Portland, Oregon- a haven for small businesses

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/08/portland_lemonade_stand_runs_i.html

It's hardly unusual to hear small-business owners gripe about licensing requirements or complain that heavy-handed regulations are driving them into the red.

So when Multnomah County shut down an enterprise last week for operating without a license, you might just sigh and say, there they go again.

Except this entrepreneur was a 7-year-old named Julie Murphy. Her business was a lemonade stand at the Last Thursday monthly art fair in Northeast Portland. The government regulation she violated? Failing to get a $120 temporary restaurant license.

Turns out that kids' lemonade stands -- those constants of summertime -- are supposed to get a permit in Oregon, particularly at big events that happen to be patrolled regularly by county health inspectors.

"I understand the reason behind what they're doing and it's a neighborhood event, and they're trying to generate revenue," said Jon Kawaguchi, environmental health supervisor for the Multnomah County Health Department. "But we still need to put the public's health first."

 

[SlyPokerDog]

God damn Obama! So it's okay for illegals to sell lemonade but now we can't exploit children to do it?!? Typical bleeding heart liberal bullshit!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The lady with the clipboard FTW!

 

[ehizzy3]

 

[LameR]

There's always money in the banana stand.

 

[Eastoff]

Honestly, someone has balls to go to an event and sell like that. It's one thing to be in your neighborhood.