I’ve been involved with Alberta Street since the early 90’s and have had my finger in most of the stuff that has happened there since. I founded Last Thursday and have seen it threatened to be taken over by “special interests” over the past couple of years. I am dedicating this year to help set it up as its own entity to make sure that it stays grass roots.

Below is my “platform”. Comments are sought and encouraged. Criticism is welcomed, but preferably constructive. I am and will be seeking strategic allies. Maybe you want to get involved?


As the founder of Last Thursday, it has been my joy to watch the event turn into something more wonderful than I’d ever hoped it could be. The monthly event is a star on Portland’s cultural calendar. Though the event came from my idea, I never intended to make it mine – merely to be a source of support. Now, after 10 years away from my influence, there is a need for me to step in and help Last Thursday make a transition before going off on its own again.
Before we get into the reasons behind that transition and where it might lead, let’s go ahead and agree on a few things:
• Last Thursday is an amazing event that makes Portland a great place to live.
• Last Thursday’s appeal is the vibrant culture that exists around it, not any one gallery, restaurant, vendor or performance.
• Last Thursday has grown and thrived for 10 years without any regulation or outside intervention.

Keeping these positive and encouraging truths in mind, we must acknowledge a fourth fact: Last Thursday needs to change.
The event has become unsustainable in its current state due solely to its popularity – which is a good problem to have. The best estimates show 10,000 people attending the event over the summer months. This has created three primary conflicts:
1. Pedestrians and automobile traffic. Too many people now attend the monthly event to walk freely on sidewalks where vendors have set up. As a result, they spill on to the road where automobile traffic is already clogged due to the increased activity. The situation is at best inconvenient and at worst unsafe.
2. Lack of basic utilities. As with any public event that draws a crowd, Last Thursday needs to provide adequate bathrooms, trashcans and crowd monitoring. Art on Alberta and members of the Vernon Neighborhood association have made steps to address these issues, but there is still work to be done.
3. Discordance among stakeholders. There are many stakeholders in Last Thursday: residents, business owners, city agencies, vendors and attendees. Even among these groups, there are varying ideas of what Last Thursday should be. Currently, there is not a forum for all stakeholders to have an equal voice in shaping the event.

To address these issues and any others that may arise, I have formed a nonprofit organization under the name “Last Thursday.” This organization will be a point of contact for stakeholders, provide event services and advocate for the event independent of any one group. 2008 is a pivotal year for Last Thursday. The event has a life of its own and until now it has been allowed to become what it wants to be. This year will decide if that evolution will continue organically, or if Last Thursday will be directed to grow according to artificial interests.
It is my firm belief that any attempt to restrict or direct Last Thursday according to artificial interests will effectively kill the event. First Thursday began with an air of spontaneity and edginess, but as it became more regulated it turned into something rather ho-hum. The event still draws a crowd, but the energy it once had ¬– the energy I am trying to preserve for Last Thursday – is gone.
To start working toward a solution, I am outlining the 2008 goals for Last Thursday to specifically address the three issues stated above.
1. Close the street. The organic solution demands Alberta Street be closed to automobile traffic during Last Thursday. Drivers who realize the event is taking place avoid the street. TriMet re-routed buses to Killingsworth in 2007, only resuming the Alberta Street route after mandated by the City in a poor attempt to manage the crowd. Closing the street would allow attendees to move more freely, reducing social conflicts. Vendors could free up the sidewalk by setting up in the unused parking spaces on the road. The street would close from 15th to 30th between the hours of 6pm and 10pm.
2. Provide necessary services. We are willing to fund efforts to provide monitoring, restrooms and waste disposal through the Last Thursday nonprofit, with the goal of creating a sustainable, community-based solution. It is my belief that all businesses should contribute by making their restrooms available to the public and placing a trash bin outside their door. Crowd monitoring is already being provided by volunteers from the Vernon Neighborhood Association and they are doing an incredible job. The Last Thursday nonprofit will be a focal point to pool together an even larger force of volunteers to monitor the event. City Police have been a part of monitoring Last Thursday since May of 2007. It is my goal in 2008 for a volunteer community force to phase out the need for any police presence at Last Thursday.
3. Create a forum for discussion and governance. Last Thursday needs rules and it needs funding. I propose that both come organically from the community. The Last Thursday nonprofit will be a place where all stakeholders can offer support or address concerns while working toward individual solutions. Imposing overarching rules on Last Thursday is an artificial solution, and one that ultimately satisfies very few. I believe that people will offer to fund aspects of Last Thursday they wish to continue and advocate for change as they see fit. It is already happening, but without truly open access. Providing stakeholders with an open forum to shape the ideas that will govern Last Thursday’s growth is the only organic solution.

These are just a few specific solutions to real issues facing Last Thursday. If they are not the right solutions, then the people will have a place to say so. Other issues will arise and solutions will be found. The idea of “preserving” Last Thursday is a misconception. The event is alive, and as such it must grow and change. But it is now that we must all agree to let Last Thursday change according to its own will.


Magnus Johannesson
e-mail: LastThursdayPDX@gmail.com