photo by BRENT WOJAHN / THE OREGONIAN

The root of the story is a Seattle referendum about, what else, strip clubs.

I especially liked this:

When it comes to strip clubs, Portland has nothing to hide
You can watch dancers undress and twirl around a single brass pole on a tiny stage. And you can take in the show while sipping a vodka tonic, smoking a cigarette and gambling away your paycheck on video poker.

This place would be in so much trouble in Seattle.

Letting people smoke in a bar? A $100 fine from the health department. Video-poker machines? A felony worth up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Dancers within 4 feet of customers? Seattle could try to shut the place down under a strict new ordinance.