
<br /> it. That's where and deal with a number of personal angsts."
<br /> matters stand. Love it when somebody can wax poetic
<br /> Oh, yeah, there's about mundane matters.
<br /> also a letter from the Beal said crowds spill into the neighborhood
<br /> " , city, saying it's come from loud concerts at Icky's — drinking and
<br /> ,' to official attention relieving themselves on others' property. When
<br /> A -. "
<br /> 4 Yi; r, g P PertY•
<br /> ' that Icky's performed she ran panhandlers off her store porch, she
<br /> such work as adding a said, "a couple of folks associated with Icky's
<br /> kitchen — without called for shoplifting action against my store."
<br /> r �, �� benefit of permits. The After the fliers circulated, Beal said,
<br /> letter gives Icky's until someone threw a rock through her store
<br /> � next Thursday to window. The most bizarre episode was the, well,
<br /> >4` 1 ' '° straighten that out or dog -poop fight she says happened in front of
<br /> pay $150 -a-day fines. Icky's, between two of its customers.
<br /> "We continue to get There's a perception that Icky's is part of
<br /> this barrage of s- - - that we have to deal with," the Whiteaker drug scene. Sunshine denies that
<br /> Sunshine said. — yet notes that "my best friend died in that
<br /> Must be because Icky's clientele rubs people bathroom two years ago — OD'd." Nobody
<br /> the wrong way, he mused. Good guess. using, selling or high is knowingly allowed to
<br /> Sunshine, who's past 30, has a scraggly remain on premises, he said.
<br /> beard and wears a shirt and cut -off pants over There is clearly some antipathy between
<br /> long johns, tucked into heavy boots. He rented Ickyfolk and police. Anti -cop posters are on
<br /> the building three years ago with "a chunk of Icky's bulletin board, and Sunshine claims that
<br /> money I acquired from a family member" and cops often harass Icky patrons.
<br /> opened Icky's "to do something positive for Eugene police Lt. Tom Brett said Sunshine
<br /> people." hasn't filed formal complaints over such claims.
<br /> Operating decisions, he said, are made by a Brett declined comment on whether Icky's is a
<br /> collective, consisting of whoever shows up for neighborhood problem.
<br /> meetings. The place serves herbal teas and an Icky's has its straight supporters.
<br /> occasional muffin, but mostly it's a hangout for The Whiteaker Community Council board
<br /> the sort of strangely clad, anti - Establishment unanimously approved a letter recently,
<br /> youth that Eugene police have been sweeping praising Icky's "important service for those of
<br /> off East 13th Avenue. low income, and /or homeless, and /or of
<br /> 'radical' beliefs." And neighborhood activist
<br /> Richard Guske said Icky's does what nobody
<br /> else does, welcoming "young kids who have no
<br /> other place to go and are really not welcome in
<br /> any other place."
<br /> By next week, they — and Icky's — should
<br /> know if they're welcome in Whiteaker.
<br />
|